Substance Use Therapists in Nashville, TN

Many clients come to us after feeling stuck in talk therapy. Talking about your problems is helpful, but sometimes you need more! If you are ready to take your healing to the next level, please reach out! We integrate somatic and experiential therapies, such as EMDR, Brainspotting, Hypnotherapy, IFS, psychodrama, nature therapy, ketamine-assisted therapy, Neurofeedback, holistic health coaching, and more, to go deeper, so you can truly heal from past experiences. There are no quick fixes - there is only the journey to truly know, love, and care for yourself, and our team of expert therapists is ready to take the journey with you.

Psychotherapy is a healing process which I am honored to be a part of. I greatly respect your decision to seek change, and I will work diligently to help you. Suffering is universal but you are unique; we will collaborate to understand what ails you and create an individualized therapy experience. I listen closely, empathize deeply, and maintain a curious, open-minded stance to build an authentic bond, which is paramount in healing. Within the safety of our therapeutic relationship I will help you explore, understand, and bring about the changes you want.

Life is MESSY. It's serving chaos, stress, and curveballs left and right. And unfortunately… the messiness is probably more common than “everything going like it should.” Still, you don’t have to navigate the mess alone. If you feel lost, overwhelmed, or have no idea what to do next— let me be a partner on your path. We can work on cultivating and increasing your access to the strengths you already have inside, but may not always know how to tap into right now. I do this work because I feel passionate about supporting people as they navigate challenging life circumstances and create a life that is authentically meaningful.

I have worked with clients of all ages. I specialize in evidence-based practices which uses gold standard treatments to teach clients helpful skills in a timely manner. I have extensive training in trauma-focused treatments. I also have expertise working with a variety of difficulties, such as difficulty controlling emotion and attention, anger, anxiety, depression, mood swings, nightmares, panic attacks, serious mental illness, sleep problems, stress management, substance use, and relationship difficulties. There are many different approaches to therapy and I focus on individually creating the best treatment for each client.

Hello- Thank you for taking the time to learn about me. I love working with adolescents and adults. I am particularly interested in working with members of the LGBTQIA+ community, facilitating trauma processes, and substance use recovery. Positivity, laughter, music, and creativity are essential elements of my practice. I look forward to helping you identify your strengths while expressing difficulties through modalities that fit your abilities and preferences.

As a compassionate advocate for women's mental health, I am deeply committed to empowering you to reclaim control over your life and find fulfillment and happiness. My approach is warm and collaborative; I believe in working together as a team to address your unique challenges and goals. My background is group and individual settings struggling with co-occurring disorders, primarily substance use and mood disorders. I believe identifying our values and faulty core beliefs are the foundation to success and healing. I also emphasize the importance of healthy self-esteem and will challenge you on your journey to healing.

Change is hard. It's particularly challenging when a lifestyle is built around behaviors that used to work. Fear, guilt, embarrassment, and anger often are a normal part of the process of becoming aware of the need for change. Sometimes these feelings create a barrier to the necessary change that brings relief. If you struggle with problematic substance use, either your own or someone else's, you know these statements are true. You just want reassurance that it is possible for life to be different...easier. It can be. Once a decision is made to take action...any new action...hope begins to come into focus.

Do you feel as though life is passing you by? As though you’re not in the driver’s seat of your own life? Oftentimes we go into autopilot mode because it’s familiar and feels comfortable. This autopilot mode can serve us, but when we’re constantly reacting to life automatically rather than responding mindfully, it can start to create issues for us. Therapy can be an effective way to break out of habitual patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that are causing us problems. I create a nonjudgmental space where you can pause to explore how to live life more intentionally and wholeheartedly.

Asking for help is sometimes difficult, and also powerful. Daily struggles with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, intrusive thoughts can become overwhelming. Complex trauma, substance use, eating disorders, unhealthy relationships, are among a few that can also keep us from our authentic self. In order to survive through all of this and keep going, it is common to adapt in ways that end up no longer working. We need help. That help comes from recognizing the gifts we have in ourselves and getting the gifts of others. My gift is to help others with aligning the head and the heart while healing to recognize authentic self.

