About Dr. Joseph M. Sharpe

Joseph M. Sharpe, MD is a board-certified psychiatrist who has practiced in Nashville, Tennessee for more than 20 years. He trained at Duke University and treats adults through psychotherapy and medication management at his private practice, Nashville Mind Matters.

In his own words

I graduated from the University of Tennessee, Memphis medical school in 1999 and then continued my training in psychiatry at Duke University, where I served as chief resident of the Duke Inpatient Service.

I am now an outpatient psychiatrist practicing in my own clinic. In addition to my private practice, I am the psychiatric medical director for St. Thomas West and Midtown, and the chief medical officer for Ascension St. Thomas Behavioral Health Hospital. I have been a private practicing psychiatrist in Nashville for over 20 years. I believe in treating people like I would want to be treated. I provide therapy and medication management for a wide range of problems including personality disorders, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, sleeping disorders, addiction, and attention deficit disorder.

Going to see a psychiatrist can be an anxiety-provoking experience. At our office, I provide a comfortable, non-threatening, non-judgmental, safe environment to explore the root of the symptoms causing problems. Everyone is unique and everyone deserves a treatment that is tailored specifically to them, whether through counseling, psychotherapy, supportive therapy, cognitive therapy, medications, or a combination of the above.

Medications are important but are not necessary in every case. When medications are indicated I prefer to use the lowest dose possible to treat the symptoms, but enough to be effective. Side effects are something that I would not want to experience and I do not expect my patients to endure them either. My long-term goal with everyone is symptom remission, with or without medication. I believe that through education, therapy, counseling, and sometimes medication everyone can return to their previous level of functioning and enjoy life again.

I am a board certified psychiatrist, a member of the American Psychiatric Association, and a member of the Tennessee Psychiatric Association. I am honored to have been voted Nashville’s top psychiatrist by Nashville Lifestyles magazine, 2014–present.

How the practice works

Every patient starts with an initial 60-minute evaluation where individual needs and treatment goals are established. Follow-up appointments are 30 or 45 minutes, depending on need and whether psychotherapy is included. With a signed release of information, Dr. Sharpe collaborates with your primary care provider or therapist so that treatment is seamless and complete. Read more on the services and policies pages.