https://youtu.be/2tEdePQMHz8 Tiffany is a Black woman of faith, a wife, and a stay at home mom of a young daughter. She also suffers from depressive episodes. Because she wanted to take good care of her new family, she sought therapy to treat her depression and ended up finding her authentic voice.
Friday, March 31 from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm (Central) at Forest Hills Baptist Church Insight Counseling Centers hosts a Fifth Friday Mental Health Training on Exploring Mental Fitness: Understanding Your Inner Judge and Its Sneaky Saboteurs | Strengthening Your Sage. Did you know everyone has an inner judge? Even you? Each person’s judge is supported by sneaky Saboteurs. Shirzad Chamine, best-selling author and creator of the Positive Intelligence/Mental Fitness program has identified nine Saboteurs that exist to some degree…
Last month, the job search website, Zippia, released results of a survey showing the most popular 2023 New Year’s resolutions, by state. I expected Tennessee’s top resolution to be “stop smoking,” “lose weight,” or “exercise more.” I was pleasantly surprised to see that along with 11 other states, Tennessee’s top resolution for 2023 is “therapy.” While we can debate the effectiveness of new year's resolutions (studies tell us most are forgotten by Valentine’s Day), the fact that beginning therapy topped…
Written by Joshua F. Medeiros, MS As this year comes to a close, many minds turn to reflections of the past year. Fond memories, big changes, obstacles overcome, and victories won abound, yet all too often the focus turns to the negative. Regrets, things we wish we had accomplished, broken promises to others, but more subtle and possibly more painful are the promises we have not kept with ourselves. Invariably, the resolution to do better in the coming year…
National Family Caregivers Month -- celebrated each November -- is a time to recognize and honor family caregivers across the country. More than 50 million Americans provide crucial care and medical assistance to parents, children, siblings, or other loved ones. If you are a family caregiver, we want to connect you with information and resources that can help you maintain your mental health and better serve your loved ones. Caregiver Toolbox: https://www.caregiveraction.org/family-caregiver-toolbox Caregiver Help Desk: https://www.caregiveraction.org/helpdesk Family Caregiver Services in…
And learning from them Written by Jared Porter There’s no mistake about it: My daughter is quite the artist. She lives for art. During the early days of the pandemic, it became a wonderful outlet for her. Her style and technique flourished. She learned to make it her own. Like her dad, she’s also a perfectionist. I saw it clear as day a couple of years back. She was working on a drawing and she made — that’s right —…
Join us for our 4th annual Journey to Wholeness event! You're invited to breakfast on Thursday, September 29 from 7:45 am - 8:45 am in McWhirter Hall at West End United Methodist Church, Nashville. Staff, board members, and therapists from Insight Counseling Centers will present an inside look at the work that your donations make possible -- plus, we'll hear a story of healing from someone who has directly benefited from therapy at Insight. Guests will have an opportunity to…
Minority Mental Health Awareness Month Therapist Panel Discussion https://youtu.be/WIiMx4Cf41I July is recognized nationally as Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. In this one-hour panel discussion we explore the unique struggles faced by minority and marginalized populations and the resources that are available for building mental, emotional, and spiritual strength and well-being. Our featured panelists include Monét C. Shell, LMFT, Meadow Alsobrook, LPC-MHSP(Temp.), Hannah Feliciano, LMFT, and Amanda Gibson LPC-MHSP(Temp.).
Written By Jared Porter “I love that thing!” my daughter said, pointing. That “thing” was a small, hedge-lined, grass field stretching out before her under a brilliant blue sky. Birds were singing. The sun was shining. It was a beautiful summer day. We’d been here before: the picturesque Scarritt Bennett Center in Nashville. One of my favorite parts of the Scarritt Bennett Center is the labyrinth, a circular formation outlined by bricks pressed into the ground near the International Peace…
Written by Joshua F. Medeiros, MS Benjamin Franklin once quipped that, “in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” While many Americans spend an entire season worrying about taxes, there are precious few days where we collectively reflect on death. In this post, I would like to begin by giving a very brief history of Memorial Day and then transition into a discussion on grief and the grieving process, of which, days of remembrance like today can play…
Reflections of a New Mother Written by Hannah Feliciano, LMFT I became a new mom last year, and while this past year has been the most incredibly rewarding, it has also been one of the most difficult and draining years as well. The transition to motherhood is one that is celebrated for its beauty and awe, but many times it is also a transition fraught with anxiety, depression and even sometimes anger and disappointment. The transition to motherhood is something…
https://youtu.be/Z4n7_UKxK_E We come by our habits honestly. Whether it's been a few years since you left home or you're retired, the family that raised you matters. How you manage relationships, what you expect from life, and your view of God have been shaped by home. Dr. Amanda W. Myers, LMFT, examines the Serenity Prayer from the lens of acceptance and the context of changing those family nuances that are detrimental to your health in this recorded webinar.
