Depression & Anxiety Counseling in Nashville
In our culture, we are literally mandated to spend months or years of our lives learning about algebra, questionably-factual American history, and Shakespearian iambic pentameter. But how much time are we mandated — or even offered — to learn about our thoughts and feelings and how to relate to them effectively?
NADA. ZILCH. NONE AT ALL — for most of us, at least.
At the Gaia Center, we’re huge fans of public education and learning #allthethings, but helloooo, can we please assess our priorities and explore this egregious omission? THANKS.
Meanwhile, most of us are left to our own devices to figure this shit out, and don’t realize that we actually even NEED to figure it out until we’re eyeballs-deep in questionable decisions and late-night sob-fests.
Feeling this way doesn’t have to be your ‘normal.’
Sure, anxiety is, to some degree, unavoidable. And we all get down sometimes. But if you’ve been feeling this stuff on-the-regular, you don’t have to just accept this as your baseline. You just get this one life, and dammit, it should be enjoyable.
We can’t just think our way out of our patterns. Remember those Chinese finger traps? The harder you try to get out, the more stuck you get. It’s sort of like that with our “negative” or unhelpful thought patterns and intense feelings. If you could get out of this on your own, wouldn’t you have done so by now?
Where We Come In
We’re a lot like you. We certainly don’t claim to have all the answers, and we won’t pretend to know your life better than you do. But what we do have is lots of experience supporting folks in walking through all kinds of painful and difficult experiences.
Ultimately, our biggest goal is to support you in coming home to yourself, unpacking your baggage (we all have it) and Marie Kondo-ing that shit to determine what you need to leave behind, and how to truly live from the space of what is real and true for you now.
Sometimes, psychiatric medication is an important ally in this journey. If you’re curious about that, we can have that conversation and we can recommend a trusted provider to collaborate with us in this process. If the idea of meds freaks you out, we can talk about that, too — you’re ultimately the boss of you, and there are a lot of other avenues we can explore to support you, too.
Anxiety is a Liar, and Depression is an A**hole
Anxiety is that sneaky trickster whispering worst-case scenarios in your ear, and depression is the asshole that convinces you there’s no way out. But here’s the good news: they’re both full of crap. With help from a highly skilled therapist at The Gaia Center, you can learn to retrain your brain, forge new neural pathways, and kick those unhelpful patterns to the curb. It’s totally possible to get unstuck and start living a life that feels genuinely good.
Bipolar Disorder CAN be Incredibly Well-Managed
Bipolar disorder might feel like a rollercoaster you never signed up for— but with the right team by your side, it is absolutely manageable. Our therapists are here to help you learn the tools you need while collaborating closely with your psychiatric provider, so you can still live the rich, meaningful life that you deserve. It’s all about learning how to navigate the ups and downs with the right support and strategies.
