Today we’d like to introduce you to Madelynn Kraft.
Hi Madelynn, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Growing up, I moved frequently due to my father’s military career. Because of the trauma my father, his friends, and their families were experiencing, I was surrounded by mental health struggles, but they were never named or openly discussed. I witnessed pain without having the language to understand it.
Fast forward to college, when I took my first psychology class. My world changed. For the first time in my life, I had words for my own struggles and for the experiences I had witnessed through my connection to the military community. There was finally understanding—and with it, hope.
That experience ultimately led me to a career in mental health counseling. I began my clinical work at Cumberland Heights, where I worked in the women’s program and facilitated the veterans group. From there, I spent three years at a local group practice, where I had the opportunity to learn from experienced clinicians and deepen my work with complex trauma through alternative and experiential therapies.
Today, I am the owner of Courage to Heal Therapy, where I help adolescents, couples, and adults heal from childhood trauma, attachment wounds, and painful life experiences. It is an honor to walk alongside clients as they move from merely surviving to experiencing deeper healing, connection, and hope.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In the journey of becoming a licensed clinician and private practice owner, I had to overcome both imposter syndrome and age-related assumptions. Nashville is home to so many incredible therapists, and in the beginning, I really struggled with understanding what I had to offer that was different. I found myself wondering, “Why would someone choose me when there are so many experienced clinicians in the area?”
Being on the younger side also wasn’t always what people expected from their therapist. I sometimes worried that my age would cause others to question my expertise. Over time, I learned that expertise isn’t defined by age—it’s defined by dedication, continued learning, and the ability to create meaningful change in the lives of clients.
I came to embrace the fact that I could be younger and still be an expert in my field. Rather than trying to be someone I wasn’t, I learned to lean into my strengths, my passion for trauma work, and the unique perspective I bring. That shift not only helped me grow in confidence, but also allowed me to build a practice that feels authentic to who I am.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Courage to Heal Therapy ?
I named my practice, Courage to Heal Therapy, because I believe healing is rarely about “fixing” yourself. More often, it’s about having the courage to gently turn toward the parts of your story that have been shaped by pain, survival, or disconnection. With curiosity, compassion, and support, those experiences can begin to soften and integrate.
In my work with clients, we pay attention not only to thoughts and behaviors, but also to the wisdom of the body and the deeper beliefs that were formed along the way. My hope is to create a space where people feel safe enough to explore their experiences, untangle what no longer serves them, and reconnect with the parts of themselves that have always been worthy of care.
Because healing doesn’t happen through force—it happens through courage, curiosity, and connection.
At Courage to Heal Therapy, I provide individual therapy for adolescents and adults ages 12 and up, couples therapy, and group therapy. I specialize in attachment trauma and working with survivors, helping clients understand how past experiences continue to shape present relationships, emotions, and beliefs about themselves.
I also believe healing doesn’t always happen through words alone. That’s why I incorporate experiential and alternative approaches such as Somatic Experiencing-informed work, SomEx, Brainspotting, hypnotherapy, sand tray therapy, and parts work. These modalities allow clients to access healing on a deeper level and create lasting change that extends beyond insight alone.
My goal isn’t to help people become someone different—it’s to help them reconnect with who they were before trauma taught them they had to be anything else.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Cooking, trying new restaurants, and traveling the world make me happy because they allow me to experience life fully. I love learning about different cultures, exploring new places, and creating meaningful memories with the people I love. As someone who spends much of my day holding space for others, these experiences help me stay grounded, inspired, and connected to the joy and wonder that exist in everyday life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.madelynnkraftcouragetohealtherapy.com/
- Instagram: @madelynnkraft.couragetoheal
