Meet Mary

Mary E. Payne, PhD, Licensed Psychologist, HSP

Dr. Payne believes in meeting patients “where they are” both developmentally and emotionally, making clients feel at ease by creating a relaxed and comfortable environment where she can tailor a treatment program to fit their specific needs. Dr. Payne strives to always be aware of each client’s goals and motivations for change, recognizing that successful therapy is about helping a patient recognize where they want and need to go.

She loves when her clients get to an “ah-ha” phase  – that very rewarding moment when a person “turns a corner” and really starts to invest in their own change.

Dr. Payne provides services for a variety of emotional and behavioral disorders, as well as interventions to maximize adjustment to chronic medical conditions. She is specially trained in CBT and is a certified biofeedback provider. Dr. Payne continually works to stay current on other empirically supported interventions such as biofeedback, mindfulness-based approaches, dialectical behavior therapy skills (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and parent training interventions. Dr. Payne is certified to teach a mindfulness-based stress reduction for teens program. She also has extensive training in helping children and teens cope with chronic medical conditions, including struggles with pain management, adherence, and general adjustment.

She is known for getting teenagers to “come out of their shell” and recognize changes that would make their lives better. She also enjoys working with college-aged adults as they grow through their adolescent to adult transition.

Driven by her belief in the importance of quality mental health services, Dr. Payne provides clinical supervision to graduate students working towards a psychology or counseling degree. She also provides supervision toward licensure for post-doctoral fellows and counselors. She currently serves as President of the Nashville Area Psychological Association and President-Elect of the Tennessee Psychological Association. 

When not working, Dr. Payne loves time with her family and being outdoors. She is self-described as “goal-oriented by nature.” She strives for those goals by completing half marathons and loves the camaraderie of fellow runners. She is also an avid stand-up paddle boarder. 

Contact our office to schedule a personal and comprehensive appointment with Dr. Payne to discuss your individual needs.

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