Now accepting applications for Interns for Spring and Fall 2023!

Stacy Jagger, LMFT, RPT-S

Founder, Clinical Director

Stacy Jagger is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S), as well as an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. She is a mother of four, guest speaker, author, and mentor.

A native of Nashville, Stacy is the founder and clinical director of Music City Family Therapy – a unique counseling practice serving Greater Nashville that specializes in integrating play and expressive arts therapies for children, individuals, and families. Music City Family Therapy utilizes a systemic, whole family approach to helping clients heal from disconnection, depression, anxiety, trauma, behavioral problems, divorce, addiction, and alcoholism. Stacy is the creator of Stacy Jagger’s Mountain Method™ – a proprietary experiential family therapy treatment process designed to help children, individuals and families heal, grow, and thrive.

As a believer in multicultural competencies and serving the under served, Stacy has written a heartfelt children’s book, A Letter from Emma, which addresses the sexual exploitation of children. This book has been endorsed by well-loved play therapist Dr. David Crenshaw and is used as a resource in the Old Order Amish community.

Stacy is also the author of the book 30 Day Blackout: How to help your kids turn off the screen and turn to their family, which outlines her technique for bringing parents and children closer together by temporarily removing screens and electronics from the family system. Stacy’s book was written to unleash the natural creativity in all of us and has been endorsed by world-renowned pediatrician, Dr. Williams Sears.

Stacy enjoys designing programs and products for the family, including her parent-child bonding program, Music with Mommie, and her highly effective Magic Mats communication tool that can be used as a resource for conflict resolution and connecting conversations in any relationship. She is the owner of The Little House at Sunnybrook Farm, an inspired retreat location in Columbia, TN.

Stacy is on a mission to restore wonder to childhood, connection to families, and intimacy to relationships. Drawing on a decade of experience in treating and helping families, she integrates lessons from her own trauma history and offers hope to those who feel there is no hope. She enjoys growing flowers, writing songs and ballroom dancing. She has appeared on Nashville’s Talk of the Town, has written numerous articles for parents, has been featured as a child expert on the morning and evening news and is a regular guest on the local NBC affiliate show Today in Nashville. Stacy is a guest speaker for universities, churches and conferences, and enjoys offering clinical trainings and consultation for family therapists across the country.

Ron Jagger, BCND, CNHP

Family Holistic Health Practitioner, Neurofeedback

Technician, Biofeedback Technician, Director of Operations

Raised in a pediatrician’s office as a “doctor’s kid”, Ron has a long-time interest in health and wellness, culminating in his Doctorate in Holistic Health from Trinity School of Natural Health and his current work as a Holistic Health Practitioner.  Ron’s Health Minister training in 2003, combined with his 30 years of experience in music production in Nashville, has inspired him to combine these skills in the study of light/sound frequency and music therapies. Ron serves both his local community and distance clients, helping families and individuals improve their health through nutrition, exercise, good hydration, and trust in and practice of spiritual principles. He is a Holistic Health Practitioner, a Certified Natural Health Professional, a Neurofeedback Provider, a Provider for The Listening Program® by Advanced Brain Technologies, and a Certified LifeSystems Biofeedback Technician and advocate for children’s nutrition. 

With a special interest in helping others achieve a natural, healthier state of being physically, emotionally, and spiritually, he and his wife Stacy host workshops and retreats for families, individuals, and couples seeking to improve their health and relationships.

David Flowers, MMFT

Dave is a native Nashvillian with a passion for helping children and their families. He uses an experiential and attachment-based therapeutic approach with his clients to rebuild trust and repair broken relationships.

He began his career in the world of equipment financing, but it was his long involvement in international missions that changed his worldview and led him to pursue a new career in Marriage and Family Therapy. His travels have taken him to many countries in Eastern Europe and South America, teaching parenting classes and leading summer camps for children.

Dave received his master’s degree from Trevecca Nazarene University and is pursuing licensure under the supervision of Stacy Jagger, LMFT, RPT-S. He is Level I trained in Theraplay and completed an externship in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). He is also a member of the American Counseling Association and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

In his free time, Dave enjoys writing songs, telling stories, going on road trips with his family, trying new international foods, breathing fresh air, and daydreaming.

Renee Lackey, MA Professional Counselor

“Being your true self is a beautiful thing to strive for and achieve. Often, we must sit in the most challenging parts of our struggles to know what our healthiest life could be.” 

Renee is originally from Little Rock, Arkansas but spent several years in New York City and Chicago. Her experience as an ESL teacher and raising her son inspired her to work with children and adolescents. Through her experience of working with children and adolescents, she developed a passion for working with parents and families. 

She graduated from Northwestern University with her masters in Mental Health Counseling and a specialization in children and adolescents. Renee is basic trained in EMDR, EMDR for children and adolescents, and integrating EMDR and play therapy. She is currently receiving training in Stacy Jaggers Mountain Method. 

