Welcome! My goal as a mental health counselor is to create a space where we can connect in a genuine way, to identify and overcome obstacles that are creating conflict and distress in your life.

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We all have our own life stories, strengths, and obstacles. ​I view therapy through a systemic lens, considering how your family, social circles, and societal influences have shaped your worldview and belief system. I do a lot of work deconstructing beliefs we learn from a culture that tends to shame people who do not fit into the mold of who they’re told they have to be. We are so much more than a limited definition of what ‘success’ looks like, and more than how ‘productive’ we can be within the functions of capitalism and American culture.

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We are living through challenging times. Minnesota has been hit hard by ICE and Operation Metro Surge. We’ve been undergoing collective trauma caused by systems of oppression, climate crises, and economic strain. It can feel impossible to make an impact. I am deeply committed to working with folks who are processing how they and their communities are being impacted by the world we live in. I continually strive to be an antiracist, LGBTQIA+ supporting, and multiculturally competent provider.

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My Approach to Therapy:

​I use a person-centered, strengths-based approach. When we begin the intake process, we will dive into your life story, what is troubling you today, and where you find sources of strength and hope. My goal is to ensure that my clients understand what we are doing in therapy to reach your goals, and why we are doing it. 

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To  build resilience, flexibility, insight, and self-compassion, I integrate skills from multiple counseling frameworks, including:

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

• Internal Family Systems (IFS)

• Cognitive-based (CBT) approaches 

• Humanistic and existential theories

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My approach also focuses on empowering my clients to have choice and agency in the therapeutic process. I want my clients to feel like they can say no, and that they are focusing on the goals that they have personally, not just what they feel they ‘should’ do. 

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Areas of Interest:

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): I have received training in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for clients with PTSD. This approach considers how trauma has changed the way you view yourself, others, and the world. If you have a PTSD diagnosis or are wondering if you might, we can explore whether this approach is the right fit for you.

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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): OCD is a common disorder that is also underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Several studies reveal that it often takes an average of 17 years to get diagnosed after first experiencing the onset of symptoms. Discussing OCD with other people can be distressing, as OCD often presents itself in intrusive thoughts or urges that can be difficult to share out of fear of judgment or rejection. 

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I have received training in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD, along with other treatment approaches for clinical perfectionism and obsessional doubt (the never-ending ‘what if?’ questions). If you are experiencing intrusive and unwanted thoughts - such as fear of contamination, harming yourself or others, needing things to be perfect or ‘just right,’ or fear religious or moral punishment - I provide an in-depth assessment and actionable tools to help you manage symptoms, decrease distress, and live a more present-moment life with less shame and fear. 

Outside the Office:

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I show up in each session as a fellow human being; with my own life stories, struggles, and sense of purpose. In my free time, I enjoy reading, writing fantasy novels, gardening, engaging in community activism, meditating, creating art, spending way too much time playing Baldur’s Gate 3 and other RPG video games, connecting with friends, and spending time in nature. I value love, community, justice, nature, learning, compassion, and adventure. I find a sense of purpose in trying to live by my values, develop self-compassion, and cultivate community in my personal and professional life. 

If you are interested in setting up an intake session or a free 15-minute consultation, please feel free to reach out via this website, email, text, or Simple Practice!

 

Note: Emily operates independently and is not employed by the Authentic Roots group.