Center for Authentic Growth

Center for Authentic Growth modern mental heath group practice🧠
helping humans of TN grow into their most authentic relationships with themselves & others🌱
in person & virtual✨

05/02/2026

Our hearts and stomachs are so full after today!! ✨✨

Huge thank you to everyone who donated, showed up, pet Navy, flipped pancakes, bid on silent auction things, stood in line, laughed with us, danced with us and spent your hard earned money to support this cause! It means so much that you chose to show up for our community in this way! The support, generosity, and good vibes at Stacks of Support were unreal and the pancakes were absolutely stellar too!

We are absolutely flabbergasted to say that we raised almost $3k for our CAG Safety Net Fund!! (WHAT!! BE SO FOR REAL!!) We are stoked knowing this fund can start being used to support our clients who are going through hard seasons so they can stay connected to solid, consistent therapy when they need it most while also making sure our clinicians are paid and taking care of themselves too- that’s the whole heart of this! We had an absolute blast and truly hope y’all did too!!

Huge gratitude to everyone who made it happen and a big thank you to for hosting us and being the absolute best always!! 💛🥞

04/16/2026

still thinking about this one 🧠💛

we loved getting to spend time with Ben () + Nichole () and diving into the actual logistics of higher levels of care - something that feels so important and also… so nuanced in real life.

we learned a ton about what different levels of care really look like, but even more about how to thoughtfully match clients to what actually fits them. not just clinically, but practically too - their insurance, their capacity, what they’re wanting (or not wanting), and what kind of support actually feels accessible and sustainable.

because it’s not just about identifying when someone might need more support - it’s about helping them land somewhere that gives them the best real chance at healing.

but honestly, what we value just as much as the info is the connection. getting to build real relationships with providers in our community means we can offer softer, more thoughtful handoffs when our clients need something beyond what we can hold in the room. and that matters so much to us.

grateful for spaces like this where we can ask questions, think out loud, and keep growing alongside people who care deeply about doing this work well.

more of this always 🤍

03/27/2026

sometimes the most clinically indicated intervention is… mini golf ⛳️

turns out co-regulation also looks like laughing too hard, missing easy shots, mild competitiveness, and getting out of the office together. these off-campus hangs are part of how we take care of ourselves and each other so we can show up more grounded, present, and human in the room with you

community isn’t just something we talk about here, it’s something we practice 💛

03/24/2026

This month’s Lunch & Learn with was such a good reminder of how important collaborative care really is 🤝

They do such a beautiful job of integrating medical and therapeutic care, looking at the whole person and creating treatment plans that actually reflect people’s real lives and needs

And honestly… this is why we care so much about connection!! Knowing who your referral people are, trusting them, and feeling confident sending clients their way matters so much. It’s how we make sure folks are actually supported, not just passed along

We love building a community of providers who get it and who we can collaborate with in meaningful ways 🧠💛

More of this always

03/23/2026

Office Four 💜 (Lydia’s space)

Our main art therapy room and honestly… it feels like stepping into someone’s creative brain in the best way.

The purple walls hold you in this really cozy, expressive way, and so much of the art you see is actually Lydia’s—pieces that make the room feel deeply personal, lived-in, and inviting. It’s not a blank, sterile office. It’s a space that says you get to show up as you are, make a mess, try things, and create something new out of it.

This room has held a lot—play, grief, curiosity, big feelings, tiny moments of pride. It’s colorful, a little chaotic in the most grounding way, and full of possibility.

If you’ve ever needed a place where words aren’t the only option… this is one of those rooms.

***rtherapist

03/06/2026

✨ In Session with Shelby ✨

Meet Shelby, one of the incredible therapists here at the Center for Authentic Growth. Shelby is a relational, trauma-informed clinician who helps individuals, couples, and families slow down, understand their patterns, and build relationships that feel safer, clearer, and more connected. 

Her work is deeply collaborative. Shelby believes you are the expert in your own life, and therapy becomes a space where your experiences, values, and inner wisdom guide the process. 

