Jim Clifton

Therapist Intern

You are not alone. Does it feel like you are? You are not alone.

Holding a secret or feeling like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders? Life can convince us that we are alone, and we don't need help or others.

For much of my life, I believed strength meant figuring things out on my own. I admired intellect and self-sufficiency. I didn't ask for help. I pushed through. On the outside, I was social, active, and easy to be around. But I rarely let anyone behind the curtain. Eventually, I learned that being capable and being honest, open, and at peace are very different things. This is good news: we are not locked into our pasts and upbringings; you can break cycles and give your relationships something different.

I believe we all need a place and a person to lean on. Not someone who tells us what to do or what we want to hear, but someone who listens without judgment and offers perspective when needed. Someone grounded, with real-life experiences, who has skinned their knees on the playground, and can laugh and cry. You know this person when you meet them because you stop performing. No armor. No walls. Just a connection.

I work with men, women, and couples who are looking for a safe place to explore, be more honest, and connect. Whether you are stuck, disconnected, overwhelmed, or simply tired of carrying things on your own, we can work together to sort through it. I am also interested in helping athletes achieve optimal results through greater mental resilience and awareness.

Specialties:
Anxiety
Career Issues
Couples Therapy
Individuals Therapy
Depression
Life Transitions
Men's Issues
Substance Abuse
Connect

More about Jim Clifton

I have spent most of my life in recovery and leaned heavily on the reflective work that AA calls "soul surgery". This process led me to new relationships and new understandings about myself.

Choosing counseling was intentional. I moved to Nashville to commit to a relationship, knowing my old career wouldn't follow me. For the first time, I didn't react to outside events or try to guess the next "right" move. I sat still, reflected, and listened. Eventually, what became clear was that I wanted to share my experience, strength, and hope to help connect deeply with others and offer help to those who felt stuck.

After 30 years as a startup veteran, I noticed that the core skills of building relationships, staying open-minded, being actively curious, creating action plans and identifying options and solutions matched the same energy and direction of the counseling experience. Instead of launching and building businesses, I am now committed to the process of understanding unique and personal stories while navigating hardships or self-doubt.

I live in Nashville with my wife and am the proud father of three wonderful adult daughters, two sons-in-law, and one grandson, with a granddaughter arriving soon. I am currently completing my graduate studies in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Trevecca Nazarene University. My ultimate goal in my work is to provide a safe, grounded environment where individuals and couples can stop holding their breath underwater and begin the honest work of healing.

Session Details

Session Rate
$100 / 50 minute session /Sliding Scale Available Based on Need
Availability
Contact for Availability
Direct Line
615-669-1064
Supervision
Paul Babb, EdS, ACS, LPC-MHSP