Dual Diagnosis Therapists in Thompsons Station, TN

“To thine own self be true...thou canst not then be false to any man." - Shakespeare. I am a mature therapist with real world experience. One of my greatest joys is being a grandmother. I understand the difficulties of balancing family, work, relationships, and self-care. The feelings of distress, fear, shame, and isolation for not meeting the unobtainable expectations society places on us of can feel debilitating, even unbearable. Allow me to assist you. Together we will figure things out and create a path for you to become the best version of your authentic self, reclaim your joy and love who you are.

I am passionate about working with clients presenting with dual diagnoses and co-occurring disorders. I have experience working with clients who suffer from anxiety, depression, bi-polar I and II, PTSD, Trauma, addiction disorders, personality disorders, and OCD to name a few. I use a treatment model that is eclectic, as every client's needs vary. These models include, but are not limited to, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person Centered Therapy, EMDR, and Narrative Therapy.

If you're ready for healing and growth, I'm ready to help. I'm Emily Shelton, a dedicated Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with a passion for helping individuals navigate the complexities of anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, and substance use disorders. My mission is to create a warm and welcoming environment where you can embark on a journey toward self-discovery and well-being. I specialize in supporting individuals dealing with the challenges of anxiety or depression, the pain of grief, and the struggles related to substance use.

Perhaps you're struggling with depression, uncertainty, or the aftereffects of grief. Regardless of your stage in life, come as you are. Therapy should be a haven. Drawing from my own mental health journey, I'm here to guide and support you. I became a therapist because I believe everyone deserves emotional wellness. I am passionate about helping people grow and heal. If you're unsure about life's journey or seeking healing from grief or trauma, I specialize in helping. Together, using person-centered strategies, we'll navigate towards healing and growth.

I have worked with individuals and couples for over forty years, helping them to capitalize on their strengths rather than focusing on their problems. I see my role as a co-participant with clients in the therapy process. I seek to enable individuals and couples to develop their inner resources with understanding and caring support. In such a setting, my clients gain the strength and freedom to solve or manage their problems in creative ways.

Whether you are facing small problems, or very big ones; whether you are generally confident, or feel that no one cares or could understand your pain, I’m here. And I’ve been there. I worked for years to overcome challenging life issues and situations before studying to become a Professional Clinical Mental Health Counselor, so that I would be qualified to help others do the same. I believe strongly that a better life is out there if you can be courageous enough to try new behaviors, challenge old ways of thinking, and sometimes tolerate uncomfortable emotions. Therapy is not always easy, but it is rewarding, and you're not alone.

I work to identify the strengths of my client and then utilize these as we collaborate, accomplishing the client's life goals, navigating stressors and bringing balance and hope to the client's life. Are you tired of sabotaging your success? Do you wish you could get a grip on your anxiety? Why am I so angry all of the time? Other people can quit, why can't I? Will I ever be enough? I believe in creating a safe space of healing, hope and refuge where you can achieve your goals and desires for your life.

It is possible to move through life with minimal struggle. Your outward action in harmony with the inner voice that guides you, doing the right thing for the right reason, with a feeling of the wind at your back, effortless. One school of thought is that if you are not busy doing something and staying on top of things, you will lose your edge and your effectiveness. This attitude can create an over-active mind, prone to excessive worry and stress. The Art of Struggle Reduction takes a different approach. Moving through life with minimal worry, stress, and struggle makes one more effective, not less.

A trauma therapist, certified in EMDR and EAGALA equine therapy. Horses are metaphors for the human experience and how each individual interprets the herd explains how they see themselves in the human constellation Approaching horses helps us reflect how we approach our relationships and how we can face other big or overwhelming things in our lives. Since the solutions are personally experienced in conjunction with intellectual understanding, they tend to be deeper, more profound, and longer lasting. I walk with my clients through the trauma and to the other side of healing.

I have over 20 years of experience working in the mental health field in a variety of settings including community mental health, residential facilities, case management, and Private Practice since 2011. I work with a variety of client backgrounds, ages 10 and up. I do individuals, couples and family counseling. Please call with any questions.

Do you think your partner may have a sex addiction? Are you realizing that every intimate partner has been unhealthy? Have you lost your sense of self in the relationship? Do you obsessively check your partner's phone, email or social media? Have you done things with your partner that you are ashamed of?

In our journey through life, we encounter times that are tough to navigate. It could be a fresh challenge that appears out of nowhere or an old emotional wound that requires healing. Sometimes, we need a place to share our thoughts, feelings, and emotions freely. That's where counseling steps in as a valuable tool. I see it as a way to guide and support your personal growth and healing, helping you move forward.

Understanding that for most, making the decision to enter therapy is a difficult step, it is essential that I not only connect and relate, but I provide a degree of noticeable relief or insight within the first session. This is especially true with adolescents, young adults and men, who tend to be resistant at the onset of the therapy process. I meet my clients where they are at, build upon their strengths to address their struggles, establish mutually agreed upon goals, and become an advocate for their overall growth and well-being. I am affirming, but direct in my approach.

As a Master’s level, licensed, CSAT certified clinician, my focus is in connecting with others by walking alongside them through life experiences, both past & present, to uncover & address old wounds which may have caused maladaptive patterns of thinking, relating & behaving. ​As we gain greater awareness of and compassion for ourselves we begin to be reunited with our authentic self, resulting in a more accurate view of ourselves and others. It is there where we come to know our worth & purpose in the world and where we experience true freedom.

"There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds." – Laurell K. Hamilton. You are struggling to manage painful feelings and it is spilling into multiple areas of your life — sabotaging meaningful relationships and disrupting your work life. It is difficult to focus on a task for more than a few minutes before you are sucked into the negative thought spiral. Past experiences haunt you, driving you to use those self-destructive behaviors you thought you left behind. It is difficult to imagine a life where you are content and feel safe.