Business Details
25 Years
experience
Your Trusted Partner for Mental Health Solutions
Athena Care has been dedicated to improving access to quality mental health services since its founding in 2001 by Dr. Charles Ihrig. Our mission is to help individuals achieve happier, healthier, and more productive lives through comprehensive diagnostic assessments, medication management, psychotherapy, and advanced treatments like Spravato, ketamine therapy, and TMS. With over two decades of experience, we have grown into one of Tennessee's largest private mental health practices, offering services across multiple locations including Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville.Our team of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurse practitioners, and psychotherapists specializes in treating a wide range of conditions from depression and anxiety to autism spectrum disorders and forensic evaluations. We maintain in-network status with most major insurance plans and provide virtual visits to ensure accessibility. Our commitment to evidence-based treatments, personalized care plans, and patient confidentiality has made us a trusted choice for mental health services in the region.
Services
Psychiatric Evaluation
Medication Management
Psychotherapy
Autism Testing
Spravato Therapy
Ketamine Therapy
TMS Treatment
Psychological Testing
Telehealth Services
Business Consulting
Details
- Year established: 2001
Highlights and features
- 20+ years of experience in mental health treatment
- In-network with most major insurance providers
- Specialized team for complex mental health conditions
- Advanced treatments including Spravato and TMS therapy
- Multiple locations across Tennessee for convenient access
Services
Spravato Therapy
Spravato therapy combines esketamine nasal spray with oral antidepressants for treatment-resistant depression. Administered under medical supervision, this FDA-approved treatment offers rapid relief for adults with severe depression symptoms. Patients receive two weekly sessions for a month followed by personalized maintenance plans.
Ketamine Therapy
Intramuscular ketamine injections provide rapid symptom relief for treatment-resistant depression and chronic suicidality. Each session includes medical monitoring with observation periods before and after administration. Treatment typically involves six sessions over three weeks with optional booster doses.
TMS Treatment
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation delivers non-invasive brain stimulation for depression treatment. Patients receive 20-minute sessions five days weekly for six weeks, with no sedation required. This FDA-approved treatment allows immediate return to daily activities post-session.
Psychological Testing
Comprehensive psychological evaluations identify cognitive strengths and challenges through multi-appointment processes. Services include ADHD testing, autism assessments, and pre-surgical evaluations using standardized diagnostic tools and clinical interviews.
Telehealth Services
Secure video consultations provide remote access to psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and psychotherapy. Patients connect through encrypted Zoom sessions with board-certified providers for convenient mental health care from home.
People
Dr. Charles Ihrig
Founder & Psychologist
Dr. Ihrig founded Athena Care in 2001 after establishing himself as a leading psychologist in Tennessee. With over 20 years of clinical experience, he specializes in forensic evaluations and diagnostic assessments while overseeing the practice's strategic direction.
Amanda Sparks-Bushnell
Chief Medical Officer
As Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sparks-Bushnell leads psychiatric care delivery across multiple locations. She specializes in medication management and complex case treatment, bringing over 15 years of experience in adult and adolescent mental health services.
Jorge Boero
Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Boero provides forensic evaluations and expert testimony in legal cases. With specialized training in immigration law assessments and court-related diagnostics, he contributes over 18 years of clinical and legal psychology expertise to Athena Care's forensic team.
Maria Walton
Psychologist & LCSW
Dr. Walton combines clinical psychology and social work expertise to deliver comprehensive mental health care. She specializes in family therapy and complex diagnostic evaluations, with particular focus on autism spectrum disorders and developmental conditions.
Justin Lapollo
Psychiatrist
Dr. Lapollo provides psychiatric evaluations and medication management in the Knoxville clinic. With board certification in adult psychiatry, he specializes in treatment-resistant depression and integrates evidence-based pharmacological approaches with ongoing therapeutic support.
Questions
What mental health services does Athena Care offer?
We provide psychiatric evaluations, medication management, psychotherapy, Spravato therapy, ketamine treatments, TMS, psychological testing, and virtual visits across Tennessee.
Do you accept insurance for mental health treatment?
We are in-network with most major insurance providers and offer self-pay options with Good Faith Estimates for uninsured patients.
How do I schedule a psychological evaluation?
Contact us through our website or call (877) 641-1155 to schedule initial consultations and coordinate testing appointments at your preferred location.
Are telehealth appointments available?
Yes, we offer secure virtual visits for psychiatric evaluations, therapy sessions, and medication management consultations through our encrypted Zoom platform.
What advanced depression treatments are available?
We offer FDA-approved Spravato therapy, intramuscular ketamine injections, and TMS treatments for treatment-resistant depression under medical supervision.
What are your clinic hours?
Our clinics operate Monday-Friday from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM with after-hours crisis support available through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
