Today we’d like to introduce you to Ragan Graves
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The path to get to where I am today in my career was not linear; something I resented at the time but am now grateful for. Growing up, I found myself deeply caring for the stories of my friends and became the “therapist” of my circle. I enjoyed listening, reflecting and processing with those around me. Despite knowing this, I ignored the pull toward a career in counseling mostly because of messages I received from the world telling me I couldn’t make a good living doing it.
Instead, I pursued a degree in public relations. While I enjoyed writing and problem solving, it never felt right to me.
After college, through navigating my own personal heartache & professional discontement, I found myself on a therapist’s couch. I couldn’t ignore the voice I pushed down deep inside me any longer, and I decided to pursue my master’s degree in marraige & family therapy.
I am now a licensed marriage & family therapist and have owned my private practice for nine years. I primarily treat adolescent & young adult women, and feel deeply humbled & honored to do this work. I am also a mom to two young kids, and I love the balance that this work affords me. It is a gift to serve my clients while also spedning quality time being present with my family.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As humans, most of our paths are not smooth, and my story is not any different. I have been stretched in so many ways, and I am continuously learning more about the field of psychology and myself.
Not only can the clinical work be challenging emotionally, but nobody teaches you how to own and run a business in graduate school for counseling. I have had to rely on peers & mentors to help navigate many aspects on the business side of things.
Additionally, my own “person of the therapist” issues often come up, and it is in these moments that I continue to do my own work to make sure I am practicing what I preach!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am a native Nashvillian and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, with a decade of experience providing clinical mental health services to adolescent & young adult women through major life transitions. My passion is to walk alongside clients who may be struggling to make sense of life’s ups and downs and to help them reach a place of hope and acceptance.
By offering a safe space that is both comfortable and inviting, my mission is to assist clients in identifying areas of pain in order to grow, transform, and heal. I use an integrative and collaborative approach to therapy, with the understanding that each individual is complex and unique.
I received my Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy degree from Trevecca Nazarene University and completed my clinical internships at Cumberland Heights addiction treatment center and The Refuge Center for Counseling. After graduating, she continued post-masters and contract work at the Refuge Center for Counseling while working in private practice.
I am trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Level 1 and 2 trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for trauma work, and am a certified facilitator for PREPARE/ENRICH pre-marital assessment. My clinical areas of focus are life stage transition work, anxiety, depression, trauma, relational issues, & body image work.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Working in a private practice as a therapist can feel lonely at times, so I think it is important to stay connected to other professionals in the field. Connecting for coffee, attending continuing education opportunites, and engaging in group processing work is all very beneficial.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ragangravescounseling.com
- Instagram: @ragangravescounseling
