It is natural to experience a range of emotions;
some flooding us thoroughly, and others frozen at our core.

Clinical Psychotherapy in Nashville, TN

At Simply Being our therapists join with you to help facilitate healing and connection. We help you to recognize and accept your psychological and neurophysiological responses to disappointments and all forms of trauma, in order for you to build capacity to hold and resolve your pain.

Our therapists are experts at treating trauma, anxiety, depression, chronic stress and more. We incorporate knowledge of the brain and body, using both “talk” therapy and somatic approaches.

Simple Being Psychotherapist

As Tennessee Licensed Clinical Therapists and Somatic Experiencing Practitioners, we specialize in trauma, and have worked extensively with survivors of sexual assault as well as folks struggling with depression and anxiety.

Approaches

It is natural to need guidance and support during difficult times. At Simply Being we work with clients struggling with dysregulation and trauma. Our aim is to facilitate a journey back to the whole of the Self using a variety of therapeutic and holistic approaches. 

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Trauma is specifically an event that overwhelms the central nervous system, altering the way we process and recall memories. Trauma is not the story of something that happened back then, it’s the current imprint of that pain, horror, and fear living inside people.

Bessel van der Kolk

Counseling
Services in Nashville, TN

Individual

Couples

Group

Corporate

Holistic Offerings

Meet Our Therapists

she/her
Somatic Psychotherapist and Owner
Registered Jungian Sandplay Therapist
Certified Hypnotherapist
My astrological signs are Scorpio rising, Libra sun, and Pisces moon.

Meet Me

Dr. Barbie Hessel, LCSW, SEP, RSP

she/her
Somatic Psychotherapist
Certified Hypnotherapist
Reiki Practitioner
Intern Supervisor

My astrological signs are Libra rising, Cancer sun, and Aquarius moon.

Meet Me

Christi Sidwell, LMSW

she/her
Psychotherapist
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

My astrological signs are Aquarius rising, Leo sun, and Sagittarius moon.

Meet Me

Nicole Nelson,  LPC-MHSP (temp)

she/her
Intern Clinical Therapist

My astrological signs are Gemini rising, Sagittarius sun, and Aries moon.

Meet Me

Molly Porter, BSW

Insights

Jan 07 2023

Anxious for the Holidays? Here’s How to Help

Why your mental health is worse during the holiday season and what to do about it. BY SARAH AND MICHAEL ZELLER  To read the actual article as it appeared in Nashville...
Dec 01 2022

Tips to Keep From Slipping Into Old Family Patterns Over the Holidays

Does this feel familiar? You’re back home for the holidays. You wake up at noon and roll out of bed to find the coffee pot empty. You’re surprised by how outraged you...
Nov 11 2022

Why is Setting Boundaries so Hard?

When you think about setting boundaries, what happens in your body? Do you notice a change in your heart rate? You may feel a weight in your chest or a pit in your...
Jul 24 2022

Free from Shame: Deconstructing Purity Culture

If you grew up in purity culture, you may find it nearly impossible to connect with your sexuality in a way that feels genuine and enjoyable. You may experience PTSD...
Jun 03 2022

Am I Dissociating?

What does it feel like to dissociate? If I have trauma, does that mean I dissociate? If I don’t have trauma, does that mean I can’t dissociate? Sometimes I zone out...
Oct 12 2020

Four Ways to Build Resilience & Begin to Heal Anxiety.

“Human beings are extremely difficult to kill,” said the nurse practitioner I was seeing at the time. She was trying to convey to me how resilient we are as a species...
Aug 15 2020

Hack your Anxiety in 5 Easy Steps with Mindfulness.

Staying in my head had been my best survival tool until it wasn’t. I thought that if I could stay with my thoughts, I could fix things or, at least, understand the why...
Aug 05 2020

“I was Raped”: 4 Ways to Respond when a Sexual Abuse Survivor Confides in You.

When I first started working with survivors of sexual abuse, I struggled with the vivid images my mind created when listening to their stories. I remember having...
Jul 14 2020

One Simple Technique that Will Change How You Move in the World

How Noticing your Surroundings Can Change How you Feel The Thrive Global Community welcomes voices from many spheres. We publish pieces written by outside contributors...

Getting Started

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Testimonials

"The experience was otherworldly. I have never felt so relaxed and so restored. I'm looking forward to the next event this February."
C.N.
"The experience was otherworldly. I have never felt so relaxed and so restored. I'm looking forward to the next event this February."
C.N.
"I absolutely love the sound bath therapy. I feel clear and balanced after each session. I look forward to coming each month."
? J.J.
"I absolutely love the sound bath therapy. I feel clear and balanced after each session. I look forward to coming each month."
? J.J.
“Finding the right therapist is crucial to the healing process. Dr. Barbie Hessel possesses the perfect combination of skills and qualities that matter to me. I have a deep respect, trust, and appreciation for her, ...
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K.P.
“Finding the right therapist is crucial to the healing process. Dr. Barbie Hessel possesses the perfect combination of skills and qualities that matter to me. I have a deep respect, trust, and appreciation for her, her skills, and the work we do together. The progress I have made on this journey is due, in no small part, to her qualities as a therapist and as an extraordinary human being. Simply brilliant.”
K.P.