Rosie Emrich
LCMHC
Clinical Director (She/Her)

My name is Rosie Emrich, and I am an IFS certified Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Art Therapist. I joined WCON in April 2020 and have worn many hats over the years- including clinician, internship coordinator, supervisor, and most recently Clinical Director. I am passionate about mental health access, serving women and other marginalized genders and training up the next generation of clinicians to continue this important work.

I want to acknowledge that taking steps to support your mental health can be bring up so much; parts that are excited and ready for change, parts that are afraid or ashamed to let others (or even yourself) see you struggle, parts that don’t want to acknowledge you need help or to feel the pain you may carry, and so much more. I am honored to witness all the hard work and courage required to take care of yourself; physically, emotionally and spiritually. I work hard to create a safe, inclusive, welcoming and judgment free space for this important work to take place.

My approach to therapy is informed by many years of training in IFS (Internal Family Systems), my training and experience working with trauma and attachment wounding, as well as my degree in Art Therapy. I view my role similar to that of a guide. I aim to bring curiosity to the issues most important to you, offer new and different perspectives, and help you find a way through difficulty and struggle. Learning new ways to understand your past and present experiences, growing your capacity to listen and understand yourself in a different way, and offering a path to greater self compassion and grace throughout this process are all important parts of what I bring to those I work with. I don’t pretend to have all the answers- nope, no magic wands here- but I do believe that we all have an inner wisdom that we can access with a little bit of help, some hard work, and the right skills and tools.

IFS Certified Therapist

I am a certified Level 3 IFS therapist, having completed over 150 hours of training through the IFS Institute. Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a trauma-informed and evidence based therapeutic model developed by Richard Schwartz. It is based on the idea that all human beings are comprised of a system of interconnected parts, each with its own unique role and perspective, and a Self.  Parts are the different aspects of our personality, and we all have parts that are protective, critical, and at times self-destructive, but ultimately are trying to help us avoid pain and disconnection.  Self is the core of our being- our awareness, curiosity, creativity, compassion, and love- and is unchanged no matter what has happened to us.  IFS therapy helps people to identify and understand their different parts, to develop compassion and acceptance for all of them, and to heal and transform the parts that are wounded. It can help us to understand ourselves more deeply, to develop greater compassion for ourselves and others, lead to greater inner harmony and to live our lives more fully through the power of Self-leadership.

You can learn more about IFS by visiting https://ifs-institute.com/

Parenting Realist

Parenting is hard. From the birth of our children through young adulthood there is no guide or roadmap where we can get answers to all the questions and difficulties parenting presents. The expectations placed on women in general, and especially mothers, are nearly impossible to maintain. Knowing that you are not alone in struggling to balance your own needs, career and interests, and the needs of your children and family is vital for being able to show yourself some grace. In my work with parents, I strive to help you to better understand how your experience of being parented yourself as a child impacts how you parent; how to manage the day to day stressors and challenges that come with raising humans in this world; and how to balance and prioritize your own needs so that you have enough of yourself to keep giving. As a parent myself, I continue to find my own way through these struggles and bring my personal experiences, training and expertise, yet always honor you as the expert on yourself and your family.

Art Therapist & Creative Guide

I love to help the people I work with think outside of the box by offering creative ways to explore their struggles and inner (sometimes unconscious) experiences. We do not just talk our way through the world; we move through, touch, feel and experience life. It only makes sense then that when trying to process and make sense of our experiences that we should do so in a way that includes all of our senses. Art Therapy is a great alternative or supplement to talk therapy for this exact reason. Regardless of whether or not you have any formal art training or skill, Art Therapy gives you the power to express yourself, reduce stress, gain insight and self-awareness, and practice making change in a safe space. There is no artistic talent or training required because Art Therapy is not about how ‘pretty’ your art is, but instead is focused on the process of making art and finding associations between the creative choices and your inner life.

About Me

I graduated with my Master’s Degree in Art Therapy and Counseling from Southwestern College in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2015. I have additional training in Infant Mental Health, which focuses on how a child develops socially and emotionally from ages of 0-6, as well as providing support to parents around how they can strengthen their bond and build healthy and supportive attachments with their children of all ages.

My professional experience includes work at a community mental health center providing both talk therapy and art therapy to adults and children or all ages with a variety of struggles including depression, anxiety, and trauma. Prior to that, I worked in home visiting providing social, emotional and developmental supports to new parents and families as well as providing supervision to staff. I have also offered and supported community trainings on topics such as childhood trauma, child and adult attachment, Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Art Therapy.

Outside of work, I am a runner, avid reader, and parent to three energetic young children. I consider myself a lifelong learner and have my own ongoing practice of tending to my parts and internal system which includes my own therapy, on-going individual and group consultation, and staying engaged in the IFS community by serving as a program assistant for trainings.