https://youtu.be/jh0InB7USVc How can faith community leaders and mental health practitioners work together for the mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of the people they serve? In this hour-long webinar, we discover how mental health concerns can impact faith communities, how faith communities can impact mental health, and how to determine when it’s appropriate to refer someone in your faith community to mental health services. Presenter: Carol Smith, M.Div., LMFT serves as Director of Spiritually-Integrated Psychotherapy Training at Insight Counseling Centers. Resources…
What drew you to the field of counseling? I wanted to be able to better serve the people I worked with. At that time, I worked in Human Resources and interacted with several hundred people per week. I chose Psychology as my minor as I pursued an undergraduate degree. After my first semester, I knew that learning how and why people interact the way that we do was more than an add-on. I needed to receive all of the knowledge…
Insight Counseling Centers is pleased to announce the selection of Monét C. Shell as Director of Clinical Services beginning January 2022. Monét is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a graduate of Lipscomb University, where she earned a Masters of Marriage and Family Therapy. Her relationship with Insight Counseling Centers began with a Master’s-level clinical internship and continued with a contract therapist position after earning her degree. Monét joins Executive Director, Pam Brown, and Director of Spiritually-Integrated Psychotherapy Training,…
“Each Rutherford County ambassador is a long‐time supporter of Insight’s mission. It is wonderful that this group has come together in an official way to help make sure those who live and work in Rutherford County know about our agency’s mission, and that we stand ready to provide professional counseling to individuals, couples, and families.”Pam Brown, executive director of Insight Counseling Centers Insight Counseling Centers is pleased to announce its newly formed group, Insight Ambassadors of Rutherford County. The members…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btoKl9iu_gw Insight Counseling Centers presents a therapist round-table discussion on grief, loss, and the holidays. Speakers: Carol Smith, LMFT, Dr. Dwight Hughes, LMFT, Jordan Malone, Meadow Alsobrook, LPC-MHSP(Temp) Grief Resources Therapist-Recommended Books A Decembered Grief: Living with loss while others are celebrating (1999 & 2011) by Harold Ivan Smith Seven Choices: Finding Daylight after Loss Shatters Your World (Neeld, E. H., 2003) The Empty Chair: Handling grief on holidays and special occasions (2001) by Susan J Zonnebelt-Smeenge & Robert C. DeVries…
Using Your Spiritual Resources to Improve Your Mental Health https://youtu.be/Ei2eDGFvu8o Your spirituality, faith, or religious tradition are part of the whole you. In this recorded webinar video, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Carol Smith, guides us through the questions: How can therapists help us heal from past spiritual wounds? What is spiritually-integrated psychotherapy? And how can we use our own spirituality and religious traditions to help strengthen and improve our mental health? Presenter: Carol Smith is a Licensed Marriage &…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x0uVIyTpwY First-time therapy client, Kayla, was amazed at how meeting with her therapist at Insight Counseling Centers improved her life and relationships!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCkD1g2b9ts Reflections of a Black Therapist A trauma event is one that the mind, body, and/or soul carries and translates into defense mechanisms. Those mechanisms can include defenses such as Repression, Internalization, Projection, Rationalization, and Denial. Monét C. Shell, therapist at Insight Counseling Centers, explores the types of traumas presented by Black clients in therapy during this online presentation. Presenter: Monét C. Shell practices marriage and family therapy at Insight Counseling Centers and sees clients through telehealth. She holds a…
Free documentary screening and expert panel discussion with audience Q&A Thursday, September 2nd from 9:30 am - 10:30 am Online Adults over age 50 are one of the fastest-growing groups for substance misuse and abuse. NPT Reports Aging Matters: Opioids & Addiction explores how older adults and their families deal with the medical, social, and economic challenges of this public health threat. Insight Counseling Centers invites you to an online documentary screening on Thursday, September 2nd from 9:30 am –…
Thirty-six years ago, a group of visionary people from Vine Street Christian Church set a plan in motion that led to the formation of Insight Counseling Centers, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to restoring lives to wholeness by providing spiritually-integrated psychotherapy to individuals, families, and couples in Tennessee. We are so grateful to Vine Street for their continued support of our mission, and we’re excited to announce that we are returning to a newly renovated counseling office in the church…
