Four Ways to Find A Therapist or Counselor in Nashville

Finding a counselor, therapist, or life coach can be difficult. You may be new to a Nashville and do not know where to start. You may have suspicion about these professionals and are not sure you want to open up to a stranger. Or you may be struggling to find the courage to schedule an appointment for the first time. Making the decision to sharing the hard parts of your life is a vulnerable act.

Whatever your reason, it’s okay if you have struggled to make this call. But when you are ready to do the brave work of self-reflection and move towards health, then you want to make sure you have the right clinician to walk alongside you in that courageous journey.  

1. Ask A Helping Professional for a Referral:  Check in with your doctor, chiropractor, nurse practitioner, or pastor for who they would recommend. You can give them as much or as little information you are comfortable sharing about what you want or need.

2. PsychologyToday.com:  This website has an abundance of therapist, counselors, life coaches, and psychiatrists that practice in Nashville. This site is helpful because you can sort professionals by insurance, age, language, and various counseling issues. These filters can help you find a good fit and this website allows you to read about each person or counseling center. 

3. Google it:  Google is one quick way to check out most of the Nashville counseling offerings by reading websites, FAQ's, and blogs. Hopefully, their websites will be able to give you a good sense of what kind of work they do and if he or she would be a good fit for you. 

4. University Counseling Centers: Nashville is full of university counseling centers. If you are an alumni or are new to Nashville each of these university counseling centers can help you find names of clinicians to help you reach your goals. Here are a few options: Trevecca Counseling Center, Lipscomb Family Therapy Center, and Vanderbilt Psychological and Counseling Center. 

Bonus Tip: Once you narrow down to a few possible candidates, ask for a short 15-minute phone consultation before you schedule your first appointment. This call will allow you to ask questions and find the counselor that seems to be the best fit for you.

In next week's blog I will discuss how to know you have found the best fit for a Nashville therapist. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, if you have checked out my website and think that I might be a good fit for your journey towards health, then feel free to contact me at Jessica@JessicaMcCoyCounseling.com.

Jessica McCoy Counseling: Now Open Mondays in Nashville

As my practice grows, I have been able to add another day of availability to work with women and families in Nashville. As of May 2016, I am available Monday, Tuesday, and Thursdays.

If you are looking for counseling services due to family issues, relationship stress, work stress, or trying to move forward in a new direction, please call (615-979-4168) or email and we can schedule a free 15-minute consultation. 

These are a few of my favorite things : February Edition

One of my passions is self-care. The thing about self-care is that most of us "know" we need it, but we do not always know how to do it. This year I am focusing on my holistic self-care. I am trying to intentionally incorporate caring for myself in physical, spiritual, emotional, and relational ways. Here are a few ideas that have helped me in 2016. 

1. Bora Bora Fireballs: Don't let the name scare you off. This is my favorite new recipe of 2016. These meatballs are a gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free meal that taste amazing. What is especially great about this meal is how many you make at once and then can eat throughout the week. But be warned you may go through them faster than you think. Large batch cooking saves time later in the week (and gives you more space for other self-care practices). 

2.  Brené Brown's COURAGEworks Living Brave Semester:  Brené Brown holds a special place in my life. I connect with her work due to her authentic voice and strong research background. Going through her virtual classroom has lead to multiple personal shifts. Read how this class has impacted my re-evaluation of my values. 

3. Diamonds by JohnnySwim: In December I attended JohnnySwim's Holiday show (and I am already hoping they come back to Nashville next December). A few of their songs resonate with me, but this song is one of my new favorites. I love the resilience pouring from this song: "We are the brave. We are the chosen ones. We are the diamonds, rising up out the dust." Listen to Diamonds and let me know what you think. We're the light when the day is done. 

4. Sacred Space: The Prayer Book 2016 - Sacred Space is a book of daily readings that include six prayers, a Scripture reading, and a brief reflection. One thing I love about this book is the way these prayers and reflections often point towards connecting to Jesus through emotional experiences. In my spiritual practice of self-care, I am constantly searching for resources that are able to connect both mentally and emotionally in deepening my faith. This book continues to be a treasure. 

 5. Nayyirah Waheed's poetry: I cannot describe her work and art better than she can. So here are a few of my favorite poems.

What are some of your favorite things in your life? What practices or items are bringing you joy? Do you have any highlights from February?