Therapy, With a Wagging Tail

Few things lower the shoulders faster than a dog resting its chin on a knee. Breathing slows a little. The room feels warmer, and the words start coming more easily. In Clarksville, that small moment is part of the work at Inspired Counseling Services. Two four-legged colleagues help make it happen. Paisley is a certified Havanese therapy dog, and Wrangler is a miniature Australian Shepherd trained in animal-assisted therapy.

The dogs are just one tool in a thoughtfully stocked kit. The practice offers individual and couples counseling, along with family therapy. Children and adolescents get dedicated support of their own. Clinicians draw on a range of evidence-based treatments. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) sits alongside EMDR and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP) are part of the mix as well. For younger clients, sandtray and play therapy give feelings somewhere to go when words haven't caught up yet. Time with a therapy animal is always optional, and the team weighs each client's comfort before anyone brings out the leash. It's all in service of the practice's guiding promise, “Inspiring Health, Happiness, and Healing.”

That commitment reaches beyond the therapy room. The practice helps train the next generation of counselors through graduate interns from Austin Peay State University. Interns see clients under clinical supervision at reduced private-pay rates, which opens the door for more local families. The team also works with VA Community Care, a meaningful option in a community so closely tied to Fort Campbell. All of it has earned Inspired Counseling Services their 2026 Best of Tennessee Award. Paisley and Wrangler haven't issued a statement, but their tails suggest they approve.

Contact Information

Company Name: Inspired Counseling Services

Phone: 931-201-9621

Email: intake@inspiredcounselingservicespllc.com

Address: 2664 Townsend Court, Suite B, Clarksville, TN 37043

Website: inspiredcounselingservicespllc.com