IN THIS ISSUE · SPRING 2026 — Read the cover story
In the winter edition of Cookeville Lifestyle, we were delighted to feature Carole Lovell, LCSW, PsyD, and Personal Growth Counseling and Wellness: Tennessee Center for EMDR.
I sat down with Carole to discuss her practice and celebrate the connections working in healthcare has created for her and the team Personal Growth team.
Lovell stated, “Personal Growth Counseling and Wellness began in 1994 as the Personal Growth & Learning Center, a small office on East Broad Street, founded in partnership with Dan Donovan, MD, and John Averitt, PhD. Together, we had previously worked at another mental health facility, and our new practice became the first independently owned, licensed mental health center in Tennessee. At that time, we offered Partial Hospitalization, individual and group psychotherapy, and medication management.”
She continued, “From the beginning, our mission has been to provide high-quality mental health care in an accessible outpatient environment. As time went on, both Dr. Donovan and Dr. Averitt became increasingly busy in their primary practices, and I became the sole owner. Since then, our name has evolved to Personal Growth Counseling and Wellness: Tennessee Center for EMDR. We have expanded into three buildings at 509 North Cedar Avenue, directly across from Cookeville Regional Medical Center, offering diverse and comprehensive outpatient services.”
As a natural follow-up to that brief history, I asked Carole to give a snapshot of the services her practice offers.
“Our team provides a wide range of specialized services, including individual, family, couples, and co-parenting counseling; play and art therapy; traditional medication management; Spravato® (esketamine) treatment; and NeuroStar® TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation). We continue to seek out and expand into innovative, evidence-based mental health treatments to better serve our clients and meet the evolving needs of our community. Every practice is only as strong as its providers, and we are very fortunate to have an exceptionally qualified and diverse team,” she stated.
On the growing treatment options Personal Growth offers, she elaborated, “We are excited to announce our newest service: NeuroStar TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation). I have been eager to offer TMS for over a decade, ever since learning about its potential to help individuals whose depression has not responded to traditional treatments. NeuroStar TMS is a non-invasive brain stimulation therapy that uses targeted magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain. It is FDA-approved for individuals 15 years and older and is used to treat major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders, and chronic pain.”
Lovell added, “Dr. Cynthia Rector brings extensive experience with TMS, specifically using the NeuroStar machine, and we now have the space and capability to provide this cutting-edge therapy right here in Cookeville and the Upper Cumberland region. Clinical studies show positive outcomes in 83% of adults with treatment-resistant depression, OCD, or anxiety-related depression, and 72% of adolescents experience significant relief from depressive symptoms. NeuroStar TMS is covered by Medicare, Tricare, and most commercial insurance plans, making this life-changing therapy accessible to many in our community. In addition to NeuroStar TMS, we offer Spravato® (esketamine), a two-hour ketamine-based treatment also for treatment-resistant depression, providing another innovative option for patients in need.”
Beyond new treatments at the practice, Carole shared details about more established offerings patients can find at Personal Growth.
“Our clinicians are trained in EMDR, an evidence-based treatment for trauma in adults, adolescents, and children. We also provide Art Therapy, Play Therapy, Couples Counseling, Family Counseling, Co-parenting Counseling, Medication Management, Clinical Hypnosis, and Rapid Resolution Therapy, as well as bilingual services. Each client receives an individualized treatment plan tailored to their unique needs,” Lovell said.
“We offer individual and group therapy using a variety of modalities, including:
We combine innovation, evidence-based therapies, and compassionate care to help individuals and families achieve mental health, healing, and lasting well-being.”
Though Carole founded the practice alongside Drs. Donovan and Averitt, she insisted that the work of Personal Growth couldn’t be accomplished without her current team. She asked that I include those who help make the practice thrive, and I’ve done that below.
Dr. Cynthia Rector, Psychiatrist, Medical Director
Mark Lovell, LCSW, Clinical Director; EMDR; Geriatric Mental Health; Veterans Services
Sheila Masters, EdS, LPC-MHSP, EMDR; Forensic Testimony; Parental Alienation
Melissa Collins, LPC-MHSP, EMDR; Nutrition & Women’s Mental Health; Psychedelic Integration
Lisa Lovell, LCSW, Marketing, Public Relations & Community Outreach; EMDR; Certified DBT (C-DBT)
Elizabeth Rogers, PMHNP, Medication Management for Children & Adults; EMDR
Crystal Maxwell, PMHNP, Medication Management; Prenatal & Perinatal Mental Health; EMDR
Amy Emerick, PMHNP, Medication Management; Geriatric Mental Health; EMDR
Jana Van Hoosier, LPC-MHSP, MAAT, Registered Art Therapist; EMDR
Whitney Curry, LPC, Play Therapist; Infant and Mother–First Play Certified; EMDR
Karolina Strain, LMSW, Certified DBT; Bilingual (English/Spanish)
Kandra Poston, LMSW, EMDR; Eating Disorders & Addiction Specialist
Frida Amoretti, MA, EMDR; Gottman-Trained Couples Counselor; Bilingual (English/Spanish)
Steven Stewart, BS, MS, Drug Court Provider
Passionate Davis, PMHNP, Telehealth Counseling
David Lovell, TMS Technician
For more than 30 years, Carole Lovell has used her practice to serve the people of the Upper Cumberland. Her passion for care and healing began as a student in nursing school, and the fire she has for helping others has only intensified to date.
She said, “I first shifted my focus to Social Work during nursing school. As a student nurse, I encountered many patients who were unhappy, struggling with chronic illnesses, and often weighed down by years of unresolved challenges. These experiences reinforced my desire to help people recognize their potential and truly enjoy their lives. Encouraged by my cousin, who was also a social worker, I pursued my Master of Social Work from the University of Tennessee. After spending a few years raising my children while doing part-time social work, I realized that my true passion lies in understanding what creates mental health in people. Working in a hospital setting was rewarding, but I found I could have a greater impact treating people in an outpatient environment. My goal has always been to help individuals discover the tools to improve their lives, make peace with the past, and focus on their potential for a healed future.”
She concluded, “I have deep love and compassion for the clients we serve and thank God every day for the privilege of working with the people of the region. Having grown up here, I have always loved Cookeville—and that has never changed. Cookeville has always been my home, and whatever gifts and abilities I have, I want to use them to serve the people of Cookeville, Putnam County, and the Upper Cumberland.”
For more information on Personal Growth Counseling, visit https://personalgrowthcounseling.net.
written by Andrew Buckner, photos by Brittney Roberts
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