Our Team
Trauma therapists serving Nashville, TN
We are a collective of social workers and trauma-informed therapists who provide professional support and practical suggestions to help you live a happier, more fulfilling life.
Education
University of Tennessee
Master’s Degree, Social Work
Belmont University
Bachelor’s Degree, Social Work
Contact
Lizzie Harrigan, LCSW, PMH-C, RYT
Owner and Clinical Director
Lizzie is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in the treatment of trauma, addictive disorders, intimacy disorders, relationship issues, and borderline personality disorder. She has over fifteen years of field experience in these specialties and utilizes a variety of treatment models including Imago Relationship Therapy, fully-adherent Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-Based Therapies, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), EMDR, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Informed Yoga, and Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy. She is a trained drug, alcohol and behavioral interventionist and a clinical supervisor for social workers seeking their licensure in the state of Tennessee.
In addition to her clinical work with individuals, couples, and families she has focused on improving systems of care through program design and administration both in private facilities and in local government. She provides workshops and training on a variety of topics ranging from clinical issues to corporate wellness and leadership. For seven years, Lizzie instructed and authored undergraduate students in Social Work at Belmont University. Lizzie has served as a volunteer legislative advocate for Moms Demand Action, on the executive board for the National Association of Social Workers-Tennessee Chapter (NASW-TN), and on the executive board for The Rooted Bridge a non-profit focused on maternal mental health. Lizzie recently co-founded the Mental Health Active Response Team, a nonprofit organization that mobilizes networks of volunteer mental health professionals to meet the pressing needs of Tennesseans.
Specialties
Addictive Disorders, Intimacy Disorders, Traumatic Stress, Relationships, Borderline Personality Disorder, Perinatal Mental Health, Anxiety
Anne McKenzie McEntire, LCSW
Anne McKenzie is passionate about helping her clients embody their values. She is down to earth, genuine, and extremely comforting. She’s especially adept at working with nervous clients, calming their nerves, and bringing laughter into the room. And while Anne McKenzie has a special gift for being welcoming and approachable, she is also a no nonsense person who strives to teach, support, and empower her clients. Anne McKenzie loves to work with clients who struggle with anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, low self esteem/self compassion, and histories of trauma. She doesn’t believe clients need to “find their voice.” Instead she teaches her clients how to use their voice so others will listen. When not at work, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and their dog Henry, traveling, painting, trying new things in the kitchen and of course Netflix like everyone else.
Anne McKenzie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in the treatment of trauma, adolescent girls/women’s issues, anxiety, relationship issues, addiction and co-occurring disorders, and stress reduction for professionals. She utilizes a variety of models including, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Art Therapy, Trauma Informed Yoga, and Interpersonal Therapy. Anne McKenzie works with clients aged 12 and up. She is a current member of the Nashville Psychotherapy Institute.
Specialties
Addiction, Trauma, Women’s Issues, Young Girls, Self Esteem and Identity, Anxiety, Stress Reduction for High Performing Professionals
Education
University of Tennessee
Master’s Degree, Social Work
Sewanee: The University of the South
Bachelor’s Degree, Art History
Contact
Education
University of Tennessee
Master’s Degree, Social Work
University of Tennessee
Bachelor’s Degree, Psychology
Contact
Maria Matty, LCSW
Clinical Therapist
Maria is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in the treatment of trauma, addiction and co-occurring disorders, LGBTQIA+, anxiety, depression, and relationship issues. She is trained in a variety of models including, fully adherent Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-Based Therapies, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), attachment- and somatic-based Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR II), and Motivational Interviewing. Maria utilizes an eclectic approach to therapy with the purpose of meeting each client’s individual and unique needs. As a social worker, Maria believes in dismantling oppressive systems and advocating for social justice and systemic change in our communities.