https://youtu.be/zvvriBsXLxU Change can create chaos for families, especially for teens and parents. Two tools that can help strengthen family relationships and calm chaos are healthy boundaries and communication. Insight counselor, Ed Barron, shares tips to reduce family strains in this recorded webinar video. Presenter: Ed Barron, LPC-MHSP(Temp.), provides counseling to adults, couples, children, adolescents, families, and groups, specializing in divorce, children of divorce and blended families. He works with those experiencing a variety of problems including anxiety, depression, grief/loss, individuals…
https://youtu.be/dR2wZBnxJ7c You're likely familiar with the popular image of a mid-life crisis presenting itself in the form of a man in his mid-forties buying a car way out of his tax bracket and attempting to wear the latest fashion. You may be less familiar with the quarter-life crisis, affecting individuals between the ages of 18-25 who find themselves at a loss between childhood and adulthood. This stage of life doesn’t have to be a time of fear and turmoil. Insight…
https://youtu.be/62fOrV03odU Self-sabotaging behaviors create problems for us in daily life and ultimately prevent us from achieving our long-standing goals. The most common self-sabotaging behaviors include procrastination, self-medication with drugs or alcohol, comfort eating, and forms of self-injury such as cutting. In this webinar, Dr. Amanda W. Myers teaches us how to identify our self-sabotaging behaviors and shares tools for overcoming them. Presenter: Amanda W. Myers, Ph.D., is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and sees clients at Insight Counseling Centers’…
I think about my old friend George Bailey from time to time. You probably remember him. Tall guy, born and raised in Bedford Falls, spitting image of Jimmy Stewart. Beautiful family. I grew up with George. We’ve spent many an hour together over the years, typically at the holidays. In fact, that's really the only time I’ve seen him—but what he represents is something that stays with me all year long. I know, I know. "It's A Wonderful Life" is…
Free Documentary Screening and Panel Discussion Thursday, May 13 from 9:30 am - 10:30 am Online We know loneliness can negatively impact our health, but what do we do about it? This NPT Reports: Aging Matters episode explores the benefits and challenges of developing relationships as we age. Insight Counseling Centers invites you to an online documentary screening on Thursday, May 13 from 9:30 am – 10:30 am. An expert panel discussion with audience Q&A will immediately follow the screening.…
Friday, April 16 from 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm https://youtu.be/PnGLAL2NUmg Technology allows us to connect with each other in a lot of ways. Throughout the pandemic in particular, many people have been receiving mental health counseling online through telehealth. What is telehealth, and is it really as effective and secure as meeting with a therapist in person? Presenter: Amanda Gibson is a counselor at Insight Counseling Centers’ Murfreesboro location and sees clients statewide via telehealth. She holds a Master’s degree…
I don’t know about you, but I am tired of hearing and using the term “unprecedented times.” But really, how else can we describe 2020 using language appropriate for polite company? I recall this time last year when we were about to say “goodbye” to 2019. Businesses were gearing up with their “2020 Vision” themes, and many people were approaching the new decade with optimism. And then came March, which came in like a lion, but didn’t go out like…
For me, the time between early November through the end of December holds special place in my heart and mind -- a season of reflection filled with hope for our best life. In addition to hope there are three other components of living a healthy life: they are peace, joy, and love.And while the holiday season this year will be a different than in years past, we are learning to be flexible and adapt our activities to remain healthy, safe…
For some, the holiday season is not always met with the richness of love and joy surrounded by family and friends. Instead, it may be a time of loneliness, anxiety, and depression. However, your gift provides comfort and hope to many individuals knowing they can receive affordable counseling from our compassionate therapists. In addition to making a year-end donation, this season we offer you the opportunity to join our Compassion Circle, Insight's monthly giving circle. Your recurring monthly gift will create…
https://youtu.be/77pCo3hFttM Family relationships can be tough, so when Tayllor moved back near her hometown and her family after college, she knew she would need support. Thanks to encouragement from her friends, she sought out therapy. Her counselor at Insight Counseling Centers met her with the warmth and kindness she needed to work through anxiety and enter a new chapter in her life.
https://youtu.be/m8D3wvuDhlY As a self-employed artist and single mom, Katie assumed counseling was a luxury she couldn't afford. When she found out about Insight Counseling Centers' income-based fee scale, she discovered that not only was counseling affordable, but her mental and emotional health was completely worth the investment.
