Emily Ann Peterson, MS-CMHC, MBA, LMHCA-pending
Emily Ann Peterson, pre-licensed mental health counseling associate, practicing under supervision in the State of Washington
Supervisor: Jessica M. Shook, LMHC (WA #LH60176936)
Hi! I’m a (pre)Licensed Mental Health Counseling Associate, practicing under supervision in the State of Washington. I work with adults and teens (13+), couples, families, and groups.
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My path to clinical mental health counseling bridges the worlds of clinical science, creativity, and real-world experience.
Before becoming a therapist, I was a Suzuki cello teacher to students of all ages, a recording musician, and a nationally touring singer-songwriter. After receiving a career-halting degenerative neurological diagnosis of essential tremors in my hands, I hosted an interview-based podcast, which later became the title of my book, Bare Naked Bravery: How to Be Creatively Courageous.
I soon found myself speaking at conferences and Fortune 500 companies while consulting with creatives and tech startups. This leveraged my Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), and later I earned my Master of Business Administration (MBA). Prior to earning my Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MS-CMHC), I earned project management certifications, received training from the FBI in behavioral threat assessment and cybersecurity as a member of its private-sector InfraGard Alliance, and I taught data & decision modeling at the university level.
My clinical training & professional memberships includes: certifications as a Trauma Support Specialist (CTSS) and memberships in the Washington Mental Health Counselors Association (WMHCA), the American Counseling Association (ACA), the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT), the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), and the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA).
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Whether you are navigating a major life transition, struggling with the weight of unfulfilled potential, or simply trying to find your way back to yourself, I am deeply committed to serving diverse communities with cultural humility, specialized training, expertise, and lived experience:
Neurodivergent Individuals: For those who identify with ADHD, AuDHD, ASD, Autism, learning differences, and cognitive difficulties, we will work with your neurology, not against it.
LGBTQIA+ & BIPOC Communities: Affirming care that honors your identity and lived experience.
High-Performance Professionals: First responders, veterans, government workers, healthcare workers, entrepreneurs, and creatives navigating high-pressure situations, chronic stress, burnout, and other workplace challenges.
Survivors of Trauma: Including those from adverse childhood experiences, high-control systems (religious trauma), or complex relational dynamics.
Non-Traditional Relationships: Kink-aware, sex-positive, body-positive, and polyamorous affirming care for relationships and families of all shapes and sizes
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Life can feel heavy, chaotic, confusing, and “too much” at times. Many of my clients come to me when they are struggling with emotions and symptoms such as:
low motivation or a sense of being stuck in a rut
difficulty concentrating, making it hard to focus on work, school, relationships, or daily tasks
chronic anxiety or overwhelm that feels impossible
relationship struggles with partners, spouses, family members, friends, or colleagues
trauma responses, including PTSD and complex trauma/CPTSD, that affect your sense of safety and daily life
identity questions, particularly regarding neurodivergence (ADHD, AuDHD, ASD, Autism), LGBTQIA+ experiences, or religious trauma/spiritual distress (e.g., high-control organizations, cults)
burnout & exhaustion from high-pressure careers, family caregiving, complex grief, external stressors, or creative pursuits
soul-level struggling from masking as “high-functioning” but rapidly reaching the end of your capacity
grief & loss that is complicated, multi-dimensional, unrelenting, and raw
If you recognize yourself in any of those descriptions, I invite you to reach out. You don’t have to navigate this alone.
Therapy doesn’t have to be about “fixing” what’s broken. It can be about uncovering and cultivating the strengths and resources that already exist within you, and *enjoying* the whole process!
This is Freddie.
He’s on “Support Staff” here at Jupiter Pines Counseling. Don’t let his lack of eyes fool you; he keeps watch on the clinical clock and is known to *promptly* check in on a client’s progress at the end of virtual therapy sessions. (It’s uncanny, truly!)
Our Sessions Together
Our work is collaborative, creative, active, and tailored. We won’t just talk about the past; we will build a roadmap for your future, so your next steps feel the way you want them to.
Safe & Confidential: Your space is a judgment-free zone where you can speak freely.
Goal-Oriented & Transparent: We move at your pace, focusing on practical skills and meaningful change from week-to-week.
Strengths-Based: I don’t just look for problems; I help you identify your existing resources and resilience to build upon them.
Flexible & Adaptable: Whether we meet in my private Tacoma office or securely online, the focus remains on you.