What is CATHARSIS?

CATHARSIS Nashville is a (future) endowment-based, nonprofit, holistic healing center and café that holds the potential to help transform the face of mental health care.

It combines elements of other spaces and entities, but in a whole new way:
An endowment-secured nonprofit like a university,
with healing professionals like a clinic,
an aesthetic like a retreat center,
and a replication model like a church.

The name CATHARSIS is an acronym that contains a vision statement: Clients And Therapist-Healers Activating Relational Synergy In Sanctuary.

Each word is significant to the whole.

The first word is Clients, as they are the most important priority–their wellbeing, safety, comfort, and wholeness, including financial.

( And )

The Therapist-Healers on staff will include experienced, licensed psychotherapists from differing traditions, a bodyworker to provide massage and Reiki, a trained pastoral (spiritual) caregiver, and a medicine prescriber. Having these two words together also highlights that they actually mean the same thing; therapist = healer (and psychotherapist = soul healer).

Activating implies that we are all created with great self-healing potential, but especially for HSPs (Highly Sensitive Persons), an optimal environment is key for its activation. The environment includes both the physical space and the people in it.

Relational is significant because numerous studies show that the most important healing “ingredient” in therapy is the quality of the relationship between the client and therapist.

Synergy means that the sum is greater than the parts. The healing power of CATHARSIS will result from the energetic combination of people, place, beauty, expertise, creativity, spirituality, and consciousness. The team treatment approach is also vital, as our health (or lack thereof) involves our bodies, minds, emotions, spirits, relationships, and community, and having different types of healers helps locate the best modalities for each person.

( In )

Sanctuary involves a safe, calm, spiritually grounded respite from “normal” life and culture. There will also be a literal sanctuary in the center of the center, i.e. the multi-faith chapel.

Learning that I’m a Highly Sensitive Person has helped me understand why I have felt so different from most people for my entire life and how it has impacted my relationships through the years.
-Jan B

Being an HSP feels like walking around with an open wound all the time. I am learning to see it as a gift and a superpower instead of a detriment
-Emily

I think the most important thing for fellow HSPs who are seeking therapy is to have trust that you are not alone; you are not just “a weirdo” and there are people who are more than willing to talk, listen, explain, and help in any way they can.
– Andy Nelson

Had it been anyone else, I would have considered the undertaking of such a nonprofit a pipe dream. In your case, it seems a sure bet. I’m a believer. Your outstanding concert lent total credence to your commitment and the level of brilliance to see this through.
– John Pell, composer and founder of Chet Atkins’ Nashville Guitar Quartet

You have been so thorough and wise in the way you have structured the organization. It will provide encouragement and healing to so many who have been fractured by the environment in which we live.
-Dr. William F. Cooper, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Baylor University

CATHARSIS, is a vision of a place for healing, a place for fellow Nashvillians to come and seek treatment in a nonclinical setting that is non-intimidating where you can come and see a therapist. You might get a cup of coffee, you might have a massage.
-Linda Kosack, Board Chair

We need a place like CATHARSIS in Nashville because there are a lot of creatives in Nashville who need a place to get therapy, a place to be seen and a place to be heard.
-Robbie Pinter, Board Time-Keeper

CATHARSIS is body services, it’s med-management, it’s psychotherapy, it’s community and belonging. It’s beautiful. What excites me most is people coming and my getting to see them feel safe
-David Thornton, Board Secretary

The downside of being an HSP is we can struggle more. Can become over-stimulated, more easily. We’re more susceptible to mental distress, to anxiety and depression. But these are also the folks who tend to be deeply creative and spiritual and empathic.
-Laura Kreiselmaier, Founder and CEO of CATHARSIS