Find Sustainable Success
online therapy for high achievers in Tennessee
You Don’t Have To Choose Between Excellence And Your Wellbeing
When High achievement becomes unsustainable
You know something needs to change when…
You've checked everything off your list today, except for taking a real break.
Maybe you're answering emails at 11 pm because "just one more" turned into twenty. Or you're lying awake mentally rehearsing tomorrow's presentation for the third time. Perhaps you just caught yourself apologizing for taking a bathroom break.
If success feels like something you're constantly chasing rather than experiencing, you're in the right place.
I'm Dr. Emily Fornwalt, a licensed therapist in Tennessee (LPC-MHSP #5318), and I help high achievers like you build a relationship with excellence so that they get to keep their ambition and drive without sacrificing their health, relationships, or sanity.
When Your Drive Starts Driving Everyone Away
Whether you're managing a team in Nashville's healthcare sector, building a business in Memphis, or researching at UT, that constant push for excellence follows you home.
Here's what I often hear from my Tennessee clients:
"I can't enjoy my success because I'm already focused on what’s next."
"My kids stopped asking me to play because I always say, 'In a minute.'"
"I zone out during personal conversations because I'm mentally solving work problems."
"I achieved everything I wanted, but I feel hollow inside."
"Date nights turn into me venting about work for two hours."
Your family sees your laptop as competition. Your friends stopped inviting you to things because something work-related always comes up. You're succeeding at work but failing at being present for the people who matter most.
How AEDP Therapy helps high achievers
We won't just talk about your stress, we'll help your body learn what calm actually feels like.
AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy) works differently from traditional talk therapy. Instead of analyzing why you're an overachiever or perfectionist for the hundredth time, we'll:
Notice where stress lives in your body (that shoulder tension isn't just from your desk setup)
Learn how to share things with the people you care about and improve your relationships
Feel less anxious because you can identify and resolve its cause
Practice receiving compliments without immediately deflecting or minimizing
Learn the difference between high standards and impossible ones
Build tolerance for B+ work when A+ isn't necessary
Develop what I call "completion satisfaction,” meaning, feeling finished with something
What our work together looks like
First Session (90 minutes): We'll map out your relationship with achievement: when it serves you and when it sabotages you. You'll talk, I'll listen, and we'll identify patterns your loved ones probably already notice.
Regular Sessions (45 minutes, online): We meet weekly via secure video. You can do this from your Nashville office, your Knoxville home, or wherever you are in Tennessee that day.
Between Sessions: You'll start noticing things like how you hold your breath during meetings or how "fine" is your default response when someone asks how you are (even when you aren’t that fine).
The Real Work: Learning that your worth isn't tied to your last performance review. That love doesn't have to be earned through achievements. That rest isn't a reward for productivity; it's a basic human need.
Why online therapy works better for Tennessee professionals
You don't need to fight I-40 traffic or drive an hour from rural counties to get specialized therapy.
Online therapy means:
No commute from Brentwood to Nashville or across the Smokies
Sessions that fit between meetings, not around them
Access to AEDP therapy that might not be available in your area
Privacy: no running into colleagues in a waiting room
My clients from Johnson City to Jackson tell me they're more honest in their own space. There's something about being in your own environment that makes it easier to drop the professional facade. And, if we’re lucky, your four-legged friend might join us! I know mine might try.
what changes you can expect when we work together
At Work
Instead of rewriting emails six times, you send them after one proofread—and use those 20 minutes you just saved to actually think strategically about your project. Deadlines become guides, not emergencies, which means you stop throwing half-baked solutions at problems just to meet arbitrary timelines. You stop volunteering for everything, and surprisingly, people respect you more, not less, for having boundaries. Meetings end without you replaying every word you said, so you actually remember what was decided instead of obsessing over your delivery.
The result: You become the leader who makes thoughtful decisions instead of frantic ones. The colleague people want on their team because you bring clarity, not chaos. That Nashville startup culture or Memphis corporate environment becomes a place where you contribute your best thinking, not just your most hours.
At Home
Your phone stays in another room during dinner, and you discover your teenager actually has opinions about things beyond "fine" and "whatever." Bedtime stories don't include mental to-do lists, so you notice when your kid does the voices for different characters—and realize they got that from you. Your partner gets your attention, not just the tired leftover version of you, and suddenly you're having conversations that aren't about logistics. You remember why you fell in love in the first place.
Weekends include actual rest, not just relocated work. Maybe that means hiking in the Smokies without checking email at every overlook, or sitting on your porch in Franklin, actually tasting your coffee. Your family stops tiptoeing around your moods. They stop protecting you from their problems because you finally have space to be a partner and parent, not just a provider.
