Hi, I’m Lee French.

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the Founder and Owner of Maeva Therapy Services. I am a graduate of Auburn University (‘09) and New York University’s Silver School of Social Work ('11) with 15 years of experience coming alongside clients as they develop, deepen & restore relationships- most importantly the one they have with themselves.

My journey to becoming a therapist didn't start in a classroom, but in the vibrant communities of Central and South America and Southern Africa. Whether in the rainforest of Brazil or the thatched hut homestead of Eswatini, I learned that human connection is the ultimate universal language. These experiences planted the seeds of justice in my life, leading me to a career in Social Work where I strive to honor the lived expertise and cultural heritage of every individual I serve. As you’ll often hear me say: “I am your student. YOU are the expert on YOU!”

Throughout my career, I have walked with individuals and families in their most vulnerable seasons—from the bustling boroughs of New York City to the quiet suburbs of Nashville to the innovative hustle of Silicon Valley. My mission has always been the same: to provide a space where you feel seen, supported, and celebrated for all you are.

My clinical foundation was built in the heart of New York City, working within Domestic Violence advocacy and Child and Family Prevention Services across all five boroughs. These years taught me the profound resilience of the human spirit. Later, as a Director of Bereavement in hospice care, I learned the sacred art of sitting in the hard and heavy realities of grief with families as they navigated the complexities of loss.

I also spent years in Vocational Ministry across the Bay Area and Middle Tennessee, helping teenagers and their families navigate the intersection of faith, identity, and mental health. This unique background allows me to offer a holistic perspective for those who wish to integrate their spiritual journey - or spiritual untangling - into their healing process.

Since returning to private practice, I have focused on weaving all these chapters together as I hold unique space for each client and their stories. I am an affirming clinician, committed to elevating and centering voices in Black, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized communities.

Whether you are navigating a major life transition, healing from trauma, or seeking a deeper sense of peace, I am here to welcome you home to yourself.

Learn More about Working with Lee
Learn More about Working with Lee

My EXPERIENCE

Advocacy & Family Systems: Extensive experience in NYC’s Domestic Violence and Family Prevention sectors, specializing in trauma-informed care and systemic healing.

Grief & Loss: Formerly a Director of Bereavement for non-profit hospice, providing deep support for those navigating the hardest and heaviest seasons of life.

Faith & Identity: Years of vocational ministry in California and Tennessee, supporting adolescents and families as they reconcile faith with the realities of modern life.

Private Practice: Dedicated, therapeutic support to individuals, couples, and families in Nashville.

My TREATMENT STYLE

All of my work as a therapist is rooted in this core truth: you are the expert of your own experience. I enjoy utilizing a collaborative approach and use your lived experience and goals to inform our work together. I pull from holistic approaches to therapy, including attachment-based, emotion-focused, person-centered, strengths-based, and trauma-focused- while employing a social justice and systemic framework. I am warm, self-disclosing, and direct.

My EDUCATION

Auburn University, Auburn & Montgomery-
Bachelor of Science in Sociology: Marriage and Family, 2009

New York University
Master of Social Work, 2011

My Credentials

Licensed Clinical Social Worker, TN #10282
Licensed Master Social Worker, TN #10086

EMDRIA Certified EMDR provider

National Association of Social Workers, Member

ENDORSEMENTS

  • Verkita Washington, LCSW - Founder of M.Y. Therapy

    “Lee creates a very supportive and compassionate space for those she serves and approaches her work with professionalism and care. She is also highly inquisitive and intentional about staying informed on evolving clinical practices, which reflects her dedication to providing the best possible care.”

  • Julie Hunt, LCSW; Professor of Social Work, Belmont University

    “Lee cares deeply for the growth and wellbeing of her clients. She welcomes people with authentic warmth and offers keen insight. Her creativity, passion, and curiosity fuel her work.”

  • JB Somers, Singer Songwriter

    “From the beginning of our friendship, Lee has been someone who leads with deep compassion, curiosity, and care for others. She has a remarkable ability to create space for people to ask hard questions and feel safe exploring their stories, especially for those untangling their faith or navigating seasons of change. Lee is a fiercely loyal friend who welcomes people from all walks of life and truly believes there is always room for one more at the table. Anyone who works with Lee will be met with warmth, wisdom, and genuine acceptance.”

  • Dwight Johnson, Author and Speaker; Preston Taylor Ministries, Executive Director

    “It is rare to find a therapist who balances clinical expertise with such a profound commitment to social justice. Lee doesn’t just look at the individual; she understands how systemic inequities impact mental health. She is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking a culturally humble provider”

  • Shelby Slowey, Open Door Collective Founder and Executive Director

    "I've known Lee personally and professionally for the last decade, and wouldn't hesitate to refer my loved ones to her as a clinician. Whatever your seeking for your care, Lee will competently accompany you with honesty and integrity."

  • Christina Confroy, LMFT; Owner, cHRISTINA CONFROY THERAPY

    “A gem of a human and that translates to the therapy room. If you’re looking for the direct but warm, challenging but safe, knowledgeable but human…you’ll find it in Lee”

  • Celia Morse, ANMP Vanderbilt Health

    “Lee is a natural counselor who perfectly balances compassion with logic. She is a thorough, common sense evaluator who I fully trust with my patients to provide grounded and insightful care”

Beyond the Therapist Chair

Remember when we used to think our teachers LIVED at school? What a wild experience to realize they had ENTIRE LIVES outside of the classroom! Similarly, it can be a weird thing to consider what your therapist is like outside of their cozy office. BUT! I do actually I have a whole life beyond the Therapist chair. When I’m not in sessions, you’ll likely find me spending time with my husband or driving my boys here, there, and everywhere! We spend weekends somewhere between the ball field, a flea market and our cozy couch with our two pups, Romy and Pip. I love a good DIY project or a Thursday night hang over queso with my girls at our neighborhood spot. I’ve got shameless love for realityTV, a Parenthood rewatch, and always and ANYTIME, the Great British Bakeoff. I love to travel and get a heaping portion of dopamine from planning our next trip.

My own experiences of navigating spiritual abuse and harmful religious systems have allowed me to offer deeper insight and more sacred space for others. I believe therapists should go to therapy (I love my therapist, who we will affectionally refer to as your “grandtherapist”) and believe that the power of community can lead to radical healing. I love building and investing in mine!