Shelby works with folks navigating anxiety, identity shifts, trauma, relationship dynamics, neurodivergence, and the messy, meaningful work of being human. She’s also passionate about supporting LGBTQIA+ folks and people exploring non-traditional relationship structures. 

In session with Shelby you’ll find curiosity, warmth, and someone walking alongside you as you reconnect with yourself and your relationships.

We’re so lucky to have her as part of the CAG community. 💛

LGBTQAffirming TherapistCommunity CouplesTherapy NashvilleTherapy

02/24/2026

Still thinking about our Lunch & Learn with Amanda Johnson on the Safe + Sound Protocol 🧡

There is something so powerful about sitting in a room full of clinicians who care deeply about nervous systems, connection, and doing this work well. Amanda walked us through the science and clinical application of SSP and how intentionally filtered music can support regulation, social engagement, and readiness for deeper therapeutic work. As a somatic, trauma-informed practice, it felt so aligned with the way we already think about safety, pacing, and polyvagal-informed care.

I love when our team gets to pause in the middle of busy caseloads and remember… we are students forever. We are collaborators. We are building something thoughtful here.

Grateful for generous teachers. Grateful for curious clinicians. Grateful for spaces where learning feels energizing instead of obligatory.

More of this please. đź’›

TherapistsOfInstagram

01/21/2026

✨ In Session with Lydia ✨

Meet Lydia Henderson, MA, ATR-P — our incredible art therapist creating judgment-free space for healing through creativity and connection. 🎨💛 Lydia believes you don’t have to be an artist to benefit from art therapy — it’s about expression, exploration, and finding new ways to tell your story. Together, she works collaboratively with clients, weaving art-making with talk therapy to deepen insight, support identity exploration, and foster emotional growth. 🌱

Lydia brings a q***r, neurodivergent, intersectional lens to her work, honoring each person’s lived experience and creative voice. 🖌️✨ Whether it’s collage, altered books, sculpture, or photography, she helps you make art about what matters most. 

📍 Listen to what she is like in session and see how art isn’t just what you make — it’s how you make meaning.

01/12/2026

✨ Friday’s Lunch & Learn was SUCH a treat — we got to spend the afternoon with the incredible Hannah Bethel (.healing), a certified clinical hypnotherapist, master practitioner of NLP, and all-around magical human. ✨

Hannah walked us through how hypnotherapy supports nervous system regulation, subconscious healing, and the rewiring of old patterns that keep clients stuck — and y’all… it was so cool to learn how powerful and body-based this work can be.

We even got to do a little embodied deepening demo, and our whole team was feeling grounded, soft, and very “wow, our subconscious minds are WILD.”

Huge thank you to Hannah for sharing your brilliance, your warmth, and the incredible science + artistry behind what you do. đź’›

Always grateful for a community that learns together, heals together, and stays endlessly curious.

01/07/2026

Office No. 1 ✨ Payton’s office ✨

Cozy on purpose. A little eclectic. Very lived-in.
This space is full of plants that keep growing, shelves that get pulled from mid-session, soft chairs you can really sink into, and lots of thoughtful little details for real humans doing real work.

Play is woven into the room—not separate, not obvious, just there when it’s needed. Sensory objects to fidget with, art and playful textures, room for curiosity, creativity, and moving through things without needing the right words. Whether you’re a kid, teen, or adult, this is a space where play, imagination, and expression are part of how safety and healing happen.

Warm without being stuffy. Grounded without being serious. A space where you get to show up as you are, breathe a little easier, and be human. 🌿

***raffirming

01/01/2026

A room full of clinking glasses, deep laughs, and people who genuinely show up. ✨

Last year stretched us, grew us, challenged us, and shaped us in ways we’re proud of. We learned how to slow down, how to support each other better, how to hold care with integrity, and how to keep choosing community even when things felt full.

We’re endlessly grateful for this team - for the heart, creativity, thoughtfulness, and presence each person brings into the room and into their work.

Here’s to carrying that care forward.
Into the new year, new intentions, deeper connection, and continued growth, together. 🥂

Address

Nashville, TN
37204

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+16157672385

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Center for Authentic Growth posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Center for Authentic Growth:

Shortcuts

Share

Category