Polly Palmer, Ed.S., LAMFT

Hi, I’m Polly! I’m a therapist at The LEAP Clinic, and I work with individuals of all ages, including children, adolescents, and adults, as well as families. My clinical work is grounded in how emotional and relational experiences shape the way people think, feel, and engage with the world.

 

Many people come to therapy feeling overwhelmed or stuck, not because they lack effort or insight, but because something in their emotional or relational world has made change feel difficult or unsafe. Children may express this through behavior or big emotions, adolescents may feel shut down or misunderstood, and families often feel unsure how to help when patterns repeat. Adults may notice similar dynamics playing out in their relationships over time.

 

My work focuses on helping individuals and families understand what is happening beneath the surface. I take a relational, developmentally informed approach that centers emotional experience, patterns over time, and the meaning people make of their relationships. Therapy often involves slowing things down, paying attention to feelings as they arise, and making sense of experiences that may not yet have clear language.

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With children and families, I work to understand emotional and behavioral challenges in context, supporting caregivers while honoring each child’s developmental needs. With adolescents and adults, I focus on recurring relational dynamics and emotional patterns, and how past experiences shape present-day responses. Across ages, I aim to create a space that feels steady, curious, and respectful.

 

My background as a school psychologist informs how I think about development, systems, and family dynamics, and I bring this perspective into therapy in a collaborative and thoughtful way. Rather than pushing for quick solutions, I help individuals and families move toward a more connected way of relating, where each person’s experience matters and change becomes something they work toward together.

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Education & Licensure:​

• Postgraduate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy (in progress), Council for Relationships

• M.A. in Psychology; Ed.S. in School Psychology, Middle Tennessee State University

• Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (PA) – AMF000061

• Licensed and Nationally Certified School Psychologist (PA, TN; since 2018)

• Supervised by: Danielle Epler, PsyD