Frequently Asked Questions

We work with children, teens, adults, couples, and families.

Some families contact us because a child is struggling.

Others come because communication has broken down, anxiety has taken over, trauma continues to affect daily life, or relationships simply aren’t where they want them to be.

Whether you’re six or sixty-six, our goal is the same:

Helping people build healthier relationships with themselves and the people they love.

We serve clients across the lifespan.

Our clinicians tailor therapy to each person’s developmental stage, whether that means play with a young child, conversation with a teenager, couples work, or individual therapy for adults.

Children deserve approaches designed specifically for children—not miniature versions of adult therapy.

That depends on you and what you need. Some sessions look like conversation. Others involve play, creative expression, movement, guided imagery, sandtray work, or role-playing.

We are not attached to any one format. We are attached to what works.

Your therapist will explain what they are doing and why, and you will always have a say in how your sessions unfold.

We are not in the business of keeping people in therapy longer than they need to be. We work with purpose and intention.

Many of our clients see meaningful change within the first few months. Some situations take longer, and we will be transparent with you about where you are in the process.

Our goal is for you to graduate, not to become a permanent fixture on our schedule.

Sometimes, yes. Not the kind that feels like a chore, but practical tools and small experiments you can try in your real life between appointments.

Change does not only happen in a therapist’s office. We want you to take something useful home every time.

Show up. Be honest, even when it is uncomfortable. Give the process a real chance before deciding it is not working. And if something is not clicking, tell your therapist.

We would rather adjust our approach than have you quietly check out.

The clients who get the most out of therapy are the ones who treat it like a real investment, because it is.

Neurofeedback is a non-invasive, drug-free approach that trains your brain to regulate itself more effectively. It is particularly helpful for ADHD, anxiety, PTSD, sleep issues, and performance enhancement for athletes, musicians, and executives.

Our Director of Operations, Ron Jagger, is a board-certified naturopath and holistic health practitioner who specializes in this work.

If you are curious whether it might be a good fit, we are happy to talk it through with you.

The Mountain Method is an educational framework created by our founder, Dr. Stacy Jagger.

Drawing from more than three decades of working with children and families, including 15 years in private practice, Dr. Jagger developed The Mountain Method to help families reduce the noise that keeps them disconnected and build healthier rhythms, stronger relationships, and more meaningful connection at home.

The Mountain Method is not therapy itself.

It is a practical educational framework that teaches everyday tools for communication, nervous system regulation, healthy boundaries, creativity, and connection.

Many families use The Mountain Method alongside therapy, while others participate simply because they want practical tools for everyday family life.

Every person – and every family – is different.

Some sessions involve conversation.

Others include play, movement, creative expression, sandtray, guided imagery, nervous system education, parent coaching, or experiential activities.

We are not committed to one technique.

We are committed to discovering what helps you or your family move forward.

You’ll always understand why a particular approach is being recommended, and therapy is always a collaborative process.

Our clinicians draw from a variety of established, evidence-informed approaches based on each client’s goals and each therapist’s specialized training.

These may include:

• EMDR
• Internal Family Systems (IFS)
• Play Therapy
• Synergetic Play Therapy principles
• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
• Attachment-Based Therapy
• Sandtray Therapy
• Theraplay-informed interventions
• Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI)
• Family Systems Therapy

Dr. Stacy Jagger also integrates family systems, play, attachment, nervous system regulation, experiential interventions, and parent coaching within Catalytic Family Therapy, the relationship-centered clinical model she developed for working with children and the entire family system.

Children grow and heal within relationships, which is why parents and the wider family system often become an important part of the therapeutic process.

We believe symptoms make sense when you understand the story beneath them.

Rather than asking,

“What’s wrong with this person?”

we ask,

“What has this person experienced, and what may their behavior be communicating?”

Our work combines clinical excellence with warmth, creativity, family systems thinking, attachment, nervous system regulation, and practical tools families can use long after therapy ends.

Our goal is more than symptom reduction.

Our goal is lasting change through healthier relationships.

Not if you do not want to. We are not going to drag you back to 1987 against your will.

That said, sometimes the past shows up whether we invite it or not, and when it does, we will help you work with it rather than around it. But we follow your lead. Always.

Then you cry. We are therapists. We have tissues, and we are not going to be weird about it.

Crying in therapy is not a sign that something is wrong. It is usually a sign that something real is finally getting some air.

The good kind. Not the scratchy kind. You are already going through enough.

No. We have heard a lot of things in a lot of sessions. We are genuinely not shockable, and we are not in the business of judgment.

What we are in the business of is helping. Whatever you bring into the room, we can handle it.

Not at all. A lot of our most successful clients are the ones who showed up alone first. Sometimes one person deciding to do something different is enough to shift a whole family system.

You do not have to wait for everyone to agree there is a problem before you start making things better.

That is one of the most common things we hear, and it is completely normal. Kids rarely volunteer for therapy.

Our child therapists are very good at meeting kids where they are and making the experience feel safe, engaging, and even enjoyable. Most kids who came in resistant leave asking when they get to come back. We will take it from there.

Yes, actually. Laughter is one of the fastest ways to disarm defensiveness and create real connection.

Our founder earned the nickname Dr. Sassy for a reason. We take the work seriously. We do not take ourselves seriously. There is a difference, and it matters.

Why choose? Our founder dances. Our team hikes. Some of us do both. We are big believers that play and movement are not just for kids. They are for everyone, which is sort of the whole point of what we do here.

No.

Our goal isn’t to keep people in therapy indefinitely.

Our goal is to help you develop the insight, relationships, and practical skills needed to continue growing long after therapy ends.

Some concerns improve within a few months.

Others require more time.

Throughout the process, we’ll be honest about your progress and work with purpose and intention.

Success means helping people move forward with greater confidence—not creating dependence on therapy.

Sometimes.

But probably not the kind you’re imagining.

You may leave with a conversation to have, a parenting strategy to practice, a nervous system exercise, or something meaningful to notice during the week.

Real change happens between appointments.

Our hope is that therapy becomes something you live—not simply something you talk about.

Show up.

Be honest.

Stay curious.

Tell us when something feels difficult.

Tell us if something isn’t working.

The strongest therapeutic relationships are built on honesty, trust, and collaboration—not perfection.

Neurofeedback is offered through the wellness side of Music City Family Therapy & Wellness.

It is a non-invasive form of brain training designed to help the brain regulate itself more efficiently.

Some individuals explore neurofeedback to support attention, stress regulation, sleep, performance, or overall nervous system functioning.

Neurofeedback is separate from psychotherapy and is not a substitute for medical or mental health treatment.

If you’re curious whether it may be appropriate for your goals, we’ll gladly answer your questions and connect you with the appropriate provider.

Reach out.

You don’t have to know exactly what kind of support you need before contacting us.

We’ll listen carefully, answer your questions honestly, and help you determine the next best step for yourself, your child, your relationship, or your family.

Whether we work together or help connect you with another trusted resource, our hope is the same:

Helping people heal. Helping families thrive.