Hi! I’m Emily Porter, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor.  I am a native Lexingtonian, and I have a heart and passion for working with children and adolescents in our community.  I am also a mother, sister, and daughter, roles which will underline the importance of strong family relationships and parent involvement in my counseling sessions with your child. 

I began in the mental health field as a service coordinator in community mental health in 2002 and continued in the field to complete my graduate education in Mental Health Counseling at EKU in 2013.  I have spent the years since developing experience in specialized evidence-based clinical counseling practices with children of all ages and circumstances, as well as with their parents. 

I especially enjoy working with children who are adjusting to small and big life changes, experiencing anxiety, or overcoming traumatic experiences.   I find that although children may not have all the words for “talk therapy,” they still have big feelings to explore and express. As a result, we may utilize play, movement, sand, storytelling, or art to bridge communication differences in our time together.  We will also individually identify the amount of parent involvement necessary to support your child’s application of skills, build positive parent-child interaction patterns, and put into action new ways of responding to your child’s challenging behaviors. 

Additionally, I provide Somatic and Attachment Focused EMDR for early childhood through young adulthood, Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, and other unique evidence-based treatment modalities. So whether your child’s distress has begun recently and you’re new to counseling; or you’ve tried everything else recommended and are seeking one of the specialized and unique services I offer, WELCOME!!  I’m so very glad you are here.