Emory is trained in effective and proven therapeutic approaches such as cognitive-behavioral (CBT) and family systems theory. She has expanded her work with advanced training in Adlerian parenting skills and Narrative Therapy, which emphasizes working collaboratively with both young and older people, focusing on restoring their strengths, resources and goals. While her therapy is often short-term and cost effective, the results provide long-term satisfaction and improvement.

Therapy benefits children, adolescents, and adults who want to figure out better ways to deal with problematic situations and move towards a more satisfying life.  Her practice is evenly divided between adolescent and adult individuals, families with and without young children, and parent consultations.

Emory’s approach to therapy draws upon two complementary philosophies:

1. Adlerian Psychology

A family with two children consulted with Emory about the children’s fighting and bickering that made it difficult for the family to be home or go out together.  As they came to understand that the children’s fighting was also a form of cooperation, they were ready to find more useful and productive ways to cooperate, such as using family meetings to solve problems peacefully. Now this family enjoys being home together, relaxing without worrying about the next “explosion.”  The children even offered to “help solve the problem” when their parents disagreed about where to go on the next family vacation! Adlerian family therapy emphasizes the concepts of courage, equality, and trust within the family.  The goal of Adlerian family therapy is to enable each family member to find their own sense of belonging and value, within the context of the family and other social groups.

Emory uses her background in Adlerian psychology to coach parents on how to win their children’s respect and cooperation.  As an Adlerian Parent Educator with the Parent Encouragement Program (PEP) for over 18 years, Emory has taught hundreds of families how to team up as partners to solve problems, rather than allowing problems to come between them.

Parenting consultations often include discussions about:

  • What are the unique and shared characteristics of individual family members, and what role does each one take in the family?
  • How does the child typically misbehave or what types of problems do they typically face, and how do they usually respond to correction and/or assistance?
  • What can the parents do to encourage their child to get back on track, to function more successfully and cooperatively?

Follow this link to find out more about Adlerian psychology.

2. Narrative Therapy

An isolated and depressed young adult woman  “did not want to be angry all the time,” but she was afraid that she “wouldn’t know who I am if I’m not angry.”  In her conversations with Emory, she began to identify what would need to change to make it possible for this “dark cloud” to leave her life. Now she is rediscovering her sense of herself and her sense of purpose, as well as figuring out that “I can deal with anger” instead of letting “anger make the deals for me.”

Emory uses the respectful, non-judgmental Narrative Therapy approach that recognizes individuals as experts in their own lives with unique skills, beliefs, values, and abilities.  In narrative therapy, “the problem is the problem, not the person.”

Narrative Therapy conversations usually include questions about:

  • What is a clear description of the problem(s) and what is the name you give to this problem?
  • How does this problem create trouble and interfere with you?  How would you prefer to be living without the influence of this problem?
  • What skills and abilities do you have which have kept the problem from becoming larger than it is?
  • What are your own hopes and intentions for your life?
  • What needs to happen to make it possible for you to maintain these changes as you pursue long-term happiness and well-being?

You can click on this link to read more about Narrative Therapy.