Emily Mortensen (She/Her)

Loss affects us all in one way or another. I used to volunteer for Trauma Intervention Program which meant that I would go to the 'scene' and use emotional support/first aid to support people impacted by a death, fire, or other serious accident. I know that we don't 'move on' from grief, we move forward with it.

I wish I could provide the world with better understanding of addiction, because so many people that struggle with addiction are doing the best they can with what they have available to them. I have experience working in outpatient substance use settings, with court mandated clients, doing substance use assessment/evaluations, and providing group therapy such as Relapse Prevention.

Anxiety likes to make us think that we have to do everything all at once, perfectly, and right away. I'm here to challenge that, and create some space, some breathing, and maybe a few organizational tools to use along the way. It can be so hard to find meaning when there is can be so much on our plates.

I have a great love for Gestalt theory and so much of our issues have to do with unfinished business. If we can acknowledge and make space for the figures/issues that chafe us, we can do great work to find satisfaction in life. Gestalt theory is just fancy talk for opening up to the big picture, and is supportive of going down those rabbit holes, and tangents that feel important, even if we aren't exactly sure where we are going.

My Master's in Counseling Education had an Addictions Emphasis, and I have spent 4 years working in the substance use field. I have a great understanding for the disease concept of addiction, combatting shame, and tools to combat cravings/triggers.

I am neurodiversity affirming, and actually recently diagnosed with ADHD in the past year as an adult. So much of how we see the world is how we process and filter information. The way I see ADHD (but more importantly, neurodivergence) is the motivations around how our brains process things based on interest, deadlines, and connections. Fidgets and sensory supports are an important and integral part of my practice and present in almost every session.

Change is hard! Figuring out new ways of showing up when things are shifting beneath our feet is like trying to stay oriented on one of those airport moving walkways, but you can't see it, and it keeps changing directions and inclines at the same time. Or doing one of those team building activities where your partner has to guide you through a rock field while you are blind folded. It can be scary, disconcerting, frustrating, then sometimes (hopefully), satisfying. I'm here to do it with you.