Phone: 804-372-7463
"Creating Positive Change One Individual At A Time"
Hi, I'm Emily!
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC). Since entering the mental health field, I have worked with individuals and groups across the lifespan and have particularly enjoyed working with young adults. I have always enjoyed being of service to others and am grateful to have found a profession that is so personally meaningful to me. Those who know me would describe me as kind, open-minded, and conscientious.
My priority as a clinician is to encourage development of trust and mutual respect with my clients. I believe a positive therapeutic relationship is a key component to one’s success in therapy, as it allows clients to feel safe in honestly expressing themselves. While I enjoy providing the tools and space for my clients to grow, I find purpose in helping each of my clients recognize and better utilize their own personal strengths.
Much of my training is in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), but I also enjoy exploration of attachment, systems, and psychodynamic concepts with my clients. I encourage regular feedback about my therapeutic style, as I want to adapt to best fit my clients’ preferences and needs. I specialize in treating mood and anxiety disorders, life transitions, grief, women’s issues, and relationship issues.
Counseling is a vocational change for me, as I originally intended to work in the environmental education field. I completed my Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Conservation at Juniata College and worked full-time as a zoo keeper and presenter at AZA-accredited zoos until 2018. While I loved the work, the lifestyle that went along with it led me to reconsider my longevity in the field. I began my Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Messiah University, where I completed field placements in private practice and college counseling settings. Following my graduation, I worked full-time for a community mental health agency in Pennsylvania, and later a partial hospitalization program after relocating to Virginia in the summer of 2021.
In my spare time, I enjoy the companionship of my pets, spending time outside, or trying a new restaurant with my husband. I also love activities that involve my imagination or creativity, including reading fiction, crafting, or DIY projects. I am currently trying to teach myself how to watercolor.
Education:
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Messiah University
Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Conservation
Juniata College
Works with: Young adults and adults
Clinical interests: Anxiety, Birth-related trauma, perinatal concerns, postpartum, personality disorders, trauma, substance abuse
Modalities: Attachment-based, Faith-based, Internal Family Systems, Psychodynamic, Mindfulness, Person-Centered, Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Self-pay: $100-$125
Insurance accepted: Aetna (commercial plans and Medicaid), Allegiance, Anthem Commercial & Medicaid, Evernorth (formerly known as Cigna), Highmark, Optima, Optum/United Healthcare, Oscar Health, UMR, Virginia Premier, and select EAPs
LPC License Number: 0701013002
CSAC License Number: 0710103817