Insight Counseling Centers is proud to host a 30-hour training program for mental health professionals and graduate students on working with clients' spirituality in session. The Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy (SIP) Training Program was developed by ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care & Education and consists of ten 3-hour courses. Participants who complete the 30-hour curriculum are eligible to pursue certification in Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy by completing 20 hours of consultation with an ACPE SIP Trainer. The pilot training program at…
We’re livestreaming on October 8! Throughout this difficult year, Insight therapists have supported their clients through each unique challenge. Join us for Journey to Wholeness – a free 30-minute online event to celebrate and support the clients and therapists of Insight Counseling Centers. Hear the impact Insight Counseling is making in the lives of individuals, families, and couples in Middle Tennessee, and learn how you can become involved! There is no cost to attend. There will be an opportunity to…
Watch the webinar recording and learn how to maintain and improve your mental health using self-care and gratitude https://youtu.be/JiO2gnwVfjE With 18% of Americans facing an anxiety disorder, and around 40% of Americans expressing anxiety about contracting the new coronavirus, now more than ever it is important to talk about ways to tend to our mental health. Sharing current research, practical tools, and personal anecdotes, Insight counselors Hannah Feliciano, MMFC/T, and Amanda Gibson, MA, illuminate how practicing self-care and gratitude maintains…
Gratitude is all about the expression of appreciation. We appreciate people, things, and experiences that we come across in our lives; and, as it turns out, this expression of gratitude can benefit us mentally, physically, and emotionally. Several studies over time have shown the benefits that come along with openly practicing gratitude. People who are grateful are happier, sleep better, and even live longer. We don’t practice gratitude because we live happy lives; we live happy lives because we practice…
Written by Jared Porter Several years ago, on a Saturday, I went for a walk at Nashville’s scenic Percy Warner Park. There’s just something rejuvenating about trees, birds, squirrels, and trickling water. I don’t do it often enough, but that day, I made time for it. Up the long, winding path I went, around a bend, trees overhead, nature all around me. Every step was taking me closer to Something. I didn’t know what, but for me, that’s part of…
Written by Bailey Huckaby I will never forget the moment my best friend Cassie looked at me and said, “You are depressed, and I’m tired of us not talking about it.” I was shocked. I had spent the last several months trying to portray the positive, upbeat person that most of my friends knew me to be. I was determined to keep up the façade that everything was great, I was happy, I was okay. For the most part, it…
It's likely that trauma has touched all of our lives, whether through our own experiences or the experiences of people we know. Over 70% of adults in the United States have experienced trauma at some point in their lives. Trauma can be caused by a range of experiences, whether they are single incidents or experiences that happen over a period of time. Some examples of situations that can cause trauma are natural disasters, losing one’s job, experiencing infidelity in a…
Start by identifying your feelings. It can be easy to get caught up in your emotions as you’re feeling them. Most people don’t think about what emotions they are dealing with, but taking the time to really identify what you’re feeling can help you to better cope with challenging situations. Fast Facts The English language has over 3,000 words for emotions.People who are good at being specific about identifying and labeling their emotions are less likely to binge drink, be…
When life gets difficult, where do you find peace and hope? What sustains you? Is there anybody who truly understands your situation? All of us have strengths and resources we use to get through hard times, to feel good, and to flourish. Taking time to identify and remember these resources will benefit your mental health! Leaning into your strengths Your strengths are your internal resources, and they are always with you. Leaning into your strengths is just a matter of…
We’re here for you. Insight is offering quality and compassionate mental health counseling services via teletherapy. Our therapists are available to help with anxiety, depression, grief & loss, trauma, and relationship issues, among others, or to assist you in processing the rapidly unfolding current events. Teletherapy allows you to speak to a therapist in the safety and comfort of your home. We are able to provide this service to anyone in the state of Tennessee. When you reach out to schedule…
What does it take to have a healthy relationship? We asked our experienced couples’ therapists and discovered some key areas of focus to grow our relationship skills. In healthy romantic partnerships, both parties feel safe to be vulnerable with each other because their intimate relational needs are known and nourished, versus shut down or cut off. Essentially, partners are respected and assured they can count on the other. Most people think of romance as sending flowers or preparing a fancy…
“…This incredibly isolating experience called ‘depression’—and it’s isolating to a greater extent than I imagined survivable—ultimately reconnects you with the human community in a deeper, wider, and richer way.” -Author, Parker Palmer, on making meaning after depression. Depression is common, but the experience of depression doesn’t feel common. In depression, you feel lonely, isolated, overwhelmed, and afraid. This state of being is exhausting. The everyday tasks of maintaining your life become unbearably painful. Vitality is lost and you feel like…
Tuesday, February 4, 2020 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM First Presbyterian Church of Nashville 4815 Franklin Pike, Nashville, TN 37220 Decades of research have shown that social isolation and loneliness can be as dangerous to your health as smoking or obesity. On this edition of Aging Matters, we will explore how growing older can be an isolating experience and the difference between being isolated and feeling isolated or lonely. We’ll also look at innovative ways to create communities that prevent…
Therapists Share about Healing Spiritual Wounds Oct. 5: Insight Counseling Centers offers a conference on healing faith-based hurt Insight Counseling Centers is presenting Restoration Experience, a free 90-minute conference taking place on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019 at 7:30 pm at The Well Coffeehouse in Brentwood. The aim of the event is to acknowledge that hurt and isolation sometimes occur in faith communities, and to give people much-needed resources for moving forward. Spiritual wounds are real, and unfortunately, common. They range…
You’re invited to breakfast! Join us for the Journey to Wholeness Breakfast on Thursday, September 19, 2019 at West End United Methodist Church (McWhirter Hall), 2200 West End Ave, Nashville, TN. Check-in begins at 7:45 am, breakfast from 8 am - 9 am. Hear the impact Insight Counseling Centers is making in the lives of individuals, families, and couples in Middle Tennessee, and learn how you can get involved. There is no cost to attend, and the event will include…
Contact us to reserve your seat!
