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

As a Tennessee Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner®, my work is centered in trauma. I’ve spent many years working with survivors of sexual assault, as well as adults and teens navigating anxiety, depression, and the more subtle ways trauma can shape how we relate to ourselves and others.

My approach is both somatic and relational. I pay close attention not only to what you’re thinking, but to what your body is holding, what feels patterned in your relationships, and what may be happening beneath the surface. I work through an attachment-based and holistic lens, honoring the full context of your experience—internally and externally.

Before becoming a therapist, I worked in education, development coaching, and professional training. I later earned my MSSW from the University of Tennessee with a focus in trauma treatment, and have continued to train extensively since. My background includes advanced training in Somatic Experiencing®, Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy, and Jungian Sandplay, along with EMDR (Level II), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Jungian Psychology, psychotherapeutic yoga, sound-based work, mindfulness, TF-CBT, and ACT.

This depth of training shapes how I work, but also how I lead. As the founder of Simply Being, I’ve been intentional about building a practice grounded in thoughtful, well-trained care. Our therapists each bring their own strengths and voice, while sharing a commitment to ongoing training in somatic, attachment-based, and experiential approaches. These are not ideas we reference loosely—they are modalities we’ve spent years studying and integrating into our work with clients.

In addition to my clinical work, I offer clinical supervision for licensed social workers and consultation for those training in Somatic Experiencing.

Simply Being was created to feel different. More personal. More attuned. More spacious. We keep our caseloads intentional so that each client can be met with care and presence, not rushed through a system. Over time, many clients come to experience the space as something steady—a place where they can begin to feel more like themselves again.

When I’m not working, I’m usually with my husband and son (who is away at college) or at home with our cats, Scooby Doo and Luna and our dogs Ruby and Gatsby. I enjoy traveling, and I am drawn to thoughtful and creative things—art, film, literature, fashion, good food.

Welcome home!