Hi, I’m Emily and I am so glad that you took the biggest leap in the counseling process by recognizing that you need support and reaching out for help. While therapy can be a scary process, it also can be one of the most freeing and rewarding experiences of your life, giving you the ability to be the person you always dreamed of becoming. My background in mental health counseling started at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY. In May 2011, I graduated with a Master of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling. Following graduation, I began working as a primary therapist in an outpatient mental health clinic. In 2014 I officially became a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the State of New York. While working in an outpatient setting, I worked with men, women and teenagers suffering from a variety of mental health illness including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. After a year of working there, I was asked to conduct a group for individuals suffering from co-occuring disorders. Since then, a great deal of my focus has been on treating individuals who suffer from both mental health and substance use disorders. In February 2015, I joined the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) and accepted a position providing mental health and substance abuse treatment services to incarcerated individuals. After almost six years of working with this population, I have gained a great understanding of the role that trauma and abuse plays in a person’s life, specifically surrounding issues of abandonment, trust, guilt and shame, family dynamics and parenting. My philosophy on therapy is pretty simple. Whether my patients are in society or behind bars, I always tell those I’m working with that as a therapist I’m not in the business of telling you what to do or how you should do it. It my belief that every human has the answers that they seek deep within themselves. My job is simply to give you a safe space to help you navigate and uncover the solutions to problems or answers to questions that you subconsciously already have the answers to. After all, nobody knows you better than you! Together, we will process the areas that you need support in as well identify strengths and appropriate coping skills to build up your ability to deal with life on life’s terms instead of resorting to old, negative coping skills that no longer serve a purpose in your life. While this can be an overwhelming process with feelings of extreme vulnerability, it is only during those times of feeling uncomfortable where true growth is able to take place. I am looking forward to joining you on your new journey of self-discovery!