Rooted in Psychology. Open to Possibility.
What happens after life turns itself upside down? This is the question that we are challenged to answer when what we fear the most happens. How you answer this question is unique to you.
What I’ve discovered, as a grief and trauma therapist, is that the human spirit - especially in its most vulnerable state - holds transformative wisdom. It has been, and continues to be, my sacred privilege to witness this firsthand.
Welcome. I’m Emily.
my story
There's a quote by Samuel Decker Thompson that really resonates with me: “We are all just a car crash, a diagnosis, an unexpected phone call, a newfound love, or a broken heart away from becoming a completely different person."
There have been times, like this, that changed me in ways that I could never have predicted. And while I’ve experienced difficulties and losses over the course of my life, there are two that challenged everything that I thought I knew (both personally and professionally) - my daughter’s brain injury and my son’s death. I was catapulted into a place beyond grief, in the midst of what St. John of the Cross described as the “dark night of the soul” - an intensely painful period of existential questioning and eventually a “letting go” of beliefs that no longer served me. What emerged out of the void was a greater appreciation for the complexity of the human experience, as well as an increased awareness of the limitations within the mental health field.
Today, I approach therapy more humbly and holistically. While I am still very grounded in science and evidence-based practices, I’ve come to appreciate clarity, connection, and healing that comes from many complementary intuitive wellness practices.
I would be honored (however brief) to accompany you on your unique journey through the matrix of life, as you create healing.
Emily Watson, MFT, EMDR-C, GC-C
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Holistic Trauma and Grief Therapist
Certified EMDR Therapist
Certified Grief Counselor
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Arizona LMFT-16428
California #109060
Nevada #4576R
New Mexico #CBT-2025-0623
Oregon #T3310
Texas #204032
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In addition the formal education and licensing requirements to become a licensed MFT, I have received additional training in systems theory:
Family Therapy (Bowenian, Adlerian, Structural, Emotionally-Focused)
Couple Therapy (Gottman, Emotionally Focused, Solution Focused)
My work, however, is not limited to couples and families. In fact, the majority of my clients come to me for individual therapy. Over the years, I added the following certifications and trainings to better accommodate the needs and personal preferences of my clients:
Certifications
Applied Behavior Analysis
Eye Movement and Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Grief Counseling
Trauma-Informed Therapy
Additional Trainings
Attachment-Based Therapy
Brainspotting
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Ego State | Parts Therapy
Energy Psychology
Jungian | Depth Psychology
Mindfulness
Narrative Therapy
Polyvagal Theory
The Right Fit
It can be challenging to find a therapist that’s the right fit for you. To help with your decision, I’m offering some information about how I approach therapy.
my approach to therapy
Instead of viewing mental health issues in isolation, a holistic approach considers how different aspects of a person’s life are interconnected. I prioritize understanding the values, beliefs, thoughts, and emotions that shape your lived experience. Depending on your personal preferences, we can blend different evidence-based therapeutic techniques to meet your needs.
If you are interested in Jungian | depth psychology, I’d love to talk to you about integrating this unique perspective - where what lies below the surface becomes a place for discovery and wholeness.
beyond symptom relief
Grief and post-traumatic stress disorder are very human experiences and are natural reactions to loss and trauma. The severity and intensity of our reactions can be influenced by many intersecting factors.
Rather than pathologizing these reactions as “symptoms” of an illness or disorder, I prefer a more humanistic approach. I believe that expanding our perspective, beyond the limiting construct of a purely medical | mechanistic model of mental health, allows us to connect with our own inner strength and resilience.
integration of complementary approaches
Emotional pain can be processed through a variety of creative, contemplative, and spiritual practices. And, I’ve found that deep grief and recovery from pervasive trauma may require more than traditional therapy alone. If you are interested, we can include complementary dimensions of healing that are personally relevant to you, including, but not limited to: prayer, breathwork, journaling, meditation, energy healing, chakra balancing, artistic expression, movement, mindfulness, sound healing, and more.
honoring all parts of you
As complex beings, we all have many aspects or parts of ourselves that hold different emotions, needs, or roles. Some parts of us may be loud and visible, while others live quietly in the background, waiting to be heard.
Emotions often hold alchemic wisdom; this is especially true of the emotions that we’ve learned to avoid, push down, project, or numb. We learn a tremendous amount about ourselves when we invite the hard emotions and forgotten parts of ourselves to be seen and understood. The paradox is that when we hold all parts of ourselves with compassion, we may discover overlooked strengths and capabilities, as well as more gratitude and joy.
guided by your internal wisdom
You’ve been through a lot and you’ve learned a lot. The knowledge that you’ve gained is foundational to the process of transformation. Your path is unique to you, as are your life lessons.
My goal is to help you reconnect to your inner voice in a space where resilience blooms and your internal wisdom shines brightly, illuminating the path ahead.