I am a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in Nashville, TN. I earned a Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology) degree from Florida Institute of Technology in 1987.  Previously, I earned a master’s degree from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC (1985) and a bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC (1981).  My practice consists of individual adult psychotherapy, couples’ therapy, grief counseling, teaching mindfulness, and the clinical use of the Enneagram.

My hobbies include writing poetry, playing guitar, and recording music.  I enjoy working with musicians and people who work in Nashville’s music industry.

At an early age, I was drawn to the subject of suffering.  I noticed that even though I lived a comfortable, middle-class life, in a pleasant, middle-class neighborhood, suffering was part of my life and the life of those around me.  I vividly remember the friends who worried every night about their father, who was a soldier fighting in Viet Nam, the kind neighbor who had to be hospitalized several times for depression, and the friend who lost his sister to a chronic illness.  Later, my awareness of suffering led to an interest in psychology, with its modern treatments for depression and other forms of suffering, and an interest in Buddhism, an ancient religion and philosophy that attempts to solve the problem of suffering.   I went on to become a psychologist, and to study Buddhism, mindfulness, and meditation.  I have since immersed myself in both psychology and Buddhism.  I have attended more than twenty-five lengthy mindfulness meditation retreats in the last twenty years and have had a daily meditation practice for much longer.  I can personally testify to the value of mindfulness and meditation from my own experience; they have transformed my life.

One of my chief interests is in helping people who are suffering. I find it deeply meaningful and satisfying work.  If you would like more information, or if you would like to schedule an appointment, please feel free to contact me by phone or email.

Professional Presentations

Integrating EMDR And Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. Presentation At The 2002 Tennessee Psychological Association Convention, Presented November 9, 2002.

Clinical Implications Of Personality Structure: Applications From Nancy Mcwilliams’ Psychoanalytic Diagnosis.  Presented October 3, 1997 To The Nashville Psychotherapy Institute.

Specialty Training

EMDR Training

  • EMDR Level I April 2000
  • EMDR level II October 2000
  • The strategic developmental model for EMDR. October 2001
  • Integrating resource installation strategies into your EMDR practice, October 2002

Mindfulness and Psychotherapy Training

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: A Promising Approach for Those of Us Who Suffer, Tennessee  Psychological Association Convention, November 2005.
  • Mindfulness and Psychotherapy, Ronald Siegel, Psy.D., Harvard University. October/November 2006. National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine.
  • Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Daniel F. O’Connell, Ph.D. May 2009. 
  • An Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), J.T. Blackledge, Ph.D. Sponsored by Kentucky Psychological Association, May 2008. 
  • Brain Fitness: Mindsight Skills Training and the Brain.  Dan Siegel, M.D. Mindsight Institute, May-June 2010.

Personal Mindfulness and Meditation Training

Since 2003, I have attended more than 25 mindfulness meditation retreats (each lasting 5-7 days) at the Southern Dharma Retreat Center in Hot Springs, NC, and Light on the Hill Retreat Center in Van Etten, NY.

I am a fully certified Realization Process meditation teacher. Realization Process is an approach to meditation created by Judith Blackstone, Ph.D. that consists of “a direct path to embodied nondual awakening” and psychological healing.  See www.realizationprocess.org

Enneagram Training

  • The Enneagram of the Virtues: The Awakened Heart. Russ Hudson, July 2012.*
  • The Essential Qualities of the Enneagram. Russ Hudson, July 2013.*
  • The Enneagram and Relationships. Russ Hudson, November 2013.*
  • The Enneagram for Therapists and Coaches. Michael Naylor, March 2014.  *
  • Journey of Growth (Enneagram Levels Of Development). Judy Cardoza And Liz Blackford, September 2017.*
  • The Three Instincts (Subtypes) of the Enneagram. Anne Geary, June 2018.*
  • The Inner Critic (Psychic Structures) Workshop. Russ Hudson, June 2018. *
  • The Wisdom of the Enneagram. Judy Cardoza, October 2018. *
  • Fundamentals of the Enneagram (Teacher Training Part 1). Russ Hudson, June 2019.*
  • The Dynamic Enneagram Certification Training. Tom Condon, July 2019.
  • Individual Enneagram Work by phone with Judy Cardoza, October 2017 to Present.

*Designates Enneagram Institute Authorized Training

Education

Psy.D. Florida Institute Of Technology, Melbourne, Florida August 1987 • Clinical Psychology GPA 3.86

M.A. Appalachian State University, Boone, NC December 1985 • Clinical Psychology GPA  3.97

B.A. Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC August 1981• Psychology

Licensure

Licensed Clinical  Psychologist, State of Tennessee.

Professional Affiliations

Tennessee Psychological Association

Nashville Psychotherapy Institute (current member, former member, Board of Directors)