Welcome! I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC-MHSP), play therapist (RPT-S), and counselor educator in Tennessee. I have worked in the counseling field since 2005 with a wide variety of clients. Many of my clients have been affected by trauma, either through large events or the residue of smaller events that may block client development and potential. To help clients work through these blocks – blocks that may present as anxiety, depression, relational issues, or a myriad of other symptoms – I frequently utilize EMDR therapy and sandtray therapy. You are the expert during our time together, and during our time, I will use the therapeutic approaches that best fit your personality and goals. I have received extensive training to integrate Christian faith and counseling; I will incorporate these principles into our time together as much or as little as you want. I am certified to facilitate both PREPARE/ENRICH and PREP with premarital and married couples, evidence-based programs that can strengthen and improve your relationship with your spouse. I am also a NBCC Approved Clinical Supervisor and a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor who provides postgraduate supervision and play therapy supervision.
I am honored to walk with clients through some of their deepest hurts and struggles. Every client wants to live a more peaceful, more whole life. My task is to help the client in clearly defining their dream of a flourishing life, removing obstacles that might be in the way, and building skills and supports to help the client meet their goals.
My approach to counseling is as an integrative approach: based on the personality, culture, and perspectives of the client, I draw from several different theories to design goals and interventions best suited for that client. Some of the approaches I most commonly utilize include EMDR therapy, narrative therapy, sandtray therapy, play therapy, Adlerian therapy, and family systems approaches. You will find the counseling room to be a place where you are listened to, heard, and valued simply for who you are. You are welcome to incorporate your faith or religious beliefs into our time together.
Additional areas of focus: Addictions, Grief, Parenting issues, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Depression, Compassion fatigue, Blended Family Issues, Caregiver issues and stress, Communication problems, Coping with Natural or Human-Caused Disaster, Expats, Family of Origin Issues, Family Problems, Fertility Issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Immigration Issues, Isolation / loneliness, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Mood disorders , Multicultural Concerns, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Postpartum Depression, Post-traumatic stress, Pregnancy and childbirth, Prejudice and Discrimination, Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling), Sexual Assault and Abuse, Social anxiety and phobia, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young Adult Issues
Clinical approaches: Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy
TN LPC 2339
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Dr. Kristel Headley. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Dr. Headley is very receptive and kind. She knows when to push a little and when to back off. She always treats me with respect and helps frame things from other perspectives that I might not have seen otherwise.
Written on Mar 15, 2021 after therapy with Kristel for 6 months
I really love Dr. Headley. She was the perfect match for me. She goes out of her way to make sure I can talk with her each week. She is kind and thorough and always has great additional resources for me to work on outside of therapy. 10 out of 10 would recommend.
Written on Oct 21, 2020 after therapy with Kristel for 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, and coaching