Written by Pam Brown, ACC, CFRE Last week I visited with a long-time supporter of Insight Counseling Centers. Her support goes all the way back to our agency’s founding more than 30 years ago. Insight recently received a shipment of coffee mugs and I wanted her to have one. I put together an arrangement of flowers and greenery from my garden so that the mug could serve as a cute little vase. When I arrived at the appointed time, her…
Thursday, August 29, 2019 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM Andrew Price Memorial United Methodist Church2846 Lebanon Pike, Nashville, TN 37214 Decades of research have shown that social isolation and loneliness can be as dangerous to your health as smoking or obesity. On this edition of Aging Matters, we will explore how growing older can be an isolating experience and the difference between being isolated and feeling isolated or lonely. We’ll also look at innovative ways to create communities that prevent…
Insight Counseling Centers is proud to sponsor The Integration Podcast, a place to discuss difficult but relevant topics, where issues of spirituality, psychology, the arts, and society all intersect. The Integration Podcast is hosted by Hannah Feliciano and Eric Schaefer. The inaugural episode features an interview with therapists Carol Smith and Dwight Hughes on the topic of spiritually-integrative mental health counseling. Listen to the episode above, and find more information at theintegrationpodcast.com. You can also listen and subscribe to The…
Tuesday, May 21, 2019 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM St. Clair Senior Center 325 St Clair St, Murfreesboro, TN 37130 Decades of research have shown that social isolation and loneliness can be as dangerous to your health as smoking or obesity. On this edition of Aging Matters, we will explore how growing older can be an isolating experience and the difference between being isolated and feeling isolated or lonely. We’ll also look at innovative ways to create communities that prevent…
Thursday, May 16, 2019 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Trinity Episcopal Parish 317 Franklin Street, Clarksville, TN 37040 Decades of research have shown that social isolation and loneliness can be as dangerous to your health as smoking or obesity. On this edition of Aging Matters, we will explore how growing older can be an isolating experience and the difference between being isolated and feeling isolated or lonely. We’ll also look at innovative ways to create communities that prevent isolation and…
New location at Andrew Price Memorial United Methodist Church will serve Donelson, Hermitage, Mt. Juliet, Madison, Lebanon, East Nashville Insight Counseling Centers has opened a new location at Andrew Price Memorial United Methodist Church, 2846 Lebanon Pike in Donelson. With this key addition, Insight will expand its reach and services to communities across Middle Tennessee. “We are grateful to Andrew Price Memorial United Methodist Church for their hospitality. The church is centrally located so that we not only serve clients…
Written by Krystal LaCoy, MMFT My time as a master’s intern at Insight Counseling Centers was a phenomenal experience. The first thing that stood out to me was the professional community that the other counselors, supervisors, and staff created. The second thing that stood out is the development opportunities provided by Insight. The group and individual supervision that I received was instrumental in my development as a counselor. I was given the space to explore who I am as a…
Thursday, August 30, 2018 First United Methodist Church, Family Life Center 265 West Thompson Lane, Murfreesboro, TN Doors open @ 10:30 am Lunch served @ 11:30 am Program and Live Auction to follow $25 per Seat | $200 for a Table of 8 Reserve your seat now or purchase at the door. SPONSORED BY: Presenting Sponsor: Rachel and Justin Holder, Parks Realty, Murfreesboro Advocate: Ellen K. Slicker, PhD Supporters: Central Christian Church, First Tennessee Bank, RAI Advisors, Saint Thomas Rutherford,…
Thursday, September 27, 2018 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Insight Counseling Centers - Nashville 678 Brook Hollow Road, Nashville, TN 37205 Decades of research have shown that social isolation and loneliness can be as dangerous to your health as smoking or obesity. On this edition of Aging Matters, we will explore how growing older can be an isolating experience and the difference between being isolated and feeling isolated or lonely. We’ll also look at innovative ways to create communities that…
Friday, August 31st 8:30 am – 11:30 am Insight Counseling Centers - Nashville 678 Brook Hollow Rd., Nashville, TN 37205 Insight Counseling Centers invites you to a training on Lectio Intima (Intimate Reading) and Passionate Partnership. A light breakfast will be provided at 8:30 am, program to start at 9 am. Purchase tickets ahead of time online by credit card or at the door by cash or check made out to Insight Counseling Centers. 2.5 CEUs available for Licensed Clinical…
Written by Barbara Tamkin, MMFT Robert Frost once said, “The best way out is always through.” This is so true about life’s transitions. The only way to grow in life’s transitions is to move through them. Transitions and change are facts of life. When life closes a door, change is inevitable. This can be a good thing. Transitions force us to make a move or a decision. They force us to flex muscles we may never have known we had…