Maria is a person-centered therapist and strongly believes that the individual is both the expert on their own experience and their greatest resource for healing. She has a holistic approach in her work with clients, addressing and affirming the whole person and guiding them to reconnect with the inner wisdom and resiliency. She is both down to earth and energetic. She identifies as queer, cisgender, and uses she/her/hers pronouns. She is LGBTQIA+ affirming, sex positive, and supportive of all humans who desire growth and change. As self-care, Maria enjoys reading novels, hiking, swimming, and spending time with her rescued greyhound, Rudy. Maria works with clients aged 18 and up.
Specialties
Trauma, Addiction and Co-occurring Disorders, LGBTQIA+, Anxiety, Depression, and Relationship Issues
Education
Trevecca Nazarene University
Master’s Degree, Marriage and Family Therapy
Belmont University
Bachelor’s Degree, Marketing and Business Administration
Contact
Clinical Therapist
Victoria is passionate about helping her clients find satisfaction and contentment in all their relationships, and she uses a very calming and genuine approach in therapy. Her clients’ report feeling comfortable with her right away. Victoria loves to work with clients who feel unsatisfied or stuck in their relationships, and with clients who have trauma histories, struggle with anxiety, low self esteem and/or self compassion, and depression. Victoria creates a safe and open space for her clients to work through whatever has brought them to therapy. She is kind, empathic, and always happy to listen to her client’s with the utmost compassion. Victoria’s goal is to guide her clients in creating meaningful change in their lives, and to allow them to share and process their experiences in an environment where they feel safe, secure, and truly known.
Victoria is trained in SomEx(a somatic and experiential treatment for trauma), Brainspotting (phase I & II), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Art Therapy. She incorporates Expressive Arts, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Internal Family Systems Therapy into her practice. She is a member of the American Counseling Association, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and Chi Sigma Iota. In her spare time, Victoria enjoys playing and writing her own music, practicing yoga, spending time out with friends, and playing with her Yorkie Poo puppy, Bear.
Specialties
Trauma, Identity Work, Relationship Issues, Codependency, Anxiety, Depression, and Life Transitions with Adults and Adolescents
Chelsea is a sex positive, secular therapist who is passionate about helping individuals, parents, and couples transform the fear, shame, and expectations that get in the way of their deep connections to self and others. She is a Certified Imago Relationship Therapist, and is intensively trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS). Chelsea uses the IFS framework to help her clients find compassion for all parts of themselves and live in a way that embodies their values. Her clinical interests include working with alternative/non-traditional relationships and family structures, spiritual wounding and/or deconstruction, trauma and abuse, grief, and challenges related to pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting experiences.
Her approach to therapy is both compassionate and honest, infused with humor, teaching, and curiosity. Chelsea’s clients leave their sessions feeling supported, understood, and empowered. In addition to IFS and Imago, Chelsea utilizes Compassion-Focused Therapy, and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy informed by experiential techniques. She has additional training in Perinatal Mental Health Care, Trauma-Informed Care, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, and Transformational Systemic Therapy. When Chelsea is not working with clients directly she is caring for the staff of BHC as the Practice Manager, spending time with her partner and little one, and possibly belting a ballad at a local karaoke bar.
Specialties
Relationship Issues, Alternative & Non-conforming Relationships and Families, Intimacy Disorders, Spiritual and Religious Abuse, Grief and Loss, Perinatal Issues, Trauma, Anxiety
Education
Loyola University Chicago
Master’s Degree, Social Work
Eastern Michigan University
Bachelor’s Degree, Social Work
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Education
Middle Tennessee State University
Middle Tennessee State University
Master’s Degree Clinical Social Work
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Clinical Therapist
Kara is a clinical therapist who enjoys working with clients who feel othered – whether that’s feeling more than, less than, or simply different from those around them. Kara approaches each client with curiosity, compassion, and levity, and she honors their unique perspectives while uncovering their untapped abilities. Kara helps her clients transform through difficult experiences and looks forward to celebrating her clients’ successes. She incorporates aspects of Experiential Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Radically Open DBT, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Mindfulness.
