Ponciana Ridge in Nashville, TN

Pros

• AthenaCare is described as life-changing, with clients feeling heard, supported, and valued from the start.
• Julie Brown is incredibly welcoming and reassuring, teaching CBT in a clear, step-by-step way that helps clients understand emotions and apply practical tools.
• Steve Zanoni is a consistent, steady voice who helps clients build confidence professionally and personally.
• Juan Trevano listens carefully and partners with clients to develop individualized care plans that truly meet their needs.
• Raven is a warm, inviting presence in the Nashville office, making each visit comfortable and welcoming.
• The AthenaCare team creates an experience that helps clients grow, heal, and walk back into the world with confidence.
• Dr Kathy is friendly, professional, and engaging, and clients look forward to medication management.
• Katherine Cruz and Alondra are described as spectacular and highly helpful, delivering excellent service.
• Abbie is super sweet, easy to talk to, and creates a safe, welcoming space where clients feel understood and encouraged.
• Natalie Meckel is intuitive, wise, calm, genuine, and a good listener, providing knowledgeable psychiatric care.

Cons

• The administration is terrible.
• They canceled an appointment without notifying the patient or their provider because a form wasn’t filled out in time.
• AthenaCare changed systems and requires excessive, time-wasting paperwork before every visit.
• The front office staff claimed they had no control over the issues and refused to provide the contact for the person who does.
• The billing department has caused repeated billing problems, including automatic charges and overcharging the deductible.
• The founder and president, B. Charles Ihrig, was criticized as not being good.
• It was stated that this is not the place for people who struggle with addiction.
• The billing practices were described as shady.

Review

Ponciana Ridge in Nashville is best suited for adults who want a substantial, integrated mental-health program delivered by a broad, active team of clinicians. The reviews portray a practice that treats care as a collaborative journey, not a one-size-fits-all prescription. The environment is described as professional and welcoming, with intake and ongoing support built around listening carefully, tailoring plans, and equipping patients with practical, actionable tools. For families seeking a steady stream of therapy, robust medication management, and the flexibility of in-person or virtual sessions, this community presents a coherent, long-term care approach that emphasizes real-world outcomes and ongoing engagement.

On the therapeutic side, the strengths consistently highlighted are the clinicians’ empathy, expertise, and potency of the interventions. Patients repeatedly mention therapists who listen deeply, challenge unhelpful patterns, and customize approaches to conditions ranging from anxiety and depression to ADHD and DID. The most frequently cited benefit is a sense of progress, gains in mood, coping skills, and confidence, that patients experience as a direct result of personalized care plans. Group sessions and practical handouts provide tangible takeaways, while the breadth of services, from individual therapy to medication management and telehealth, keeps care cohesive and convenient. Front-desk and coordination staff are lauded for their warmth and reliability, smoothing scheduling, access, and the administrative side enough to let patients focus on treatment.

Yet, the cons are neither rare nor trivial. A number of reviews flag recurring administrative and billing friction: charges misapplied, excessive form-filling, shifting systems, and repeated requests for information. Scheduling can feel burdensome, with some clients experiencing delays or confusion when trying to secure timely appointments. There is also a sense that certain clinical boundaries around medications are clearly stated as policy rather than as flexible patient-centered adjustments. Most pointedly, a highly vocal review questions leadership’s impact on patient experience, recounting a founder’s dismissive stance toward ADHD that left a patient feeling discouraged. Taken together, these threads signal a culture that values clinical standards and patient safety but occasionally trips over communication, system consistency, and image management.

The strongest clinical advantages can, in practice, outweigh the administrative headaches for many patients. When care relationships click, the combination of compassionate listening, targeted CBT-informed strategies, and proactive medication management translates into meaningful life improvements. The availability of virtual sessions expands access, making continuity possible even when life commitments or travel complicate in-person visits. The diverse provider pool allows patients to find clinicians whose therapeutic style resonates, which is critical for treating chronic or complex conditions. In short, the core medical and therapeutic value is high, and when supported by responsive staff, it creates a dependable path to better daily functioning and emotional resilience.

