Suicidal Ideation Therapists in Chattanooga, TN

Practicing kindness towards ourselves can be challenging, especially when there are countless voices and messages that tell us otherwise. I firmly believe that everyone deserves acceptance and compassion, regardless of their unique story. As your therapist, it would be my privilege to walk alongside you on your journey toward healing. Together, we can create a safe space where we can learn new skills and behaviors as we increase our skills and options for how we respond to all the chaos that life throws our way.

If you struggle with overwhelming emotions, I can teach you skills in a supportive, engaging environment. You can join my Online DBT skills training groups from anywhere in the world. I also offer Individual DBT therapy for people in Tennessee, including Skills Coaching by phone, Individual Therapy and group. Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a highly effective, well researched therapy. The work demands a lot from Therapist and client. And it is worth it! Most clients report that my sense of humor and authenticity is one of the reasons they like working with me. I really value the use of "irreverence" in DBT.

I was drawn to counseling as a career because of the incredible personal experience I have had with healing in community. We are not meant to go through life alone. My passion and heart is to help others succeed and thrive in life. I want to partner alongside and support clients in their journey towards holistic health (mind, body, spirit) and healing. We are often wounded in relationships and the therapy relationship can be an incredible restorative and corrective tool.

It takes tremendous courage to choose to walk through difficult places on the path towards healing, and it takes even more courage to invite a counselor to walk with you. I consider it an honor to join with my clients as they face the challenges in life, whether it be wounds from the past , struggles with managing mood and thoughts, issues with relational functioning, sexuality or unhealthy coping. I believe there is power in relationship and I consider it a joy to help clients learn how to better relate to themselves, others and the world around them.

Originally licensed in 1988, I've been in private practice since 1997 in Chattanooga, TN. I focus on crisis intervention and short-term psychotherapy to get clients stabilized and back out enjoying life ASAP. I do a thorough assessment of life to know past and current events may be impacting your current situation. I see life situations as developmental - not always pathological, thus I use education and learning to address life's challenges. While it's not all about your parents, one's history does play a major role in how we learn to cope with life. Be ready to learn some new ways to cope with people and various life events.

Through the therapeutic relationship, I provide a safe and inviting place to be vulnerable, to process life adjustments, and to begin learning healthy coping skills. I have 10 years of experience engaging in counseling relationships with children, adolescents, and adults in the Chattanooga area. I believe that change begins in the context of an authentic relationship and that every unique story deserves to be heard. Drawing from family systems, interpersonal, and cognitive-behavioral approaches, I provide evidence-based therapy for both individuals and families.

Depression and anxiety can really affect every area of your life. Reaching out to seek help is sometimes hard, but it is an important step in self-care and healing. My name is Christine Lawson, and in addition to anxiety and depression, I have worked with those who are in crisis due to self-harming behaviors as well as thoughts of suicide. With 15+ years of experience as a special education teacher before refocusing on counseling in 2019, I have also worked extensively with autism, ADHD, learning disabilities and behavior disorders. If you need a safe space to work on those things that are blocking your joy, I'm here for you.

If you have emotions that seem uncontrollable, thoughts that seem to toss you around and run rampant, or if you find that your relationships with others are often filled with hurt and miscommunication… let’s talk! As a trained therapist in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) I offer comprehensive and informed DBT therapy. This means that I offer individual therapy, DBT skills group and training, as well as phone coaching. If you have tried therapy before with little to no improvement, DBT can be the change you’ve been looking for! It provides daily skills to implement immediately, so that you can see quick change in your life.

You’ve been the rescuer, the caregiver, the rock for years, and it’s finally taking its toll on you. You’ve learned to hide your fatigue and your pain really well. In fact, you’d be surprised if anyone knew how much you really struggle and how your thoughts race at night when the world is quiet. Words like “weak” or “not fit for duty” push you to burrow down further into your isolation. But what if there was a better way? Together, we are going to work through this. You have finally found a place to exhale.

