Rachel Scott, LPC-MHSP
About Rachel:
Born and raised in rural Tennessee, I developed a love of horses at a very early age. I was always drawn to them and found a sense of peace when around them. I spent as much time as I could playing in the barn, riding my horse, and exploring the land while letting my imagination run wild.
As I grew older, that curiosity expanded to include a fascination with people—how we think, why we respond to life the way we do, and how our experiences shape who we become. That curiosity, along with my desire to help others, became the foundation of my journey into psychology.
The journey to mental healthcare
I've always known that I wanted to work in a helping profession. My journey began with studying psychology as an undergraduate, while I simultaneously began a career in law enforcement. I ultimately earned my Bachelor's degree in Forensic Psychology.
While there were many rewarding aspects of working in law enforcement, I was also exposed to some of the darkest and most difficult experiences people can face. I witnessed trauma, crisis, loss, and the ways those experiences can affect not only survivors, but also their families and the professionals who respond to them.
Those experiences opened my eyes to the tremendous need for compassionate, trauma-informed mental health care. I saw survivors who were trying to make sense of what had happened to them and first-responders carrying experiences that were difficult to process. Again and again, I saw the importance of having someone who could listen without judgment, understand the impact of trauma, and help people find a path forward.
Those experiences ultimately led me to become a therapist and to specialize in trauma treatment.
Trauma-Informed Therapy
When I discovered Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, I immediately recognized the potential for combining two things that have been meaningful throughout my life: my love of horses and my passion for helping people heal.
Horses offer a unique way to explore trust, boundaries, communication, emotional awareness, and relationships. Because they are highly sensitive to the people around them, they can provide opportunities to notice and understand emotions in ways that traditional talk therapy sometimes cannot. For some clients, being outside and working alongside a horse creates a sense of safety and connection that makes the therapeutic process feel more natural.
My work with trauma has also led me to specialize in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). When I first learned about EMDR, I immediately began researching the approach and the evidence behind it. I was struck by its potential to help people process traumatic experiences rather than simply learning to live around the pain they caused.
Since becoming trained in EMDR, I have witnessed the profound changes that can occur when clients are able to process experiences that have continued to affect their lives. I have continued to pursue advanced training to deepen my understanding and practice, including approaches that incorporate Attachment Theory and Internal Family Systems.
My goal is not simply to help clients cope with what has happened to them, but to help them understand themselves, reconnect with their sense of safety, and develop the freedom to move forward.
Why I Do This Work
Becoming a therapist has been a journey of continual learning. Every client has taught me something, and I remain grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside people during some of the most difficult chapters of their lives.
I believe that healing is possible, even when the past feels overwhelming or when you have spent years believing that something is simply "the way you are." Our experiences can shape us, but they do not have to define us.
Whether therapy takes place in the office, outdoors, or alongside one of my horses, my goal is to create a space where you can feel safe, understood, and accepted exactly as you are.
Trauma changes your story. Healing changes the ending.
Specialties: EMDR, EMDR with integrated IFS (Internal Family Systems), Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
Special population focus: First Responders, Veterans
Whitley Gagnon, LPC-MHSP
About Whitley
I grew up in a small town in Alabama, where resources and support for mental health were limited. From an early age, I found myself drawn to helping others through difficult moments. I remember sitting on the back porch with family, friends, and members of my community, simply listening and being present. I learned that sometimes the most meaningful thing we can offer another person is a safe place to be heard, understood, and accepted.
I have also always had a deep love for animals. Throughout my life, I have experienced the comfort and connection that animals can provide, and I have come to understand just how powerful that relationship can be in the healing process. That understanding eventually became an important part of my work as a therapist.
The journey to mental healthcare
I remember the moment I first decided to pursue a career in psychology. I was sitting on that same back porch when my mother told me, “If you’re going to give out all that good advice, you might as well get paid for it.”
Of course, I later learned that being a therapist is about much more than giving advice. It is about creating a relationship where people feel safe enough to explore their experiences, understand themselves, heal from what they have been through, and discover their own ability to move forward. But that conversation with my mother was the beginning of my journey.
I attended Troy University, where I earned both my bachelor's and master's degrees. While completing my education, I worked in a detox setting and began learning how to support individuals struggling with substance use and addiction. I found this work incredibly meaningful, but I also began noticing something that changed the direction of my career: many of the people I worked with were carrying significant histories of trauma.
I became increasingly interested in understanding the deeper experiences that can contribute to addiction, anxiety, relationship difficulties, and other struggles. I wanted to do more than help people manage their symptoms. I wanted to help people heal from the experiences that were continuing to affect their lives.
This led me to pursue specialized training in trauma-focused therapies. I initially trained in Brainspotting, and the first time I used it with a client, I was struck by the relief they were able to experience. Over time, I continued to see clients make meaningful progress as they worked through experiences they once believed they would have to carry forever.
I later added EMDR to my clinical toolbox, which has allowed me to help clients process difficult and traumatic memories and reduce the emotional intensity connected to them. I also draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help clients understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors while developing practical skills for navigating life's challenges.
My approach is grounded in the belief that what happened to you does not have to define the rest of your life. Whether you are struggling with trauma, anxiety, relationships, self-worth, or simply feeling stuck, therapy can be a place to begin understanding your experiences and discovering what healing can look like for you.
Therapy with me
I believe therapy should feel like a place where you can be yourself—not a place where you have to pretend that everything is okay.
My goal is to meet you where you are, without judgment, and work alongside you to build the tools, insight, and confidence you need to move forward. I incorporate trauma-informed and evidence-based approaches while tailoring therapy to each individual's needs and goals.
Because I believe healing does not always have to happen sitting in an office, I also incorporate animals and equine-assisted experiences into my work when appropriate. Animals can offer a unique opportunity to explore trust, boundaries, communication, emotional awareness, and connection in ways that traditional talk therapy sometimes cannot.
Whether we are sitting in the office, working with the horses, or simply talking on the porch, my goal is the same: to create a space where you feel safe, heard, and empowered to heal.
You are more than what happened to you. Together, we can help you heal, feel empowered, and move forward.
Specialties: Brainspotting, EMDR, Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
Special population focus: Veterans
Stable Space - Trauma and Equine Therapy
We hope to see you soon!