For Karlene Howie, MS, MAC, LPC, her journey to East Tennessee was a long-time premonition. Raised on a farm in Montana, she felt drawn toward the Volunteer State—a quiet certainty that she would one day call Tennessee home. In 2023, that vision became a reality when she brought her family to explore the region. The moment she stepped off the plane, the decision was sealed. Moved by the breathtaking natural beauty of the rolling hills and the warmth of the people, Howie moved her family here as she transitioned her professional life, securing her Tennessee licensure and opening Horizons Neurofeedback and Counseling, PLLC in the fall of 2024.
The practice, located in the heart of West Knoxville, is intentionally designed to feel both technically progressive and welcoming, balancing professionalism with comfort. It’s an environment where clinical expertise meets genuine human connection. Howie, a warm and empathetic clinician, operates the practice with the help of her “right hand,” Michelle Hambelton. As a mental health assistant and office manager, Hambelton is a vital partner in Howie's mission to provide a sanctuary for healing. "We work really well together and have similar goals. Michelle understands the heartbeat of what we’re building here,” Howie adds.
As a licensed mental health counselor, Howie has an extensive clinical background. However, her path took a transformative turn in 2018 when she integrated neurofeedback into her practice. The shift was sparked by both professional development and personal witness.
Neurofeedback is a gentle, non-invasive therapeutic technique that trains the brain to improve its own function by monitoring electrical activity—brainwaves—in real-time. By providing this immediate feedback, the brain learns to regulate itself more efficiently.
"It is a drug-free method of self-regulation," Howie explains. "We are essentially retraining the brain and calming the world down for our clients, one person at a time."
Howie speaks to witnessing positive results of neurofeedback treatment with Vietnam veterans who, after fifty years of debilitating night terrors, have finally found restful nights of sleep with the help of neurofeedback.
“I realized we were seeing change in a way that traditional therapy alone couldn’t always achieve,” Howie says.
It was a transformation that underscored the therapy’s potential. Within just three months, a family member who was struggling with significant anxiety found great relief. These experiences convinced her that the future of her practice lay in the intersection of traditional talk therapy and brain-based regulation.
The benefits of neurofeedback also extend to those navigating the physical and cognitive toll of medical treatments.
"We see people who are dealing with the residual effects of chemotherapy or radiation," Howie notes. "While neurofeedback does not treat the underlying illness, it can significantly reduce cognitive fog, improve focus and restore a sense of mental clarity. It’s a drug-free way to help the brain do what it’s designed to do,” Howie explains. “We’re helping it find balance again.”
At Horizons, where the philosophy is holistic and integrative, this innovative technique is not a replacement for traditional counseling but a complement to it. Sessions often integrate talk therapy with neurofeedback, allowing clients to process emotional experiences while simultaneously improving neurological regulation. Howie and Hambelton believe that mental health is inextricably linked to overall well-being—encompassing the physical, emotional, social and even financial facets of a client's life. Howie adds that this comprehensive approach is particularly beneficial for a wide range of conditions, including ADHD and ADD, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, seizure disorders, effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment and neurodivergent differences. The practice also serves children and adolescents in a private, supportive environment focused on long-term progress, improved daily functioning and well-being.
What Howie believes sets Horizons apart is the profound human connection. In an era of clinical detachment, Horizons offers a space where health professionals are committed to ensuring clients feel seen and heard. Clients are not treated as cases or conditions but as individuals with unique stories and goals. This perspective shapes every interaction, from initial consultation to ongoing care in personalized interventions designed to help clients live more complete, meaningful lives.
Howie adds, “We just meet people where they're at and love them where they're at and help them on their journey.
As mental health needs continue to evolve, Horizons Neurofeedback and Counseling is a beacon of innovation and compassion. By combining evidence-based brain training with the grounded support of traditional counseling, Howie is doing more than treating symptoms. She is helping restore balance, peace and clarity—touchstones of truly vibrant lives—to her neighbors in her beloved adopted state.
Horizons Neurofeedback and Counseling, PLLC
Karlene Howie, MS, MAC, LPC
Horizons Neurofeedback and Counseling specializes in a blend of traditional psychotherapy and advanced neurofeedback technology. Founded by Karlene Howie, a licensed counselor, the practice provides a noninvasive, drug-free option for individuals seeking support.
The clinic works with a wide range of conditions, including anxiety, ADHD, ADD, depression, sleep disorders and seizure disorders. Services also extend to clients experiencing cognitive challenges related to medical treatments, including chemotherapy-related brain fog, as well as those navigating neurodivergent differences.
Neurofeedback uses real-time monitoring of brainwave activity to help train the brain to function optimally—leading to improved focus, emotional stability, better sleep and overall well-being. Rather than relying solely on medication, Horizons emphasizes a balanced model of care that integrates clinical counseling with brain-based techniques. Each treatment plan is tailored to the individual.
The practice serves children, adolescents and adults in a private, supportive environment focused on long-term progress, improved daily functioning and sustainable well-being.
Horizons-NeuroFeedBack.com.