At Insight Counseling Centers we strive to provide our clients with a diverse range of services to meet their needs. In that spirit, we are proud to announce that our Bilingual Psychologist, Dr. Adrianne McKeon, will be offering psychological evaluations in both English and Spanish. Dr. McKeon uses a variety of tests to determine the presence and severity of mental health diagnoses for children and adults. As part of the evaluation, clients receive an official report explaining findings and providing…
Friday, June 29th 8:45 am – 11:30 am Insight Counseling Centers - Nashville 678 Brook Hollow Rd., Nashville, TN 37205 Insight Counseling Centers invites you to an introductory training for clinicians on Internal Family Systems therapy. A light breakfast will be provided at 8:45 am, program to start at 9 am. Purchase tickets ahead of time online by credit card or at the door by cash or check made out to Insight Counseling Centers. CEUs available for Licensed Clinical Pastoral…
Join us on Saturday, April 14 from 7 am - 11 am at Grace Lutheran Church in Clarksville for pancakes, sausage, juice, coffee, and tea! Tickets are $5 each at the door, and proceeds benefit the healing work of Insight Counseling Centers in Clarksville. We hope to see you there! Sponsored by: First Christian Church, First Presbyterian Church, and Grace Lutheran Church.
Friday, March 30th, 2018 | 8:45 am - 12 pm
Millions of individuals in the U.S. each year suffer from depression, making it one of the most prevalent mental health concerns. It’s likely that you know and love someone who is affected by it. Maybe you have experienced firsthand some of the symptoms, when handling daily activities becomes a struggle, affecting every aspect of your life. Depression robs individuals of joy and fulfillment. Insight Counseling Centers helps clients recognize and utilize effective tools to work through depression. Brooke Lamb, MMFT,…
January gives us time and space to pause, reflect on where we’ve been, and look forward to where we want to go. Even though the term "New Year's Resolutions" has fallen out of favor with many, as the popularity of choosing a "Word of the Year" shows, the concept of setting intentions at the beginning of the new year remains important to many. Certain times, like New Year's Day and birthdays, offer us an opportunity to reorganize our lives. Sarah…
During counseling sessions, as Pastoral Counselors, we are always listening for our clients’ source of ultimate hope. Hope is what will help a client get better, and knowing the source of hope helps us navigate to a place of healing. In the case of a client who has attempted suicide, it is essential to know the source of hope which keeps them grounded. One client, Beth*, came to Insight Counseling Centers referred by a good friend who saw that she…
Written by Jeremy Sublett, LPC-MHSP This month, let’s take a few minutes to review Substance Abuse and Prevention together: Substance Abuse Points to Consider Drug addiction is a chronic disease characterized by compulsive use despite the negative and harmful consequences. Brain changes occur over time with drug use. The challenge brought to an addicted person’s self-control interferes with their ability to resist the urge to take drugs. This is also why relapse occurs. Drugs affect the brain’s reward system…
Suicide is a word we hear about through the news, friends, or pop-culture, but a majority of us feel it won’t affect our lives. We feel distant from this subject, not recognizing the devastating and vast effect it has nationally and here in our own state. According to the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network, suicide was the 9th leading cause of death for all age groups in Tennessee in 2013, claiming approximately 950 lives per year. This number, however, does not…
Insight Counseling Centers to provide support to Tusculum Elementary refugee students Nashville’s refugee children face challenges associated with adjusting to a new culture. Sadly, many of them have experienced traumatic events as a result of living in war-torn countries. Classroom teachers have limited access to resources to help the sensitive needs of this population. Insight Counseling Centers is providing play therapy to Tusculum Elementary refugee students in grades one through four. Through creative art activities, Insight’s counselors will teach life…
Written by Pam Brown, Executive Director Media misrepresentation and what we can do about it Since joining Insight Counseling Centers in January, I've become more attuned to the ways in which therapy and therapists are portrayed in the media. Here are two examples I recently noticed. 1. A couple was meeting with their therapist for marriage counseling. The actor playing the therapist approached the part as a loopy, clueless character whose suggestions elicited eye rolls from the husband and wife.…
We’re Moving! Insight Counseling Centers was formed as the Pastoral Counseling & Consultation Centers of Tennessee in 1985 when a handful of visionary people from Vine Street Christian Church brought to fruition their dream of providing spiritually informed and psychologically sound counseling for the Nashville area. For 32 years, Vine Street Christian Church has housed our Nashville Center and administrative offices. The church has sold a portion of its property, which includes our office space, and will renovate the remaining…
