emelie’s story

Hey there! I’m Emelie (she/her). I am the founder of Sprout! I am no longer accepting new clients as I step more fully into my leadership role at Sprout, but here’s a little info about me:

I spent my early childhood on the East Coast (DC suburbs) and moved to Seattle for the rest of my childhood and adolescence. I've been a PNW girl to the core and have traversed the North Coast for most of my adulthood.

I was an adopted kid raised as an only child in a big, loud, Sicilian-American family from New York, filled with personality and a love for the outdoors. As one of the the oldest kids in my family, I always had a role in managing our complex and nontraditional family dynamics. I have been through my own challenges with my mental health -part of why I became a therapist- and I don’t think therapists are exempt from having their own struggles. I am deeply concerned for the state of mental health care and aim to end the stigma however I can. I am proud of my story and where I’ve come from!

I love to laugh, I love to listen, and to learn more about where people come from. I might curse with you during session (but only if you do), and I think YOU are the expert in your life. I believe therapists do their best work when they believe that their clients hold the answers to their problems.

I identify as a cisgender queer woman and love working with people on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. I love animals, I have an elderly mini-daschund named Feist, a rescue dog from OTAT PDX named Joseph (aka “Josie”) and two cats, Xila and Monty. I love to spend time outside, cooking, sharing dinners with friends and family, music, traveling, taking photos, puns, dad jokes, stand up comedy, and the endorphins after exercise (if we’re being honest, I don’t totally love the exercise part).

I’m a two time author, you can order a copy of my books, Easy Marriage Counseling: 52 Self-Guided Exercises to Deepen Your Relationship and Communication in Marriage Workbook: Exercises to Resolve Conflict and Improve Your Relationship on Amazon, at Barnes and Noble, and many other major and regional book sellers.

Now for the professional stuff:

I completed my undergraduate education at Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA, where I received a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and studied studio art, design, and photography. I received my graduate level training at Lewis & Clark College here in Portland, receiving a Masters of Arts degree in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy, with specializations in sex and relationship therapy, expressive arts therapy, child psychology, and trauma work. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Oregon (License #C5035). I completed my MBA in October of 2022 at Quantic School of Business and Technology, and I am excited to integrate the knowledge I gleaned from this program into my work at Sprout! I currently serve on the Oregon Counseling Association’s Board as both their President-Elect and Ethics Chair.

Outside of my time serving as a clinician at Sprout, I’ve worked as a therapist in many settings: intensive outpatient mental health, psychiatric residential treatment at Trillium Family Services’ Parry Center here in Portland, and in Multnomah County schools. I previously worked at a medical start-up and also taught psychology to high school students at College of the Redwoods.

I have specialized training in dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), mindfulness, attachment work, and collaborative problem solving (CPS). I am also a graduate of the Foster & Adoption Therapy Certificate Program at Portland State University.

I am a Supervisor for the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists (OBLPCT) and provide clinical supervision for therapists seeking licensure as well as consultation for post-licensed individuals.

As of 2023, I have stepped away from clinical work to better support our employees, clinicians, and clients in a broader way as our Chief Executive Officer as well as our VP of Finance!

Emelie is on maternity leave from September 2024 through January 2025, please contact
leadership@sprouttherapypdx.com while she is out!