Graduate Therapist Intern | Master of Social Work Candidate, Union University
Supervised by Keiara Marsh-Cartwright, LMFT
In-person in Gallatin, TN
Hi, I'm Justin! I'm a Master of Social Work candidate at Union University, also pursuing a Trauma Studies Graduate Certificate, providing counseling services under the supervision of Keiara Marsh-Cartwright, LMFT, at Tennessee Mental Wellness in Gallatin, TN. I work with children, adolescents, teens, and adults navigating anxiety, depression, grief, burnout, family conflict, and major life transitions. With almost two decades of experience in healthcare, medical device sales, and corporate training and leadership development before returning to graduate school, I bring both clinical training and real-world understanding of what it takes for people to actually change, not just perform.
Who I Work With:
I work with adults navigating anxiety, depression, grief, burnout, family conflict, and the stress that comes with major life transitions. Many of my clients feel like they have it together on the outside while carrying more than they let on. I also work with children, adolescents, and teens, an age group I care about deeply, including through time spent in a youth mentorship program and a church-based counseling program supporting individuals, families, and groups.
I welcome clients from a wide range of backgrounds and life stages. Whether someone is a high performer who has quietly hit a wall, a parent juggling more than they can hold, or a teenager trying to figure out who they are, I meet people where they are and work at a pace that fits their life.
What I Specialize In:
Anxiety, Depression & Burnout
A lot of my clients are used to holding it together for everyone else. I help people slow down enough to notice what's actually going on underneath the performance, build real coping tools, and move toward a life that feels less like survival mode.
Grief, Loss & Life Transitions
Whether it's the loss of a person, a role, or a version of life that used to work, transitions ask a lot of us. I walk alongside clients as they process what's been lost and figure out what comes next.
Family Conflict & Parenting Stress
Family life is rarely simple, and the stress of parenting or navigating conflict at home can wear people down in ways that spill into everything else. I work with clients to untangle those patterns and build healthier ways of relating.
Children, Adolescents & Teens
I have a real heart for working with kids and teens as they work through their own struggles. I aim to be a steady, honest presence for young people, while also supporting the parents and families around them.
How I Work:
Brainspotting
Brainspotting is a focused, body-based approach that helps access and process experiences that talk therapy alone doesn't always reach. I use it to help clients work through stuck points, especially around stress, grief, and difficult life experiences, at whatever pace feels right for them.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT combines acceptance and change-based strategies to help clients manage intense emotions, tolerate distress, and build healthier ways of relating to themselves and others. I draw on DBT skills with clients who want practical tools alongside the deeper clinical work.
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
MI is a collaborative approach that helps clients explore their own reasons for change and strengthen their own motivation, rather than being told what to do. It fits naturally with my coaching background and my belief that people already carry a lot of the answers within them.
My Style:
I work from a strengths-based, attachment and trauma-informed lens. I ask direct questions, listen closely without judgment, and I'm honest when something is outside my scope. My goal is progress, not perfection, for either of us. I bring a coaching background into the room as well, which shapes how I think about goals and practical next steps alongside the deeper clinical work.
Background & Training
I spent almost two decades in healthcare, medical device sales, and corporate training and leadership development, most recently building and leading training programs for medical professionals nationwide, before returning to graduate school. I hold a Bachelor of Business Administration and am currently completing my Master of Social Work at Union University, alongside a Trauma Studies Graduate Certificate.
I provide therapy under the supervision of Keiara Marsh-Cartwright, LMFT, at Tennessee Mental Wellness in Gallatin, TN.
Specialized training includes:
- Brainspotting Level 1
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Motivational Interviewing (MI)
A Little About Me
My wife and two children keep my life full and rarely quiet. Outside of work I'm usually reading, playing with some new AI tool, or ready to argue Marvel timeline details longer than anyone asked for. I'm also a lifelong Star Wars fan and can quote most of The Office from memory, which my family finds either endearing or exhausting depending on the day.
Why I Became a Therapist
Along the way in my corporate career, I noticed the same pattern in a lot of high performers: coaching could only take them so far before something deeper needed attention. Around the same time, I spent time volunteering in a youth mentorship program and found I had a real heart for pouring into kids and teens working through their own struggles. Both experiences pointed me toward this work, and toward wanting to meet people in the places coaching alone can't reach.
What I Believe About Therapy
A few things I hold onto in this work:
Progress matters more than perfection, for clients and for me. People deserve honesty, including when something is outside my scope. Real change happens through direct conversation and genuine listening, not just advice. Clinical depth and practical, everyday tools work best together, not as an either-or.
Ready to get started?
Getting started is simple. You can call Tennessee Mental Wellness at 615-510-4551, email us at admin@tnmentalwellness.com, or schedule online at your convenience. We'd love to help you find the right fit.
