General Therapy Questions

  • Trauma therapy is a specialized approach to mental health that helps individuals process and heal from the emotional, mental, and physical impacts of traumatic events, experiences, and/or memories.

    Trauma therapy is based on the belief that trauma is a universal human experience and that when we heal from our trauma, we can find new ways of being in the world.

  • There are several ways to tackle trauma and related issues in therapy, which we would discuss as a team. Therapy has no specific timeline, as every person’s nervous system and healing journey is beautifully unique, but I typically ask clients to work with me for eight sessions starting out. This gives us enough time to develop a therapeutic alliance (work together as a team), build skills, and reprocess memories. I typically suggest new clients meet with me on a weekly basis, but I also offer bi-weekly, monthly, or as-needed sessions.

  • Absolutely. The contents of therapy sessions is protected by law and by ethical considerations. You can review my privacy practices policy and my confidentiality policy.

  • As a social worker, I am a proud agent of change. What that means is I believe — and have experienced firsthand — that healing and change is accessible to everyone, right now, regardless of past experiences. It's normal to feel overwhelmed by your past and even disappointments in previous therapy attempts, leading to the thought that change isn't possible or that the healing ship has sailed for you. However, there is a lot of research about how change happens in human lives, and we can leverage that research in order to achieve the meaningful, lasting change you desire. Change doesn’t always look the way you think, and seeking therapy to help find your path is completely normal. If you feel “too broken” for therapy, I encourage you to give my process a try.

  • “Therapist” is a broad term that applies to a wide range of mental health professionals. Therapists typically hold master’s degrees and offer psychotherapy for various emotional and mental challenges. Therapists may use a variety of approaches and treat individuals, couples, and/or families.

    Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can prescribe and manage medications and offer diagnosis & treatment of severe mental illness.

    Psychologists are also doctors who study human behavior and mental processes. Psychologists often offer psychotherapy, psychological testing, and research.

    Counselors also hold master's degrees and help individuals tackle specific life challenges, often with a solution-focused approach.

    I am a trauma therapist in South Carolina.

Questions About Emily / One Stitch

  • I am a Licensed Independent Social Worker - Clinical Practice (LISW-CP). This means I have completed a master’s degree in social work, completed a 2-year process of clinical supervision, and passed an exam stating I am able to practice social work independently. I also have completed extensive trainings in the modalities I use.

    I have worked in trauma therapy since October 2020. I have also been knitting since October 2020.

  • This is always such an interesting question to answer because a) I am a huge nerd! and b) I am always interested in expanding my toolbox in the interest of finding things that best fit my client’s individual needs.

    If you want to know more about some of the therapies I offer, I created a handy therapy comparison chart.

    In short, I work with trauma-specific therapies like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) — both of which use eye movements to safely reprocess traumatic memory — in addition to a lot of other practices like Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). CPT and ACT are based on the belief that our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors all shape one another. IFS looks at how family roles are mirrored in ourselves, and if we can heal the conflict between those roles, amazing things can happen. DBT is based on the idea that acceptance and change are not opposing forces, but actually are both required for meaningful change.

    When desired, we have the unique option to integrate fiber arts or “grandma hobbies” such as knitting or crochet into our therapeutic treatment plan.

  • I typically work with individuals seeking help recovering from trauma. I serve people in the state of South Carolina.

  • I specialize in trauma recovery. That said, trauma can take a lot of different shapes and forms and create symptoms across a spectrum of experience, so I consider myself quite versatile. Many clients ask me if they are “allowed” to talk about something in session, and in general my answer is yes. We’ll figure out if and how it’s related to your trauma together.

  • I am a licensed therapist in Greenville, SC, but currently, I offer online telehealth sessions, which means I can offer therapy for anyone in South Carolina, with the added benefit of allowing you to do therapy from the privacy of your own home (or car, as long as you’re not driving). If that’s a dealbreaker for you, we do have some options, so I encourage you to get in touch with me to discuss further and let me know that you need in-person sessions. Read about my telehealth policy.

  • This is a great question. Here’s the reality: first sessions are uncomfortable! We’ll get through it together.

    I sometimes say that the first goal of my therapy is helping you get a feel for what it means to be my client. I aim to be communicative and move at your pace. In the first session, we might go over a lot of questions, which may range from demographic data (your name, address, date of birth, gender identity, race, etc.) to defining some of your specific therapeutic goals. For the most part, you are empowered to not answer any questions I ask.

  • I offer online telehealth therapy sessions, so you can have the benefit of healing in your own private space. I'm available most weekdays.

    I do not offer sessions on the weekends and have limited availability in the evenings. However, I am pretty flexible; contact me, let me know what your availability needs are, and we can discuss together.

  • I believe that the fiber arts (like knitting and crochet) can be healing and therapeutic in their own right. If you are interested, we can incorporate knitting and/or crochet instruction into your treatment plan at no extra cost. This gives us the option to integrate creativity and the process of making something into therapy, which I find to be a unique value proposition, as we will navigate challenges, fix problems, and literally create something together that represents your growth and healing in real-time. However, that is never required for therapy with me. If you are interested in the fiber arts as part of your treatment plan, be sure to let me know!

Questions About Logistics & Financials

  • My current rate is $130 for a 60-minute session. I don’t currently offer a sliding scale, but if that’s something you need, please contact me.

  • I am an out-of-network provider and do not accept insurance directly. However, I'm happy to discuss options and/or provide a superbill that you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.

  • I’d encourage you to check with your plan to see if out-of-network mental health services are covered. I can accept HSA payments.

  • I don’t currently offer a sliding scale, but if that’s something you need, please contact me and let me know so we can talk through options.

  • I have a 24-hour cancelation policy. If you cancel within the 24-hour window, you will be charged the full amount; additionally, no-shows are charged the full amount of the session cost.

    That said, I’m happy to work with scheduling changes, and you will also be able to reschedule your own appointment before the 24-hour window in my confidential client portal!

  • I accept the major credit cards (Visa, American Express, Discover, Mastercard), bank transfer, and HSA payments.

Client-Specific Questions

  • The “right therapist” is a question of fit. Just like when you try on a pair of jeans in the fitting room and they fit well, describing that fit can be challenging and depends on your own criteria (for example, how do you like your jeans to fit on your body?). The science says that up to 50 percent of your outcomes in therapy depend on the therapeutic alliance, or how well you work with your therapist as a teammate. So, I could have the best science and tools and methods in the world, but if you don’t learn to like and trust me, then half of our outcomes are already out the window.

    That said, I offer a free 15-minute consultation so you can get a feel for our fit. Contact me to set that up today!

  • No matter where you are in the process (active, prospective, or graduated client), I am always happy to provide you with a referral for a therapist who may be a better fit. This will never hurt my feelings! I want you to experience the healing you deserve, whether or not it’s facilitated by me.

  • No, but I am happy to discuss options for referrals to individuals who do prescribe medications, like a psychiatrist (when appropriate).

  • I am not a crisis counselor and do not have a 24-hour crisis response line. In a crisis or emergency, call 911, visit your local urgent care or emergency room, or contact the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call 988 or text TALK to 741741.

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