ABOUT
Amy Gartner
I’ve been where you are, which is exactly why I got into this work.
Most of life's hardest moments are grief.
Even when nobody calls it that.
I view emotional pain through the lens of grief and loss. And I don't just mean death, though that's certainly part of it. Grief shows up in divorce. In chronic illness. In becoming a caregiver. In the empty nest. In childhood neglect. In adoption. In the loss of a life you thought you'd have.
When these experiences aren't recognized for what they are, people start to feel like something is wrong with them. They feel ashamed of their reactions, overwhelmed by their emotions, or like they're "too much." They cope by staying busy, pushing their feelings down, or being hard on themselves for struggling.
What they're really looking for is to feel heard, accepted, and understood without someone judging them for it.
That's exactly what I'm here for.
Welcome,
I'm Amy J. Gartner, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Brainspotter
with over two decades of experience helping adults through grief, loss, trauma, and life transitions. I'm based in Nashville, Tennessee, and I work with clients both in person and virtually across Tennessee and Illinois.
My clinical training is rooted in trauma-informed modalities including Brainspotting and Somatic Work, and I bring a specialized focus on grief that goes far beyond the traditional understanding of loss. I've worked with individuals, families, and groups, and I've built my practice around one core belief: people heal in connection, not in isolation.
But credentials only tell part of the story. People find me when they're exhausted. When they've been holding it together for so long that they've forgotten what it feels like to actually be okay. When they're tired of hearing "stay positive" from people who mean well but don't get it.
If that sounds like you, I want you to know that what you're feeling makes complete sense. And you don't have to keep carrying it alone.
I didn't just study grief.
I've lived it.
This work is personal to me.
I became a therapist because therapy changed my own life. I know how powerful it is to finally sit across from someone who sees you, really sees you, and doesn't look away.
I lost my son. That experience cracked my life wide open in ways I couldn't have prepared for. It also gave me a depth of compassion that no textbook or training could teach.
I'm a mother of three. I'm an adoptee. I've walked through profound loss, major life transitions, and the kind of pain that makes you question everything. These aren't things I share to make this about me. I share them because they shape how I show up for you, with humility, with care, and with the understanding that comes from having been in the hard places myself.
I got into this field because I've always been the person people open up to. I feel people's energy. I pay attention. And I believe, deeply, that it is a privilege when someone lets me into their life. I don't take that lightly.
I believe in the resiliency of the human spirit. And I consider it an honor that clients allow me into their lives and share their journey with me.
Specializing in:
My core values
These are the things I come back to in every session, every conversation, and every interaction with the people who trust me with their story.
Compassion
I've sat in the chair you're sitting in. I know what it feels like to need someone who actually cares, not just someone trained to nod at the right moments. Compassion isn't something I perform. It's the reason I do this work.
Connection
People heal in connection, not in isolation. That's not a tagline for me, it's what I've seen over and over in two decades of clinical work. The relationship between us matters just as much as the techniques I use.
Trust
You don't have to trust me on day one. That's my job to earn. I want you to feel safe to say the hard, messy, honest truth out loud and know I'm not going anywhere when you do.
Safety
My clients tell me they feel comfortable quickly, and that's by design. I pay attention to the energy in the room. I move at your pace. And I will never push you somewhere you're not ready to go.
You showed up here.
That's the hard part.
Looking for a therapist when you're already running on empty takes courage, so trust what brought you here.
Reach out, and we'll figure the rest out together.
Take care of your precious self.