Renee knows that children and teens often struggle with low self-esteem, behavioral and emotional issues, depression, anxiety, attachment issues, and trauma. She understands how parents want their children to be happy, and it can sometimes be hard to understand the root of a child’s struggle. Renee knows that being a parent is hard work and truly believes that as parents, we are doing the best we can with the resources we are given. She wants to work with you as a parent to help contain your pain and provide a path for growth, build a stronger relationship with your child/teen, develop skills to be an effective parent, and work directly with your child/teen to help understand their feelings, needs, and to build resilience. 

She places emphasis on building relationships and creating a safe place with empathy and compassion. Renee uses various treatment approaches to meet her client’s specific needs. She knows how difficult it can be to ask for help and doesn’t take that for granted. Renee admires your courage, looks forward to hearing your story, and assisting you in reaching your goals. She can’t wait to hear from you. Renee is ready when you are. 

In her free time, Renee enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and their two fur babies. Her favorite activities include being outside, exercising, traveling, seeing live shows, sports, cooking, baking, and reading.

Jacklyn Whiteheart, MMFT

Originally from North Carolina and Florida, Jacklyn has been living in the Middle Tennessee area for the past five years. She has a Master’s Degree in Family and Marriage Therapy from Liberty University, and she is currently working towards licensure.

Jacklyn received her undergraduate degree in Recreation Therapy helping individuals with disabilities improve their overall functioning and quality of life. She found a passion for working with children who have special needs, and she wanted to take her education to the next level by pursing a Master’s Degree to help individuals at a higher level of care. Her personal mission is to help others realize their potential, and she enjoys being able to utilize a family systems approach in order to do so.

When she’s not working with clients, Jacklyn enjoys practicing hot yoga/barre, spending time with friends and family, taking care of her pups, trying new coffee shops, and spending time out on the lake.

Rebekah Pharr, MMFT

Rebekah joined MCFT in April of 2022 after previously counseling at Lipscomb University and being in private practice. She is a native of Williamson County and attended Lipscomb Academy, earned a BS from MTSU, and MMFT from TNU. Rebekah enjoys working with couples and families dealing with co-parenting issues, as well as teens and adolescents. She uses different approaches to counseling but focuses on attachment and experiential techniques. Rebekah has 4 children. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, camping, kayaking, reading, and spending time with her family. She practices in the Cool Springs office.

Tina Adornato

Intern

Tina is committed to helping others learn how to build healthier relationships to deepen their family connections. Her work focuses on targeting ineffective behaviors, habits, and communication within the family. She believes in using the experiential and attachment therapeutic approach to help clients reach their congruent communication goals. She is passionate about working with families, children, and individuals who are looking for relief.

Tina has worked 7 years in Preschool including Montessori. She has a degree in Registered Nursing as well as a Bachelor’s in Psychology focusing on Applied Behavior Analysis. She also has her Master in Business Administration specializing in Human Resources. She is currently completing her Internship for her Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy.

Tina was born and raised in the Bay Area of California and moved to the lovely State of Tennessee 7 years ago.

Camden Betchick

Intern

Camden Betchick is from Memphis Tennessee and is a graduate of the University of Tennessee. She has lived in Nashville for three years and is pursuing a Master’s degree at Trevecca Nazarene University. She spends her free time following Memphis Tigers athletics or working out at Cyclebar. She is also always looking for the best gluten-free meal in Nashville – accepting all recommendations!

Having been in ministry with Young Life for the past seven years working with high school girls and being a full-time nanny for the past three years, Camden has a heart for kids and adolescents. She is looking forward to working with children and their families, finding peace in the family system.

Cayce Sweat

Intern

Cayce Sweat is a Nashville native pursuing her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Lipscomb University. Cayce is a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and she attended Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee where she majored in English Literature and graduated with honors.

After working with an international public relations firm for five years, Cayce felt called to pursue a career in therapy. She is particularly drawn to helping those who have experienced trauma as well as focusing on the mind-body connection. When she’s not in the library, you can find Cayce practicing yoga, kickboxing, walking her dog, reading, cooking a healthy meal and trying out Nashville’s newest restaurants with her closest friends.

Ally Doering

Intern

Ally is currently enrolled in the graduate program at Trevecca Nazarene University pursuing a degree in Marriage and Family therapy. She received her bachelor of science degree in psychology from Trevecca Nazarene University in 2017.

She is a member of the American Counseling Association and a member of the American Association of marriage and family therapy.

Having worked with children for many years and being a nanny, Ally felt a calling to work with children and their families.

Outside of the therapy office Ally enjoys spending time with her husband, traveling, going to Nashville Predators games, and riding horses.

Anna Boneh

Care Coordinator

Anna Boneh is the Care Coordinator for Music City Family Therapy and the Executive Assistant to Stacy Jagger. A native of Nashville and the mother of four daughters, Anna has a background in ministry, marketing and mentorship, was the director of a dance and day school, and has a passion for writing in all forms. Anna thrives when creating beauty, seeing beauty in individuals, and encouraging the beauty within each heart to be expressed.

