Emily is a queer-identified therapist with a passion for working with teens, adults, and couples. She also has extensive training and experience as a family therapist and spent several years working with families via intensive, in-home therapy.

 

Emily supports clients to identify personalized goals and build plans to achieve them. She works with individuals, couples and families on improving communication, crisis prevention and de-escalation techniques, nervous system regulation, and improving overall attachment between family members. She believes that people’s behaviors, beliefs, thought patterns and needs are products of their experiences, genetics, the society in which they live and the quality of support they receive. 

 

As a member of the queer community, Emily especially loves working with queer folks to plan families and adjust to parenthood, having lived experience on the rollercoaster that can be family planning and navigating the legal landscape that accompanies it. Emily was also a caretaker for her mother who had Alzheimer’s Disease and holds a special place for clients who are caring for an aging or disabled parent. 

 

Emily graduated from Guilford College with a dual degree in Psychology and Community & Justice Studies. After graduating, she lived between San Francisco, CA and Portland, OR, working on grassroots political campaigns, neighborhood organizing, in the educational technology space, and as a leadership development coach. After a series of unexpected life transitions, it became clear that social work, with its focus on social justice and the upholding the dignity and worth of people, was where she belonged. 

 

Emily's office is a place where clients can come in, kick off their shoes, and know that they will be seen, heard, accepted and supported. Any emotion will always be welcome and no topic off limits. Emily occasionally brings her dog, Capote, to the office. Po is a 10-year-old sack of love. If dogs are not your thing, please tell Emily and she will arrange your session when Po is not in the office. If they are your thing, you may have an affectionate hippo on your lap during sessions.

 

Certifications & Experience

• Licensed Clinical Social Work Associate

• Certified Family Centered Treatment Therapist

• Masters Degree in Social Work, UNC Chapel Hill

• Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Community & Justice Studies, Guilford College

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Emily is accepting new clients.

emily.fonseca@birchcounselingdurham.com

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