Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Netherton.
Hi Emily, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story as a therapist started the way that many of ours do, which is that I myself went to therapy. When I was in 8th grade I was lucky enough to have parents who recognized that I could use more specific support, and I was fortunate that my parents had access to affording the expense of such services. Therapy helped me through a difficult time in my life, and after that experience, I have come back to it time and time again as a client to navigate changes in my life.
After my first experience in therapy, I knew I wanted to work in mental health in some capacity, and eventually stumbled more specifically on social work as the pathway that was right for me. One of the core values of social work is the importance of human relationships, and as a clinician, I would not be where I am today without the importance of the relationships I have made in the therapeutic community in Houston. We rely on each other, build each other up, provide feedback and support, and essentially continue to help one another navigate what it means to be a mental health care provider in the tumultuous world that we all live in today. The importance of human relationships is a value I was trained to hold close as a social worker, and a value I see the significance of day-to-day as a clinician with my clients. When we feel securely connected and attuned to even just one person the feats we are able to overcome as individuals never cease to be breathtaking.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the most difficult parts for any new therapist is getting the hang of the emotional roller coaster that comes with being a mental health clinician. To let yourself connect with a client is also to let yourself connect with the sadness, fear, or anger that they might be sitting with. It was challenging at first to connect in those heavy emotions without feeling overwhelmed by it in my day-to-day life. Most of my mentors emphasized the importance of work-life balance, but it wasn’t until my first few years of being a therapist that I finally understood the risk of not taking that seriously. They were trying to get me to understand that the burnout rate for mental health clinicians is incredibly high, and that I would need to work hard to find the right balance that allows for connection with clients without disconnecting from my own life. One of the fun ways I worked on creating more balance is by going to see stand-up comedy. I used to go fairly often when I was a new therapist. This was both a great way for me to get to know my new city, but also how it helped me shift out of the sadness I had spent hours connecting to that day and into joy within my own life. I still enjoy going to see stand-up comedy as often as I can, but I no longer need as much help actively creating that balance.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a licensed clinical social worker in private practice where I work as a psychotherapist. I specialize in psychodynamic psychotherapy, meaning that I believe that individuals need some support in understanding the many factors that contribute to emotions and behaviors. I am passionate about helping individuals of all ages struggling with a variety of challenging issues such as anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, pregnancy prenatal and postpartum issues, mood disorders, personality disorders, body image issues, grief, and general life stressors. I typically provide longer-term therapy for individuals who are looking to take a deep dive into further exploring who they are.
My main goal with clients is for them to feel connected to the work that they are doing. I am most proud of my ability to use my sense of humor in therapy. Yes, we all have heard that humor is a defense mechanism, but it is also a powerful means of connection between humans. I find it important for humor to become a shared language in sessions as a way of building rapport and feeling understood by one another.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
My favorite thing about Houston is our diversity. There is so much diversity of thought, behavior, religion, race, ethnicity, and of course who can forget food? What I like least about our city is how easy it can be to isolate here. There are so many different experiences you can have in Houston, but with how big this town is you have to make sure you are getting out of your comfort zone or those experiences will pass you by.
Pricing:
- $165 per individual session. Limited sliding scale slots offered based on availability
Contact Info:
- Email: info@emilynetherton.com
- Website: emilynetherton.com
- Other: https://psidirectory.com/listing/emily-netherton-lcsw.html
Image Credits
Emily Netherton
