Emma Graves

Available For In-Person Sessions and Teletherapy

Beginning therapy is one of the bravest and most vulnerable things we can do. I believe the most compassionate act we can engage in is allowing ourselves to feel our emotions and explore the deepest parts of who we are. As someone who has experienced sitting on the other side of the couch, I know how powerful and scary starting the therapy journey can be. Hence, I consider it my job to create and maintain an environment of safety and openness from start to finish through the therapy process. From this perspective, I operate from a place of curiosity and like to dive deep into history, values, and goals of therapy in order to provide thoughtful guidance that creates real change.

We often hear that healing involves ridding ourselves of uncomfortable or painful thoughts, feelings, and/or experiences. However, discomfort and challenge are natural aspects of being human and alone do not cause suffering. Rather, suffering is caused by resisting our pain. When we make space for our experiences, healing becomes possible as we learn to accept and allow every aspect of our humanity. My therapeutic style incorporates this healing acceptance while compassionately and skillfully guiding you towards internal harmony and peace.

My approach is highly adaptable to your unique needs, while remaining rooted in evidence-based techniques. I draw from several therapeutic modalities, as I believe no one approach is right for everyone, but particularly utilize Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Internal Family Systems (IFS). I love working with couples and family systems, or individuals who experience challenging family dynamics. Additionally, I enjoy helping clients heal from PTSD and OCD. I use my systems oriented approach to aid all aspects of these dynamics in both relationships with others and ourselves.

In my practice, I strive to guide my clients through their deepest-felt pain with a sense of empowerment utilizing self-compassion, mindfulness, and acceptance while offering accessible, helpful tools to incorporate into daily life. When appropriate, I love to facilitate experiential mindfulness practices, as this can be a powerful way to build trust in oneself and learn that painful feelings are simply hurt or protective parts of self that can safely be met with kindness rather than dismissal. When we begin to build these compassionate, mindful, and accepting principles in our own life, our relationship with ourselves, and therefore our lives, change. I feel an immense sense of honor to be able hold this space for all my clients. I welcome all who are ready to take this step and am ready to meet you where you are in your journey.

More About Emma

I was born and raised here in Austin and attended St. Edward’s University for my undergraduate degree in social work and psychology. My interest in IFS was born when I worked in a high school with pregnant and parenting teens and developed an authentic love for working with adolescents and family systems. After finishing my bachelors degree, I went on to complete my Masters in Clinical Social Work with a specialization in trauma-responsive social work at the University of Chicago. While living in Chicago, I worked in a hospital doing bedside therapy with admitted patients and assessing mental health patients in the ER. Having the opportunity to work so closely with acute trauma and mental illness was a very powerful experience for me and inspired a career in hospital social work.

For nearly 4 years, I worked in the emergency room here in Austin providing support to mental health patients as well as families dealing with medical emergencies and/or death. This environment, while challenging on both emotional and cognitive levels, gave me the opportunity to develop a strong skillset in navigating and supporting new onset mental illness, complex diagnoses, personality disorders, grief, challenging family systems, anxiety, and depression. Outside of the office, I love reading fiction and psychology-related books, exercising outdoors, and lounging with my cat, Penelope.