Mental Health Approaches

Emma's main treatment approach is Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. She likes to help her clients build connection from their past, identify patterns in their lives, and uncover emotions that they have no yet recognized. Emma also uses attachment-based therapy with couples or individuals who are in therapy for relationship concerns. She finds that it provides a road map for how people react and behaviour within their relationships.

Emma likes to encourage her clients, specifically those with high anxiety, to practice regular meditation and mindfulness. In her sessions, she sometimes walks her clients through a guided mindfulness exercise to do outside of the session. Additionally, using the main principles of CBT, Emma helps her clients connect their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. She finds that this is a familiar place to start work with her clients. Additionally, she found that her clients benefit from completing exercises in-between sessions

Attachment Based Therapy

Compassion Focused Therapy

Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Gottman Method

Humanistic Therapy

Person Centered Therapy

Psychodynamic Therapy

Solution-focused Therapy

Anxiety, Depression & Mood Disorders

Anxiety disorders and mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder, are characterized by a significant change in mood that affects how you feel, your daily functioning, cognitive abilities and your energy level. Emma helps her clients identify and understand how they are feeling and why they are feeling this way. Using CBT and other therapeutic approaches, she helps her clients challenge the unhelpful thoughts ad beliefs that trigger their emotional reactions.

Couples and Relationships

Emma has years of experience in helping clients improve their communication and exploring their needs and wants in their current relationship. She likes to use Gottman's method and teach her clients about their "relationship sound house" which helps couples break through barriers in their relationships and achieve greater understanding, connection and intimacy. She also likes to use attachment theory to explore the role that their attachment style plays in their relationship.

Self-Compassion and Self-Esteem

Many of us struggle with self-esteem, which is Emma likes to give her clients the time to uncover and understand all the feelings they have towards themselves and what influences others have on them. She draws from cognitive behavioural therapy inventions to have her clients do exercises, such as stand in front of a mirror everyday, to help them feel more comfortable in their own skin. Emma also uses Compassion-based therapy which is a holistic approach that focuses on self-compassion, understanding, and tolerance toward yourself.

Grief, Loss, and Transitions

Losing a loved one, a pet, or a job are very personal experience that affects every person differently. When it comes to grief and loss, Emma likes to provide her clients with psycho-education to normalize their experience and help alleviate any feelings of blame, guilt, or stress. This will help the individual feel open to accepting the situation and take the steps towards healing and moving on.

Self Harm and Suicide

Emma provides a safe and caring environment where her clients feel comfortable to express their emotions. Her first experience in this field was volunteering with the Edmonton Distress Line where she completed suicide intervention training. She is very passionate about talking to and educating clients about suicide and suicide safety-planning. Emma also works with individuals who use self harm as a coping mechanism. She uses harm reduction methods to empower her clients to be in control of their own behaviours.

Emma's Background

Emma Howlett completed her masters in counselling degree from City University. Emma's interest into the field of mental health was sparked at a young age when she noticed the lack of public education and knowledge, and increased stigma around those who are feeling challenged by their own mental health. After this discovery, Emma found herself with a bachelor's degree in psychology, volunteering on the Edmonton Distress line, and employed at a local women's shelter. Emma has spent the beginning of her career dedicated to crisis intervention and helping those who need immediate help stay safe and feel emotionally supported. Emma understands firsthand what it feels like to experience anxiety and the fear around panic attacks. Emma has found her balance in understanding how our personal attachment system can help us navigate the world in a way that can be secure and trusting.

Emma Howlett

Insurance Coverage

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Mental Health Concerns

Abuse

Anxiety

Depression

Emotional Regulation

Grief and Loss

Infidelity & Trust

Self Esteem

Sex and Intimacy

Stress and Burnout

Trauma & PTSD

Women's Issues