Carrie Mikulka

Carrie Mikulka, M.ED., NCC, LPC-MHSP (TEMP)

Do you feel like your emotions, thoughts, and automatic behaviors are running your life and you’re not sure how to regain control? Do you feel like you’re on autopilot and just going through the motions? Do you feel lost and unsure of what to do next? You are not alone. Emotions can feel overwhelming, ruminating thoughts are tiresome, and impulsive behavior can feel out of our control. My work is centered around empowering individuals to cultivate curiosity to gain a deeper understanding of themselves, their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.

Therapy is most successful through authentic connections and trusting therapeutic bonds. Building this type of relationship is the cornerstone of my work. I strive to create a space in which you feel brave to explore new ways of being and challenge old thoughts and behaviors that aren’t working for you. I want to support you in the beauty, messiness, and everything in between that life has to offer. My hope is to build a trusting bond to help you reach your goals, gain trust in yourself, and obtain new skills to help cope with hardships life throws at us.

I provide individual therapy for adolescents (14+), emerging adults, adults, and older adults. I utilize mindfulness-based modalities, such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and interventions from Cognitive Behavior therapy (CBT). My work is attachment and trauma-informed, values-driven, and relationally based. My focus is getting to know your unique story and creating an individualized process specific to you.

Seeking therapy is a courageous step, and I would be honored to be a part of your story. Whether you are exploring aspects of your identity, facing new life challenges, or unpacking old ways of being, I will join alongside you through this exploration to witness your courage, growth, and authenticity to lead the life you want to live.

About me:  I am originally from Florida and moved to Nashville for graduate school in 2018. I graduated from Stetson University with my B.S. in psychology and earned my M.Ed. at Vanderbilt in Human Development Counseling (clinical emphasis). I hold a Licensed Professional Counselor- Mental Health Service Provider (LPC-MHSP) temporary license (#5602). In my free time, you can find me enjoying time in nature (especially near water), hanging out with my boxer-mix puppy, playing board games with my partner, or painting. My favorite self-care activities include dancing, lounging in the sun, singing along to my favorite music, and solving puzzles (jigsaw, crossword, sudoku, you name it!).

Clinical Interests: self-compassion, life transitions, identity formation/exploration, perfectionism, anxiety, depression, codependency, finding your voice, intense emotions, developmental and relational trauma, rigid thinking, family of origin wounds, and suicidality.