Meet Maisy 🐾
If you join me for a telehealth session, there’s a good chance you’ll meet Maisy, too. She has happily appointed herself my unofficial therapy assistant and is often curled up asleep in my lap while we talk.
While she may not offer much clinical insight, Maisy is an expert at one thing: slowing down and being present. Her quiet presence brings a little extra warmth and comfort to my sessions—and she seems to believe every therapy hour should include a good nap.
If dogs aren't your thing, don't worry—she's very respectful of boundaries and is perfectly happy to snooze quietly out of sight.
About Me
Lori Derr, LCSW, RPT, ACS, RYT
Therapist | Clinical Supervisor | Practice Owner
I became a therapist because I believe people deserve a place where they can be fully themselves—without judgment, without having to have the answers, and without having to pretend that everything is okay.
My approach is grounded in connection.
I am naturally curious about people and the experiences that have shaped them. I want to understand not only what you're experiencing, but why it makes sense given your history, relationships, environment, and experiences.
I bring more than a decade of experience working with children, adults, and families, along with extensive training in trauma, attachment, play therapy, parenting, and mind-body approaches.
I am also a mom, a military spouse, and someone who understands that life can be complicated. I don't believe in pretending that there is a perfect way to navigate relationships, parenting, or adulthood.
There is only the opportunity to understand ourselves and one another a little better.
A COMMITMENT TO CONTINUED LEARNING
I believe being a good therapist means remaining curious and continuing to learn.
I earned my Master of Social Work from New Mexico State University and am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Registered Play Therapist.
I am currently pursuing my Doctor of Social Work degree at the University of Tennessee, continuing to deepen my understanding of social work practice, research, and the factors that influence individual and family well-being.
My additional training includes EMDR, trauma-informed approaches, play therapy, attachment-based interventions, Circle of Security Parenting, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, interpersonal neurobiology, Child-Parent Psychotherapy, infant mental health, somatic therapies, mindfulness-based therapies, and women's mental health.
I am also an Approved Clinical Supervisor and have supervised graduate-level and pre-licensed therapists since 2021.
THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION
As a Registered Yoga Teacher, I also bring an understanding of the relationship between our thoughts, emotions, bodies, and nervous systems into my work.
My training with the Veterans Yoga Project in trauma-informed yoga has given me additional tools for supporting emotional regulation, resilience, mindfulness, and overall well-being.
Therapy doesn't have to be only about talking.
Sometimes healing involves learning how to recognize what your body is telling you, becoming more aware of your nervous system, and developing ways to feel more grounded and present.