Nevertheless, families should have alternatives in mind if certain priorities are nonnegotiable. For those seeking addiction-specific programming, the reviews suggest this may not be the ideal fit. If a flawless, frictionless billing experience is non-negotiable, or if administrative predictability and rapid appointment access are paramount, other providers with stronger billing infrastructure and scheduling reliability may be preferable. If leadership history and institutional culture significantly color expectations for patient care, observe how the team maintains a patient-centered focus despite administrative ebbs and flows. The explicit policy limits around certain prescriptions, while clinically appropriate in many cases, also require clear, proactive communication so families aren’t blindsided by taper plans or medication adjustments.

Overall, Ponciana Ridge represents a disciplined, effective option for adults who want comprehensive therapy, dependable medication management, and a care team that demonstrates genuine commitment to patient well-being. The clearest proof comes from patient stories of transformation, reduced symptoms, newfound coping tools, and renewed confidence in daily life, supported by clinicians who listen, tailor, and teach. The main caveats are manageable with upfront diligence: anticipate some administrative misalignment, confirm billing practices before treatment, and verify you are aligned with the team’s approach to medication policy. For families prioritizing sustained mental-health gains and a real sense of partnership in care, this community offers a solid, pragmatic pathway forward. Start with a candid consult, secure a clear billing and scheduling plan, and insist on a clinician whose style matches the patient’s needs; done well, the result can be lasting improvements in mood, function, and everyday resilience.

This area of Nashville, Tennessee, offers convenient access to various healthcare facilities, including hospitals such as Metropolitan Nashville General Hospital and Saint Thomas Heart - Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital. There are also several reputable physicians' offices nearby, providing specialized care for seniors. In terms of recreation, there are numerous parks in close proximity, such as Centennial Park and Fannie Mae Dees Park, where residents can enjoy outdoor activities and relaxation. Additionally, there is a selection of pharmacies nearby for easy access to medication and healthcare supplies. Dining options range from fast food establishments like Chick-Fil-A to more upscale venues like The Row Kitchen & Pub. For leisure activities, there is the Belcourt Theatre for cultural entertainment. Overall, this area offers a mix of healthcare services, recreational opportunities, and dining options that cater to the needs and interests of seniors considering senior living in Nashville.

Hospitals

• Metropolitan Nashville General Hospital (0.7 miles)
• Saint Thomas Heart - Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital (1.3 miles)
• VA Hospital (2 miles)
• VUMC 9 South (2 miles)
• 8S Quiet Room (2 miles)
• Vanderbilt Rehabilitation Clinic, 3rd Floor (2 miles)
• Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation (3 miles)

Physicians

• Urology Associates (1 miles)
• Matthew P. Willis, MD (1.1 miles)
• TriStar Centennial Medical Center (1.2 miles)
• Otolaryngology Associates of Tennessee (1.2 miles)
• Allergy & Immunology (1.3 miles)
• Nashville Cardiology (1.3 miles)
• Saint Thomas Health Services (1.3 miles)

Parks

• Centennial Park (1.1 miles)
• Richland Park (1.7 miles)
• Fannie Mae Dees Park (2.1 miles)
• Music City Walk of Fame Park (2.4 miles)
• West Park (2.5 miles)
• Riverfront Park (2.5 miles)
• Fred Douglas Park (3.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (1.6 miles)
• Walgreens (1.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)

Restaurants

• Chick-Fil-A (1.5 miles)
• McDonald's (1.5 miles)
• Tribe (1.6 miles)
• Play Dance Bar (1.6 miles)
• The Row Kitchen & Pub (1.6 miles)
• Cook Out (1.6 miles)
• Hattie B's Hot Chicken (1.7 miles)

Cafes

• Parlor Doughnuts (1.6 miles)
• Frothy Monkey (1.7 miles)
• Starbucks (1.8 miles)
• Crema (2.8 miles)
• East Park Donuts & Coffee (3.3 miles)

Theaters

• Belcourt Theatre (2.3 miles)

Transportation

• Corporate Flight Management (3.6 miles)
• John C Tune Airport (JWN) (3.6 miles)