RENEE LACKEY, MA, LPC-MHSP
Child, Adolescent & Family Therapist | EMDR Clinician
Helping kids and families feel more understood, connected, and capable.
I’m Renee Lackey, MA, LPC-MHSP, a child and family therapist and EMDR clinician in Brentwood, Tennessee. I work with children, teens, adults, and families navigating anxiety, ADHD and other neurodevelopmental differences, emotional and behavioral challenges, trauma, grief, and life transitions.
My approach begins with curiosity about what’s happening beneath the surface. Together, we work to understand patterns, strengthen relationships, and build practical skills and supports that fit each person’s unique needs, strengths, and everyday life.
Because meaningful change isn’t just about what happens in the therapy room. It’s about helping people feel more understood, connected, and capable in the moments that matter most.
I believe lasting change begins when we get curious about what's beneath the surface; when we look beyond behaviors and symptoms to better understand the person, their experiences, and what they need to feel safe, connected, and capable.
— Renee Lackey, MA, LPC-MHSP
Therapy that looks beneath the surface.
Big emotions, anxiety, shutdowns, perfectionism, relationship struggles, and challenging behaviors rarely tell the whole story.
Sometimes what’s underneath involves stress, trauma, unmet needs, differences in how the brain processes information, or the challenges of navigating change. Other times, it’s grief, divorce, shifting family relationships, or simply feeling overwhelmed by life’s demands.
My approach is relational, trauma- and attachment-informed, neurodiversity-affirming, and grounded in an understanding of the nervous system, child development, and family relationships.
I believe therapy is best when it meets people where they are; not expect everyone to think, feel, communicate, or grow in the same way.
Depending on each person’s needs, our work may incorporate EMDR, play therapy, cognitive and behavioral strategies, nervous-system regulation, mindfulness, parts-informed approaches, and parent or family support.
The goal isn’t perfection or simply changing behavior. It’s building understanding, flexibility, connection, and practical tools that make everyday life feel more manageable.
Areas I support
Support that meets you where you are.
Every person and family brings a different story, set of strengths, and challenges.
Neurodivergence & Emotional Regulation
ADHD, autism, sensory differences, executive functioning, big emotions
Anxiety, Confidence & Emotional Well-Being
Anxiety, perfectionism, self-esteem, overwhelm, confidence
Grief, Divorce & Life Transitions
Loss, separation, family changes, life adjustments
Trauma, Relationships & Family Support
Trauma, attachment, friendships, family relationships
WHAT IT’S LIKE TO WORK WITH ME
Therapy doesn't have to feel clinical to be meaningful.
I'm warm, relational, and pretty down-to-earth in the therapy room. I believe people do their best work when they feel safe enough to be themselves, without pressure to have everything figured out.
With kids and teens, that might mean playing a game, tossing a ball, drawing, getting creative, or finding a way to talk that doesn't feel like sitting across from an adult answering a hundred questions.
With adults and parents, it often looks like slowing things down, getting curious about patterns, making sense of experiences, and finding practical ways to navigate what's happening in everyday life.
I also recognize that every brain, nervous system, and family works a little differently. What helps one person may not help another. Whether we're working through anxiety, ADHD, trauma, grief, family changes, or something that's simply been feeling hard, we'll work together to find an approach that fits.
I'll meet you with compassion, curiosity, and honesty. I'll also help you look at things from a different angle when that's needed. My goal isn't perfection or to give you another list of things you should be doing. It's to help you better understand yourself or your child, strengthen connections, build confidence, and develop tools that actually make life feel a little easier.
Practical tools for real life.
I believe some of the most meaningful work happens between therapy sessions, in the everyday moments when things feel hard.
That's why I created Brave Tools™—practical, approachable visual tools and resources that help children, teens, parents, and families understand what they're experiencing and practice new ways of responding.
These resources bring concepts like emotional regulation, anxiety, connection, boundaries, and family relationships into everyday language, with strategies that can be adapted to different ages, needs, and ways of learning.
Because understanding something is important. Knowing what to do with that understanding in real life matters, too.
A GOOD FIT MIGHT LOOK LIKE...You don't have to know exactly what you need before reaching out.
Maybe you're trying to better understand your child's big emotions, anxiety, or unique way of experiencing the world. Maybe your family is navigating divorce, grief, or a difficult transition. Or perhaps you're looking for support for yourself and patterns that have been hard to understand or change.
You don't need to have the right words, a clear explanation, or a plan already figured out.
We can start with what's happening, what matters to you, and what might help. Together, we can explore whether my approach is a good fit for your needs.
Looking for support?
Whether you're seeking therapy for yourself, your child, or your family, finding the right support is an important first step.