Kate Moyer

Mind-Body Therapist

Kate is a yoga therapist and somatic practitioner in Franklin, TN. Since the beginning of her career, she has felt called to serve those who wrestle with unresolved trauma and constant mental battles. Since completion of her yoga teacher training (E-RYT) 2005 and yoga therapist certification (C-IAYT) in 2014, her heart for helping others has led her to pursue further education in Trauma-Sensitive Yoga and Mindfulness-based Self-Compassion with Dr. Kristin Neff. She’s also studied the SomEx method, a somatic experiential healing program, and Myofascial Release techniques with a Level 2 certification under world-renowned practitioner John F. Barnes.

Kate has worked with clients of all ages and backgrounds, but wouldn’t be doing this work if she hadn’t experienced the benefits of these modalities firsthand. The techniques she’s studied have helped her to face challenges in her own life, and she believes her personal experiences have opened the door for her to provide others with the empathy, support, and knowledge needed to find hope that will create lasting changes. No matter what you’re facing or what you’ve walked through in the past, believe you can find healing and peace for your mind and body.

LeTizia Baxter Smith, DNP, PMHNP-BC

Lead Medical Management Provider

LeTizia Baxter Smith is a Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and a Co-founder of Silver Lining Psychiatric Consultants. She is a native of the Middle Tennessee area. With 13 years of experience in the mental health field, LeTizia uses her warm, supportive approach to assist clients in their journey to discovering their best selves. She believes in taking a holistic approach to mental health care and utilizes a combination of both medication and non-medication-based interventions.

LeTizia attended Vanderbilt University for her undergraduate career and completed her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from Vanderbilt School of Nursing. She then completed her Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) at Emory School of Nursing. She regularly engages in continuing education in the field of psychiatry. She is a member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA), Tennessee Nurses Association (TNA), and the American Nurses Association (ANA). She was also chosen to be a SAMHSA Minority Fellow from 2018-2020.

Currently, she is on faculty at Vanderbilt School of Nursing where she is the current chair of the diversity and inclusion committee. She has joined the Music City Family Therapy team to serve clients as the Lead Medical Management Provider. LeTizia and her family live in Spring Hill, TN. When not working, she enjoys traveling, reading, going to the gym, and spending time with her family and friends.

Brandy Storck MS SLP AVT

Listening and Spoken Language Specialist

Brandy is a Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist, Listening and Spoken Language Specialist, wife, and mother to three little boys. A native of Missouri, her family relocated to Nashville in 2017. She is the owner of The Emphasis Project in Franklin, TN and specializes in hearing impairment, executive function, learning differences, and trauma-informed care.

With over 20 years of experience in the field, the passion for what she does is founded on a fundamental belief that the family is the greatest expert their child will ever have. She has spent the entirety of her career coaching, consulting, and investing into the whole team rather than just the child, recognizing that in so doing, you net a far greater return on your teaching investment in the developmental magnitude of the child.

As she came to understand her own childhood trauma and the effect it had on her learning and social/emotional experiences throughout academia, she realized that the work she did in helping children establish new pathways in the prefrontal cortex was only as effective as the health of the limbic system operating below it. While simultaneously seeing that the family-centered therapies provided were only as effective as the mental health of the families carrying them out.

She learned that the information, education, and understanding supporting this connection across fields was painfully limited, to the detriment of optimal, holistic child development. As a result, she has been on a mission to close the gap between Speech-Language Pathology, Neuroscience, and Mental Health, for the children AND the families served, and has aligned her practice with Music City Family Therapy in seeking to do so.

Jeromy Deibler

Director of Artist Care

Originally from Lancaster Pennsylvania, Jeromy Deibler moved to Nashville at the age of twenty to pursue a career in music and begin life with his new wife, Jennifer. Within a few years, their band FFH (Far From Home), would go on to sell over two million albums, garner fifteen top-10 singles, and play thousands of concerts.

After a decade of touring, writing, and recording, the Deibler’s moved to Cape Town, South Africa to focus on their family and marriage while serving a local church. They returned home with a desire to begin a new season, one where they could move out of full-time touring and focus on their next chapter. Jeromy became an artist-in-residence at Fellowship Bible Church in Brentwood, TN, and began spending time mentoring and teaching young artists and musicians about what a healthy creative life looks like.

In 2013 Jeromy was offered a position at a church in Orange County, CA that came with an opportunity for him to get more training in pastoring and mentoring. It also gave their family a chance to downsize and get the change of scenery (both geographical and spiritual) that they’d been craving. While in Irvine, Jeromy completed an extensive Spiritual Direction program focusing on Attachment Theory, Enneagram Studies, Systematic Narcissism and Family Systems. In 2021 the Deiblers decided it was time to move back to Tennessee to be closer to their families and friends and put down some new roots. They purchased a small slice of land south of Franklin where they will build their next dream, Return and Rest Farm.

Jeromy and Jennifer have been married for twenty-six years and have two children, Hutch and Sadie-Claire. While Jeromy still plays music, his main focus is his work in spiritual direction and Artist-Care, tending to the souls of those who live and work in the creative space – helping them to better understand themselves and discover what God is really like.

Now accepting applications for Interns for Spring and Fall 2023!

Music City Family Therapy is brought to you by Stacy Jagger