I am a White, queer person, and Canadian immigrant living in Atlanta, GA. You can pronounce my name the same way you say “Emily”, and I use all pronouns. I am also proudly disabled and an ambulatory wheelchair user living with multiple chronic conditions.
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT001793) in the state of Georgia and graduated with a MA in Marital and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego in 2015. I have a PhD in Human Development and Family Science with emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Georgia, where I gained advanced training in psychological traumatic stress. I am currently only providing teletherapy services.
Who I see
I work primarily with queer and gender diverse people who have experienced trauma and are looking to reclaim their lives. This might mean wanting to feel less anxious or depressed, have healthier and more fulfilling relationships, have a deeper knowledge of yourself, or something else entirely. Traumatic experiences can look very different for different people, and in a White supremacist, ableist, and heteronormative world, queer and gender diverse people often experience trauma in unique ways.
I also have a special interest in working with clients living with disabilities and chronic conditions, especially those who are “in transition” from non-disabled to disabled. I can support you in working through the ambiguous loss, shifts in identity, and new relationship dynamics that come with this transition.
I use a trauma-informed approach to help clients navigate their mental health, identity development, and relationships. With you as the expert on your life, I can help you understand how past traumatic experiences might be affecting you today, and give you tools to identify your triggers and respond differently to them. My approach to relationship therapy is emotion-focused, sex-positive, Kink- and sex worker-allied, and respectful and supportive of alternative relationship structures (ex., polyamory, polycules).
I am a Qualifying WPATH GEI SOC8 Member, and can provide mental health services for gender diverse individuals looking for support specific to gender-related topics, like social & medical transitioning. I am also qualified to conduct formal traumatic stress assessments, and to treat PTSD and CPTSD using an evidence-based treatment called narrative exposure therapy.
If you are interested in potentially working together, I invite you to reach out. Please note that although all of my services are offered via teletherapy, my clients must be located within the state of Georgia.
Dr. Emilie Ellis 