About Kyle
I’ve spent most of my career trying to better understand adolescent boys—what shapes them, what gets in their way, and what helps them grow.
I’m Kyle Cruze, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Tennessee. For more than a decade, I’ve worked primarily with adolescent boys, young men, and their families.
I’m especially interested in what sits underneath the behavior we see on the surface. Anxiety, anger, withdrawal, lack of motivation, substance use, family conflict, or simply seeming “off” can all be signals that something deeper deserves attention.
My work is centered on helping young men and their families develop a clearer understanding of what is happening, strengthen relationships, and identify practical steps toward healthier development.
Why Boys and Families?
My interest in people and relationships began long before I became a therapist. Athletics played a significant role in shaping how I understood identity, belonging, leadership, disappointment, resilience, and the importance of relationships. I had the opportunity to play college basketball for four years, and many of my earliest lessons about people came through those experiences.
Professionally, I began working closely with adolescent boys and their families in residential treatment, often during some of the most difficult periods of their lives. That experience gave me an early appreciation for how complex adolescence can be—and how rarely there is one simple explanation for why a young person is struggling.
Over the years, my work has expanded to include a broader range of emotional, relational, behavioral, developmental, and brain-health concerns. But the population has remained remarkably consistent: boys, young men, and the families trying to understand and support them.
Education
Trevecca Nazarene University, Nashville, TN
Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy, 2014
College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA
B.A., Economics, 2008
Professional Memberships / Specialties
Certified Elite Brain Health Clinician - Amen University
Trained in Attachment and Somatic-Focused EMDR
Trained in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Tennessee License #1215
How I Approach the Work
I believe effective counseling begins with understanding the whole person.
That means paying attention not only to symptoms, but also to relationships, family dynamics, development, school, technology, sleep, nutrition, physical health, brain function, identity, and the environment surrounding a young person.
Sometimes counseling is the appropriate next step. Sometimes parents need guidance. Sometimes additional assessment or collaboration with other professionals is helpful.
The goal is not to force every family into the same process. It is to understand the situation well enough to determine what may actually help.
Faith and Counseling
My own worldview is shaped by the Christian faith, and I believe questions of meaning, identity, purpose, and spirituality can be important parts of a person’s life.
At the same time, I work with clients and families from a wide range of backgrounds and beliefs. I do not assume that faith should be incorporated into counseling simply because it matters to me. When clients want spirituality or faith to be part of the work, I am comfortable integrating those conversations thoughtfully and respectfully.
Outside the Office
I’m a Tennessee native, husband, and dad of three. Outside of work, I’m usually happiest outdoors—hunting, working on something around the property, reading, or spending time with my family.