A young woman with curly brown hair, wearing a green shirt, smiling and sitting on a gray chair in a room with a painting and beige walls.

From a young age, I’ve loved listening to people and helping them make sense of what they’re feeling. I used to be the friend mediating arguments on the playground, trying to help everyone understand each other. That same curiosity about people — and deep belief that change happens through relationship — led me to this work. Today, I feel honored to sit with clients in the most tender parts of their stories and help them find hope and healing right where they are.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Theology and Ministry from Lipscomb University and a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from Trevecca Nazarene University. Before becoming a therapist, I spent years working in ministry with children and students, where I learned the power of presence and compassion. Those experiences still shape how I show up today: with warmth, curiosity, and a steady belief that everyone has the capacity to grow and heal.

In my work with individuals and couples, I draw from the Healing Our Core Issues (HOCI) model, Gottman principles, self-compassion practices, and experiential approaches. I’m also a certified Prepare-Enrich facilitator and love working with couples in all stages — whether they’re preparing for marriage or navigating the everyday challenges of partnership. Recently, I’ve especially enjoyed walking alongside young women who are learning to find their footing in adulthood, marriage, and motherhood, and anyone exploring their evolving relationship with faith.

Madeline Clinger, MMFT

EMDR Trained, Healing Our Core Issues Trained

Clients often describe me as warm, truthful, and hopeful. My style is compassionate and relational — thoughtful without pressure, honest without judgment. My hope is that therapy feels like a soft place to land: a space safe enough to be fully yourself, to slow down, and to remember you’re not alone. I believe the work we do together doesn’t just change one person — it ripples outward into families, friendships, and communities.

Outside the therapy room, I’m often playing with my son, laughing with my husband, trying to master sourdough bread, or watching a good reality TV show with a bowl of chips and queso. Those small joys keep me grounded and remind me that healing happens in everyday moments of connection and laughter.