The Elbow Tree Group is a family of allied businesses that all work very closely together. Our humble beginnings go back to the summer of 2006, with one counselor, a couch, and a rented office at the Southern Saddlery Building in Chattanooga, TN. At that time I was compelled to create a counseling experience that was more user friendly, more nimble, more accessible, more relationship-based, with better customer service. The freedom to wear flip flops and bring Aspen (the golden retriever) to the office also had to be part of the deal! So, Elbow Tree Christian Counseling was born. As former staff members together at the Lighthouse Counseling Center (now the Transformation Center) Steve McIlvaine was the first person to join me in the effort at Elbow Tree and to this day remains one of the few remaining of the “old guard” of counselors in Chattanooga, as well as one of the top supervisors of new counselors in the region.
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Due to the demand of a growing number of close counseling colleagues and friends who wanted to join the in the mission, from 2014 to 2023, a second counseling practice existed within the Elbow Tree Group. The Christian Counselor Cooperative, which shared the same ethos as Elbow Tree Christian Counseling, employed a diverse range of part-time and full-time counselors. A number of those folks learned how to operate a counseling practice and launched out to create their own brands and find underserved areas/niches. One of those is a well known online speaker and counselor/coach named Trey Tucker who we stay close with (Find him on Tik Tok!). Some of the folks you now see on staff at Elbow Tree Christian Counseling were originally in the "Co-op".
In 2014, we also sensed the need to be able to address things with clients that went beyond what talk therapy could break through, so Elbow Tree Neurofeedback became part of the line up. This was in large part due to the help and vision of a close ally in Colorado - Aspen Counseling Group. We began to realize that Elbow Tree was a Neurofeedback pioneer in town and we weren't sure if the Chattanooga community would be interested or give it a chance - but they certainly have! After almost of decade of treatment, we've been able to help individuals, entire families, athletes, military/police/fire/EMS personnel and many more. Many staff in the Elbow Tree Group have done their own Neurofeedback treatment in order to be able to experience the amazing results for themselves.
In 2017, part of our Elbow Tree backbone, Hayne Steen, joined his family on a new adventure back towards his family roots in St.Augustine, FL. He started Elbow Tree Florida there and it continues to rapidly expand along the Northeast Florida Coast. Elbow Tree Florida has created one of the most unique mental health/first responder partnerships in the nation, with St. Johns County Fire Rescue, where they are providing counseling for firefighters and their families.
In 2014, we also sensed the need to be able to address things with clients that went beyond what talk therapy could break through, so Elbow Tree Neurofeedback became part of the line up. This was in large part due to the help and vision of a close ally in Colorado - Aspen Counseling Group. We began to realize that Elbow Tree was a Neurofeedback pioneer in town and we weren't sure if the Chattanooga community would be interested or give it a chance - but they certainly have! After almost of decade of treatment, we've been able to help individuals, entire families, athletes, military/police/fire/EMS personnel and many more. Many staff in the Elbow Tree Group have done their own Neurofeedback treatment in order to be able to experience the amazing results for themselves.
In 2017, part of our Elbow Tree backbone, Hayne Steen, joined his family on a new adventure back towards his family roots in St.Augustine, FL. He started Elbow Tree Florida there and it continues to rapidly expand along the Northeast Florida Coast. Elbow Tree Florida has created one of the most unique mental health/first responder partnerships in the nation, with St. Johns County Fire Rescue, where they are providing counseling for firefighters and their families.
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Although it has been operating silently in the background for 5 years, Foxhole Strategic Life Coaching stepped out into the open with the rest of us in 2022. We found that we had an increasing number of people over the years who did not need or want traditional mental health treatment and wanted something more flexible and outside the box. Foxhole adds a few unique offerings that go beyond the counseling room - to the executive board room - to the wilderness and beyond. Foxhole places a major emphasis on strategy, Christian discipleship, problem solving, vision casting and more.
In 2023, due to increasing demand for school-related counseling and psycho-education, one of our original Co-op counselors, Katie Burns, created Watershed Counseling and Consulting. You can find Katie or her staff around town, onsite at schools or at the Elbow Tree Group offices - often helping children or their parents. (Look for one of Katie's two therapeutic dogs around the office!)
The Elbow Tree Group finds its deepest roots and meaning within the beautiful mysteries of the Christian faith and all of our staff are nicely equipped to meet you in that place. That being said, ALL folks are welcome and you can show up just as you are. You get to choose the level of Christian integration into your counseling experience. Alongside our deep focus on heart and soul, we try to remain on the leading edge of what the fields of psychology, traumatology and mental health have to offer. We work with a very wide variety of people, and we can match you with a staff person that is right for you. If you are human, we can help!
In 2023, due to increasing demand for school-related counseling and psycho-education, one of our original Co-op counselors, Katie Burns, created Watershed Counseling and Consulting. You can find Katie or her staff around town, onsite at schools or at the Elbow Tree Group offices - often helping children or their parents. (Look for one of Katie's two therapeutic dogs around the office!)
The Elbow Tree Group finds its deepest roots and meaning within the beautiful mysteries of the Christian faith and all of our staff are nicely equipped to meet you in that place. That being said, ALL folks are welcome and you can show up just as you are. You get to choose the level of Christian integration into your counseling experience. Alongside our deep focus on heart and soul, we try to remain on the leading edge of what the fields of psychology, traumatology and mental health have to offer. We work with a very wide variety of people, and we can match you with a staff person that is right for you. If you are human, we can help!
