Hi!
My name is Emily Learing and I’m a mental health professional who is passionate about helping women and children to live a more enjoyable life.
I know that reaching out for counseling is hard and I applaud you for taking that first step. You know that it’s time to reach out for help, but you might worry about what to expect with counseling.
Does asking for help make me a bad wife? Mother?
If I’m looking for counseling for my kid, what does that say about me as a mother?
Since I can’t do it on my own, does that make me a failure?
What will she think of me when I tell her what I’ve been thinking? She’s going to think that I’m crazy for thinking or doing these things!
Will she judge the choices I’ve made in my career? My parenting? My marriage? Will she secretly sit at home judging all of the mistakes I’ve made in my life?
I know that you have these questions and fears, and I want you to know that I am here to help, not here to judge you, ridicule you and make you feel like a terrible person!
My goal as a counselor is to create a comfortable place for us to talk, either about your own life and its challenges, or about your child and your concerns for their behavior and their future. I don’t want therapy to be awkward or uncomfortable for you, and I definitely don’t want you to feel judged when you’re in my office.
When you’re in my office, you’ll be greeted with a smile and a hot cup of coffee (or another hot beverage of your choice). There will be no judgment. There will be no criticism. There will be no questioning what’s “wrong” with you. There will simply be a pleasant conversation focused on making changes to your life that will help you to lead a more balanced and happy life.
When you leave my office, it is my hope that you will feel like you just had coffee with a great friend and feel energized to go out into the world to make the changes necessary to lead the life you want to lead!