About

OUR THERAPISTS

Our Philosophy

The foundation of our practice is layered. In order to effectively work together, we believe that it is important to understand your past, as it informs your present. We believe that much of our resilience stems from our interactions with attachment figures—It is necessary to consider the context of your life in order to guide you toward finding peace and ease in the moment. Basically, your past matters, but it does not have to define you.

Our attachment to others goes hand-in-hand with how we view and interact with the whole of ourselves. At Simply Being we can help you to recognize and accept your psychological and neurophysiological responses to disappointments and all forms of trauma. All of this will allow you to build capacity to hold and resolve your pain. In this practice, all practitioners incorporate knowledge of the brain and body, using both “talk” therapy and somatic approaches.

Simply Being was established to be a safe and therapeutic space and community for survivors of trauma and those experiencing attachment wounding, mood issues, and chronic stress. We offer a boutique level of care for each client, through individual and group services as well as a variety of events to enhance community. 

Simply Being Therap Clinic

Although we are trauma specialists, we can effectively work with you on any of the issues listed below:

  • Trauma / PTSD
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Sexual Assault / Abuse
  • Shame Resilience
  • Attachment Wounds
  • Inner Child Wounding
  • Trans-generational Trauma
  • Family / Relationship Issues
  • Women’s Issues
  • Gender Issues and  LGBTQ+
  • Teen Issues
  • Dissociative Disorders
  • Ritual Abuse
  • Spiritual Abuse
  • Toxic Stress
  • Chronic Pain
  • Work or School-Related Issues
  • Performance Anxiety
  • Sports Related Stressors

Our Therapists

she/her
Psychotherapist and Owner

Somatic Experiencing Practitioner ®

Registered Jungian Sandplay Therapist

EMDR Level II Practitioner

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapist

Certified Hypnotherapist

My astrological signs are Libra sun, Scorpio rising, and Pisces moon

Meet Me

Dr. Barbie Hessel, LCSW, SEP, RSP

she/her
Somatic Psychotherapist

EMDR Level II Practitioner

Certified Hypnotherapist
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapist

Reiki Practitioner
Intern Supervisor

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

Meet Me

Christi Sidwell, LCSW

she/her

Psychotherapist

MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

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

Meet Me

Nicole Nelson,  LPC-MHSP (temp)

she/her

Clinical Intern/MSSW Candidate

Naturopathic Doctor (Licensed in CA)
Licensed Acupuncturist

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapist

My astrological signs are Virgo sun, Scorpio rising, and Sagittarius moon.

Meet Me

Dr. Katelyn Kalstein, ND, LAc, MSc, MSSW (cand) 

Psychotherapist
Licensed Master Social Worker
My astrological sign is Aries Sun, Virgo rising, and Aries moon.
Meet Me

Amy Holt, LMSW

Dr. Barbie Hessel, LCSW, MA, SEP, RSP

Somatic Psychotherapist and Owner
she/her

Somatic Experiencing Practitioner
Psychedelic Assisted Therapist
Registered Jungian Sandplay Therapist
Certified Hypnotherapist
Sound Practitioner

My astrological signs are Libra sun, Scorpio rising, and Pisces moon.

drbarbie@simplybeingtherapy.com 

As a Tennessee Licensed Clinical Therapist and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner®, I specialize in trauma, and have worked extensively with survivors of sexual assault as well as folks struggling with depression and anxiety. I am passionate about helping adults and teens reclaim their hearts, minds, and bodies. I practice from an attachment and holistic perspective, honoring your thoughts, feelings, and visceral responses to trauma, while acknowledging an individual’s environment and context.

A native of Miami, Florida, I moved to Nashville close to 14 years ago with my family. Prior to moving, I earned a Doctorate in Youth Services and Development, with an emphasis in voice and self-authorization in young women. I worked in education and development coaching, along with professional training. Through this work, I honed my passion for working one-on-one with adults and teens. Once in Nashville, I earned an MSSW from the University of Tennessee with a specialized focus on trauma treatment and have dedicated myself to working with trauma survivors and their loved ones. I have advanced training and certifications in Somatic Experiencing®, Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy, and Jungian Sandplay Therapy. I also have extensive training in a variety of therapeutic modalities, including EMDR (Level II), IFS, Jungian Psychology, Psychotherapeutic Yoga, Sound Healing, Mindfulness Practice, T-FCBT, and ACT.

As a certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, I also offer personal sessions for credit towards certification for students enrolled in SE trainings, as well as Clinical Supervision for Licensed Social Workers. 

 I find that with my varied experience and training, I am better able to develop personalized therapeutic plans to meet your needs.

When I am away from my practice, I enjoy spending time with my husband and teen-age son, as well as my adorable kitty named Scooby Doo. I also enjoy literature, art, film, theater, fashion, and yummy food. 

As the founder of Simply Being, I believe that every client deserves a highly individualized, boutique level of care, and that this care should be facilitated by highly skilled and thoroughly trained practitioners. For this reason, our therapists carry a manageable and intentional case load and offer dedicated attention to clients beyond what is possible in more hectic practice settings. Simply Being was always intended to feel like a “home” away from home, where clients can feel truly seen and known and we invite you to learn more about us by scheduling a discovery call or an initial appointment. 

Welcome Home!

