emelie’s story
I’m Emelie (she/her), the Founder and CEO of Sprout Therapy PDX.
After years of clinical practice, I stepped away from direct client care to focus fully on leading and growing Sprout in a way that supports clinicians, protects client care, and builds long-term sustainability in community mental health. Alongside my role as CEO, I also serve as Sprout’s VP of Finance, bringing both clinical and systems-level thinking to how we operate and care for our community.
I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Oregon (License #C5035) and hold a Master’s degree in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy from Lewis & Clark College, with specialized training in trauma work, relationships, expressive arts therapy, and child and family systems. I also completed my MBA at Quantic School of Business and Technology in 2022, which deepened my ability to build ethical, values-aligned healthcare systems. I have served in multiple leadership roles with the Oregon Counseling Association, including President, Ethics Chair, and Emerging Leader. I am also an author of a few therapy self-help books focused on relationship education and communication.
Before moving fully into leadership, I worked as a therapist across a range of settings, including intensive outpatient mental health programs, psychiatric residential treatment, and school-based mental health services in Multnomah County. Outside of clinical work, I also bring experience from medical small business and worked as a psychology teacher for first generation college-bound high school students. These experiences continue to shape how I think about access, systems, and the real-world constraints faced by both clients and clinicians.
My clinical training includes dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), attachment-based and trauma-informed approaches, mindfulness, and collaborative problem solving (CPS). I am also a graduate of the Foster & Adoption Therapy Certificate Program at Portland State University. I’m an approved Supervisor with the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists (OBLPCT) and provide clinical supervision and consultation for both pre-licensed and post-licensed clinicians.
I’ve been through my own challenges with mental health - part of why I became a therapist in the first place - and I don’t believe therapists are exempt from being human. I care deeply about reducing stigma and improving the state of mental health care, and I’m proud of the path that brought me here.
I identify as queer and love working with people across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. I’m also a wife and mom, an animal lover, and someone who values humor, curiosity, and connection. I share my home with a rescue dog named Josie and a cat named Xila!
While I’m no longer accepting therapy clients, my clinical roots remain central to how I lead - grounded in respect for lived experience and a belief that people already hold the wisdom they need, especially when supported by thoughtful, ethical care.
If you’re interested in business coaching or consultation for building a therapy or healthcare practice, you can learn more through our sister project, Sprout Your Practice, linked below!
