Claire Emerick, LPC-MHSP

Thank you for visiting my site.  Drawing from about 17 years in the field, I have come to believe that counseling is an art and the therapeutic relationship holds space for growth and healing.  In my office you will find one of my favorite pieces of art: a collection of doors that I photographed when I backpacked through Europe many years ago.  I have always loved doors.  There is a mystery that lies behind them.  Open or closed, welcoming or guarded, weathered or newly painted, they offer a lovely metaphor for therapy.  Each door is different and each door holds a unique story.

By exploring our world, our situations and our relationships from different directions intentionally and specifically, we may have more options open to us than we realize.  We may discover that some doors once closed are now open.  Some doors long overgrown and hidden become revealed.  The human mind has an incredible capacity for growth and I consider it a privilege to explore and grow this capacity with all of my clients.

Author Louis Cozolino compares the role of the therapist to the three ghosts we meet in “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens.  Ebenezer Scrooge encounters the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future in this well know story of transformation.  Cozolino says, “Therapists strive to embody all three ghosts: We explore the past, test the realities of the present, and imagine possible futures. We take this journey with our clients, supporting and nurturing them while questioning assumptions and challenging defenses”.  I believe these words capture the core of the therapeutic process.

Here are a few therapeutic methods and foundations I utilize (but not limited to):

Interpersonal Neurobiology

This is not so much a treatment method, but rather a foundational way of thinking about the mind and relationships. Here is a video of Dr. Daniel Siegel explaining this field.

Lifespan Integration Therapy 

Find out more information here.

The Gottman Method

Dr.’s John and Julie Gottman have accomplished 40 years of research in their Love Lab in Seattle, WA. I utilize their research and the Sound Relationship House theory when working with couples either walking through a crisis or simply looking to grow their relationship in the areas of friendship, intimacy, and shared meaning. The Gottman institute has wonderful resources for all. You may visit and learn more here.

EMDR and Brainspotting

Brainspotting is a brain based treatment formed out of EMDR by therapist and author David Grand. I utilize brainspotting to treat trauma, toxic memories, anxiety, and other clinical issues. You may learn more here.