Emma Stern (she/her/hers)

Somatic Therapy (Body Centered)

Somatic psychotherapy integrates body-based inquiry and mindfulness into traditional talk therapy. Much of our subconscious emotional experience manifests as physical tension and holding patterns. “Feelings” are literally physical manifestations of the brain and nervous system’s response to emotional stimuli. Through developing a cognitive understanding of the mind-body connection, we find manageable ways to face challenges and cultivate deeper compassion for ourselves and others.

Psychodynamic 

Psychodynamic therapy explores ways in which past patterns can manifest in one's present behaviors, actions, and responses to emotional material. It encourages clients to develop deep personal insight and understanding of the ways in which their personality and patterns have been shaped by life experience. This type of therapy works to bring unconscious material into conscious awareness so clients can understand ways in which their behaviors are beneficial and/or self-sabotaging.

Holistic

Holistic therapy honors each client's unique, complex, and multifaceted experience while also looking at the universal aspects of being human. This work combines mind-body integration and depth-oriented psychotherapy. Clients are encouraged to reflect on ways in which their presenting challenges show deep emotional, spiritual, and existential needs, longings, and desires. Clients are also encouraged to use their own inquiry to gain greater empathy and understanding of the human experience.

Feminist

Feminist therapy takes into account dynamics of marginalization and systematic oppression. In therapy, I ask clients to consider ways in which race, gender, sexual orientation, culture, age, socioeconomic status, and ability status impact their lived experience. As a therapist, I am committed to questioning power, privilege, and positionality. I encourage clients to look at how white supremacy, toxic masculinity, and late-stage capitalism can severely challenge mental health.

EMDR

EMDR is a body-based technique that uses bilateral stimulation to mimic the brain's state in REM. This process encourages the brain's innate ability to heal from trauma and distress and has been proven to hold the potential to change the way in which we emotionally respond to triggering material. As a therapist, I practice EMDR through tapping and bilateral eye movement. EMDR can be useful in treating post-traumatic stress, anxiety, phobias, low self-esteem, and self-limiting beliefs.

Anxiety

Anxiety is a mental and physical response to stress that can become overwhelming and all consuming. Anxiety often shows up physically as rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, chest and throat tension, or challenges feeling grounded or steady in one’s body. Mentally it can show up as spiraling and worst case scenario thought patterns, intrusive worries, or dread. Chronic anxiety can lead to stress, fear, avoidance, and limit one's quality of life and enjoyment.

Codependency

Codependency is very misunderstood in pop culture. Codependents are generally folks who grew up around challenging or dysfunctional relational dynamics and needed to prioritize others above themselves or walk on eggshells to avoid abuse or turbulence. This dynamic can lead to self-sacrifice, challenges around control and being controlled, people pleasing, and lack of boundaries. Codependency is common for folks who grew up around addiction or any form of abuse (especially narcissistic abuse).

PTSD

Trauma is anything that causes an intrusion upon our minds and bodies that physically and mentally overwhelms our nervous system and overrides our conscious ability to cope and process. Post-traumatic stress is a normal response to an intrusion upon one’s sense of peace and ability to cope. When working with trauma, I recognize the ways in which trauma impacts folks not as disorder, but as a survival response and mark of human resilience. I prioritize client safety and agency.

Loss or Grief

Our experiences around loss are some of the most significant and universal yet many of us find we do not have ways to memorize, share, and honor the endings in our life. When we process endings and share experiences of grief and loss, we give voice to what once felt unspeakable. In doing this, we open up a courageous and compassionate aspect of our humanity that will help us ultimately find greater peace, deeper wisdom, and tremendous empathy.

Compassion Fatigue

Compassion fatigue mirrors the symptoms of post-traumatic stress. It is common in teachers, social workers, health care workers, therapists, counselors, first responders, and other folks who support others dealing with traumatic circumstances. It is often linked with stress and burnout.