Leslie Gonzales is a pre-licensed therapist who earned her Master’s degree in counseling from the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Throughout her master’s program, Leslie gained experience working with various populations in different settings to help them achieve their goals. Her experiences include providing outpatient counseling services to individuals with substance use disorders and guidance counseling services to students earning their high school equivalency credentials.

Welcome New Clients! Saturday & Sunday appointments available. I believe in the resilience of people who are doing the best they can and want better. You are capable. I've helped clients navigate challenges in their relationships, families, school & workplace. Together, we've addressed: anxiety & depression; substance use; grief, stress, & burnout; abandonment & neglect, shame & self-confidence; and trauma including rape, sexual assault, and child sexual abuse. I also provide licensure supervision. My mission is to ensure you feel heard, supported, & empowered to achieve your goals and experience your best life.

Accepting New Clients Are you always a little bit afraid to be yourself? Have you been hit with what feels like more than you can handle alone? I know those feelings exactly! I am honored to work with those in the LGBTQ+ community as well as individuals who struggle with substance use issues, trauma, anxiety/depression. I work from a psychoanalytic perspective to offer a safe space for those striving for a more fulfilling life.

Seeking therapy (and finding a therapist) can be a daunting challenge! I would love to connect and see if I can potentially help make the process a bit easier! I am passionate about helping people heal, grow and transform into their truest self. I enjoy working with individuals with Substance Use Disorders and their families, college students and phase of life transitions, religious de/reconstruction, grief processing (particularly related to leaving a cult or strict religious group), perfectionism, processing childhood trauma, codependency, boundary setting, identity development, and effective communication.

I am delighted to give folks the opportunity to meet their most confident, competent selves and to find joy in the journey of doing so. Whether that means healing from trauma, navigating systemic challenges, or learning how to get out of your own way— I believe you deserve to live authentically, richly, and joyfully. I also acknowledge that each of us exists within larger systems (some of which may be inherently unjust or broken) and that building such a life often requires you to find belongingness and support both from within and from without.

We all at times feel inadequate, have a loss of direction, identity, and/or authenticity which transitions into a loss of real relationship. Our feelings, anxiety, depression, life losses, medical conditions, and other mental health challenges can knock us off balance. I am here to walk alongside others in finding a healthy path and learning to deal with reality in a positive way. My goal is to equip clients with healthy tools to live their best lives- a life that is true to themselves, that is whole, authentic, and empowering, providing contentment & fulfillment.

Being human. Along with the beautiful parts of life comes pain, struggle, and trauma. Everyone deserves a safe person with whom they can address these things and achieve real healing. Real relief. My first goal when beginning work with clients is to create that place where they can be their authentic selves...and feel accepted. To give them unconditional support without judgement. With this relationship formed, the deeper and holistic work can begin. Healing can happen. If you're struggling with self-esteem, trauma, mood disorders, substance use...or just struggling at all, we can work together to help you find peace.

Relationship conflict can feel frustrating and hopeless. I help individuals stop having the same argument and avoid repeating negative patterns. In my practice I work with individuals, couples, and families needing crisis support to address conflict, rebuild trust, and gain tools for improving communication and connection. Specifically, I work with people who are experiencing life transitions, experiencing loss or grieving, struggling with anxiety, depression, addiction, and relationship wounds.

Arriving at the place of wholeness oftentimes is a journey. That path has “detours” and “construction” blocks along the way. Some of us barrel through those and some of us turn around. Either direction leaves us in a place where we need healing. We all have the strength to conquer our adversities and I want to partner with you.

Honest self-reflection is the answer to so many of our problems. At many points throughout our lives, we learn to ease life’s burdens by shutting down, acting out, or running away in attempts to find relief. Even our most destructive coping strategies were often the best answers we could find at the time to manage our anxieties, our desires, and our pain. When we allow ourselves the opportunity to slow down and reflect on our lives, both past and present, we deepen our understanding and insight. And, as we explore our lives without moralizing and harshness, we develop genuine compassion and greater trust in ourselves.