Emily Raphel
LCSW, 20 years of experience
About me
Professional -> I am a clinical social worker with 20 years of mixed elementary and middle school Child Study Team experience which includes work with kids/tweens/teens with learning disabilities and/or emotional (predominately anxiety, anger, self-esteem)-social (mild autism spectrum disorder)-behavioral (covers a wide range!) needs, parent support/training. Personal -> I am a married mom of two, and we are a dog family (dogs for the win! - although we also have a hamster, a lizard, and two degus). I love a traditional board or card game (Uno, Connect 4, Scrabble, Othello are my top!) and I always find a way to use humor to my work - - Dad jokes get me rolling.
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In our first session, we will get to know each other a bit (me knowing about you is just as important as you knowing about me!), work out some of what you wish to accomplish, and discuss some ways that your goal can be achieved.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
1) Working with kids means including parents in the conversation, the plans, and the progress. I prefer to use all my session time with your child, then set up a different time to check in. 45-50 mins fly by so quickly! 2) Videos, workbooks, talking, and role playing are most of what the kids/teens I work with have responded to. I make sure that kids know they are not alone, and make everything we talk about relevant to their life, their understanding, and their motivation.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I enjoy working with kids and teens who, because this therapy is online, want to be here. It can be tricky to keep kids and teens engaged online without scrolling on other websites. If a teen is reluctant, I'd like for them to feel me out and determine if my personality can make the uncomfortable thought of therapy less - - uncomfortable. Change takes time, especially if we want it to last! To be fair, I've lived it. I honestly get excited to see your child's progress. One of my clients, after we had an amazing EMDR session said to me, "Why are you so excited? Aren't you supposed to know that [this therapy] works?" and I replied, "I do know that it works, but I am so excited for YOUR progress." It just doesn't get better than that.
Specialties
Top specialties
Other specialties
I identify as
Serves ages
My treatment methods
Eclectic
Eclectic describes using particular therapeutic approaches based on what the client will benefit from. For example, there may be DBT or CBT or TF-CBT strategies taught to the client as we work through EMDR (formally trained in all 4). There will be supportive counseling that is solution focused weaved all throughout. The work will always be culturally sensitive; that is, understanding the client's walk of life, perspective, and priorities and honoring those through the improvement that the client wants to attain. Other treatment methods listed, I also have formal training in. Any which treatment modality - or modalities - serve you best, I'll meet you with great enthusiasm!
Daialectical Behavior (DBT)
DBT, in my opinion, is great for those who appreciate a psycho-educational way of learning how to implement skills to navigate some of life's challenges. DBT has grown to show effectiveness for many diagnoses; for clients who have enjoyed this treatment type with me, the clients have preseted with anxiety or depression and self-harm.
EMDR
I am trained (not certified) in EMDR. It has been the absolute most effective way for helping clients get thru trauma/PTSD, and symptoms of anxiety or depression caused by negative experiences. Once clients have worked thru some core needs, some current needs that brought a client to treatment are less impactful and often easier to navigate.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT is a long-standing method to assist clients who are experiencing a multitude of needs. The basic principle behind CBT is nevertheless always the same: What we think, how we feel and how we behave are all closely connected – and all of these factors have a decisive influence on our well-being. I do enjoy CBT as it allows for change to come as a result of shifting perspectives and is applicable in so many situations.
Trauma-Focused CBT
Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is an evidence-based, child and parent/caregiver psychotherapy model for children and adolescents who are experiencing clinically significant emotional and behavioral difficulties related to traumatic life events they have experienced. TF-CBT is a relatively brief (typically 12-20 sessions). TF-CBT is designed to reduce symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), trauma-related depression, anxiety, and behavior problems, and common trauma-related cognitive and emotional problems such as fear, shame, embarrassment, guilt, and self-blame.