Kara has spent the past seven years working in in-patient settings with clients who struggle with substance abuse and mental health concerns, focusing on anxiety disorders, trauma, borderline personality disorder, life transitions, self-esteem, and body image issues. Kara is a self-care advocate and recharges through cooking, journaling, listening to music, and taking walks.
Specialties
Dialectical Behavior Therapies (Standard and Radically Open), Addictive Disorders, Personality Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Trauma
Jourdan Pace, LPC
Jourdan is passionate about working with clients facing anxiety, eating disorders, negative body image/self-worth, trauma, and emotional instability. She aims to walk alongside her clients as they seek a deeper understanding of themselves and build their “life worth living.” Jourdan believes in forming authentic relationships with clients and in remaining the same person inside and outside the therapy room to foster these relationships. Her therapy style is warm, direct, validating, and candid, with an evidence and strengths-based approach to supporting client healing.
While Jourdan excels in helping clients feel welcome and encouraged (aka, she will be your biggest cheerleader!), she is also the person who will compassionately “call out” the issues and challenge you to continue moving closer to living your values and reaching your goals. She utilizes a client-centered approach to counseling and views the client as a partner in the counseling process. To support clients, Jourdan practices through a trauma-informed lens and leverages mindfulness-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Jourdan has lived in Nashville for 14 years and is an Enneagram 4 who relishes good music, a great book, watching Gilmore Girls, and drinking a good cup of coffee. She also enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and dog “niece,” Lucy.
Jourdan is currently working toward LPC-MHSP licensure in the state of Tennessee and is supervised by Jen Biddle, LPC-MHSP, #3043.
Specialties
Trevecca Nazarene University
Belmont University
Contact
Education
Belmont University
University of Tennessee
Contact
Lydia is a Clinical intern who is currently completing her Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Tennessee. Lydia specializes in working with individuals in the music industry as well as adults and older adolescents who struggle with anxiety, grief and loss, life transitions, identity exploration, and substance abuse. She is also passionate about helping young adult women navigate the pressures of social media, relationships, and self-esteem. She believes that the mind and body are deeply interconnected, and that addressing both aspects of an individual’s well being is key to achieving lasting healing. Her training as a yoga instructor has given her a unique perspective on the benefits of movement, breathwork, and meditation for mental health, which allows her to incorporate yoga and mindfulness practices into her therapy sessions.
Lydia brings a compassionate and empathetic approach to her therapy sessions, creating a safe and supportive environment where her clients can share their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment. She is skilled in a variety of therapeutic techniques, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and solution-focused therapy. She is dedicated to helping her clients achieve their goals and live their best lives, and she looks forward to working with you.
Specialties
Music Industry Professionals and Families, Women’s Issues, Social Media Issues, Life Transitions, Anxiety Disorders
Brian Ker, LMSW
With an extensive background working with clients struggling with substance use, depression, anxiety, grief, self-esteem, process addiction, and trauma, Brian brings a wealth of experience to his therapeutic practice. He is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), allowing him to effectively address and heal traumatic experiences. His therapeutic approach is informed by mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic theory, internal family systems therapy, and the liberation health model. Furthermore, Brian has experience volunteering in hospice settings, offering compassionate support to individuals navigating the end-of-life process.
Beyond his clinical work, Brian strives to effectively advocate for social change by collaborating with communities and organizations to address legislative and policy issues. He understands that everyone is affected by societal stressors, and working towards more equitable social policy is a vital part of increasing the well-being of everyone. Brian is a father and happily in love with his wife. In his spare time, he enjoys playing video games with his friends, reading science fiction, and practicing mixed martial arts.
Specialties
Tennessee State University
Tennessee State University
Contact
Loyola University Chicago
Master’s Degree, Social Work
Eastern Michigan University
Bachelor’s Degree, Social Work
Contact
Katy Roberts
Client Care Coordinator
Are we a good fit?
At Bright Horse Counseling, we acknowledge that our style might not be the best fit for everyone. To see if our practice is the right one for your personality type, take the quiz.
