SUSAN FREITAG

LPC-MHSP

I understand that beginning counseling can feel intimidating or even overwhelming. My goal is to create a calming, welcoming environment where you feel safe, supported, and truly seen. I believe everyone can benefit from counseling at some point in life, and I’m honored to walk alongside you as we explore ways to navigate life’s challenges together. Counseling isn’t just a career for me—it’s a calling and a passion. I feel deeply grateful to do work that I love.

I earned my Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 2001 and began my career in social work. After several years in the field, I returned to school and completed my Master’s Degree in Counseling from Tennessee Technological University in 2009. Since then, I’ve been providing counseling services throughout the Upper Cumberland region.

Melissa and I opened Grove in 2013, and it’s been a joy to watch our practice blossom into a community resource where we offer more than just therapy. Some of our latest adventures include starting a podcast, offering therapeutic childcare and camps, and soon enough, we’ll have a flower farm on the property thanks to our neighbors at Glass Tangerine moving into the building!

I am certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and integrate other evidence-based modalities such as Brainspotting, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Equine Therapy into my work. My approach centers around helping clients reclaim their stories and heal at their own pace, creating space for both vulnerability and strength. As Brené Brown so eloquently puts it, “Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it...” I believe that healing begins when we feel safe enough to explore the hard parts and discover the light within.

Outside the therapy room, I’m a wife, mom of three, and pet parent. My faith and family are my foundation, offering strength and grounding in all I do. I feel most at home outdoors—gardening, hiking, boating—and my real passion is hitting the open road on my Harley Davidson whenever I can. I also love to travel and find deep joy in exploring new places. When it comes to adventures, I often joke, “If it involves a helmet or a waiver, I’m probably in!”

State-Approved Supervisor for TN LPC-MHSP Candidates

TN License #3006

Get to know Susan…

· Full Name

Susan Freitag

· Pronouns:

She/her/hers

· Role at Grove

Clinical Therapist, Clinical Supervisor, and Owner

· Licensure/Credentials

Licensed Professional Counselor with a Mental Health Service Provider designation (a fancy way of saying that I can not only provide counseling, I can also prevent, diagnose, and treat mental health issues).

Certified therapist in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Qualified Clinical Supervisor for pre-licensure counselors

· Therapeutic Approach In a Few Words

Relational, trauma-informed, strengths-based

· What drew you to this work?

I've always been drawn to helping others, and I've long been fascinated by what drives human behavior.

· What do you hope clients feel when they walk into Grove?

Peace, calmness, tranquility. A sense of "I feel at home".

· A value or belief I carry into sessions:

Clients are the experts of their own lives, and I’m honored to support them in becoming the best version of themselves—whatever that may look like for them.

· How I care for my own mental health:

I love anything that lets me work with my hands—gardening, cleaning, organizing—you name it. Being outside brings me joy, too.

· Hidden Talent:

I can chirp like a cricket.

· If I were a plant, I'd be a:

A snake plant. I thrive on neglect! Just kidding, but I am tougher than I look. : -)

· Favorite Comfort Food:

My mom's recipe for potato soup.

· Weekend Vibe: What's your dream weekend look like?

Anytime I can be outside spending time with family and friends

· A book/movie/show I'll never get tired of:

Movies: Little Miss Sunshine; Fundamentals of Caring; Signs

Books: To Kill A Mockingbird- Harper Lee; East of Eden- John Steinbeck; Anything written by Maya Angelou

Shows: The Office; Friends; Seinfeld

· Go-to drink order:

Vanilla Chai Latte- it tastes like Christmas in a cup!

o This or That: Early Bird or Night Owl

Early Bird

o City or Nature

Nature

o Fiction or Nonfiction

Fiction

o Dogs or Cats

Both!

o Sunrise or Sunsets

Sunsets

Please pick the co-worker who works to the RIGHT of your office, name them, and describe what a client can expect sitting in the room with them as their therapist/office staff:

Melissa Spaulding- she is one of those rare people who’s both incredibly smart and incredibly kind. She’s the kind of therapist who makes you feel like you’re the only person in the world—fully present, genuinely caring, and always rooting for you.