Written by John Ray, MA It is estimated that over 40,000 deaths by suicide occur in the United States every year. Suicide leaves in its wake a host of family, friends, and others affected by tremendous and sudden loss. How can these survivors of tragedy move forward with their lives? First must come the understanding that one will never "get over" such a loss. Rather, the aim is to "get through" it, accepting that life as you have known it…
“Vulnerability begets vulnerability, so when you open up and you have that conversation with somebody it validates those emotions in somebody else. What we've seen in this campaign is that people start talking, and it's good and it's healthy and it's fun! It's encouraging, and you know that someone else out there in your own community is feeling the same things that you're feeling.” Insight’s Director of Development & Marketing, Taylor Cochran, was live on Facebook with Williamson Source today,…
Executive Director 100 Day Report I recently observed my 100th day with Insight Counseling Centers. Since January 3rd, I have been meeting with agency stakeholders including staff, board members, former board members, and people who were involved in the agency’s founding 32 years ago. I quickly assessed that Insight is blessed with counselors who provide exquisite, spiritually integrated psychotherapy; a “lean and mean” administrative staff of three who approach their development, marketing, communications, and finance responsibilities with extreme dedication; an…
Effective May 1, 2017, Insight Counseling Centers will transition to a centralized intake department for all locations. This department will be staffed by trained Interns and Volunteer Intake Practitioners. We believe this move best ensures exceptional care for all our clients. To make a referral or schedule your first appointment, please call the Intake Department at (615) 383-2115, extension 100. The Intake Department will assist you with: Scheduling initial appointments Establishing fees for service Making a contribution Scheduling workshops for…
Accept each other: When we fall in love, we usually gravitate toward someone who is like us in some ways but different in others. At first this attraction seems ideal, but within about 6-18 months of the relationship the differences will initiate conflict. It is important to normalize these differences and to accept each other, warts and all. Be vulnerable: Assuming the relationship is safe, sharing tender, vulnerable emotions beneath anger and strife can help soften interchanges and keep the…
Claudia Avila-Lopez, Licensed Master Social Worker, coordinates Insight Counseling Centers’ services in Spanish. Most of the clients in her caseload have immigrated to the U.S. from Spanish-speaking countries. “I try to keep spots open for clients who do not speak English and are in crisis situations,” she says. Claudia describes the trauma she sees from these clients’ experiences in their countries of origin – childhood abuse, gang-related violence, war, and even torture. Unfortunately, these problems don’t disappear once they’ve crossed…
Today we are remembering Dan Marshall, LMFT. Dan began with us as a practicum student at Trevecca Nazarene University, and after graduating, coordinated our Franklin office. He was a gentle and kind man, committed to serving in whatever ministry was before him. We are honored to have known and worked with him, and we will miss him. He blessed not only the lives of his clients, but our lives as well. Daniel Lynn Marshall, age 63 of Columbia, TN went…
Written by Brooke Lamb The middle of November through the beginning of January is probably the time of year with which the most Americans have a powerful love-hate relationship. For some, the holidays are a time of joy, reuniting with loved ones, excitement over presents and delicious meals, and a sense of hope for the new year to come. But for others, Thanksgiving and Christmas bring with them reminders of the person missing at the table, difficult family conflicts usually…
Our clients come from different walks of life and wrestle with a myriad of issues: depression, anxiety, divorce, PTSD, and relational issues, just to name a few. Often clients feel alone and without hope, wondering what the future holds, and commonly are without the ability to find affordable quality counseling. For the last 31 years, each of our clients has had an advocate like you who is providing hope to them. Your support is the reason clients struggling with depression…
Written by Sarah Grove “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” ― Audre Lorde, Our Dead Behind Us: Poems “All things counter, original, spare, strange; Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?) With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim; He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change: Praise him.” ― Gerard Manley Hopkins, Pied Beauty What would it be like to live in a world where…
Insight Counseling Centers received a $35,000 grant from The Healing Trust! The Healing Trust supports Insight's mission of restoring lives to wholeness and our commitment to providing quality, compassionate care to all who come to us for help. We're so grateful to The Healing Trust for this grant, which will support 350 sessions of pastoral psychotherapy for clients only able to pay $30 or less per session according to an income-based scale. Insight was one of 26 life-changing non-profit organizations…
