Originally from California, Lauren moved to New York City before settling in Tennessee 30 years ago. After a successful 10-year career in public relations, she returned to her true calling—helping people thrive. With a bachelor’s degree in psychology from San Jose State University and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Tennessee, Lauren has built a deeply rewarding career doing the work she loves most.

Lauren tailors her therapeutic approach to your unique needs, drawing from various effective modalities. These include psychodynamic therapy, EMDR and attachment-based therapy, neuro-affective relational, as well as practical tools from CBT and DBT. By integrating insights from various therapeutic perspectives and approaches, Lauren ensures your work together is meaningful, personalized, and focused on your goals. Whether you’re looking for empathy, honest feedback, or a fresh perspective, Lauren provides a balanced approach to support your transformation. She is also trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy, guiding clients through this powerful process with both confidence and a gentle, supportive presence. 

Before opening her private practice, Lauren worked with Alive Hospice and Vanderbilt Behavioral Health, gaining invaluable experience that informs her work today. She also serves on the board of the Nashville Psychotherapy Institute, where she is passionate about fostering connection and support among fellow therapists.

FAVORITE FEEL GOOD ACTIVITIES

Lauren has been married for 31 years and is a mom to two adult sons. She draws energy and peace from nature, art, and her community, all of which inspire and ground her both personally and professionally. A lifelong learner, Lauren is always exploring new ways to grow and deepen her skills.

Book a Therapy Session with Lauren

Interested in talking it out? Click the button below to see if Therapy would be a good fit for you, and book your session.

50-minute Session: $175

Hannah knew from a young age that she wanted to be in the helping profession. Having journeyed through her own challenges and healing process, she discovered the impact that compassionate guidance can have. This realization fueled her passion for helping others navigate their own paths, and she went on to earn her masters in social work from the University of Tennessee. Hannah has had 7 years guiding clients as a social worker, and is actively pursuing full clinical licensure under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker.

Hannah is passionate about working with people from all walks of life, particularly the perinatal population, those navigating parenting or family struggles, and those managing anxiety and depression. Hannah cares deeply about walking alongside mothers as they walk through all phases of the perinatal journey including pregnancy loss, the prenatal period, and the adjustment to motherhood. As a social worker and mom, Hannah is acutely aware of how much one’s physical, mental, and relational health are impacted by pregnancy, the postpartum period, and raising young children.

Hannah considers it an honor to offer compassion and support to individuals experiencing transition or hardship, just as she received such care from mentors and therapists. When working with her, you can expect to be welcomed into a non-judgmental and empathetic space. Building a relationship of trust is her first priority so that you can feel the freedom to be transparent as you take steps toward understanding and healing. She is committed to safely processing your past while creating a toolbox of coping skills that you can pull from for years to come.

Hannah grew up in the Colorado Springs area and moved to Nashville with her husband in 2014. They quickly grew to consider Nashville  their forever home, and now share it with their dog, cat, and two kids.

Book a Therapy Session with Hannah

Interested in talking it out? Click the button below to see if Therapy would be a good fit for you, and book your session.

50-minute Session: $175 

Jeannette Diddens has been a strengths-based therapist helping clients with generalized anxiety, burnout prevention, compassion fatigue, disconnection/disengagement, and depression for over two decades. Jeannette is passionate about being an anchor of consistency, nonjudgement, and reflection as you explore feelings and experiences during the uncertainties of life. 

For those who are tired of feeling stuck, Jeannette has found that small acts of wellness and mind-body nurturing are the most effective tools for transforming emotional fatigue into personal flourishing. Through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Jeanette can help you understand old narratives and reconstruct new and helpful pathways of learning and growing. Jeannette specializes in strengthening relationships, specifically in family dynamics. She has a keen understanding of family roles, boundaries, and inner child work and can help you to find value in your relationships with others and with yourself.

Jeannette is seasoned in helping couples, using tools from The Gottman Method of Couples Therapy. In her experience, couples begin to build a stronger foundation, manage conflict, improve communication and intimacy while working with her. Through her use of positive psychology and strengths-based techniques, couples realize that counseling can be a powerfully restorative tool instead of an ultimatum or a “last-ditch effort” for their relationship.

