Dr. Bradley (Brad) Bull, LMFT

Dr. Bradley (Brad) Bull is a licensed marriage and family therapist who brings two decades of experience to work with individuals, couples, and families facing relationship, parenting, mood, and trauma-related concerns. He frames family therapy as systemic therapy - paying attention to how family, work, and societal factors shape behavior and coping - and often applies that perspective when helping people navigate stress, anxiety, depression, intimacy challenges, and life transitions.

His clinical formation blends formal education with hands-on life experience. In 2005, at age 40, he completed a PhD in child and family studies with an emphasis in counseling at the University Tennessee. He received early family therapy training at Good Shepherd Counseling Center and began his academic path as an undergraduate psychology major with a creative writing minor at Carson-Newman University. Additional training included seminary studies in pastoral counseling and work at Norton Psychiatric Clinic.

Dr. Bull characterizes his therapeutic stance as down-to-earth and practical, shaped by growing up the son of teachers and the grandson of farmers. His background includes a range of real-world jobs and leadership experiences, from agricultural work to serving as a high school soccer team captain, all of which inform a pragmatic, relatable approach with clients. Outside of practice he enjoys cycling, movies, reading, Scrabble, hiking, canoeing, and refinishing furniture, pursuits that reflect an interest in balance, creativity, and active living.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care with Dr. Bull

Dr. Bradley (Brad) Bull uses Client-Centered Therapy to create a supportive space where the therapist follows the client's pace and perspective - this approach emphasizes empathy, listening, and helping people discover their own solutions, which can be especially helpful for issues around self-esteem, life purpose, and coping with change.

He also integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a practical method that identifies and reshapes unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. CBT offers concrete tools and exercises clients can apply between sessions to track progress and build coping skills.

Finally, for clients who have experienced trauma, Dr. Bull may use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a therapeutic technique aimed at reducing the emotional intensity of traumatic memories and improving day-to-day functioning.

Finding the right approach is collaborative - Dr. Bull works with each person to determine which methods best fit their goals, needs, and preferences, and he adapts the plan as progress unfolds.

Online therapy with Dr. Bull is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to provide flexibility for busy schedules, geographic limitations, or differing comfort levels with technology. These options make it easier to maintain consistent care, access timely support, and integrate therapy into everyday life with greater convenience.