In Your Body
That permanent knot between your shoulder blades loosens, and you realize you haven't needed ibuprofen in weeks. Sunday nights stop triggering dread—they become actual nights, not anxiety rehearsals for Monday morning meetings in Knoxville or early flights to Memphis. Your jaw unclenches, and your dentist stops lecturing you about grinding your teeth. Sleep becomes restorative instead of just a necessary interruption to productivity, so you wake up with actual energy instead of immediately calculating how much coffee you'll need.
You stop getting sick every time you take a vacation. Your digestive system calms down. Those tension headaches that you thought were just part of working in Tennessee's fast-growing economy disappear. Your body stops keeping the score of every stressful moment because you're actually processing things instead of just pushing through.
The Bigger Picture
Success stops feeling like something that might get taken away if you rest for five minutes. You trust that your worth isn't reset to zero every Monday morning. Achievement becomes something you experience and enjoy, not just something you document on LinkedIn. You stop living like you're being graded on every interaction.
You become someone who can celebrate wins without immediately minimizing them. Someone who can receive a compliment without deflecting. Someone whose presence is a gift to the people around you, not just your productivity.
Whether you're building a business in Chattanooga, managing healthcare teams in Nashville, or researching at UT, you discover that excellence and peace can coexist.
FAQs about high achiever therapy in Tennessee:
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State laws require you to be physically located in Tennessee during our appointments. If you travel frequently between Tennessee and other states for work, we'll coordinate around your schedule. I may also be able to make short-term arrangements with the state you’re traveling to so that we can continue our work while you’re there. This varies from state to state. I also hold licenses in North Carolina, and Virginia, and telehealth certification in South Carolina if you need consistency across state lines.
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AEDP goes beyond insight to create actual change in your nervous system. While traditional therapy might help you understand why you're a perfectionist, AEDP helps you build new neural pathways. We work with body sensations and emotions in real-time, not just thoughts. My clients often say it's the first time therapy has created lasting change, not just temporary relief.
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This is my specialty and, honestly, most of my practice. I work with executives, entrepreneurs, healthcare providers, academics, and other professionals who look successful on paper but feel like they're white-knuckling through life. I understand the specific pressures of high achievement because I've lived them, both personally and through years of specialized training.
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Most clients notice shifts in awareness within the first few sessions—suddenly catching themselves before spiraling or noticing their perfectionist patterns in real-time. Deeper changes in how you respond to pressure typically emerge around month two or three. The executives and entrepreneurs I work with appreciate having realistic timelines, so I'll be direct about what to expect based on your specific situation.
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Yes, and I recommend it. Most of my clients prefer a standing appointment. It becomes the one meeting you don't miss. I see clients Tuesday through Thursday, 10am to 5pm Eastern.
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I understand that high-level positions sometimes require flexibility. We'll discuss my cancellation policy during our first session, but I work with my clients to find a rhythm that's sustainable for both of us. If you do end up needing to cancel, I simply ask for 24 hours’ notice. I also maintain a small caseload, which frequently means we can get you rescheduled in the same week during my working hours. I will always do my best.
ready to get started?
Things don’t calm down for high achievers; you just move from one intense period to the next. Every month you wait is another month of Sunday dread, sleepless nights, and hollow achievements. The “perfect time” doesn't exist, but the cost of waiting does.
Get in touch With Me to schedule Your First Counseling Session.
I’m Emily
Welcome!
I’m Emily, and I help high-achievers break the cycle of perfectionism and burnout. With a PhD in counseling and advanced training in AEDP and Interpersonal Neurobiology, I provide a brain-based approach to help you rewire your nervous system for sustainable success.
My work is dedicated to helping professionals, parents, and students find freedom from the exhausting pressure of their own high standards.
If you’d like to learn more about me than can fit in a short blurb, please explore the link below.
About my practice
Online throughout Tennessee
I'm licensed as a Professional Counselor with Mental Health Service Provider designation (LPC-MHSP #5318) and based in Johnson City.
I have extra training in treating anxiety, high-achiever psychology, and yes, that imposter syndrome you haven't told anyone about.
I offer:
Individual therapy for adults and teens
Clinical supervision for Tennessee counselors working toward licensure
Consultation for organizations and other providers
All sessions are conducted online via secure video. I see clients on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10am to 5pm Eastern.
how to get started in Counseling…
Here you can find detailed instructions on how to get started working together, how we proceed, and what you can expect.
First, important things to note:
I work exclusively online and no in-person appointments are available.
I am not in network with any insurance plans and do not provide documentation for out-of-network reimbursement. There are many reasons for this, and I am happy to answer any questions you may have.
I offer primarily 45-minute sessions at a rate of $225 per session. If you’d like 60-minute sessions, please ask about my current availability. Initial sessions are 90 minutes and are $450.
