ABOUT
Get to Know Me and My Approach
ABOUT ME
Emma Nathanson, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Born and raised in Erie county, I moved away for my psychology training and am thrilled to be back in the area to provide specialty, evidence-based services to our community. As a doctoral-level licensed psychologist highly trained to work with kids, teens, young adults, and families, I bring experience in both school and clinical settings where I have provided extensive therapy, psychological assessment, and consultation.
I have specialized training in treatments for child and adolescent anxiety, OCD, and related disorders using evidence-based interventions rooted in cognitive-behavioral therapy. I am also invested in training future psychologists and serve remotely as an adjunct assistant professor at Michigan State University. I currently provide psychological testing services at a community agency on a limited basis.
MY APPROACH
Compassionate evidence-based therapy
I bring warmth, compassion, humor, and genuineness to our work together. Working with me, you’ll find that I’m eager to be your cheerleader: I want to help you learn to live bravely and exit the cycle of avoidance that’s holding you back.
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I primarily use cognitive-behavioral therapy/exposure with response prevention integrated with components of acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness, and dialectical behavior therapy. I am also trained in Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) for OCD. Children, teens, young adults, and families will learn about their amazing brains, the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and how you can re-teach your brain to get back into living life. You will learn that bravery works!
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We won’t just talk, we will also practice and do! Therapy with me is skill-based and goal-oriented. I also believe that family/support system involvement is key to successful treatment in most cases. My goal is not to keep you or your child in therapy forever. Instead, we will monitor progress frequently and work to help you efficiently move on with your life.
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For kids who are not yet able or willing to participate directly in treatment, I am also trained in an intervention called SPACE that works with parents to help their children.
I am an LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist.
MY EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS
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Postdoctoral Residency at Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center
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Predoctoral Internship at University of Michigan
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Ph.D. in School Psychology at Michigan State University
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M.A. in School Psychology at Michigan State University
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B.A. in Psychology at The College of Wooster
PA Licensed Psychologist #PS020003
Nationally-Certified School Psychologist