My philosophy is that every client that walks through my office door already possesses the answers to their problems. They just don’t know they do. I believe that counseling is a healing collaboration between counselor and client, where the client as the expert, and the counselor alongside the client, together evoke the emotional, psychological, and physical changes identified and desired by the client.
I earned both my undergraduate degree in psychology(2008) as well as my master’s in professional counseling(2011) from Georgia State University. I began my career working mainly with survivors of trauma. I believe that trauma is a part of life and began noticing a strong correlation between trauma, anxiety, and emotional eating and weight gain.
I work with weightloss in a unique way, by helping you get to the root of the issue. Whether its a childhood trauma or an unhealthy coping skill, together in collaboration with your body lets find the answer.

In my 14+ years of counseling, I have worked in recovery programs, with federal inmates, and in private practice. I have experience with individuals of all ages, couples, and families. I love working with teens and young adults but being on anyone's healing journey is an honor and privilege. Having been married for 28 years and having two adult daughters has given me life experience beyond the classroom that I use everyday in sessions. I build rapport and trust easily with clients earning the me the ability to walk alongside them and speak truth, challenge them when needed, and cheer them on towards living their best life. I use a trauma-informed approach and believe wholeheartedly that people can heal and live their life according to their values.

I have over 30 years experience teaching mindfulness, meditation and working in the Mental Health field. I feel a lot of compassion for those who struggle and specialize in working with religious trauma, PTSD, nightmares, disscciation, and depersonalization, excessive worries, anxiety and panic attacks. I never ask my clients to do something, i.e. use a method that I have not worked with myself. I strongly believe one must walk their talk and live in integrity to feel healthy. I have traveled and lived in many countries and I provide support for expats and people with intercultural adjustment difficulties related to the experience of living abroad.. My primary purpose for traveling in other countries was to study with various teachers about the nature of consciousness. I lived, for example, with a group of Indians studying indigenous medicine in the Amazon jungle of Columbia. I also traveled through India, Europe, Canada, Latin America, Mexico and Turkey studying the psychological teachings contained in the religious teachings, histories, sacred sites, and art of these cultures. I have studied and practiced Samatha and vipassana Meditation methods for over 30 years. I currently reside in Saigon, Vietnam.

Emily's passion for mental health began when she was just a child who saw how much counseling helped those in her family. Since then, her passion has only grown for helping others respond to life and its challenges. Emily believes in the importance of building a strong relationship with her clients, understanding how their identities impact their lives, and ensuring that she is always learning and growing as a person and counselor.

From her experiences in an on-campus clinic and a hospital support center, Emily has developed an approach to counseling that combines Cognitive- Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Person Centered Therapy. While everyone has different therapeutic needs, Emily tends to draw mostly from these approaches. Emily's professional interests include grief and loss, anxiety, body image concerns, stress management, and life transitions.