A Better Approach To Life — From a Team of Licensed Therapists
Life is complicated, and we were never meant to handle it alone. Anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, anger, relationship issues, self-esteem struggles, life transitions — every adult faces something. Too often, we try to manage on our own, and sometimes those attempts make things worse: unhealthy coping, self-destructive habits, isolation.
At Innovative Family Therapy in Louisville, KY, our licensed adult therapists offer evidence-based individual therapy designed to help you understand what you’re going through, develop healthier ways to cope, and build the life you actually want. Every adult who walks through our doors is met with empathy, professionalism, and a treatment plan tailored to who they are.
We see adults in-person at our Louisville office and offer secure teletherapy throughout Kentucky and Indiana.
Meet Your Adult Therapists
Every licensed therapist on our team works with adult clients. With 10 clinicians on staff, we can match you with someone whose training and personality fits what you’re working through. Here are some of the therapists who bring specialized adult-focused expertise:
Chelsey Gorham, MSC, LMFT, GC-C
Founder of Innovative Family Therapy. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Grief Counselor. Specializes in adult counseling, grief and loss, and life transitions.
Crashonda Duncan, MFT Associate, Associate CADC
Marriage and Family Therapist Associate and Associate Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Also an Integrative Health Practitioner specializing in autoimmune disorders. A great fit for clients whose mental health intersects with chronic physical health concerns or substance use.
Patricia Costa Tague, LMFT, EMDR Trained
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) — an evidence-based therapy especially effective for trauma.
Sandra Pollard Nelson, MFT Associate, EMDR Trained
Specializes in trauma work and brings EMDR training to adult clients processing past experiences.
Sonja Stewart, LMFT, Certified Prepare and Enrich Facilitator
Specializes in working with adults around grief, life transitions, and relationship concerns.
Angela Schardein, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker bringing a clinical, evidence-based approach to adult therapy.
Tammy Nischan, LMFT
Brings creative and integrative approaches to adult clients, including a Therapeutic Art Life Coach Certification.
Kathy Begley, LPCA and Hannah Welling, LPCA
Licensed Professional Counselor Associates supporting adults through anxiety, depression, life transitions, and personal growth.
Hannah Smith, Clinical Counseling Intern
Sees adult clients at a reduced rate ($45 per session, $65 initial) under licensed supervision. A great option for clients seeking quality care at a more accessible price point.
Want to see the full team? Meet all our therapists →
What Is Adult Counseling?
Adult counseling — also called individual therapy or adult psychotherapy — is one-on-one mental health treatment for anyone over the age of 18. It’s a confidential space to explore what you’re feeling, why you’re feeling it, and what you can do about it. Therapy works on the mind, the body, and the spirit, using talk therapy and other evidence-based techniques to help you function in healthier, more authentic ways.
Adult counseling is not just for a crisis. It’s for anyone who wants to understand themselves better, break unhelpful patterns, recover from difficult experiences, or simply have a trained professional to think through life with.
Our Approach to Adult Therapy
We use multiple evidence-based therapeutic approaches, tailored to what you’re working through and the way you process best.
Your therapist will discuss the approach with you and may draw on more than one modality depending on what you’re working on. There is no one-size-fits-all in this work.
Who Benefits From Adult Therapy?
No one sails through life without challenges. Most of our adult clients are working through:
- Anxiety and depression — including generalized anxiety, panic, social anxiety, and major depressive episodes
- Trauma and PTSD — past abuse, accidents, medical trauma, complex childhood experiences, recent traumatic events
- Grief and loss — death of a loved one, divorce, miscarriage, loss of a job or identity, anticipatory grief
- Anger and stress management — understanding what’s underneath the anger, learning regulation skills
- Relationship difficulties — with partners, family members, friends, or coworkers
- Marriage struggles — when individual work is the right starting point (we also offer couples therapy)
- Life transitions — career change, divorce, becoming a parent, empty nest, retirement, moving, identity shifts
- Self-esteem and identity — feeling stuck, lost, or like you’ve drifted from who you really are
- Substance use and addiction concerns — with our Associate CADC, Crashonda Duncan
- Chronic illness and autoimmune-related mental health concerns — also a specialty of Crashonda Duncan
- Personal growth — for adults who simply want to be more self-aware, intentional, and well
Benefits of Adult Counseling
Everyone suffers during their lifetime. What matters is how we metabolize it. Therapy gives you skills, perspective, and a relationship that can change everything that comes next.
What to Expect at Your First Session
Your first adult therapy session at Innovative Family Therapy is 90 minutes long. It’s a chance for you and your therapist to get to know each other, talk about what’s bringing you in, and start mapping out the work ahead.
