You might find yourself here because of…
Chronic Pain & Illness
I work with individuals living with long-term, complex, or hard-to-diagnose conditions that affect both body and mind. Many clients come to therapy feeling misunderstood, dismissed, or exhausted by the medical system. I provide psychotherapy to support the emotional and psychological aspects of chronic medical conditions, helping clients explore how thoughts, emotions, and bodily awareness interact, develop coping strategies, and foster resilience and self-agency. Some of the conditions I commonly support include: Central nervous system disorders, such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Autonomic nervous system disorders, like Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) Peripheral nervous system disorders, including diabetic neuropathy and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Essential tremor and functional movement disorders Fibromyalgia and the emotional impact of chronic pain Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME) Long COVID and post-viral illness Autoimmune conditions Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) Gastrointestinal concerns, including IBS, IBD, or chronic nausea and gagging Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) Migraines and chronic tension headaches Medically unexplained symptoms or pain with emotional components I use somatically-informed and neuro-integrative psychotherapy approaches to support awareness, emotional resilience, and self-understanding in the context of living with chronic conditions. While I do not provide medical treatment, I encourage clients to consult their healthcare providers for medical concerns and am open to collaborating with your medical team to provide comprehensive support.
Trauma & Life Challenges
I support clients in exploring the emotional and somatically-experienced impact of trauma through insight, connection, and safety. I take a gentle, client-paced approach, helping you notice patterns, build awareness, and develop strategies to navigate difficult experiences. I work with: Complex trauma (C-PTSD) and childhood trauma Medical trauma or anxiety around procedures Single-incident trauma (accidents, loss, violence) Emotional overwhelm, shutdown, or freeze states Panic, chronic anxiety, or dissociation Disconnection, numbness, or difficulty feeling grounded Vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, or burnout Somatic experiences related to unresolved trauma Our work together focuses on supporting awareness, emotional resilience, and a stronger sense of presence and self-connection — gently, gradually, and at your pace, with tools and practices to help you navigate stress and emotional challenges in daily life.
Grief & End-of-Life Concerns
Grief takes many forms—the loss of a loved one, a sense of identity, or the life you imagined. I provide a supportive, compassionate space to navigate these transitions, including: Grieving a death (recent or long ago) Anticipatory grief related to illness or caregiving Pregnancy loss, infertility, or reproductive grief Adjusting to changes in function, autonomy, or health End-of-life transitions and existential or spiritual distress Exploring meaning, creating ritual, and reflecting on legacy Emotional support for caregivers and hospice staff Facing death with intention, presence, and dignity These moments can feel isolating. Therapy offers a safe, held space to process emotions, reflect, and find support as you move through loss at your own pace. You are not alone, and your experience is honored.
For people navigating the places where mind, body,
and lived experience meet.
Integrative, somatic and nervous-system-informed care for chronic pain and illness, trauma, grief, caregiving, and life's significant transitions.
Psychotherapy & Somatics
Classes & Workshops
Experiences & Retreats
About Jennifer Knowles, LPC-MHSP
My approach to therapy is rooted in:
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Sensorimotor psychotherapy: a body-centered approach combining talk therapy with attention to physical sensations, movement, posture, and patterns of response to explore experiences that words alone may not fully access.
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Neuro-integrative therapy: brings an understanding of the brain and nervous system into therapy, exploring how brain states, physical responses, emotions, and lived experiences influence one another.
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Integrative psychotherapy: considers the emotional, cognitive, behavioral, physical, and spiritual dimensions of your experience. Rather than following a single model, we draw from different therapeutic approaches based on your needs, preferences, and goals. Therapy is collaborative; you are an active participant in the process.
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Collaborative care: recognizes that psychotherapy may be one part of a larger system of support. When you choose, I can help you build a care team or collaborate with established medical and other providers to support more connected, whole-person care.
Before becoming a therapist, I was a teaching artist exploring collective and generational trauma. Through that work, I noticed how creativity and connection create space for reflection and growth—a foundation that continues to guide me today.
Each person brings a unique story and way of relating to their body and mind. Together, we'll explore what life feels like for you, building greater awareness, flexibility, and self-trust while discovering what supports you both within and beyond our sessions.
When we attune to our nervous system, we begin to reshape our experiences—not by changing what happened, but by changing how we live with what happened.
Let's Get Science-y for a Sec...
Your brain is adaptable — always learning, noticing, and responding. It works closely with your autonomic nervous system, which influences how you experience stress, alertness, and relaxation. Depending on whether you feel safe, stressed, or overwhelmed, your mind and body respond in different ways. Part of therapy is noticing these patterns and exploring how they show up in your daily life. When stress or trauma has been ongoing — whether from major events or repeated smaller challenges — it can feel like you’re constantly on edge or emotionally exhausted. That’s a natural response to trying to stay safe, even long after the immediate threat has passed. Therapy offers a space to slow down, notice these patterns, and build awareness of how thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations interact. Just pausing, reflecting, and naming your experiences is part of creating space for insight and self-understanding. Somatic and mindfulness-informed practices in psychotherapy can support this awareness, helping you notice how your body and mind respond to stress and explore ways to respond with curiosity, presence, and self-compassion.
“You are not a problem to be solved.”
Mind and body aren't separate.
Adaptation isn't pathology.
Not everything difficult can, or needs to, be fixed.
Sometimes the work is learning how to live differently with what has happened.
You don't have to know exactly where to begin.
Schedule a consultation call.
Phone
615-592-6368
Address
217 West Maplewood Drive
Nashville, TN 37207