 Jeannette creates a grounded environment, helping her guests  feel comfortable and open to share their thoughts by talking. Using thoughtful and intentional questions, she is able to help clients gain a deeper understanding of their own thoughts and emotions, realizing that they have the answers within themselves.

Jeannette is also trained in walking therapy and upon request, can walk and talk it out with clients for an individual or couple’s session. This is perfect for a walk around Sevier Park!

Book a Therapy Session with Jeannette

Interested in talking it out? Click the button below to see if Therapy would be a good fit for you, and book your session.

50-minute Session: $175

Born and raised New Englander, Amy Narusas made her way to Tennessee in 2016 from her hometown just outside of Boston, MA. Amy always found herself as the “go-to” person for friends and family to lean on during difficult times. Her passion to help others by listening and learning drew her to the social work profession. Amy is coming to us from Vanderbilt Medical Center, where she is the Lead of the Social Work Team. She is a passionate and innovative leader who has started two intensive outpatient programs, led hundreds of groups, and provided care and guidance to individuals working through a myriad of mental wellness difficulties. Amy is a big believer in finding balance within life’s ups and downs and understands the importance of processing thoughts, emotions, and experiences in a safe and meaningful way. 

Working with Amy you can expect to have a partner on your journey who listens to you, collaborates with you, challenges you, and guides you. Amy’s hope is that you leave each therapy session feeling empowered and equipped with the tools necessary to move forward.

Amy is drawn to helping clients process difficult events, find their meaning in life, heal from past experiences, and cope with anxiety, depression, and life transitions. She has a specialization in substance use and mental health and is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Amy has experience working in various levels of care and draws on her background and training to develop meaningful and attainable goals with each individual she works with.

As a life-long learner, Amy has a passion for evidence-informed therapeutic practices. She loves to learn new and effective ways to help her clients and enjoys challenging herself by expanding her expertise. Drawing upon her extensive knowledge and training, she offers a wealth of expertise to equip you with the most effective strategies and tools for achieving the personal growth and healing you hope to see in yourself.

Book a Therapy Session with Amy

Interested in talking it out? Click the button below to see if Therapy would be a good fit for you, and book your session.

50-minute Session: $175

Brooke is approved to practice across state lines providing teletherapy to 35 states. 

Click here to see if your state is on the list.

Brooke’s journey in mental health started when a psychology class captured her interest and she hasn’t looked back since. Her passion for learning has led her to earn her masters and then  her PhD where she focused her work on intersectional feminism and ally development. Brooke has a heart for working with women and gender expansive people on concerns such as anxiety, depression, adjustment, life transitions, and trauma. Brooke recently moved to Nashville in August 2021 to begin as an assistant professor in counseling psychology at Tennessee State University. While she absolutely loves teaching and training students, she misses clinical work and is so happy to be able to practice as a licensed psychologist at The Happy Hour.

Brooke loves guiding people through life transitions, shifts, and identity development. Helping her clients in their personal growth is especially fun for Brooke. Aside from personal growth, Brooke is most experienced working with symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma. She utilizes practical and approachable tools to help her clients understand how to work through big emotions, intrusive thoughts, stress, or recognizing what is or isn’t in their control. It is important to Brooke that her clients understand how systems beyond their individual life impact why they may be feeling how they are feeling.

Brooke helps clients work to live authentic and genuine lives that align with their personal values. Working with Brooke feels comfortable and welcoming, allowing for you to safely open up and bring your full self to sessions. For Brooke, the relationship between client and therapist is one of the most important aspects for success. Therefore she makes sure to nurture this relationship with her clients, making them feel both seen and heard.

Book a Therapy Session with Brooke

Interested in talking it out? Click the button below to see if Therapy would be a good fit for you, and book your session.

50-minute Session: $200

Christa is currently accepting new couples and family clients.

We are thrilled to have a therapy intern here at The Happy Hour to help provide our community an additional level of care. Our current intern is with us as she completes her master’s degrees in marriage and family counseling.  Supervision will be provided indirectly by one of our licensed therapists while she is practicing at THH. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at info@thehappyhournash.com and booking is, as always, easy and through our website. 

