Emily Collins, LCSW

I believe in the healing power of connection and relationship. I create a warm, nonjudgmental, and comfortable atmosphere where clients can feel safe examining and talking about all aspects of themselves.

I have been working in mental health for over 20 years. I got my start working with youth in foster care, a population that taught me the lasting impact of early life experiences. Over the years, I have worked in various mental health settings; throughout all of my experiences, what remained consistent were the importance of the therapeutic relationship, the need for all of us to feel seen and heard, and the value of positive connection with others. Because of my background in foster care, I have extensive training in the areas of attachment and trauma. I also have considerable training in how the brain and nervous system develop in response to the environment and how we can begin to shift that development when it isn’t serving us well. My style is relatively unstructured and involves helping clients gain insight and better understand themselves. Together, we will identify patterns in your life, find the meaning behind whatever symptoms you are experiencing, and bring awareness to underlying thoughts and feelings. That awareness allows you to begin making changes rather than staying stuck in the same old unconscious patterns. While I specialize in working with families formed through adoption, these same skills and knowledge can help anyone, adopted or not, who is suffering from depression, anxiety, relationship problems, difficulty adjusting to new life circumstances, or trauma.