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About Me

Welcome. I'm Emma (she/her/hers). I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of California. I work exclusively via telehealth and provide trauma-informed, somatic based, psychotherapy to teens and adults who are present in the State of California. 

 

My passion is supporting neurodivergent folks and LGBTQIA+ folks in healing from trauma

I came to this work through my own healing journey.  As a queer teenager who was coming out and struggling with my mental health, I received support from a queer therapist and youth leader at a local LGBTQIA+ community center. This was my first experience with therapy and it had a profound impact on me.

I have always been different and have never really fit in. I was homeschooled and figured out that I was queer as a young teen. I have always been drawn to others who were different and many of the people that I love are neurodivergent. As a young adult exploring career options I dreamed of being an Occupational Therapist. Eventually this led me to where I am today, working with queer, neurodivergent folks, providing trauma-informed psychotherapy.  

I know first hand the impact that receiving support from someone with lived experience can have. I feel honored to be able to offer that support to the folks that I work with. 

 

I am a parent and partner. I have a wonderful senior kitty and a sweet rescue dog. I am an animal lover and vanagon enthusiast. I identify as part of a community of people who are "still COVIDing". I continue to take precautions such as masking indoors in public spaces in order to prioritize the health and safety of my family and others around me. I find myself most grounded when I am outdoors, spending time with my toddler, and connecting with animals. I find engaging in art, music, humor, and movement to be incredibly regulating and healing. I incorporate all of these elements into my therapeutic work. 

 

I know firsthand the benefits of somatic therapy and am excited to support you on your own healing journey. 

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My Practice Values

Photo of a smiling person wearing a pink and white shirt and large earrings. Background is blurred. 

My practice is kink and poly informed, neurodivergent affirming, LGBTQIA+ affirming, anti-racist, and anti-ableist.  

 

I am aware that I hold privilege as a white, middle-class, cis-woman in a position of power and authority and that the therapeutic relationship is inherently unbalanced. I am committed to dismantling white supremacy and addressing its presence in the therapeutic relationship.

 

I acknowledge that my practice takes place on the stolen land of the Ohlone people.

 

I offer sliding scale services to BIPOC, trans and disabled folks in need, to increase access to mental health services. If I am not able to meet your financial need I am happy to provide you with low-fee referrals. I also recently began accepting several insurances in order to increase access to care for folks. I am currently in network with Aetna, United Healthcare, and Optum. My sliding scale is between $70<$180 (full-fee). 

Image by Dan Meyers

Who I Work With

  • Teens and adults who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Support may include exploring gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, internalized homophobia/transphobia, issues around coming out and relationships/dating issues. 

 

  • Teens and adults who are struggling with symptoms of anxiety, depression, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Support may include processing stressors, exploring relational patterns, developing coping strategies and utilizing somatic experiencing techniques to increase nervous system regulation. 

 

  • Teens and adults who are neurodivergent. Many of the adults I work with are learning they are neurodivergent in adulthood. Areas of support that I offer may include reducing masking, exploring and embracing a neurodivergent identity, exploring internalized ableism and support with managing meltdowns. I also recently began providing autism assessments for existing clients utilizing the MIGDAS-2 and SRS-2. The assessment process is collaborative and your results will be incorporated into our therapeutic work together. 

 

  • Teens and adults who have experienced traumatic events such as car accidents, falls and other injuries. Support may include the use of somatic experiencing techniques to process trauma.

  • Folks who identify as part of the "Still-Coviding" community. Support may focus on the emotional toll that continuing to take precautions in a society that has largely "moved on" has on a person's mental health and interpersonal relationships. Other topics that we may discuss are navigating risk mitigation in interpersonal relationships and finding affirming community supports. 

  • Please note that I am not currently working with couples. 

Image by Alex Jackman
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