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For intake sessions, I am available Mondays-Thursdays from 10:00-5:00. I am available for ongoing sessions Tuesdays-Thursdays from 10:00-5:00. I do not have evening or weekend availability. With regard to ongoing session availability, I cannot guarantee the availability of specific times or days based on openings you may see in my online calendar; availability there does indicate recurring availability. One of my values is to have some schedule flexibility for current clients so that when they need to make schedule adjustments, I am more likely to be able to do so. As such, an available slot does not equal the ability to put a regularly occurring appointment in that slot. If you have specific schedule needs, please reach out to confirm that I’d be able to accommodate them prior to completing an initial session.
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Once you have decided that you’d like to proceed with scheduling with me, you can mosey over and check out my lovely contact page. Here you can click the “Schedule your first session” button located at the center of the page. This will take you to my self-scheduling option. This allows you to look over my calendar and select a time that works for you. You can schedule up to 3 weeks in advance, as long as you are at least 3 days before the date you’d like to choose. It’s important to note that this first session will be a longer (90-minute) intake session.
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Scheduling in my online calendar will send a request for the specific appointment you’ve selected and reserve it for you. I typically confirm appointments within 24 hours, excluding weekends, holidays, and times I am out of the office on vacation. After I confirm your appointment, you will receive an email from Sessions Health.
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After you receive the confirmation, keep an eye out for three more emails. (I know! I bet you already get plenty, but I promise we just have to do this stuff once!) You will get an email welcoming you to therapy and outlining what you can expect; this will come directly from me. In addition, you will get one from Sessions Health and Aligned Counseling and Supervision; this contains your invitation to the client portal; this is where you will complete all required paperwork, which I need back 24 hours prior to our scheduled time in order to keep your appointment and avoid automatic cancellation. Finally, you will get an appointment “reminder” that will contain your telehealth link.
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Once you’ve set up portal access, you will have just three documents to review and sign. Please note that you can sign out and progress will be saved. You may want to set aside a little time to really read these over as they have a good bit of information relevant to our work together. Documents include: the informed consent, the HIPAA privacy practices, and information about my policies for electronic communication. Please let me know if you have any questions by emailing me. After signing those you will have some demographic questions and the opportunity to tell me just a bit about what brings you to therapy.
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Once you have set up your portal and I have a phone number, keep an eye out for a text from IvyPay. This is where you will enter your credit card information for me to charge for your sessions. I use IvyPay so that I don't have to personally handle any of your credit card information. IvyPay is a third-party HIPAA-compliant payment processor that takes care of it for me.
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Most clients are nervous the first time they attend counseling, even if it's just the first time with a new person. If you’ve never been before, you may not know what to expect and may have many TV or movie references for what it’s like. Trust me, they’re probably inaccurate. You may think you’re required to tell me ALL the things or that I will ask probing questions to get to the root of everything. That’s not what happens either. We will still be getting to know each other. In our first session, I will gather information about your concerns, the history, what you’d like to get out of counseling, and any other things you think are relevant. We will get a general idea of direction, but it will take us time to get to know each other. This one is a little different from the others, as a lot of our time will be spent getting me up to speed on your life and concerns. Things shift after that…stay tuned.
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It’s important to know that the completion of this initial session is not a guarantee of working together. If it ends up not working, I will do my best to help you find another provider to meet your needs. A few things that might result in us not working together include, but are not limited to:
You decide that we are not a good fit.
I am not the most appropriate person to help you with your specific needs.
You need a specific time slot and it is not available. (Avoid this by checking with me ahead of time!)
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Once you are ready to move forward, we will get your regular appointments set up. You will be scheduled for the same recurring time slot. These are either weekly or bi-weekly depending on your needs and availability. As we get to know each other during sessions, we will determine how we will know if things are getting better. I imagine that you have checked out who I am throughout my website, so you probably already know the following info. However, it’s probably worth saying again that I very much value talking explicitly with my clients about their experience of therapy with me, rather than assuming I know what they are feeling or experiencing, or what's best for them. This means I'll regularly ask you about what is going well in our therapy work together and if there's anything we should do differently. I am not a highly directive therapist, so our sessions will focus on what you need to get out of them each time. I provide some prompts about what we’ve been exploring or your general goals, but invite you to settle in and consider how we can take care of you in our session that day.
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When we get to a point where you’re feeling confident in what you’ve learned and are practicing, we can discuss reducing frequency (if you started weekly) or wrapping up altogether. There may be the option to reduce from bi-weekly to monthly sessions, but these are available only on a case-by-case basis, scheduled week-of, and cannot be guaranteed.
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Please feel free to email me! I usually respond within 24 hours Mondays-Fridays.
Still Have Questions?
Contact Me
Please complete this form and I’ll be back in touch via email or text usually within 1 business day.
Call or Text
423.281.4089
emily@alignedcounseling.com
office mailing address
404 S Roan St., Johnson City, TN, 37604