Nashville, TN
MBA Nashville provides mindfulness-based rehabilitation services to incarcerated and at-risk youth and adults in Nashville, TN. We bring meditation and emotional intelligence exercises to high schools, youth detention centers, jails, prisons, drug courts, group homes and drug and alcohol treatment facilities.
Services
1) Mindfulness-based group exercises to all facilities and programs by MBA-trained facilitators.
2) Mindfulness-based workshops for staff at all facilities and programs.
3) Training for staff at facilities and programs who wish to provide tailored mindfulness-based group interventions to the populations they work with. CEUs and certification provided.
4) Individual mindfulness-based counsel.
Current Locations and Programs
1) Davidson County Sheriff’s Office: CDC and CJC populations
2) Oasis Center: Programs for homeless and runaway youth
3) Cumberland Heights Treatment Center: inpatient services; youth IOP.
4) Discovery Place: Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation program.
5) Freeman Sober Living Establishment
The MBA Nashville Team
Dave Smith, Head Trainer, Instructor and Group Facilitator
Dave Smith has been practicing mindfulness meditation since 1993. He began his practice at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre MA. For the past 3 years Dave has worked one-on-one with teens struggling with alcohol and drug abuse; he has also been volunteering and teaching mindfulness and emotional intelligence retreats for teens for the last 5 years. Dave has graduated from a training program to teach mindfulness meditation taught by author, teacher and counselor Noah Levine at Against the Stream Meditation Society in LA. Dave uses a wide range of mindfulness techniques and emotional intelligence exercises to “meet” people wherever they are at. Dave is committed to bring mindfulness practice into any facility or program that will allow him to do so. Dave also writes, records and performs live music throughout Nashville TN.
Jeff Browning, Instructor and Group Facilitator
For the past ten years Jeff Browning has worked as an alcohol and drug counselor for a noted treatment center in Nashville, Tennessee. For seven years he worked with addicted teens as an associate and primary counselor. Currently he works with adult clients who have a high rate of relapse, incorporating meditation and mindfulness as a relapse prevention strategy. Jeff began his meditation and mindfulness practice eight years ago when he discovered Zen meditation as a way to enhance his own recovery and to assist in connecting with adolescents struggling with their thoughts and emotions. With his free time Jeff writes, collects books, spends time with his dogs, and tries to make his wife smile as many times as he can.
MBA NASHVILLE
LOCAL ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
Holly Cook, MA LPC-MHSP
Holly Cook is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Mental Health Service Provider. She has over 25 years of experience in providing therapy for individuals, groups and families. Holly is currently the Executive Director of the Integrative Life Center, a non-residential treatment program providing treatment services for individuals struggling with addictions, eating disorders and other trauma related disorders. Integrative Life Center’s approach is holistic, aimed at healing body, mind and spirit using evidence based practices such as CBT, DBT and nutrition education and counseling as well as alternative approaches such as mindfulness, acupuncture, bodywork/massage, Native American traditions such as sweat lodges and medicine wheel, yoga and other experientially oriented practices.
Dean Porterfield, LPC, MHSP, NCC
Dean has a national reputation for his work in the adolescent residential treatment field. Dean served as an executive director for an outdoor therapeutic program for over 10 years. He currently serves as the clinical coordinator for the Cumberland Heights Youth Program and is in private practice and owner of Do Life! Counseling, PLLC. Dean also serves on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP).
