Emily Long MSW, LCSW
Staff Therapist
Pronouns: she, her, hers
“There is no timestamp on trauma. There isn’t a formula that you can insert yourself into to get from horror to healed. Be patient. Take up space. Let your journey be the balm.”
– Dawn Serra
I am a clinician that will help clients work through their trauma as opposed to holding onto the idea that trauma is something to “get over”. Healing is not always linear and will not always feel comfortable- but I believe growth is found in the discomfort. A large part of my practice is holding space for that discomfort as you walk through it.
I have a wide range of experience working with diverse patient populations in a multitude of settings such as intensive outpatient, residential, and private practice. During my tenure in the field, I have enjoyed facilitating didactic process groups and providing individual therapy for adults, adolescents, and families. My clinical strength is treating disorders such as PTSD, eating disorders, substance abuse, depression/anxiety, borderline personality disorder and mood disorders, Additionally, I have an extensive background in expressive therapy, DBT, and psychodynamic theory.
I’ve had the pleasure of being able to experience practicing in multiple clinical settings. While in the residential, I provided individual and group psychotherapy to a socioeconomically diverse population of clients diagnosed with substance abuse. During my practicum, I was taught to help clients dealing with the limiting after-effects of trauma held in the body I learned to provide counseling services including body-centered psychotherapy, experiential art therapy, somatic experiencing and whole-person approach to healing.
In addition to my education and work experience, I personally love incorporating creativity into my practice by utilizing art as a therapeutic modality in trauma survivors. I believe my innovation and creativity have aided in my success as a skilled clinician, as I have an extensive background in creative art in both therapeutic settings and my personal life.
The hard-won victories in my own life have granted me the emotional fortitude and empathy I utilize in the therapeutic relationships with my clients. What drives me as a clinician is my passion, my ability to empathize with diverse populations and trauma-informed creative practices.
In my free time I enjoy creating mixed media art, reading bad horror fiction novels, and spending time with my dachshund, Ripley. I value creativity, authenticity, and curiosity, and I work to bring that into the therapeutic alliance. I cherish my work with clients and feel honored to embark on a healing journey alongside each one.
emily@empoweredconnectionscounseling.com
312-767-2057 x 34