Get to know usWe believe that therapy begins with connection. Getting to know your therapist is an important part of feeling comfortable, safe, and supported throughout the counseling process. Every member of our team brings their own unique personality, experiences, and clinical approach, but we all share the same commitment: providing compassionate, evidence-based care that honors your individual story.
We know that reaching out for therapy can feel overwhelming, and finding the right fit matters. We invite you to learn more about who we are and how we strive each day to show up in the world as our authentic selves. Our hope is that, as you get to know us, you’ll feel more confident taking the first step toward the support you deserve and feel empowered to begin your own journey toward living more authentically, too.
Mt. Juliet
Dr. Racheal Phillips
Founder
Ed.D., LPC/MHSP-S, ACS
Being authentically me as a professional counselor means showing up as a real human, not a perfectly polished version of what a therapist is “supposed” to look like. My work is grounded in a Rogerian, person-centered approach — empathy, unconditional positive regard, and deep trust that clients already hold the wisdom they need. My job isn’t to fix or diagnose their humanity; it’s to stay attuned, sit with them, and feel the feelings right alongside them.
Authenticity for me looks like therapy in a t-shirt, leggings, and flip flops. It sounds like plain language, the occasional well-placed cuss word, and honest conversations instead of clinical jargon. It means laughing hard, tearing up when something hits deep, and saying, “Yeah… that really freaking sucks.” It means being as much me as I can be in the room so clients feel safe enough to be fully themselves too.
I’m a strong ally for LGBTQ+ folks and other marginalized communities, and I’m not neutral about people’s right to feel safe, seen, and valued. I love teaching, learning, and doing the hard, messy, courageous work with clients — the stuff that hurts but heals.
For me, authenticity isn’t casual; it’s intentional. It’s presence, heart, and showing up every day ready to do the real work together.
Sandi Payne
MS, LPC/MHSP-S(TN), LCPC(IL)
“Being Authentically Me” is a concept I reflect on daily. At times, it can be challenging to stay true to my values and beliefs, especially when they conflict with societal expectations. Through years of growth and self-discovery, I’ve learned that I don’t have to compromise who I am. I can confidently stand up for what I believe in, embrace what I love, and find joy in what fulfills me from within.
Today, I am unapologetically myself. I prioritize self-care and establish healthy, realistic boundaries. I surround myself with people and experiences that uplift me, support my goals, and help me continue evolving into the best version of myself. When something—or someone—no longer aligns with that purpose, I give myself permission to walk away.
Ali McGary
MS, LPC/MHSP
To me, being "authentically you" means showing up as my whole self in every space I enter, especially in my work as a therapist. Authenticity is not just a personal value, it is a clinical foundation. When I allow my genuine personality, warmth, creativity, and values to be present in the therapy room, I create permission for my clients to do the same. Clients can sense when a space feels real and grounded, and that safety helps us build rapport more naturally and efficiently. Healing happens within the therapeutic relationship and that relationship requires honesty, congruence, and vulnerability. I regularly encourage my clients to show up authentically in their relationships outside of my office and I could not do that work with them if I were not actively modeling authenticity myself. Authenticity, therefore, is one of the most important aspects of my practice. Showing up authentically with my clients looks like coloring, listening to music, drinking coffee, laughing and feeling all of the emotions with my clients. I feel deeply grateful to work alongside a team that values individuality and authenticity, through how they decorate their offices, express themselves through their outifts, and share their unique interests. Being surrounded by authenticity strengthens my own commitment to live and work as my truest self every day.
Katelyn Mendenhall
A-LPC/MHSP
Being authentically me means continuing to learn how, when, and where I can best show up for myself and for others. I don’t think authenticity is a destination that you reach one day; I think it’s an ongoing process of self-awareness, reflection, and growth. Every experience teaches me something new about who I am and who I want to become.
Part of being authentic is catching myself when I fall into habits of rigidity. It means recognizing when I’m holding too tightly to expectations, routines, or assumptions and giving myself permission to be more open, flexible, and curious. It also means being honest about what I genuinely enjoy, what I don’t, and trusting myself enough to say yes when I mean yes and no when I mean no. Some of my greatest moments of growth have come from allowing myself to see situations from a different perspective rather than insisting there is only one “right” way.
Above all, being authentically me means embracing how to create my own way, my flaws, and all of the quirks that make me uniquely myself. It means showing up imperfectly, continuing to grow, and giving myself the same grace I try to offer others. And perhaps my strongest, most unwavering authentic belief is this: Samantha was the best friend, and Carrie was absolutely the toxic one (if you know you know).
Ally May
A-LPC/MHSP
For me, being authentic means being the most me I can be!
My personality and interests make me who I am, and I value fun and freedom. That means that showing up authentically can look like dancing around the room, wearing comfy clothes and colorful shoes, and never suppressing the urge to laugh. It means not growing out of things like pop music or loving rainbows and sparkles. It also means knowing when it's time to start a tough conversation and use some coping skills when I'm not feeling my best.
Being authentic frees me from the pressure of trying to be perfect, because I'm not; as Hannah Montana taught me, nobody is. Authenticity gives me not only permission but encouragement to show up as just me, and that's the best me I can be :)
Emory Allen
Counseling Intern
To be “authentically you” is to give yourself permission to grow, to change shape over time, to take what nourishes you, and gently set down what no longer fits. It is learning to live inside the messiness, staying open to inspiration, and finding meaning within the overwhelm the world brings.
Authenticity asks for devotion. A quiet commitment to care for yourself, for others, and for the spaces you move through. It means meeting failure without fear, and choosing courage anyway, trying again, and again, and again. It is the willingness to stretch toward challenge, guided by the knowing that there is always more to discover.
Being authentically you is curiosity. It is reflection. It is asking questions and listening closely to the answers.
It is also learning to hold many truths at once, the ones that fit like well-worn shoes, the crooked ones with rough edges, the soft and forgiving truths, and even those that only reveal themselves in the corners of our eyes.
At its heart, authenticity is presence. It is honoring who you are today, while leaving space for who you are becoming. It is showing up imperfect, open, and real and trusting that this, exactly this, is enough.
Murfeesboro
Emma Collins
LPC/MHSP
Being Authentically You means showing up as you are in the moment. It means being raw and real about the good, bad and the ugly. Not everything is pretty, but finding glimmers and delighting in the small things makes it worth it. It means being honest and accepting the flaws, and also the triumphs. I think a key part to being Authentically You is also being open and welcoming to others being their authentic self too.