Emily Berry (they/them)

Attachment Theory

I believe deeply in the power of human connection and how it shapes us. Our earliest significant relationships heavily influence how we learn to see ourselves and relate to others and the world. These dynamics evolve over our adult lives. It can be tremendously helpful to look at these histories and patterns to learn about ourselves and make change from a deeper place of self-understanding.

Feminist

When we reflect on our feelings and experiences, it is important to acknowledge the various systemic and societal influences at play. Over our lifetime, we naturally internalize messages from our culture that ultimately inform our beliefs about ourselves in the world. Feminist therapy focuses on understanding this in order to help us move beyond limiting beliefs and live a truly authentic life.

Existential

Many of us are on an ongoing journey to understand our life's meaning and purpose. We are all longing to feel a sense of self-worth/uniqueness, as well as a sense of belonging/connectedness in the world as we grow and change. With the right support and self-awareness, I believe we all have the capacity to live and expansive, meaningful life.

LGBTQ Issues

With a strong background in social justice and a personal connection to the LGBTQ community, I am dedicated to working with issues around LGBTQ identity development and navigating relationships and the world within this context. I am trans and non-binary affirming and dedicated to staying informed on the needs and struggles of the entire queer community.

PTSD

We are dynamic beings who are shaped by our experiences. I don't see mental health struggles as a sign that something is "broken" or "wrong," but rather an understandable reaction to one's experiences that we get to examine together. I use a framework of Interpersonal Biology to understand the impacts of trauma on our lives. Once we understand how experiences have impacted us, we can make more conscious decisions about what needs attention and healing, and what we want to focus on and change.

Loss or Grief

Grief/loss is a particularly special and delicate piece of the human experience and our understanding of mental health, as the process of grief/loss is universal, yet distinctly unique to each individual's felt experience. I believe grief plays a larger role in our mental health struggles than most of us realize. I use this framework to support clients in building self-compassion and self-understanding.

Anxiety

We all experience anxiety to some degree. Anxiety is a natural reaction to feeling unsafe or uncertain, and it often escalates when we aren't trusting ourselves in those fears. Sometimes we get trapped in a cycle of anxiety, and it feels impossible to break free. In therapy we work to make sense of the roots of your anxiety, as you learn to tolerate, manage, and alleviate some of that discomfort through finding a real sense of self-trust, wholeness, and clarity within your true self.

Gender Identity

I enjoy supporting trans and non-binary clients in their path of gender liberation–whatever that looks like. I am trained through Brave Space to write letters on behalf of trans clients for any medical interventions they might need. I have been (and continue to be) on my own personal gender journey.