Rated 5.0 stars out of 5, 24 ratings

Emily Zavala-Aguilar

LMFT, 3 years of experience

Warm
Open-minded
Authentic

About me

Welcome! I’m Emily. I am a licensed psychotherapist working in the Sacramento area. My therapy practice welcomes children, adolescents, adults, and families. I operate from the framework that through our shared humanity, we can find connection, understanding, and healing. As a humanistic and psychodynamic therapist, my practice emphasizes genuineness, self-discovery, and uncovering unconscious behaviors and patterns within a non-judgmental and empathic space

Get to know me

In our first session together, here's what you can expect

Our first session (and most subsequent sessions) is all about getting to know each other. I prefer a less structured and more authentic approach to first discussions. I will answer any questions you have about counseling and explain policies and procedures. I am most interested in what you are looking for and how I can potentially support you in your journey!

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

Clients have expressed that they appreciate my realness and my ability to create a space that is supportive and nonjudgmental. I believe in meeting the client wherever they are in their journey and will be responsive to whatever they bring into the therapy room.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

Though I see all types of folks, my specialty lies in working within the Latinx community, LGBTQIA+ community, depression, anxiety, OCD, and those facing relational and complex trauma, and childhood and adolescence.

Specialties

Top specialties

Other specialties

I identify as

Serves ages

Children (6 to 12)Teenagers (13 to 17)

My treatment methods

Person-centered (Rogerian)

As a Rogerian therapist I believe healing comes from authenticity, empathy, and connection. I use Rogerian techniques with clients with growing their understanding of themselves and self-compassion.

Trauma Informed Care

Understanding our history with traumatic experiences is essential to effective and responsive care. Only through understanding these connections can we disrupt maladaptive patterns and heal old wounds that continue to effect our lives.

Narrative

The stories that we tell ourselves shape our perspective. However, have the power to make meaning of our experiences and author our stories. With safety, reflection, and exploration, together we create our own stories about ourselves and life experiences.

Location

Virtual

Licensed in

Rated 5.0 stars out of 5, 24 ratings

6 ratings with written reviews

August 12, 2025

Emily is very thoughtful about her approaches to your care. I feel seen and understood when I am sharing difficult topics.

Verified client, age 25-34

Review shared after session 1 with Emily

August 4, 2025

Outstanding therapists. I would love for her to be a therapist for me. Very welcoming. And very warm and direct. Would recommend to anyone for sure.

Verified client, age 45-54

Review shared after session 1 with Emily

July 26, 2025

I felt very heard, it was like talk to a close friend. She was very compassionate. I left our session feeling empowered, very light, and relaxed. Which is very hard for me to do, that in it self says a lot. I can’t wait to our next session.

Verified client, age 45-54

Review shared after session 1 with Emily