KATHERINE L. MIDDLETON, LCSW-S

Owner and Founder - ART Provider

Licensed in TN, KY, and AL

I am a mental health therapist that specializes in Trauma. I graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Master’s Degree in Social Work. I have been providing therapeutic services to a diverse population since graduating in 2011.

My career path and personal journey has led me to focus primarily on trauma due to a personal experience from a traumatic event, a car accident, and witnessing the effects of trauma on military individuals and their families. My parents served in the Air Force for 30 years allowing me to be raised in diverse environments, travel all over the country, and witness the impact of PTSD and trauma.

I have worked in many therapeutic settings with various populations. The common factor tends to be trauma related. I provide an environment that is non-judgmental, inviting, and laid back. I am human with human emotions and experiences. I believe in being relatable, normalizing, and validating experiences, feelings, and situations. I understand the demands of life and recognize seeking help is hard at times and requires you to place trust in someone with your hurts, pains, and secrets. I want you to know that my role is to make you feel safe and comfortable in a non-judgmental environment. My team is dedicated to being of services to you.

I currently provide therapeutic support to local human trafficking agency. I am a team member with the Kentucky Community Crisis Response Board.

JOHN “CHRIS” RISNER MA, LPCC-S, NCC

Clinical Director - ART Provider

Lexington, KY

I attended Berea College for my undergraduate studies, double majoring in philosophy and psychology, graduating in 2010 with two Bachelor’s Degrees. Following graduation, I took some time to do a little bit of soul searching. I worked in carpentry, with traumatic brain injury, and as a teaching assistant. Ultimately, I found that in each of these positions I gravitated towards the role of a mentor for the people around me. Psychology has always been my passion so in 2013, I began my trek into the world of mental health in Eastern Kentucky University’s Master’s program for clinical mental health. I graduated in 2016 with my Master’s Degree from EKU’s program. I have been a therapist since 2016 beginning in the field of Substance Abuse Counseling. I found that in order to treat substance abuse and addiction, I had to encompass a great variety of life stressors and factors for successful treatment. After two years as a substance abuse therapist, I broadened my focus to include trauma, grief, and other more general mental health issues.

My approach to counseling is client-centered drawing from CBT, REBT, existential therapy, and several humanistic theories. It is my personal philosophy that I do not treat disorders , I treat people. People come with a variety of complex issues, trauma, depression, anxiety, and grief to name a few. I work with individuals with a strong emphasis on healing from trauma, goal orientation, behavioral redirection, and addressing issues with self-esteem and negative thoughts. Our sessions will cover a plethora of values including interpersonal and personal values, familial relationships, thoughts, feelings, and beliefs and how these things, in turn, affect your attitudes, behaviors, and overall quality of life.

My central philosophy is this – you are not broken; you do not need to be fixed. You need only to work towards making appropriate changes to help you to live a life that helps you to become the best version of yourself. Therapy is a roadmap, a GPS on life’s highway. It’s my job, as your GPS, to assist you, the driver, in reaching your destination. With time, effort, and a little direction, I am confident that you will find your way. When the brain and the heart reach an agreement on where they need to be, healing begins.

~Your Friendly Neighborhood Therapist

JESS EVERS, MA, LCSW

Clinical Lead/ Therapist -ART Provider

Hopkinsville KY and Clarksville TN

Asking for help isn't easy and I believe that what we cannot do ourselves, we can do together. Life can be challenging and painful at times. I choose this work because I believe there is strength in support, connection, and community. I am interested in helping individuals find hope and meaning in their lives, build resiliency, and ignite their full potential. Collaboration to seek empowerment and engagement in your own therapeutic experience is vital. I pursue this by providing a safe, non-judgmental space to share yourself authentically and explore what you want to accomplish for your mental wellbeing. I don’t believe in the word ‘normal’ and I love to help people see those qualities in themselves and apply them in positive and useful ways.

I am a veteran, so I am familiar with the military lifestyle. While serving I worked with victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. I also have experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and those suffering with addiction. I tend to use a cognitive-behavioral, client-centered, and systemic
approach in my practice to reach wellness. My personal experiences provide insight on how to honor the unique qualities of each individual I work for. When clients choose to work with me, they gain an automatic ally who is ready to listen with unconditional acceptance and offer support in this journey we call life!