Emily Schmidt

Is your child struggling with anxiety or emotional regulation? Is your teenager having difficulty navigating the many challenges associated with growing up? Or are you an adult seeking help in processing life transitions, trauma, or just coping with everyday life? No matter what stage of life, counseling can be healing and empowering. These are just a few of the many challenges I strive to help individuals cope with.

My approach to counseling is first and foremost, client-centered. I strive to foster relationships with my clients that are collaborative. This time and space is yours and I want to ensure the goals and topics covered in our sessions are aligned with what you hope to accomplish in counseling. I integrate several theories, but I mainly operate out of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, Play Therapy, and Expressive Therapies.

When working with children and adolescents, though I seek to treat the child as an individual, I work to  involve the parents as a part of the treatment process as well. I believe this is a crucial aspect to the child’s success in counseling and the health of the family as a whole. Play is a child’s main form of communication so much of our sessions will involve play therapy techniques that will help them express their emotions, learn to cope with these emotions, and also allow them to have fun!

Taking the first step into your counseling journey can be scary and intimidating. My goal is to walk alongside you and provide empathy, compassion, and acceptance. I work to ensure the counseling room is a safe space for you to express all emotions, process pain, and tap into self-discovery.

MORE ABOUT ME:

I grew up in Virginia but have also lived in Pennsylvania and Oklahoma. I just got married this summer and my husband and I recently moved to the area. One of my favorite hobbies is to travel, whether it’s exploring a new town just a car ride away or a new country by plane, it’s one of my favorite things to do with family and friends. My other passions include reading, cooking, and music.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

• Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health: Counseling from Liberty University
• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology: Counseling from Liberty University
• 1 year experience working on a psychiatric unit for children and adolescents
• Trained in TBRI (Trust-Based Relational Intervention) for children

SUPERVISED BY:

Katie Clark, LPC, NCC, RPT-S

CREDENTIALS:

Resident in Counseling

PRELICENSE:

VA 0704017202