LMFT, 4 years of experience
New to Grow
Hi! I’m Emily Cortés, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I provide a supportive space for individuals to explore challenges and build healthier ways of relating. My goal is to create a safe, supportive space where you can feel heard and understood as we work together toward meaningful change. I believe therapy is a collaborative process, and I’ll meet you where you are while helping you move toward where you’d like to be.
In our first session, my goal is to get to know you and to create a space where you feel safe, heard, and understood! We’ll talk about what brings you to therapy right now, what you’ve been struggling with, and what you’d like to get out of our work together. I’ll ask questions about your background, current challenges, and any goals or hopes you have for therapy. This is also your chance to get a sense of me—how I work, what it feels like to talk with me, and whether this feels like the right fit for you. You’re welcome to share as much or as little as feels comfortable. We’ll move at your pace. By the end of our session, you’ll have a clearer picture of what therapy with me can look like and some first steps we can take together toward your healing and growth.
What clients often tell me is that they appreciate how I balance compassion with practicality. I create a safe, nonjudgmental space where the hardest thoughts and feelings can be spoken out loud, often for the first time. At the same time, I provide concrete tools and strategies so that you leave sessions not only feeling understood, but also with something you can use in daily life! My approach blends methods like CBT, DBT, and client-centered with a deep focus on building self-compassion and resilience. This means we’ll work together to challenge unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior, while also developing healthier coping skills to manage overwhelming emotions.
I work best with individuals who are carrying heavy emotional pain—those struggling with anxiety, depression, self-harm, or thoughts of suicide and many more other challenges we face. Many of my clients come to me feeling isolated, overwhelmed, or stuck in patterns of coping that no longer serve them. Often, they’re tired of pretending everything is fine on the outside while battling intense emotions on the inside. If you’re someone who feels ready—maybe even just a little willing—to explore new ways of understanding yourself and finding relief, I can help. In therapy, I provide a safe, nonjudgmental space to talk about the thoughts and feelings that may feel too heavy to share elsewhere. Together, we’ll work toward easing the weight of your struggles, building healthier coping strategies, and moving toward a life that feels more hopeful and connected.