Psychiatrist in Clarksville
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June 15, 2026
Psychiatrists are physicians, holding either an M.D. or a D.O. degree, which distinguishes them from psychologists, counselors, and therapists. As medical doctors, psychiatrists can assess the physical and biological factors behind mental health conditions, order and interpret laboratory work, and prescribe and manage medication. In Clarksville, a city of roughly 176,456 people as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau) and home to a large military community connected to nearby Fort Campbell, residents have access to psychiatric practices that treat depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, PTSD, and related conditions.
In many Clarksville practices, day-to-day psychiatric care is provided by psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners working in collaboration with a supervising or consulting physician, a common arrangement in growing communities. A psychiatrist, as a physician, can diagnose conditions, prescribe and manage medication, and in some cases provide psychotherapy, while psychiatric nurse practitioners are advanced-practice clinicians who also assess, diagnose, and prescribe within their scope. Some people see a provider primarily for medication management, often alongside a separate therapist, while other practices combine medication and therapy together, and several offer interventional treatments such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and Spravato (esketamine) for conditions that have not responded to standard medication. Telepsychiatry is widely available for evaluations and routine follow-up visits.
In Tennessee, psychiatrists are licensed and regulated by the Tennessee Department of Health. Physicians with an M.D. are overseen by the Board of Medical Examiners, and those with a D.O. are overseen by the Board of Osteopathic Examination, while psychiatric nurse practitioners are licensed through the Tennessee Board of Nursing and practice under physician collaboration. All of these boards set standards for licensure, continuing education, and professional conduct, and the Department of Health maintains public license-verification tools. Many psychiatrists also hold board certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Before scheduling, consumers can use the Department of Health’s online license lookup to confirm that a physician holds an active, unrestricted Tennessee license and to review any disciplinary history.
Clarksville consumers have several protections when choosing and paying for psychiatric care. The Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs administers the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), which addresses deceptive or unfair business practices, while complaints about a clinician’s professional conduct can be directed to the appropriate licensing board within the Department of Health. Because some practices operate on a private-pay or out-of-network basis, patients should ask in advance about fees, insurance participation, and billing. The information below is intended as a general overview and not as medical advice. Anyone experiencing a mental health emergency should call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or call 911.
Top Psychiatrist Providers in Clarksville
1. Family Care Center
Address: 105 Otis Smith Drive, Clarksville, TN 37043
Phone: (888) 374-5066
Website: https://fccwellbeing.com
Services: psychiatry, medication management, individual, couples, and family therapy, child and adolescent mental health, TMS, intensive outpatient program, telehealth, military and veteran care
Description: Family Care Center operates a Clarksville clinic that combines psychiatry with a broad range of mental health services. Its psychiatry team includes Dr. Sam Polek, MD, and care is delivered alongside therapists and other clinicians, allowing patients to receive medication management and therapy within the same practice. Services include psychiatry and medication management, individual, couples, and family therapy, child and adolescent mental health care, transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment-resistant depression, and an intensive outpatient program for patients who need more support than weekly visits provide. The practice has a particular focus on military and veteran care, which is relevant given Clarksville’s proximity to Fort Campbell, and it offers both in-person appointments and secure virtual telehealth sessions, though TMS is provided in person only.
2. Clarity Mental Health
Address: 1820 Haynes Street, Clarksville, TN 37043
Phone: (931) 245-1500
Website: https://www.getclaritymh.com
Services: psychiatric medication management, telepsychiatry, treatment for substance use and dual diagnoses
Description: Clarity Mental Health, LLC is an independently owned psychiatry practice founded and led by Jill Standley, APRN, MSN, PMHNP-BC, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner board-certified across the lifespan by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, with a nursing career that began in the Army Nurse Corps in 1998. The practice works with a collaborating psychiatrist, Dr. Michael McGhee, MD, consistent with Tennessee’s model for advanced-practice psychiatric care. Clarity focuses on psychiatric medication management and treats a range of conditions, including dual diagnoses and alcohol and substance use disorders. The practice offers telepsychiatry appointments in addition to in-office care, sending patients a secure video link ahead of scheduled telehealth visits, which can make ongoing medication management more convenient for established patients.
3. Athena Care
Address: 775 Weatherly Drive, Suite F, Clarksville, TN 37043
Phone: (877) 641-1155
Website: https://www.athenacare.health
Services: diagnostic assessments, medication management, psychotherapy, interventional psychiatry (TMS and Spravato), counseling, psychological testing, virtual visits
Description: Athena Care operates a Clarksville location that brings psychiatric medication management together with therapy and interventional treatments under one roof. Day-to-day psychiatric care is provided by board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, including a doctorally prepared nurse practitioner, supported by licensed therapists and clinical social workers who handle individual, couples, family, and LGBTQ-affirming counseling. The practice offers diagnostic assessments, medication management, psychotherapy, and interventional psychiatry that includes both TMS and Spravato (esketamine) for treatment-resistant conditions, along with psychological and personality testing. Athena Care is in-network with many major insurance plans and offers virtual visits in addition to in-office appointments, which gives Clarksville patients several ways to access care across a single organization.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psychiatrist in Clarksville
Q: What is the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychiatric nurse practitioner in Clarksville?
A psychiatrist is a physician with an M.D. or D.O. degree who can diagnose conditions, prescribe and manage medication, and in many cases provide psychotherapy. A psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner is an advanced-practice nurse who can also assess, diagnose, and prescribe within their scope, practicing under physician collaboration in Tennessee. In Clarksville, much routine psychiatric medication management is provided by nurse practitioners working with a collaborating or supervising physician, an arrangement that is common and lawful in the state.
Q: How do I verify that a Clarksville psychiatrist or provider is licensed?
Psychiatrists in Tennessee are licensed through the Tennessee Department of Health, with M.D. physicians overseen by the Board of Medical Examiners and D.O. physicians overseen by the Board of Osteopathic Examination, while psychiatric nurse practitioners are licensed through the Board of Nursing. The Department of Health offers online license-verification tools to confirm a provider holds an active, unrestricted license and to review any disciplinary history. Many psychiatrists also hold board certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Q: What conditions do psychiatric providers in Clarksville commonly treat?
Psychiatric providers in Clarksville treat a wide range of conditions, including depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, PTSD, and substance use disorders. Because Clarksville has a large military community connected to Fort Campbell, some practices place particular emphasis on care for service members and veterans, including trauma-related conditions. A thorough evaluation usually begins with a detailed medical and personal history.
Q: Do Clarksville psychiatry practices offer telehealth appointments?
Many Clarksville practices offer telepsychiatry, allowing patients to meet with a provider by secure video for evaluations or follow-up medication visits. Availability varies by practice and by visit type, since treatments such as TMS or in-office injections must be performed in person. It is best to confirm directly with a practice whether telehealth is available for your situation and whether your insurance covers virtual visits.
Q: What are TMS and Spravato, and where can I find them in Clarksville?
TMS, or transcranial magnetic stimulation, is a noninvasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate brain areas involved in mood regulation, and it is often used for depression that has not responded to medication. Spravato (esketamine) is a prescription nasal spray administered under medical supervision for treatment-resistant depression. Several Clarksville practices offer one or both of these interventional treatments alongside standard medication management.
Q: What should I do during a mental health emergency in Clarksville?
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health emergency or thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day, or call 911 for immediate help. These resources are appropriate for urgent situations and are separate from scheduling a routine appointment with a psychiatrist or psychiatric provider. This article is informational and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.