Takeaway: All relationships hit road bumps from time to time. Whether you and your partner are struggling with conflict, infidelity, parenting, or simply want to get closer, working with a couples therapist in Nashville can help. Having the support of a professional, neutral third party can give you the skills and perspective you need to grow together. Reach out today to get started.
Meet Dr. Kim Knight, Psy.D. | Franklin, Spring Hill, & Nashville couples therapist
Hi, I’m Dr. Kim Knight. I’m a clinical psychologist located in the greater Nashville, TN area. I recognize how frustrating, overwhelming, and lonely it can feel to navigate relationship issues. If you’re here, you’ve likely tried everything else you can think of to make your relationship better but still feel stuck.
That’s where I come in.
I help couples like you work through life’s challenges. As you likely know firsthand, relationships take work. However, you don’t have to do it alone. Having a trusted confidant and relationship expert in your corner can help you and your partner work through your issues and feel closer than ever.
In my 25+ years of experience as a private practice couples counselor, I’ve seen firsthand the incredible transformation that can take place in the therapy space. If you’re open to the process and committed to learning more about yourself and your partner, you can experience significant growth as a couple, including your own personal growth.
While I’m based near Franklin, Spring Hill, and Nashville, TN, I’m licensed through PsyPact. This allows me to see couples virtually in over 30 states nationwide. My decades of clinical experience, as well as my formal training and education, have given me the confidence, knowledge, and skills necessary to help couples with a wide variety of different issues.
My approach to relationship & marriage counseling
I deeply understand the courage that goes into seeking professional help for your relationship issues. It’s incredibly vulnerable to admit that you’re struggling and let a stranger into your relationship. That’s why I take a warm, interactive approach with each of the couples I work with. I want you to feel assured that I deeply care about making you both feel seen and supported.
With that being said, I’m also direct with my clients. Couples seek therapy because what they have been doing is no longer working. If I don’t gently challenge you both to try new things and seek different perspectives, you’ll stay stuck. You deserve a therapist who will empower you both to change.
While many couples come to therapy with similar issues, I also recognize that each relationship is unique. You have needs, desires, and values all your own. We’ll create a plan that’s customized to your specific situation and will help you reach the treatment goals we identify together.
The therapeutic approaches I use can vary from couple to couple. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), family systems therapy, and psychodynamic therapy are a few of the methods that I may incorporate into our work together. I always use a client-centered approach to make sure that your voice is heard above all else.
Common reasons why people start couples counseling in Nashville
While each relationship is unique, couples are often affected by similar challenges. Here are a few of the reasons why people work with couples counselors.
- Arguments and/or disagreements
- Family conflict
- Cultural and/or religious differences
- Financial stressors
- Establishing common goals
- Raising children
- Communication issues
- Infidelity
- Sexual and/or intimacy concerns
- Life transitions
Keep in mind that this is not an all-inclusive list. If you and your partner are struggling with a different issue and are still interested in couples therapy, I encourage you to reach out for a complimentary consultation. We can discuss your situation and see how I may be able to help you.
What to expect from the relationship counseling process
Each couple has a different experience with therapy depending on their unique situation and goals. However, the process is generally the same for all my clients. Here’s an idea of what you can expect when starting Nashville marriage counseling.
Step 1: Consultation
Schedule your free consultation. This is an opportunity to ask questions, go over logistics, and decide whether or not we want to move forward with working together.
Step 2: Intake assessment
If we take the next step, we’ll meet for our first session. I’ll ask you and your partner more questions about what brings you into therapy, your history, and your goals for therapy. We’ll develop a treatment plan that’s tailored to your circumstances.
Step 3: Let the work begin
Now it’s time to dive into our work together. This stage will depend on your goals, but we may go over new skills to improve communication, discuss features of healthy relationships, process feelings, explore unhelpful patterns, and more. Once we feel our work is completed, we’ll wrap up our sessions.
FAQs about Nashville couples therapy
It’s normal to have questions about couples counseling, especially if you’ve never worked with a therapist before. Here are some of the most common questions I hear from potential new clients. If you don’t see your question below, please contact me directly.
What is the difference between couples therapy and marriage counseling?
The terms “couples therapy,” “couples counseling,” and “marriage counseling” are often used interchangeably. They all refer to therapy that is specifically for people in a romantic relationship. People often have the misconception that they need to be married in order to seek couples therapy, but people in any stage of their relationship can benefit from working with a couples therapist.
You may also hear the term “premarital counseling” during your search for a couples counselor. This is a form of couples therapy that is specifically geared toward couples who are working toward marriage. It provides an opportunity for you and your partner to discuss what you expect from a marriage and achieve resolution around potential conflicts before taking the next step in your relationship.
I support couples from all walks of life and in various stages of their relationship. Whether you’re dating, engaged, married, or considering divorce, I invite you to reach out.
What type of therapist is best for couples?
There are many different types of therapists that can provide couples counseling. Some types of credentials you may see during your search are licensed clinical social worker, licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed professional counselor, and licensed psychologist (like me).
Each type of therapist has at least a master’s degree. Some couples therapists, like me, have a doctoral degree. We also have thousands of hours of supervised practice and significant professional training.
While it’s important to verify your therapist’s credentials, you also want to consider their professional experience, approach to therapy, and whether or not you connect on a personal level. You can read more about my background here or contact me for a free consultation to get a better sense of whether we might be the right fit for each other.
What is the success rate of marriage counseling?
It’s difficult to say how successful couples therapy is overall. Each couple’s experience with therapy is unique, and the idea of success can depend on what your specific goals are.
With that being said, research shows that couples counseling can be highly effective. For example, this study shows that therapy can help couples in several aspects of their relationship, including emotional, psychological, sexual, and physical intimacy.
I’ve also seen firsthand how much couples can learn and grow during their time in therapy. Here are a few examples of other ways you can benefit from relationship counseling.
- Learn communication skills
- Improve individual mental health
- Gain more understanding of yourself and each other
- Resolve conflicts
- Improve self-esteem
- Learn new ways to connect with each other
There are many other ways that working with a therapist can help. Reach out today to learn more about how couples therapy can potentially benefit your relationship.
Relationship counseling in Nashville can help you and your partner thrive.
Ready to get started? I’m passionate about creating a safe space for couples to express themselves, heal past hurts, and figure out a path forward. No matter what you’re struggling with, we can work through it together. Reach out today to schedule your free consultation. I look forward to hearing from you!