Emily OliverLCSW

I am a trauma survivor, and I believe this has helped me to be critical in how I provide care, as I know how it feels to be on the other side of the therapeutic relationship. It has driven me to be an empowerment-focused therapist, and one who values the client as the expert of their experience. It also causes me to be more in-tune with what it feels like to apply the tools and receive the treatments I am providing to my clients. This allows me to provide more insightful feedback, and to be able to understand on a deeper level some of the barriers my client might face during treatment. I also feel that it has driven me to push the limits of my knowledge and skills in order to help others more efficiently, and has led me to a level of familiarity with the tools I provide so that each treatment plan feels truly personalized and flexible.

I would describe my personality as warm and welcoming, vibrant and feisty, while also being someone who has a grounding presence. My personality feels like another therapeutic tool in some ways, because I feel that I am able to provide real feedback to my clients that might be difficult to hear, while maintaining the tone of non-judgmental acceptance and caring that is so important in the therapy space. I also think that it meshes well with my empowerment-focused approach to recovery; it is very helpful to be able to meet the client where they are at, and guide them into a place where it feels we are working toward a goal together, as a team. The feisty energy comes into play when we are acknowledging that there are parts of this recovery process that are HARD, and as survivors we can pull that into the recovery process as a strength and resource. Finally, I think my authentic and spunky side can allow us to use humor, sarcasm, and sass in the therapeutic space, which can feel supportive and in-line with the client's unique healing process.

I would love for those who are hesitant to try therapy to know that therapists are people, too! Many of us do this work because we have had life experiences that have driven us to want to help others, and I know that I see so much value and strength in my clients, even when they struggle to see that in themselves. There is beauty in the "roughness" of our human imperfections, and it's when we can really allow someone to see that "roughness" that the "magic" of the therapeutic relationship can really be seen. I recall moments in therapy when we have laughed together until our sides ached, when we have each let a few tears fall after an incredible break-through, when the relationship with a client was built stronger after a miscommunication and being able to work through it. Being truly seen and heard by another human who has no other agenda than to help you work on what you need help with, and who gives you their full attention and holds space for you emotionally, is such an awesome thing!

• New York, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, 091588

I specialize in trauma, anxiety, and stress management, particularly for women in all stages of life. When I began my career in social work, I already knew my path in this field would include helping trauma survivors. What I didn't know is that trauma can look like many different things, and can happen to anyone. Being a therapist who can skillfully treat trauma meant that I also needed to be competent in treating the many conditions that can present with trauma: depression, anxiety, grief, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, OCD, personality disorders... It overlapped with chronic medical issues, pregnancy and new parenthood, poverty, LGBTQIA+ and identity exploration, systemic oppression, and so many other things. I also needed to understand the barriers my patients were facing in getting the treatment they needed. This meant I needed to have diverse clinical experiences in order to help me be a versatile, compassionate clinician. Earlier in my career, I worked as a Mobile Therapist engaging with people in active addiction and new recovery in the field, then in a busy community behavioral health clinic with limited resources, and then working overnight shifts in a rural emergency room. These experiences were incredibly raw, and taught me about what it means to connect with people as a fellow human, in the messiest or scariest moments of their lives, and provide warm, competent care to an incredibly diverse range of patients and issues. Later, I spent several years working in an amazing long-term residential program through the Dept of Veterans Affairs., focusing on substance abuse, mental health, and homelessness. My work with veterans at the VA provided me with access to cutting-edge research and trainings in trauma treatment, and the opportunity to work alongside incredibly skilled clinicians. During my time there, I became certified in Cognitive Processing Therapy, one of the leading treatments for PTSD. I provided individual and group treatment using a variety of evidence based treatment approaches. While I loved my work with the Veterans, I recognized that my passions for social justice and working with populations without the access to quality care offered by the VA were calling me into private practice. I'm now working in my home community both physically and online, providing high-quality treatment specializing in the areas of trauma, stress, and anxiety, particularly for women. My work utilizes a multitude of treatment approaches pulled from diverse clinical experiences, and focuses on blending a cognitive (thought based) approach with work that is designed to heal the effects of trauma and stress in the body. These approaches include: CPT, somatic psychotherapy, EFT (tapping), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR), STAIR and Seeking Safety (for trauma), etc.