Meet Alumna Lizzie Harrigan

Owner of Bright Horse Counseling Shaped by University's Empathy and Community 

For alumna Lizzie Harrigan (‘09), the journey into social work and counseling began with a deep curiosity about human experiences and a desire to connect with people. 

“Ever since I can remember, people would open up to me — sometimes in the strangest of places," Harrigan said. "I always enjoyed these moments with people and their stories." 

Harrigan, who has owned and operated Bright Horse Counseling in Nashville since 2020, credits Belmont with playing a pivotal role in shaping her approach to social work and solidifying her commitment to the field. 

"Moments into my very first intro to social work class with Professor Julie Hunt, I fell in love with the values of our profession," Harrigan recalled. "I knew I was in the right place." 

Belmont's Christ-centered, student-focused community resonated deeply with Harrigan's personal and spiritual values. The University's emphasis on developing diverse leaders of purpose, character, wisdom and a transformational mindset left an indelible mark on her. 

"I consider myself extremely lucky and privileged to engage in a vocation that simply helps people," Harrigan said. "The profession and execution are by no means easy, but the premise is simple; serve others." 

Harrigan's professors modeled the qualities she now strives to embody at Bright Horse Counseling — dignity, sincere respect and unconditional positive regard, a technique that involves showing complete support and acceptance of psychotherapy clients. She aims to create a warm, supportive environment for her employees, mirroring the camaraderie she experienced as a Belmont student.

Since graduating from Belmont, Harrigan has applied her education across a diverse range of settings, including residential behavioral health centers, psychiatric hospitals, veterans clinics, nonprofit agencies, schools, jails, courts and state legislatures. Her varied experiences underscore the versatility of social work skills. 

"There is truly no limit to where and how we can apply our skills," Harrigan explains. "When I find myself in front of a large crowd or a notable stakeholder, I often think back to my education at Belmont and my professors. They prepared me for these moments and emboldened me to take my place on any stage where social work values could be demonstrated." 

For Harrigan, counseling is more than a job — it's a calling rooted in her belief that being relational can absolutely change the world. 

"The experience of working with people in some of their most tender and vulnerable moments is never lost on me," she explains. "It continues to amaze me. People continue to amaze me. And the tenacity and resilience of the human spirit continues to humble me." 

Fostering deep connections is critical as a counselor, so she has blunt advice for aspiring social workers: get counseling yourself.  

"We can only truly walk alongside others on paths we've traversed," she insists. "Not necessarily the same exact life experiences, but an understanding of the internal journey. Exploring our psyches, confronting biases — those are a counselor's most powerful tools." 

Harrigan also emphasizes the importance of nurturing your community of support.  

"So many of my Belmont peers remain in my network, both professionally and personally," she said. "Your professors and classmates will be the light you need on the darkest days. Don't lose that connection.”