Hi, I’m Emily, She/Her
I'm a Limited License Psychologist (LLP), trauma therapist, and Brainspotting consultant with over 15 years of clinical experience, and someone who takes the people I work with seriously and holds them with care.
I am currently practicing under the clinical supervision of:
Dr. Ann Emilie-Clare Smith, Psy.D., LP.
I know this territory from the inside out.
Not just because I've sat with hundreds of clients navigating these exact struggles, but because I've navigated these same systems and patterns, too. My own healing work is woven into everything I do, and it's shaped how I show up in the room.
I understand, from the inside:
The frustration of investing real time and money in therapy and still finding yourself stuck in the same patterns, no matter how hard you try or how much insight you have.
The way anxiety lives in your body: the racing heart, the frozen feeling, the sense that even when you want to do something differently, your nervous system has other plans.
The painful self-blame that comes from knowing what you "should" do and not being able to actually do it.
The constant internal battle between who you think you're supposed to be and who you actually are underneath all of it.
The longing to let go of that and become more fully yourself.
I have a particular soft spot for fellow therapists and helpers who find themselves here — and a good deal of experience working with them too. Giving so much to others while quietly carrying your own weight is its own particular kind of exhaustion, and you deserve the same depth of care you offer everyone else.
As the work unfolds, something quietly but powerfully shifts.
The white-knuckling through life begins to ease. You stop fighting your nervous system and learn how to listen to and work with it, and that changes everything. Patterns that felt permanent begin to loosen, including the ones you inherited, the generational and systemic weight that was never really yours to carry. You start to notice real choices where there used to be only reactions. Your inner bully shifts to being your gentle, wise guide. What's left is something quieter and more solid: the ability to actually trust yourself again. This is what opens up when you finally have the space, the safety, and someone beside you who knows the way.
What you can expect in therapy with me:
A Place to be Real and Heal
Therapy with me is a soft place to land. You don't have to perform, manage how you come across, or hold anything together here. And you don't have to trust me right away, that gets to unfold at your own pace. This is a space where, over time, you can be exactly who you are, messy, complicated, real, and feel genuinely seen and understood while you heal.
Stuck, not Broken
You're not broken, and you're not stuck forever, even if it feels that way right now. What you're carrying is a normal response to abnormal circumstances: the systemic forces of colonialism, patriarchy, capitalism, and misogyny; parents who were under-resourced or harmful, sometimes without knowing it; communities and structures that failed to hold you the way you needed and deserved.
None of that is a character flaw. It's a human being doing their best inside systems that were never designed to support them.
I understand the neurophysiology of trauma and how to deeply attune to and work with your nervous system. That means we're not just talking about your patterns; we're working with the part of you where they actually live. There is a way through.
The Whole of You
I don't just see the issue that brought you in. I see your relationships, your history, your body, your context, all of it. My approach is holistic by design, because real transformation doesn't happen in a silo. I'll bring deep compassion to every part of this work, and I'll be with you along the way.
Humanism & Humility
I show up to this work with a deep commitment to affirmation, dignity, and inclusion across all of the many spectrums of human experience. I'm actively engaged in the ongoing work of anti-racism, decolonization, and examining the power dynamics that can show up in the therapy room. I believe in lifelong learning and unlearning, and I hold that commitment seriously.
That includes being open to feedback from you. If something I say or do lands wrong, if I've caused harm, missed something, or misused my power in some way, I want to know. Rupture and repair is real work, and I'll do my part. I'm not perfect, and I'm not trying to be. I'm just trying to stay honest, stay humble, and keep showing up.
Education and Training
With over 15 years of clinical experience, my training is grounded in deepening work in trauma, the nervous system, and somatic healing.
I hold a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from the Michigan School of Psychology (2011) and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Oakland University (2010). I am a Limited Licensed Psychologist in the State of Michigan.
I first got trained in Brainspotting in the beginning of 2016. I have been a certified Brainspotting practitioner since 2018 and a certified Brainspotting consultant since 2021, a designation that reflects advanced, specialized training and a commitment to supporting other clinicians in developing their Brainspotting skills and practice.
In 2023 I completed a certificate in Somatic Embodiment and Regulation Strategies with Linda Thai, whose deeply humanistic and decolonized approach to the body and nervous system aligns closely with my own.
Beyond The Therapy Room
Outside of work, I'm a lifelong learner who genuinely loves what I do, which means a lot of my downtime involves audiobooks and podcasts at the intersection of trauma, the nervous system, science, and spirituality. Lately I've been enjoying Mayim Bialik's The Breakdown for exactly that reason.
I'm also an animal lover and fosterer. My dog Jennie came into my life as a foster in 2019 and never left, a decision I've never once regretted. I share my home with her and a couple of cats, and continue to foster animals in need. I'm passionate about positive reinforcement and fear-free animal handling; honestly, the parallels to trauma-informed care are impossible to ignore.
In the warmer months, you can find me in my garden. I've built out nine raised beds over the years and love growing organic vegetables, herbs, fruits, and flowers. It's one of my favorite ways to slow down and get grounded. Literally.
