Somatic Therapists in Bethesda, MD

I have been helping individuals and couples transform their lives for over 25 years. My work is holistic. We target the root causes of your distress rather than skimming the surface level of symptoms. Only when root causes are addressed can symptoms dissolve. We dive deeply into the core issues that are keeping you stuck, disconnected and dissatisfied in your life and relationships. The process is efficient, effective, respectful, safe and profound. My ideal clients are people who are passionate about healing and releasing patterns that no longer serve them.

As a first generation Latina, I have learned the importance of understanding the ways in which a person’s different identities intersect and shape their life experiences. As a therapist, my belief is that you are the expert on your life experience, and we, as therapists, are not saviors but guides to help you reach your vision for healing and your highest Self. I am a culturally affirming therapist that shows up in every session with authenticity. I have had the honor of working with people of varying cultures, legal statuses, ethnicities, educational backgrounds, and socioeconomic statuses.

I believe in clients' innate ability to heal and grow, and in helping them to tap into their inner wisdom and resources. I have worked creatively, effectively and empathically with couples and individuals struggling with relationship difficulties, painful childhood and life experiences, personal and work stress, anxiety and depression, and social isolation. I have helped clients with complex needs in a variety of settings, including inpatient psychiatry, LGBT-friendly mental health services, university student counseling, and family services. I feel passionate about my work and view therapy as a collaborative, interactive process.

MINDFULNESS-BASED SOMATIC PSYCHOTHERAPY & INTERNAL FAMILY SYSTEMS: "What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." [Ralph Waldo Emerson]. All that you seek already lies within you. It is my great pleasure to assist you in opening up to your wholeness. Whether you are struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, relationship issues, chronic illness, pain, feeling stuck, existential/spiritual issues or simply seeking what you have been missing or what calls you, I am here to help you find the freedom, peace, love and joy you desire. I DO NOT PRESCRIBE NOR MANAGE MEDICATIONS.

It is brave to choose how you want to craft your life. Many people are struggling through big life transitions, are unhappy in their relationships, or they want to move past anxiety and depression. Therapy is a place to understand what is happening now, and how to create something different and better to feel more satisfied. If this is you, I offer a space to look at and understand what is happening in your life, and how you can regain a sense of agency to create what you want. I am warm and engaging, and together we find patterns in your life that keep showing up and getting in your way. We look at how to cultivate what you want.

Emilie is a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family therapist (LCMFT) and an AASECT (American Association for Sex Therapy) certified Sex Therapist. Emilie’s expertise is in working with couples and families to improve their relationships and build more meaningful and more resilient bonds with each other. She has experience working with families with a wide range of challenges. Emilie specializes in working with couples on relationship and sexual issues, including general communication issues, conflicts around parenting, sexual desire differences or the impact of an affair.

I work with individuals and couples who are struggling with worries, sadness, relationship difficulties, or feel "stuck" in some way. My primary focus areas are anxiety, depression, ADHD and trauma, using a combination of cognitive behavioral and integrative practices. I draw from modalities such as Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Somatic Experiencing. This integrative approach to mental health allows me to tailor the experience to your unique needs.

In my years of working with diverse populations, I've learned what we all have in common is difficulty at times with the human experience. Whether it's a mood disorder or debilitating anxiety or addiction, we suffer and need help at these times. From identity issues to discomfort in one's own skin, we know when we're not living fully. Our innate resilience and joy become buried under layers of defenses, but they're still there. Let's uncover them together.

We overcome difficulties, adjust to changes, and manage difficult emotions best when we do not have to go at it alone. I offer a supportive partnership to help you identify your goals and build capacity to experience joy, compassionate self regard, and healthy rewarding relationships. I have over 35 years of experience helping children, couples, adults, and parents who may be feeling stuck, alone, sad, anxious, or unable to find the forward motion to reach goals for well being. Together we can create a safe space to address difficult emotions, and identify resources and habits that support resiliency and wellness.

I help individuals, couples and families reconnect with and draw strength from the goodness in themselves as they cultivate positive behaviors and new perspectives on life. I specialize in untangling the patterns that cause us harm, including avoidance, addiction, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic suffering, self harm, suicidal ideation, and low self esteem. I help couples and families find more wholesome and supportive ways to connect and care for each other.

Whether you are brand new to therapy or looking for a change, you want someone you can trust to support your mental health needs. I have worked with individuals of all ages facing a variety of challenges, including eating disorders, mood and anxiety disorders, ADHD, trauma, crisis and suicidality, and co-occurring disorders.

WELCOME to your Therapeutic HOLISTIC WELLNESS ENRICHMENT CENTER. Do you want to learn to go with the flow DAILY, live in the here and now, and manage uncertainty? As an experienced Holistic Integrative Psychotherapist, Spiritual Coach I specialize in helping individuals gain insight and mind/body & spiritual strength. While we can't change difficult situations of the past, we can collaborate to help you accept feelings, let go of mind/body connections to stress, trauma, and burning out. Our body CERTAINLY hears what our mind says!! By using healing techniques, you can let go of feelings and triggers by their roots to become unstuck.

Are you longing for vitality, a sense of choice or self-love/confidence in your life? Are you looking for authenticity, courageous conversations, resonance or deep trust repair in your relationship/s? Are you hoping to find how to live a meaningful and impactful life? I support authentic, compassionate and empowered relating to yourself and others with courageous journeying opening your full expression, connection and power for change. My clients are individuals, partners, co-parents, educators, caregivers or leaders, teams or groups who want to achieve greater trust, connection, resonance, collaboration and systemic resilience.

I work with high achieving women and entrepreneurs who "have it all" and still struggle to feel happy, content, or unafraid. You have worked hard to build the life you want, but continue to experience feelings of anxiety, depression, and imposter syndrome. You want your relationships to be more fulfilling, your relationship with food and body to be at peace, and to experience authentic self-confidence. You may have had therapy in the past that was frustrating or disappointing. My style and skill-set is a combination of coaching for personal effectiveness and deep somatic /attachment healing interventions for inner transformation.

The human ability to change and grow is boundless. I customize treatment to each client's individual needs. I believe in using evidence based practices and I am always interested in expanding my knowledge base. Somatic experiencing and EMDR are excellent for seeing results. I have studied and worked with issues pertaining to traumatic stress for over ten years. I am particularly interested in the mind body connection and coping strategies to optimize functioning. I am comfortable treating a wide variety of presenting problems and working with a diverse client population. A warm, nurturing, creative environment is important to me.

We all have our struggles. Maybe you're struggling with depression or anxiety, or anger outbursts or procrastination. Other emotional and physical challenges include feeling overwhelmed, feeling numb, isolating, workaholism, chronic pain. I don't want you to suffer from them anymore. It's important to remember, relief is possible. You can build a better relationship with yourself and others and lead more of the life you see for yourself, or discover more of what you want out of life.