Christi Sidwell, LCSW

Somatic Psychotherapist
she/her

EMDR Level II Practitioner
Certified Hypnotherapist
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapist
Reiki Practitioner
Intern Supervisor

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

christi@simplybeingtherapy.com

I am a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and my therapeutic approach is rooted in experiential and integrative practices.  As an intuitive therapist, I blend energetic modalities and therapeutic modalities into a holistic approach to support the clients’ desire for realignment and repair. Through my training and experience, I deeply believe that as humans we are wired for healing; we just have to learn how to access it.  Learning how to reconnect to our body is at the heart of personal transformation. I am passionate about partnering with teens and adults as they bravely seek the life they desire.  

I specialize in trauma and have extensive experience working with those who have experinced sexual violence as I worked at the Sexual Assault Center (SAC) for 5 years. Additionally, in my practice, I focus on helping professionals and athletes break down barriers to access optimal performance. I have learned that trauma and challenges to optimal performance may appear very unrelated on the surface, but are actually deeply connected from a nervous system perspective. As a practitioner, I see the importance of a body-based approach to therapy and enjoy being able to bring this vital perspective to a variety of individuals. I work closely with folks who experience trauma, high stress environments, attachment wounds, performance anxiety, depression, anxiety, and inner child wounding. 

Since obtaining my MSSW from the University of Tennessee, I have continued to advance my knowledge and skill through specialized training including: EMDR (level 2), Comprehensive Resource Model (CRM), Trauma Sensitive and Therapeutic yoga, Somatic Experiencing (Completed my first year and am in the second year), Mindfulness Practice, and Attachment Regulation Competency (ARC).  Varied training allows me to navigate a therapeutic approach to healing that is holistic and tailored to each client’s needs and desires. 

In my down time, I try to spend as much time as I can outside whether that is walking, hiking, camping or a favorite, laying in grass. I enjoy learning how to garden and keep houseplants alive, which can be a hit or miss for me.

Nicole Nelson, LPC-MHSP (temp)

Psychotherapist
she/her

Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

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

nicole@simplybeingtherapy.com

As a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC-MHSP temp), I believe the things we consider our biggest flaws are actually creative survival tactics that once saved us. When we find safety within our own bodies, we can replace these coping skills that are no longer serve us. To me, the resilience required to survive trauma defines the extremes of human strength and I’m passionate about creating a safe space where clients can explore this strength and channel it into building a life they love.

Trauma happens in the body, but so does healing. As a somatic psychotherapist, I work with clients to find safety in their own bodies. Using gentle, body-based interventions, we can complete the trauma cycle within your nervous system, opening your path to healing.

Trauma happens in relationships, but so does healing.  Within the therapy room, we can find ways of building intimacy and trust that expand outward, cultivating safe relationships and a rich support system.

I specialize in treating clients recovering from high-control religion and purity culture, those battling anxiety and depression, and clients who are looking to find long-term recovery from PTSD/CPTSD and dissociative disorders. I love using humor to help clients find relief during challenging moments and my greatest joy is walking with clients as they follow their body’s natural capabilities for healing.

When I’m not in session, I’m often exploring outdoors, reading, or spending quality time with my partner and dog.

Dr. Katelyn Kalstein, ND, LAc, MSc, MSSW (cand)

she/her

Clinical Intern/MSSW Candidate
Naturopathic Doctor (Licensed in CA)
Licensed Acupuncturist
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapist

My astrological signs are Virgo Sun, Sagittarius Moon, Scorpio Rising .

drkalstein@simplybeingtherapy.com

I am a licensed naturopathic doctor (ND) in California, where I practiced primary care with an emphasis on integrative mental health since 2016. In addition to maintaining a medical license in California, I am also a licensed acupuncturist in Tennessee.


Before moving back to Nashville, where I was born and raised, I was the clinical director of a ketamine assisted psychotherapy clinic in Los Angeles. I am also certified in Psychedelic Therapy and Research from the California Institute of Integral Studies. To be able to work even more comprehensively with my patients here in Nashville, I decided to pursue a Master’s in Social Work at the University of Tennessee.

 

Informed by my naturopathic and Chinese Medicine training, I believe we each have an inner capacity to heal, and that capacity is highly dependent on the environment around us: if we can remove obstacles, our bodies, nervous systems, and hearts will naturally move toward wholeness. The healing journey is not linear, and requires that we identify what needs to be healed in the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual domains. I believe healing is a process that requires us to shine a light on the past, but not stay stuck there. I seek to create a safe and supportive environment that nurtures a client’s capacity to attend to the present moment, and increases their ability to listen to the inner wisdom that inhabits each one of us.

Amy Holt, LMSW

Psychotherapist

Licensed Master Social Worker

My astrological sign is Aries Sun, Virgo rising, and Aries moon.

I obtained my MSW from the University of North Alabama and am a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in Tennessee with a background in Somatic approaches to treatment. I have experience working in residential treatment for substance abuse disorders as well as providing social services to members of the unhoused community. I am passionate about working with women who struggle with symptoms of trauma and substance abuse, as well as individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, and mood issues. My experience and training have deepened my belief that every person has a unique story and deserves to be truly witnessed. 

I work with clients of all backgrounds who are seeking healing from trauma, and am especially passionate about working with clients seeking to heal from Religious Trauma and Spiritual Abuse. Individuals who come from high-control religious backgrounds often struggle with shame, hypervigilance, poor self-image, and decision making, among other issues. Fortunately, it is possible to learn to trust yourself, love yourself, and to feel safe in your body.

My therapeutic approach is integrative, individualized, and somatic. I understand the importance of the mind-body connection when working with mental health concerns and use somatic practices in session with clients to further healing. 

The alliance between a therapist and client is the single most important factor for healing, and I seek to foster a therapeutic environment that embodies curiosity, empathy, and respect.

In my free time, I enjoy reading, music, comedy, and hot yoga.

Let’s take the next step