About me.

I’m honored you’re here. My name is Weatherly Hulsey, and I work as a counselor at Cypress Counseling Group in Brentwood, TN. I completed my M.Ed. in Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling at Lamar University and am under the supervision of Carla Babb, Ed.S, ACS, LPC-MHSP (License #1950).

I became a therapist by finding my own therapeutic journey so transformative that I felt called to help others navigate theirs. I genuinely believe that you can only take a client as far as you’ve gone yourself. With that mantra in mind, I continue to sit on the couch as a client, exploring and experiencing different types of therapy to deepen my understanding and growth.

My background is as varied as it is unconventional. After earning a degree in fashion merchandising from Auburn University, I “pulled an Elle Woods” and went on to obtain a law degree, specializing in artists’ rights. Life then took me on an unexpected journey, including nearly two years living in South America (Colombia and Bolivia). Upon returning to the States, I worked as a professional photographer and marketer. After becoming a mother, I faced the challenges of postpartum depression after my second child. While I experienced depression and anxiety, I couldn’t pinpoint a traumatic event to explain the cause. This was my introduction to the concept of complex trauma.

Over time, I began uncovering patterns in my life—betrayal, abandonment, neglect—and realized there were many traumatic events I had minimized or normalized. I also discovered how deeply shame had influenced me. I thought of myself as fearless and outgoing, but the truth was more nuanced. My outgoing personality was often a defense mechanism, keeping people at a safe distance because I believed they couldn’t truly love me if they saw the real me.

When I began my master’s program in Marriage and Family Counseling, I knew I wanted to specialize in developmental and relational trauma or what we often refer to as complex trauma. While therapies like CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) are excellent for addressing symptoms, I’ve found that complex trauma often lies at the root, driving behaviors and needs deeper therapy. My approach helps clients balance coping in the present with healing the wounds of the past. So much of this work is about recognizing the survival mechanisms we developed in childhood that no longer serve us in adulthood.

Thank you for taking the time to visit this website and learn a little about me. The healing journey is deep and challenging, but you are worth it—and you don’t have to do it alone.