You don’t need to come with a prepared list of issues or a polished narrative. Just show up willing to be honest. Your therapist will guide the conversation, ask thoughtful questions, and help you start identifying what’s most important to focus on.
Subsequent sessions are 50–60 minutes long (or 30 minutes for shorter check-ins if needed). You and your therapist will set a cadence together. Usually weekly to start, then spacing out as you make progress.
Everything you share is confidential, protected by HIPAA, and handled with care.
Investment & Insurance
Innovative Family Therapy is a private-pay practice — we do not bill insurance directly. Many of our adult clients prefer this because it means more privacy (no diagnosis required for insurance records), more flexibility in treatment approach, and no insurance-imposed session limits.
Our Adult Therapy Fees:
- Initial session (90 minutes): $165
- Ongoing individual sessions (50–60 minutes): $110
- Half-session (30 minutes): $55
Reduced-rate option: Our Clinical Counseling Intern Hannah Smith sees adult clients at a reduced rate: $45 per regular session and $65 for the initial session. She works under licensed supervision and is a wonderful option for adults seeking quality care at a more accessible price point.
Payment options:
- We accept most HSA and FSA cards (use pre-tax dollars for your therapy)
- We can provide a superbill for out-of-network insurance reimbursement (check with your insurance about your out-of-network mental health benefits)
Frequently Asked Questions
Not unless you ask for or need a diagnosis. Since we are private-pay (not billing insurance), there is no requirement to assign a diagnostic code. Many of our clients prefer this for the privacy it offers.
Yes — your sessions are protected by HIPAA. Your therapist cannot share what you discuss without your written consent. There are very limited legal exceptions (imminent risk of harm to self or others, suspected abuse of a child or vulnerable adult, court orders) that your therapist will explain in your first session
No — our clinicians provide therapy, not medication management. If your therapist believes medication might support your treatment, they can coordinate with your primary care doctor or refer you to a psychiatrist.
Yes — we offer secure video sessions for adults throughout Kentucky and Indiana. Telehealth is especially helpful for clients with busy schedules, mobility concerns, or who prefer the comfort of their own space.
All of these can provide therapy, with some key differences. Licensed therapists and counselors (LMFT, LPC, LCSW, LPCA) provide talk therapy and evidence-based interventions. Psychologists (PhD/PsyD) have doctoral-level training and may provide testing and assessment. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can prescribe medication. At IFT, our team includes LMFTs, MFT Associates, LPCAs, and LCSWs, all qualified to provide adult therapy.
You can start with a single session. Many clients begin uncertain and decide afterward how often (or whether) to continue. There’s no pressure to commit beyond the first appointment.
It varies. Some clients work through a specific issue in 8–12 sessions. Others come for longer-term work on identity, complex trauma, or ongoing support. Your therapist will give you their honest assessment after the first few sessions.
You don’t need to wait for a crisis. If something is interfering with your daily life — your sleep, your relationships, your work, your sense of self — therapy can help. If you’re not sure, the first session is a low-pressure way to find out.
Why Choose Innovative Family Therapy?
- A team of 10 licensed therapists — every one of whom works with adults, so we can match you with the right fit
- Multiple evidence-based modalities — CBT, ACT, EMDR, Person-Centered, Solution-Focused
- Specialty expertise on staff — grief counseling, trauma/EMDR, substance use, autoimmune-related mental health
- A family systems perspective — we understand that you don’t exist in a vacuum, even in individual therapy
- No waiting list — when you’re ready to start, we’re ready to help
- In-person at our Louisville office and teletherapy throughout Kentucky and Indiana
- Reduced-rate options via our Clinical Counseling Intern
- Private-pay practice with HSA/FSA accepted — full privacy, no diagnostic labeling required
- Founded by Chelsey Gorham, MSC, LMFT, GC-C — a Louisville-based Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Grief Counselor
Explore All Our Counseling Services
Innovative Family Therapy supports your whole family, at every stage of life. If someone you love needs help too, explore our other services:
Take the First Step Toward a Better You
You don’t have to figure this out alone. Whether you’re navigating something specific or simply ready to invest in yourself, our licensed adult therapists in Louisville, KY are here to help.
Call us at (502) 612-9129 or schedule online. There’s no waiting list, and we’ll match you with the right therapist on the first call.
Need Help Right Now?
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call 911 or call or text 988 (the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). You can also visit your nearest emergency room. Therapy is for ongoing mental health care — in an emergency, please use the resources above.
