Team Profiles

Amy Powell obtained a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Middle Tennessee State University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. During her tenure at MTSU, Ms. Powell received honors from her graduate professors, including recognition as the Outstanding Clinical Graduate Student and Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant.

Upon graduation, Ms. Powell began her journey in clinical psychology working for AGAPE as well as at Vanderbilt University Medical Center . While at Vanderbilt Ms. Powell gained intensive experience in early childhood development while conducting comprehensive developmental assessments in the NICU as well as the Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD). While at TRIAD she also helped formulate and develop group therapy interventions to address both the delayed social skills of children with ASD as well as the impact of their challenges on the family as a whole. As such, parent training and sibling groups were amongst the work she co-facilitated.

Since leaving Vanderbilt in 2002, Ms. Powell has been in private practice, first with Associated Psychiatrists of Nashville and now as the co-founder of NNPA.

Ms. Powell serves in a supervisory capacity for the clinical team at NNPA and has supervised masters and doctoral level students from various clinical programs in the city. Currently, Ms. Powell focuses her outpatient practice on working with individuals suffering from the psychological and emotional consequences of trauma, OCD/Anxiety, ADHD, social skills deficits, and mood disorders. She is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and enjoys working with parents to help them understand how to best support their neuro-divergent child through an attachment focused lens. While known as a talented therapist, Ms. Powell is also a talented local artist recognized locally and nationallyfor sculpture and painting. 

For Ms. Powell, witnessing the bravery of each individual who embarks on the journey to well-being and healing is truly an honor. She is inspired daily by the resilience of those with whom she works.

Tim is the Director of Client Services and Business Development. He is our administrative leader and manages referrals to individual services, group, Neurofeedback and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.

Tim’s experience includes crisis management and referral, inpatient admissions, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and organizational administration. He has worked with facilities at Vanderbilt and HCA. Tim completed a master’s in Human Performance (MS) and a second master’s (MA) in Mental Health Counseling. He is a nationally certified counselor (NCC) and is completing his supervision hours toward state licensure (LPC-MHSP).

Tim is experienced in working with individuals struggling with grief, trauma, and issues related to sport performance. You may also find Tim on the tennis court, as he is an accomplished player and coach.

Dr. Kara Darretta is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and is board certified to treat clients across the lifespan. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology in 2016 from Indiana University, where she joined Phi Eta Sigma/Alpha Lambda Delta National Honors Societies. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2017 from Valparaiso University. She then completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, where she was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honors Society of Nursing.

During Dr. Darretta's nursing career, she has worked as a Psychiatric Nurse for both Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital and Parthenon Pavilion. While in school, completing her clinical hours, she worked alongside Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners and Psychiatrists in both inpatient and outpatient settings. As a result, Kara has knowledge of both acute stabilization management as well as maintaining stabilization of individuals through medication management and psychotherapy. Her experience spans anxiety and mood disorders, ADHD, PTSD, thought disorders, substance abuse, and personality disorders.

Dr. Darretta believes in treating the individual as a whole by utilizing medication management when appropriate while incorporating psychotherapy. She strives to meet individuals where they are and help them to meet their goals through an individualized treatment plan. She believes a strong therapeutic relationship is the foundation for effective treatment. She brings warmth, empathy, and humor with strong clinical decision-making skills to the therapeutic relationship. Kara works in tandem, under Dr. Clark’s supervision, and in collaboration with the whole NNPA team. 

When not at NNPA, she enjoys rooting for the Philadelphia Phillies, reading, and spending time with her husband and two mini goldendoodles.

Alyssa Mielock, Ph.D., is a clinical psychology post-doctoral fellow. Dr. Mielock received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and masters and doctoral degrees from Northern Illinois University. She completed her clinical internship at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

She specializes in evidence-based practices which uses gold standard treatments to teach clients helpful skills in a timely manner, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Her goal is to have the client become their own therapist. Dr. Mielock uses the approach of providing a warm and supportive environment, collaboratively identifying treatment goals with the client, and continually checking in with the client throughout treatment to make sure progress is being made. Dr. Mielock emphasizes that while she has the expertise to implement the treatment, the client is the expert on their lives. She heavily relies on the relationship between the client and herself to increase the client’s confidence and practice of skills learned in therapy.

Dr. Mielock has worked with clients of all ages, from age 4 through adulthood. She has extensive training in trauma-focused treatments and has completed several practicums at trauma clinics. She also has expertise working with a variety of difficulties, such as difficulty controlling emotion and attention, anger, anxiety, depression, mood swings, nightmares, panic attacks, serious mental illness, sleep problems, stress management, substance use, and relationship difficulties. There are many different approaches to therapy and Dr. Mielock focuses on individually creating the best treatment for each client.

A fun fact is that Dr. Mielock lived in Nashville before attending graduate school and is so excited to be back! When not at NNPA, she loves spending time outdoors, camping and going on hikes.

Anna Marie obtained her BS in Exercise Science and Wellness from the University of Tennessee, Martin, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Following college, she gain experience in the physical therapy setting as an assistant then segway into management.

Currently, she is working toward the completion of her master’s in Mental Health Counseling.

At NNPA, Anna Marie manages our reception staff and coordinates our office functions. She keeps schedules on par and supports our administrative needs, as just some of her talents. She is a trained TMS technician and is also involved in Neurofeedback.

Anna Marie has many interests including tennis, movies, and her fun-loving corgi, Peaches.

Matt McKenzie moved to Tennessee in 1986 and has enjoyed a career as a touring musician for artists as diverse as Lyle Lovett, Don Williams, Patty Loveless, and Olivia Newton-John. Seeking a way to become a bridge to more compassion, empathy, and healing, Matt went back to school in 2016. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Trevecca Nazarene University with a BA in Psychology, and followed that with the Stens Corp. course in EEG Biofeedback directed by John Anderson, MA, and Mary Tracy, PhD. Matt serves NNPA as an administrative assistant and Neurofeedback tech.

Matt can still be found playing music in and around Nashville, often working in the staff band at the Grand Old Opry.

Emme graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2021 with a BA in Media Arts and Studies. After graduating and returning to her native home of Nashville, Emme worked for a talent agency as an admin and booking agent. Needing a change and wanting to work towards a more meaningful career, Emme recently decided to transition to NNPA. Emme is passionate about helping others and bringing compassion to the larger community. Emme hopes to further her experience and education in psychology in the near future. In her free time she enjoys an assortment of hobbies including gardening/farming, baking/cooking, and playing videogames.