Chrissy Benson
BA, JD; she/hers
clinical mental health counseling graduate student
I am called to do this work because I see all too clearly how nearly everything in our modern-day society is pushing us toward being isolated, disempowered, and defeated, and I refuse to accept that as our fate. We all come with our unique mélange of experiences, trauma, blessings, and gifts – a messy but beautiful mix. How about if, instead of running from or trying to change who we are, we focus on discovering and getting really good at being who we are? To me, that’s where freedom lies. And that’s what the right therapy can do for you.
I also believe that…
Happiness shouldn’t be pursued; it ensues. Did you ever notice that the things you chase tend to run away? That goes for happiness, too. Yes, we all want it, but the way to get it isn’t by hunting down the next latest pleasure. It’s by living a life you feel good about on all levels – physical, mental, emotional, spiritual.
Your time is now. The best time to plant a tree may have been 20 years ago, but the second-best time is now. No matter what you have or haven’t done, no matter how damaged or broken you think you are, there is a rich and rewarding life waiting for you to claim it. So let’s start.
Our minds, bodies, and spirits work together – and neglecting one affects all the others. Our Western society artificially compartmentalizes mental, emotional, and physical health. In truth, they’re part of an interconnected whole. The more that we recognize that reality, the better able we are to tap into our own innate wisdom and power of healing and discover the answers that lie within.
It’s time for a self-love revolution. At the end of the day, our most important relationship is the one we have with ourselves. Self-love is not a “fluff’ concept or a feeling; it’s an attitude and a practice consisting of self-contact, self-acceptance, self-care, and self-respect. And you can start cultivating it right now.
My purpose at The Gaia Center is to help you get really good at being who you are – in short, to fall in love with you.
I am especially passionate about working with women and men struggling with feeling small or unseen, creative types seeking to find their voice, individuals and couples craving deeper connection and intimacy, and anyone flailing or feeling purposeless and lost.
I’m also passionate about helping vegans experiencing “vystopia,” the anguish and grief that comes from living in a world where animal exploitation is still the norm. And if you’re a northerner or religious skeptic feeling like a fish out of water here in the heart of the Bible belt in Nashville, I’m a native New Yorker and Buddhist-minded heathen, so I get it!
In addition to being a graduate student in clinical mental health counseling, I’m a licensed lawyer, published author, and certified health and nutrition coach. I’m also a vegan, a daily runner with two marathons under my belt, and I’ve had a daily meditation practice for over a decade. I love using my eclectic and diverse background to inspire others by example – I’m living proof that you don’t have to stay in your lane.
Credentials + Trainings:
Chrissy is currently a graduate student pursuing her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of the Cumberlands. She is interning at The Gaia Center to gain clinical experience during her masters program, and has support and supervision with University of the Cumberlands as well as clinical supervision with Valerie Martin, LCSW and Colleen Werner, LPC-MHSP.
Chrissy also holds a JD and has been a practicing attorney for over 2 decades.
Trainings:
Level 1 Internal Family Systems (IFS) Training
Trained meditation and mindfulness instructor
Certified Vegan Lifestyle Coach and Educator (VLCE)
Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate, T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies
Human First…
When I’m not working, you can find me in a coffee shop writing, running on a dirt trail in the woods, listening to podcasts (the more out there the better), meditating, making supremely clever puns, walking or snuggling with my #1 step-dog, Daisy, singing along with classic rock or gritty Americana tunes, and questioning everything.
Do you want to schedule an initial session or phone consultation with Chrissy?
Chrissy works with adults (individuals and couples) and adolescents 13+.
Fill out the form on our contact page, or reach out to us at hello@gaiacenter.co or 615.270.8117 (call or text). We’ll respond within 24 business hours.
Hours & Rates…
🌱 Typically sees clients in-office on Mondays and Fridays between 9am-1pm, with a handful of other times throughout the week virtually.
🌱 Individual 50-minute session is $60 ($75 for couples)
🌱 Individual 75-minute session is $90 ($100 for couples)
🌱 As a graduate intern therapist at The Gaia Center, Chrissy offers Pay What You Can therapy with clients who could not otherwise financially access our services. For more info and to apply, visit this form.