Emilee Johnsen, LCSW
Relational, trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming.
We are all adaptive beings, and the ways we’ve learned to cope have often been our best efforts to survive. When those strategies stop working, we’ll honor what they did for you and put you back in the driver’s seat.
“We don’t have to do all of it alone. We were never meant to.”
You deserve to reclaim empowerment and clarity.
I believe that we are all adaptive beings, and the ways we’ve learned to cope with life’s challenges have often been our best efforts to survive.
But sometimes those coping strategies stop working, or even start to hold us back. In our work together, we’ll take a close look at those survival strategies, honor what they’ve done for you, and begin to shift the focus back to you being in the driver’s seat of your life.
You deserve to reclaim empowerment and clarity, and that’s exactly what we’ll work toward.
What I draw on, tailored to you.
How your earliest bonds shape the patterns you relate through now.
Exploring what’s beneath the surface — old wounds, unconscious patterns.
Practical tools to catch, test, and reframe the thoughts that hold you back.
The body tells a story — releasing the tension it’s been holding.
The body tells a story — we listen to it.
My approach is rooted in a relational, trauma-informed, and neurodiversity-affirming perspective that integrates attachment-based, psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and somatic modalities. Therapy isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, so I tailor my approach to your unique needs and lived experience. Our work will honor the complexities of your story, and I’ll be here as your guide, support, and container through the process.
I am passionate about supporting clients in understanding their nervous system in order to create more balance in the mind and body. A dysregulated or imbalanced nervous system may be the result of anything that repeatedly triggers the “fight or flight” response without allowing the body to return to a relaxed state. The body tells a story in these moments — the tension, fatigue, or discomfort often reveal deeper layers of unresolved wounds, unconscious fears, old patterns, and even differences in sensory processing.
By exploring what’s beneath the surface — like past trauma, negative self-beliefs, or unconscious emotions — we can address the root causes, not just the symptoms. When we understand how these experiences manifest in the body, we can begin to release the stored tension and reframe the narrative, helping the nervous system return to a state of regulation and balance. The journey involves honoring the story the body is telling, allowing it to be heard, and ultimately guiding the system toward healing and wholeness.
Whether you’re dealing with challenges related to trauma, family dynamics, anxiety, depression, neurodiversity, late-in-life diagnoses, relationship issues, or people-pleasing patterns, my goal is to help you uncover and heal the deeper emotional roots behind these struggles, fostering balance and growth.
I believe wholeheartedly that the therapeutic alliance can be the cornerstone of healing. This bond between client and therapist is built on mutual trust, safety, collaboration, and a shared commitment to growth. I show up as a fellow human, fully engaged in my own ongoing personal development, because I believe it’s crucial to walk alongside you in this process with authenticity and vulnerability.
Together, we’ll explore how past experiences, unconscious forces, and relationship dynamics may be shaping the patterns and behaviors that are causing you distress. We’ll get curious about what’s not working and look for real, actionable solutions. To me, healing is about finding balance, lightness, and ultimately, reconnecting with the best parts of ourselves.
What I help people with.
On the Westside, or wherever you are.
Tell us what’s going on.
We’ll hand-select your match from our small, boutique roster — usually within 24 to 48 hours.
Life is a balance — joy, creativity, and connection.
When I’m not in the therapy room, I’m usually found tending to my plants, indulging in my latest hobby, or curating playlists. I enjoy spending time at the beach, discovering the best breakfast burrito Los Angeles has to offer, or simply lounging on the couch to recharge.
Life is a balance, and I believe wholeheartedly in the importance of embracing joy, creativity, and connection.
I’m excited to be part of your journey and to support you in creating the life and balance you deserve.
You were never meant to do it alone.
A free 30-minute consult, and a therapist hand-selected by the founder who trained them.
Find my therapist →