Em Claire Withers

Professional Counselor Associate|Clinically Supervised

My path to therapy was a bit unconventional. I completed my undergraduate degree in English with a minor in art history, and I spent the subsequent years of my 20s and 30s living an artist lifestyle, bouncing between unsatisfying jobs in the service industry and beyond. My own struggles with mental instability, combined with the desire for a more meaningful career, led me to the profession. Knowing firsthand the pain of mental illness isn't a pre-requisite for becoming a therapist, but I find that it has imbued my practice with understanding, patience, and non-judgment.

I use an integrative approach, combining multiple modalities and techniques to create customized treatment plans. The philosophical backbone of my work lies in existential psychotherapy, which helps clients make sense of their lives and uncover meaning, explore their identities and step into greater authenticity, and face the unknown with courage and resilience. For concrete skills, I often draw from dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). DBT provides tools for symptom reduction within 4 modules: emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness.

"Psychotherapist" may conjure up images of the dispassionate, blank-faced professionals you see on TV. That's not my vibe. I have been told that I "act like a normal person" (complimentary) in sessions (which is funny because I consider myself a big weirdo!) While therapy is its own distinct relational form, I believe that it ought to feel conversational, warm, and connected. We'll talk about the deep and tough stuff-- traumas, failures, grief, fear, sorrow-- but we'll balance it with joy, celebration of successes, humor, and even fun. I foster an egalitarian and collaborative dynamic, where we'll work together to find what works for you.