Meet Emily
(she/her)
Growing up, everyone always remarked on what a “good listener” I was and as early as middle school, friends suggested that I would make a great therapist someday. However, being the skeptic that I am, I resisted psychology and tried to dive into any other subject possible. In college, I took geology, sociology, and even art history classes in hopes of finding a different discipline. However, as soon as I started my “Introduction to Psychology” course, I was hooked. I completed my degree in Psychology as well a minor in Sociology, enjoying the ability to understand the individual in front of me while still situating them in their social context and examining the systems at work surrounding them.
Leaving college, I found myself grasping at straws for some sort of plan. Since my skepticism seemed to lend itself well to research, I started working at Stanford University’s School of Medicine, and had the honor to work on projects investigating multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s Disease, stroke, and chronic pain. This research experience introduced me to the strength of interdisciplinary care. However, I often felt disconnected from the individual patients and how these projects, and their chronic conditions, would impact their lives.
After my time at Stanford, I knew I wanted to work more directly with individuals and hoped to somehow provide some relief to the issues plaguing our healthcare systems that I witnessed during my time in academic medical settings. Thus, I received my certification as a yoga teacher and simultaneously became a certified birth doula. As a birth doula, I was able to address individuals’ maternal health needs in the moment. I helped to ensure that the birthing person had an experience that was supportive and empowering, even when things did not go “according to plan”. During this time, I also saw first-hand the gaps in our healthcare systems and witnessed how individuals could quickly slip through and suffer. This ultimately motivated me to pursue a Master’s in Public Health as well as my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.
In the field of public health, there is a common parable to illustrate the power of primary prevention. Although there are many versions of this story, one of the versions goes like this:
“Imagine a large river with a high waterfall. At the bottom of this waterfall hundreds of people are working frantically trying to save those who have fallen into the river and have fallen down the waterfall, many of them drowning. As the people along the shore are trying to rescue as many as possible one individual looks up and sees a seemingly never-ending stream of people falling down the waterfall and begins to run upstream. One of other rescuers hollers, “Where are you going? There are so many people that need help here.” To which the person replies, “I’m going upstream to find out why so many people are falling into the river.”
As a therapist, I hope to walk upstream with my clients to better understand the root cause of their challenges. As someone interested in understanding not only the individual, but also the systems at play, I try to embrace the pluralism of life, acknowledging that we are all complex and have many facets. As someone who has seen how messy life can be, my hope is that our relationship in the therapy room can lead to further understanding, joy, and healing. I want to walk alongside you as we work towards you thriving amongst life’s challenges and complications.
Areas I Can Support You In
Pregnancy and Postpartum Concerns Couples & Premarital Therapy Birth Trauma Chronic Health Concerns Anxiety Depression Life Transitions
Licenses and Certifications
Level One Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy
Education
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) in process - University of Denver Graduate School of Professional Psychology
Master of Public Health (MPH) - University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (BA) - Occidental College