Do you experience strong emotions that sometimes overwhelm you? As a result, you do things to cope that you later regret. In the moment, you don’t know what else to do. You’ve tried to get help. Nothing seems to work. “Talk therapy” doesn’t cut it. Medications don’t do the trick. Self-help books are garbage. At this point, you’d do anything to have a different life. To be different. To feel different. Well. You’ve finally come to the right place. We work with people just like you. In fact, we LOVE working with people just like you. It’s our passion. We help you create a life you can love.

Imagine being full of joy, presence, and gratitude. Life can be overbearing at times with all of its troubles. It may feel like you're no longer a driver, but a passenger in your own life. You have difficulty seeing beyond the here and now, unable to find solutions, and you can't come back to a sense of self because everything else seems to be keeping you from peace. You're wanting to take control and live a life you've been dreaming of, a life free of anxiety, depression, stress, and shame.

Challenging relationships, situations & illnesses shape and guide emotions, choices, & outlook. Having someone to listen and help you understand the bigger picture of your situation can ease the burden. Through the framework of Gods word, I can lead you in confronting and overcoming the roots of your challenges to encourage positive change which will enable healthier relationships with yourself, with God, & others. If your ready to begin walking a new path, reach out to arrange a complimentary 20 min consult. I look forward to meeting you!

As an individual committed to your well-being, I offer personalized counseling to guide you through life's challenges. Together, we can explore strengths, navigate difficulties, and foster a positive mindset. I can provide deep understanding of diverse challenges, offering proven strategies for positive change. Step into a safe space where your thoughts are heard without judgment. My commitment to providing this safe space ensures you can explore, express, and heal. Take the first step toward a more fulfilling life because your path to a happier, healthier life can begin here. Let's embark on this journey together.

I work with children, adolescents, and adults. It is my goal to help these individuals work through struggles with attachment/relationships, anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma and more at their own pace. As a neurodivergent, I am passionate about helping others learn how to function with and to love their own neurodivergence. I also enjoy working with parents (biological, foster, adoptive) who want to better their relationship, communication, understanding, and/or attachment with their children. I work diligently to maintain a safe and affirming space for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their families.

My goal is to help people discover their own ability to achieve change in their lives. Many times I hear people describe themselves as broken or damaged because they are unable to just "get over it". Often, these degrading narratives overwhelm and we can find ourselves experiencing anxiety, depression and even substance abuse issues. The good news is that using modern, evidence-based techniques we can not only resolve the issues that have led you to seek counseling, but make you better equipped in the future to handle life challenges as they arise.

I believe that we can work together from your very real strengths to get to a better future for you. I'm prepared to help you get there using both your ideas and my suggestions!

Mental illnesses, addictions and relationship problems - I have found that these three arenas are where most of our pain centers. And also where so much work has been done. You've gotten this far, and I'd consider it a privilege to fight the next battle alongside you.

In the words of Virginia Satir, sometimes we prefer the certainty of misery over the misery of uncertainty. As we wrestle with our shame & fears, we often adopt patterns of controlling, avoiding, and numbing instead of accepting and confronting our suffering as God-given catalysts of growth and even purpose. This causes us to sink deeper and cling to what is familiar and comforting in the moment, forming harmful relational habits or cycles of impulsive acting out in the long run. Know that you aren’t meant to bear this burden alone. Counseling is for those brave enough to embrace their vulnerable state and learn from it.

“Has life got you down?” That classic question that we all come back to when things just seem a bit too crazy. The question that we’ve heard so many times, even when we were a kid. So let me ask you, has life got you down? Do you feel like your life has transitioned to a place where you feel lost, alone, or quite like nobody really understands what it’s like to be in your shoes? Has anxiety, depression, relational issues or trauma, family conflict or parenting issues beaten you down? Let me ask you one last question: is the idea of therapy terrifying? If you answered yes to any of these questions, please believe me, there’s a way.