My Approach
My approach is integrative and is rooted in the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model and in modalities based on mindfulness and self-compassion. These models are consistent with my Social Work values. They are non-pathologizing and start by respecting that every person has within themselves the resources and wisdom needed to heal and grow.
IFS understands the mind as a system of different parts or personalities in relationship to each other. Some have a protective role, and some hold our wounds. The focus of a therapy grounded in this model is in the relationship between your varied parts and your core Self. Everyone has within them a core Self that is undamaged and that knows how to heal. My primary expertise is in trusting and tapping into that potential.
The process also naturally cultivates self-compassion. Self-compassion is the foundation of so much positive transformation that is possible when we attend to our experience with kindness towards ourselves and an appreciation of our shared humanity. I bring my own practice of mindfulness and self-compassion to our work, and I will help you cultivate these capacities to amplify our efforts in support of your goals.
I also have a large toolkit of treatment models from my training and experience, and I am willing to do whatever is practical and necessary in order to relieve your suffering and help you achieve your goals. My approach is tailored to you and your needs, as well as your preferences. Our work is collaborative and based in an atmosphere of curiosity, warmth and openness to humor. The process is enjoyable even when challenging!
Testimonials
"I feel so fortunate to have found Emma and to have grown under the warmth of her care and guidance. She is patient, kind, attuned, and intentional. I have learned to show that same patience and kindness to myself as a result of her unwavering empathy. I have also been able to integrate difficult truths and self-understandings with increased gentleness that allows me to move through the world with less fear, and for that I am so grateful to her."
“Emma is an excellent therapist who positively changed my life significantly by helping me shift my mindset, examine my assumptions, and adjust my behaviors. As a result of my work with her, all of my relationships, personally and professionally, have dramatically improved. Most importantly, my relationship with myself is much improved, thanks to her focus on self-compassion and self-awareness. Emma is an excellent listener, asks thought-provoking questions, and uses personable and compassionate communication to build the trust necessary to grow in these critical ways. I am forever thankful to Emma for her talent and care.”
"I have enjoyed working with Emma and would highly recommend her as a therapist! She balances skills and coaching with deep internal exploration. Emma has helped me navigate graduate school, marriage, job transitions, and parent-hood, all while providing a safe space for a LGBTQ+ person in a chaotic world."
“With great warmth, sensitivity, and discernment, Emma has helped me identify and work with aspects of myself that have limited my ability to fully show up in the world. Through my work with her, I have developed more familiarity with parts of myself that have previously languished for years abandoned or overlooked. Our work has allowed me to create new possibilities in my relationships and in my day-to-day life that bring me a feeling of being more authentically myself, calm, and open, rather than caught up in what I imagine others expect of me and limited by my impulses and assumptions. I greatly appreciate Emma’s commitment to our work together, gentle and thoughtful attention, and deftness in helping me find my way through a variety of personal challenges and life transitions.”