Christa is a Nashville native who is currently pursuing her masters in Marriage and Family Therapy at Lipscomb University. She is also certified in Gottman 1 and Prepare/Enrich. Christa is a native to The Happy Hour, having served here for three years as a certified holistic life coach, guiding individuals through life’s complexities and empowering them to navigate everyday choices with confidence. After spending 9 years in the corporate marketing world, and becoming a mom to three kiddos, Christa decided to embark on a career shift that felt aligned with this new season of life, and dedicated her life to uplifting others.  Christa has found special meaning in supporting fellow women navigating the transitions and challenges of parenthood as a peer, support role and cheerleader.

After four years of coaching, Christa recognized a recurring theme: the uncontrollable circumstances of the pandemic had significantly strained her clients’ relationships and unearthed larger issues in their lives.  Perceiving the need for a new approach to support her clients, Christa began her journey to become a licensed marriage and family therapist. Using her training, Christa is able to understand your experiences through the lens of relationships and surrounding systems. This can help you gain a bigger perspective on what is going on in life. 

Christa loves to  support couples as they navigate challenges and opportunities in their relationship. She especially thrives working with couples undergoing pre-marital counseling, aiding them in establishing a solid foundation for their future life together. She offers her expertise in navigating life transitions, parenthood, family dynamics, and relationship challenges. Furthermore, Christa is equipped to provide guidance through experiences influenced by anxiety and depression, offering compassionate support tailored to individual needs.

Working with Christa as your therapist feels calm, safe and lighthearted. She will help you organize thoughts, feel heard, and understand your humanness. She actively incorporates therapy techniques to foster personal development and exploration. Through compassionate care and practical solutions, she is here to assist you in understanding your experiences deeply, empowering you to embrace life with a fresh outlook and renewed resilience.

Book a Therapy Session with Christa

Interested in talking it out? Click the button below to see if Therapy would be a good fit for you, and book your session.

50-minute Session: $60

Amy is not currently accepting new clients

Amy Jackson is a Tennessee native who recently returned home from being in New Orleans for 10 years. Amy has always been a helper (shoutout to Enneagram 2s!) and has known from an early age that she wanted to work with people to make their lives better. That desire has shown up through Amy’s work in the court system with domestic violence victims, as a director at a Sexual Assault Center, and through counseling of people with various issues and backgrounds. She believes that light can come from even the darkest of situations, and believes each person has a right to live the life they want.

Amy enjoys working with people who feel like they’re at a crossroads and need support as they enter a new phase. Amy is passionate about helping clients recognize how their past experiences are impacting their current situations, and how to heal from past wounds to create positive change. After doing her own work with self-compassion and continuing to grow as a person and clinician, Amy sees the freedom in controlling the negative thought patterns that we all get stuck in. This drives her passion for growing self-compassion in others and learning how to silence our Inner Critics. These can be distinctly useful tools for individuals who are in the midst of college, post graduate transitions, or undergoing a relocation or new job.

Amy loves to help couples reconnect with their partners when the connection has been lost due to loss of trust, overwhelming life responsibilities, or communication breakdowns. She leads two cohorts a year for The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work and really enjoys working with engaged couples for premarital counseling. 

Working with Amy feels comfortable and safe, yet challenging. She practices from a warm, person-centered approach where each client’s individual needs are taken into account. Amy believes in stepping outside your comfort zone, but only if there is adequate support available to create the perfect environment for growth. 

In addition to seeing clients, Amy is the Director of Professional Services at The Happy Hour. She aids in overseeing the therapy division of our studio, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of ethical and professional standards, developing guest resources, and maintaining communication with guests who may have inquiries or concerns. 

Favorite Feel Good Activities

My favorite feel-good activities include all outdoor activities, being around loved ones and feeling connected to others, and finding delicious recipes for my husband to cook for me!

Personal Mantra

In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me, there lay, an invincible summer. And, that makes me happy.

Albert Camus

Book a Therapy Session with Amy

Interested in talking it out? Click the button below to see if Therapy would be a good fit for you, and book your session.

50-minute Session: $175