The Elbow Tree Group is a network of aligned, high-trust ventures built around a shared philosophy of human formation, relational depth, and forward movement. For nearly two decades, Elbow Tree Group has served individuals, families, and leaders throughout Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the surrounding region.” 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's revitalized South Broad District.
From the beginning, the vision was simple: create a counseling and coaching experience that felt more human, more accessible, more relational, and more responsive to real life.
And yes… it needed to be a place where you could wear flip flops and bring your dog to work!
That’s how Elbow Tree Christian Counseling was born.
As the work grew, others joined the mission. Steve McIlvaine was the first - and remains one of the most respected counselors and supervisors in the region today. Over time, Elbow Tree became a place where counselors didn’t just work — they developed, launched, and went on to build their own practices.
From the beginning, the vision was simple: create a counseling and coaching experience that felt more human, more accessible, more relational, and more responsive to real life.
And yes… it needed to be a place where you could wear flip flops and bring your dog to work!
That’s how Elbow Tree Christian Counseling was born.
As the work grew, others joined the mission. Steve McIlvaine was the first - and remains one of the most respected counselors and supervisors in the region today. Over time, Elbow Tree became a place where counselors didn’t just work — they developed, launched, and went on to build their own practices.
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In 2014, we expanded into Neurofeedback to address areas where talk therapy alone wasn’t enough.
What started as a step of faith became a defining strength—serving individuals, families, athletes, and first responders for over a decade.
Today, we continue that work through our partnership with Lotus Neurofeedback.
In 2017, part of our Elbow Tree backbone, Hayne Steen, took 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.
What started as a step of faith became a defining strength—serving individuals, families, athletes, and first responders for over a decade.
Today, we continue that work through our partnership with Lotus Neurofeedback.
In 2017, part of our Elbow Tree backbone, Hayne Steen, took 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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In 2016 Foxhole Strategic Life Coaching emerged as a natural extension of our work — serving those who didn’t need or want traditional therapy but were ready for forward movement.
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 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 Katie's two therapeutic dogs around the office!)
In 2025, April Seymour launched Elbow Tree Therapeutic K9’s — bringing together her background in counseling, biology, and animal behavior into a unique model of breeding, training, and therapeutic integration.
From the very first litter, the vision has been clear: raise and develop dogs that become meaningful therapeutic companions in the lives they enter.
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 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 Katie's two therapeutic dogs around the office!)
In 2025, April Seymour launched Elbow Tree Therapeutic K9’s — bringing together her background in counseling, biology, and animal behavior into a unique model of breeding, training, and therapeutic integration.
From the very first litter, the vision has been clear: raise and develop dogs that become meaningful therapeutic companions in the lives they enter.
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At its core, the Elbow Tree Group is rooted in a thoughtful, grounded expression of the Christian faith — one that values both truth and real-life application.
That said, everyone is welcome here. You can show up exactly as you are.
We’ll meet you there — and help you move forward.
Alongside our deep focus on heart and soul, we strive 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!
Greg Seymour
Counselor, Coach and Founder
That said, everyone is welcome here. You can show up exactly as you are.
We’ll meet you there — and help you move forward.
Alongside our deep focus on heart and soul, we strive 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!
Greg Seymour
Counselor, Coach and Founder
