About Me

My name is Amy F. Emery, and I offer individual psychotherapy to clients ages 18 years and older. I am an LGBTQ* affirming, trauma informed, Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Connecticut and a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Massachusetts. In 2014, I opened my private practice, Helping Hands, Healing Hearts Counseling Services, LLC out of my passion and drive for helping individuals achieve positive changes in their lives, through decreasing stressors, and increasing quality of life, along with my commitment to social justice and human rights. TRAUMA In 2012, I became trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), to provide evidence-based treatment for children and adolescents who have been impacted by trauma, along with support for their parents or caregivers, followed by completion of certification in 2014. In 2016, I became a Life is Good Playmaker, to further help children heal from the impact of childhood trauma. In 2019, I continued trauma and stressor treatment through completion of EMDR training under Karen Alter-Reid, Ph.D. at National Institute for the Psychotherapies. LGBTQ* I provide a strong supportive focus on the LGBTQ* community; One of the main clinical specialties offered is gender affirming care, in which a safe space is offered to transgender, gender diverse, and gender non-conforming individuals to explore and better understand their gender identity and expression, and to receive support around living authentically and wholeheartedly. I have been working with transgender, gender diverse, and gender non-conforming individuals, along with family members and significant others since 2014, and support individuals with examining their personal identity and assisting them in moving forward in life, however they determine that to be. Dr. Brené Brown and The Daring Way™ Since late 2015/ early 2016, I have utilized Dr. Brené Brown’s research around the topics of shame, authenticity and wholehearted living to support my clients in living their best lives; In 2017, I attended training and obtained certification in her work as a Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator. This has helped me better support my clients around topics such as vulnerability, courage, shame, and worthiness, and this work invites individuals to examine the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that are holding them back in life while identify the new choices and practices that will move them toward more authentic and wholehearted living. The primary focus is on developing shame resilience skills and developing daily practices that transform the way we live, love, parent, and lead.