
Affirming Therapy For Women & LGBTQ+ People In Washington, DC.
We work with high-achieving, thoughtful, and capable adults who haven’t felt like themselves lately. We help people quiet the anxiety, connect with their needs, and feel like themselves again.
Trauma-informed support for navigating life’s uncertainties.
Hi, I’m Emma Love.
I deeply enjoy working with adults navigating anxiety, depression, burnout, and trauma. Maybe you’ve noticed how hard you push yourself at work, only to feel overwhelmed and unfocused. Perhaps you’re always the friend who shows up for everyone else, while quietly wishing someone would do the same for you. Or maybe it feels like you’re constantly behind in life, never quite reaching the next milestone.
I’m a licensed clinical social worker with over eight years of experience supporting women and LGBTQ+ people—first in residential and outpatient programs, and now in private practice. My approach is relational and down-to-earth: I show up as a real person, not the expert. Together, we’ll co-create a space that is supportive of your mental health in a safe, grounded, and mindful way.
Why Women & LGBTQ+ People Choose to work with me
Many of my clients identify as high-achieving, thoughtful, and capable—yet they haven’t felt like themselves lately. They may be carrying more than they let on, giving to friends and family more than to themselves, or feeling the constant pressure to “do better.”
Deep down, they want to find balance and live in alignment with who they truly are—not who society expects them to be. Therapy offers them space to breathe, with no pressure to perform. Together, we explore tools that help them feel more supported and grounded.
Specialties
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What may seem like an ordinary, everyday experience to others can sometimes be a deeply wounding trauma that shapes how you move through the world. By focusing on these memories, we can begin to heal the stuck emotions, beliefs, and patterns that continue to affect you. Through memory reconsolidating, we can shift your relationship with these experiences—moving from shame and fear toward acceptance and freedom.
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Feeling stuck in a cycle of emotional overwhelm and exhaustion can make it difficult to care for yourself. Burnout often traps us in patterns like:
→ “I have to keep working because if I stop, everything will fall apart.”
→ “I’m so exhausted that work feels even harder, but there’s no time for self-care.”
→ “I can’t concentrate or be productive enough, so I need to work even harder to make up for it.”
…and the cycle continues.Recovering from burnout means addressing chronic stress at its root. By building a sense of safety, connection, and joy—especially through creative expression—you can learn to complete the stress cycle and reclaim balance. Therapy can be a powerful starting point for breaking free from this pattern and redefining self-care in a way that truly supports you.
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As adults, we often assume we’ve all been taught basic communication skills, but the truth is many of us never learned how to interact skillfully, especially during the raw and vulnerable moments of life. Working on communication in therapy can have a profound impact on our relationships. Together, we can focus on:
Learning how to support yourself through intense emotions that lead to communication breakdowns
Navigating vulnerability and building deeper connections in your most meaningful relationships (dating, partnerships, friendships, family)
Making thoughtful repairs after ruptures or conflicts
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Maybe you're navigating a life transition, feeling stuck, or simply wanting to understand yourself on a deeper level—whatever it is, therapy gives you the space to be curious without judgment. Together, we can explore your values, beliefs, and experiences, as well as the many factors that shape your sense of self—including your cultural background, personal history, and the expectations placed on you. This process can be especially meaningful if you're exploring your sexual or gender identity, whether you're questioning, coming to terms with, or affirming who you are. Therapy offers a space to reflect, gain clarity, and build confidence in your identity. As you get to know yourself more deeply, you'll also find it easier to connect with others in an authentic way—sharing your story, owning your mistakes, setting boundaries, and loving more fully.
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Without self-trust, you may find yourself:
Second-guessing your choices
Feeling stuck, anxious, or unsure
Seeking reassurance from others instead of trusting your own judgment
This creates a disconnect from your true self, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and lost. Through therapy, we can help you build a kind and reliable relationship with yourself, empowering you to face life’s uncertainties with inner strength and wisdom. Over time, with support, you’ll:
Gain clarity about your values and needs
Make decisions that feel authentic and aligned with who you are
As you develop self-trust, you’ll become more confident and compassionate, even in moments of failure. You'll learn to embrace both your virtues and flaws without judgment, strengthening your sense of self along the way.
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Exploring family of origin issues in therapy involves understanding how the dynamics and experiences of your early family life have shaped who you are today. These foundational experiences can influence your beliefs, behaviors, and relationships throughout life—often in ways you may not fully realize. Whether it's unresolved conflict, unmet emotional needs, or patterns of communication, these issues can show up in your adult relationships, work life, or self-esteem. In therapy, we can work together to:
Understand how your family background impacts you
Identify negative patterns
Heal from past wounds
By gaining clarity and perspective, you can break free from limiting beliefs and develop healthier, more fulfilling connections with yourself and others.