Meet Emily

I will encourage you to trust your gut, trust the process, and trust yourself in what you need. I firmly believe that therapy, like self-care, is not “one size fits all,” and you deserve to find your preferred methods of healing.

I will encourage you to explore and make mistakes. We will work together to develop techniques, skills and new ways of understanding obstacles as opportunities. Together we will work on building achievable, tangible and practical skills and celebrate successes in the journey of hope, health, and healing.

My goal as a LGBTQ+ queer-identified therapist is for my clients to have a safe, confidential space where they don’t have to explain or worry about their sexuality, style, or identity. They don’t have to worry about being misgendered and where you don’t have to “teach” your therapist about the community.

My goal as a trauma-informed Veterinary Social Worker, an ally for the humans that accompany animals, is to honor the tender and challenging feelings that arise as we companion these beautiful creatures through life, whether you are a veterinary professional, pet owner, or both.

Wherever you are in this moment, I listen carefully to your needs and help clients get unstuck by identifying areas of personal strengths. I lean towards a warm, compassionate style with radical empathy, yet also offer directness when welcomed. I welcome cursing, crying, laughing - all are encouraged.

• Veterinary & Animal Health Professionals | The veterinary profession is rewarding, yet can be extremely stressful. Compassion fatigue, moral injury, grief, and burnout can all be part of the equation for the working veterinary professional. I use my experience as a former veterinary professional and Veterinary Social Worker to help you thrive in your work, explore professional possibilities, or pivot if the time is right.

  
  

• Pet-Related Grief and Bereavement | The loss of a pet is one of the most profoundly painful experiences that any human can experience. Compounding this pain is the invalidation that many grieving pet owners experience as they navigate their loss. I accompany you every step of the way on your grief journey, honoring both you and your beloved animal companions.

  
  

• Addiction and Recovery | Addiction impacts every aspect of our lives, and the journey into recovery can often feel daunting, lonely, and painful. I support you through your recovery, and am informed in both abstinence-based and harm reduction recovery methods.

  
  

• Domestic Violence Survivors | Domestic violence survivors often face an uphill battle when rebuilding their life. I work with you to re-establish your personal power and the control that was taken from you, along with connecting you to resources for the road ahead.

All I ask of my clients is they show up. And together, we will do amazing work.

• Individual therapy for those who are age 18 or older

• Couples/partner/famiy therapy for those who are age 18 or older

• Emily is currently only providing tele-health appointments in the state of Connecticut. You can conveniently work with her from anywhere in the state. We do not currently have a timeline for when our practice will transition back to providing in-person services.

Connecticut

• Cigna/Evernorth

• Husky

• Aetna

• United/UMR

• Anthem (Superbill Provided)

During my graduate studies, I worked in addiction treatment for pregnant and parenting women and supported survivors of domestic violence with counseling and case management. Currently, I serve as a Veterinary Social Worker, providing short-term counseling, resources, and support groups for veterinary clients and staff. I held various roles in veterinary medicine for 16 years prior to entering the field of Social Work. These experiences have allowed me to be a part of people's life challenges and their healing journey in a heartfelt and meaningful way.

Emily has been featured in the following podcasts/interviews:

Social Workers, Rise! (episode 116)

Starlight Pet Talk (episode 3)

Licensure

• State of Connecticut | License Number: 6703

Trainings

• 2022 | Certified Trauma Professional

• 2022 | Animal-Related Grief and Bereavement (University of Tennesee Knoxville Veterinary Social Work Certificate Program)

• 2020 | Compassion Fatigue (University of Tennesee Knoxville Veterinary Social Work Certificate Program)

Education

• 2022 | Fairfield University | Masters in Social Work

• 2004 | University of Richmond | Bachelors in Arts

I live in Connecticut with my partner and our 18 year-old cat, Rowland. I enjoy being outdoors hiking and gardening, and love to practice yoga - indoors or outdoors! I love the smell of old books and visiting libraries, along with trying new restaurants with my loved ones. Coffee and pizza are my favorite foods!