Written by Karen Potratz This work starts in the quietness of a safe office and with a good connection. Working with people who are asking for help and confessing their vulnerability is an honor and a privilege. Specifically, many referrals come from family and friends. One such call came from a young lady in a desperate state, concerned that her body was responding to overwhelming stress. She was concerned for her health and her safety. She suffered from anxiety and…
Written by Karissa Curtis "Theodore! You know better!" the two-year-old's parents warn. But their words have no effect on their rambunctious toddler. My nephew knows he will get in trouble for banging his toys against the wall, but he continues to do it anyway. "You know better." I say it to my toddler nephew, but I hear the words being said to me. How often do I do things against my better judgment? How often do I knowingly sin? Well, I'm human, so my…
NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) - Late last month, nine "mood walls" showed up all over Nashville, each one with 1,000 buttons naming 21 different emotions. MORE An idea by Insight Counseling Centers, the project was an offer to Nashvillians to take one and literally wear their emotion. Counselors wanted to see what they could tell by which buttons were taken. They said all of them being taken is telling them something too. "We live in a culture that mostly values strength…
NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) - Insight Counseling Centers has placed nine “Mood Walls” around Nashville as part of a month-long mental health campaign called The Nashville Mood. Each wall has 1,000 buttons with 21 different emotions. “So the idea is, pedestrians walking by take a button off the wall that describes how they’re feeling and literally wear their emotions … to generate conversation around mental health,” said Taylor Cochran, development director of Insight Counseling Centers. “And just to have an open…
If you wander by Art and Invention Gallery (1106 Woodland) in May, you might notice a new, large, wall installation. And unlike most (OK any) other displays you’ll see at the Gallery, you’re encouraged to run off with parts of this one. Folks from Nashville’s Insight Counseling Centers are creating “mood walls” in nine different local neighborhoods, including ours, made up of 1,000 pins printed with different emotions. If you’d like, you can snag a pin that suits you, and…
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – Several interactive mood walls have been set up across Nashville that offer buttons of emotions for anyone to take and wear. Whether you are hurt, grumpy, frustrated or excited, the idea is to wear the button and start a conversation. “It’s a very diverse group of emotions, both positive and negative,” Taylor Cochran with Insight Counseling Centers told News 2. Everybody feels, and he wants people to share their emotions. “The idea is to get people…
Tennessee's New Counseling Law & Jesus Originally written and posted by Executive Director Chris O'Rear at his blog, Just Thinkin' Out Loud. As has been reported in so many places this week, Governor Bill Haslam signed into law a Bill that willprotect psychotherapists from legal repercussions if they refuse service to any person based on their own strongly held principles. This bill was supposedly necessary because some Counseling professional organizations have re-written their codes of ethics to say that a…
Nashvillians are displaying their emotions, literally, after passing by interactive mood walls. Buttons describing 21 emotions from numb to frustrated to hopeful stick into the walls for people to take and wear in honor of May's Mental Health Awareness Month. Insight Counseling Centers is installing the nine walls, which were created by the Canadian organization Partners for Mental Health, in various Nashville neighborhoods. "I remember telling my therapist, 'I wish everyone didn’t feel like they had to hide what’s really…
Photos from the second annual Friends for Healing 5k & 10k race, benefiting Insight Counseling Centers, on Saturday, March 19th, 2016 in historic downtown Franklin, TN. To purchase an image, contact Martha Smith at MSmith665@comcast.net. Cost (including shipping): $5 for 4x6, $6 for 5x7. View all photos →
From the Executive Director, Chris O'Rear While affirming our core values and our historic identity, 2015 was marked by many changes. We finalized and revealed our new name, Insight Counseling Centers, and started the rebranding process. Our logo is in the style of a Mobius strip, a circle that turns from inside to outside seamlessly as you trace the outline, symbolizing our historic work of restoring lives to wholeness – mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. As we help explore the internal…
Our emblem is in the style of a form called a Mobius strip. The 3-dimensional band of color flows from the outside of the circle to the inside of the circle and back out, seamlessly and endlessly. In his book A Hidden Wholeness, author Parker Palmer uses the Mobius strip as a metaphor to illustrate wholeness: Whatever is inside us continually flows outward to help form, or deform, the world -- and whatever is outside us continually flows inward to…