Dr. Frances Patterson
Dr. Frances Patterson received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science at Virginia Commonwealth University in the Alcohol and Drug Education Rehabilitation Program and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at California Southern University. In addition to being a level 2 licensed alcohol and drug abuse counselor in TN, she is a National Association of Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) certified Master addiction counselor and Qualified Substance Abuse Professional. She also holds a certification as a Doctoral Addictions Counselor with the National Association of Forensic Counselors. She is certified by the
State of TN as a Qualified Clinical Supervisor for Alcohol and Drug licensure. She has worked as a counselor and program administrator in treatment programs in Virginia and Tennessee for almost 35 years, providing clinical supervision for 25 of those years. She is the owner of Footprints Consulting Services, LLC in Nashville, TN. Dr. Patterson provides client education, program consultation, professional training, and clinical supervision. In addition, she currently works part-time at the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office where she supervises addiction counselors toward licensure, provides program staff training
and assists with program development.
Dr. Patterson has conducted professional training locally, statewide and nationally for over 28 years on a variety of topics in addictions, mental health and professional counseling issues. She has extensive experience as a trainer and is skilled in training development.
Dr. Patterson is the past chair of NAADAC’s clinical issues committee and a past ethics committee member. She served four years as SE Regional Vice President, is a member of the NAADAC Trainers Academy, and is a trainer for “Trainings by NAADAC.” She received the Middle TN Association of Alcohol and Drug Counselors (MTAADAC) Professional of the Year award in 2004 and the MTAADAC and TAADAC Lifetime Achievement Awards in 2005. Dr. Patterson received the Mel Schulstad award, NAADAC’s national Professional of the Year award in 2006.
For several years, Dr. Patterson has published articles in professional magazines and in 2020, completed her book “The Addiction Supervisor’s Toolbox”. In her spare time, she loves to play and have fun with her husband and family. She
enjoys her dogs, knitting, traveling, scuba diving, reading, and Scottish Highland Games and fantasy fairs.