Emily Clever, Licensed Independent Social Worker - Clinical Practice
Greenville, South Carolina
VerifiedTelehealth Available
Professions: Clinical Social Worker, Mental Health Counselor
Languages: English
Telephone: 864-754-6492
My Approach to Therapy
Finding the right therapist is like finding the right sweater or the perfect pair of jeans. And sort of like shopping, it's surprisingly kind of hard. Therapists love to talk about doing "the work," the act of digging up our stuff, ironing it out, and facing it. We call it work because it is laborious! But also like shopping, therapy can be: joyous, fun, creative, deep, empowering, liberating, and exciting.
This is the core belief from which I approach my practice. As a trauma therapist with more than 5 years of experience and also an avid knitter, I value the slow, beautiful process of healing and creating. Whether you're dreading starting over with a new therapist and rehashing your story, or you've never been to therapy before and feel adrift at sea in a world of possibilities, I am here to be a guiding light. Let's discuss what kind of fit I might be for you, how I can help you weave in new insights and forge new connections in your life, and how we might together make lasting change.
My Practice & Services
I am an avid fiber artist (think: knitting and crochet) and offer clients the opportunity to learn a new skill alongside their healing journey. If this is something you're interested in, please let me know during our consultation so we can add it to your treatment plan!
Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With
I work primarily with trauma therapy. Trauma therapy is a specialized approach to mental health that helps individuals process and heal from the emotional, mental, and physical impacts of traumatic events, experiences, andor memories. Trauma therapy is based on the belief that trauma is a universal human experience and that when we heal from our trauma, we can find new ways of being in the world.
Had a Negative Therapy Experience?
As a social worker, I am a proud agent of change. What that means is I believe -- and have experienced firsthand -- that healing and change is accessible to everyone, right now, regardless of past experiences. It's normal to feel overwhelmed by your past and even disappointments in previous therapy attempts, leading to the thought that change isn't possible or that the healing ship has sailed for you. However, there is a lot of research about how change happens in human lives, and we can leverage that research in order to achieve the meaningful, lasting change you desire. Change doesn't always look the way you think, and seeking therapy to help find your path is completely normal. If you feel "too broken" for therapy, I encourage you to give my process a try.
How My Own Struggles Made Me a Better Therapist
I have been on the other side of the couch many times. Because I have direct experience with being a client, my clinical insights as a therapist are deeper, more thoughtful, and more understanding.
What I Say to People Concerned about the Therapy Process
There are several ways to tackle trauma and related issues in therapy, which we would discuss as a team. Therapy has no specific timeline, as every person?s nervous system and healing journey is beautifully unique, but I typically ask clients to work with me for eight sessions starting out. This gives us enough time to develop a therapeutic alliance (work together as a team), build skills, and reprocess memories. I typically suggest new clients meet with me on a weekly basis, but I also offer bi-weekly, monthly, or as-needed sessions.
Importance of the Client-Therapist Alliance
I am a strong believer in the idea that therapy is a "relational practice." What this means is that the relationship you develop with your therapist is incredibly important to the success of therapy. Relationships by themselves have the capacity to heal old wounds. Because of this, I believe in developing a strong client-therapist alliance -- you are the expert on your life (not me!). I may have all the clinical science in the world, but research strongly shows that when the therapist and client become a team, outcomes improve. So let's develop that relationship, create a strong alliance and bond, and figure out what you need to make the changes you desire in your life, together.
Expertise & Specialties
Age Groups I Work With
Adults
Groups I Work With
I work with individuals who have experienced trauma, which means I work with people from all walks of life. As a trauma therapist, I sometimes say the first trauma is birth: if you are here, on this earth, you have experienced trauma, big or small. I work primarily with adults, ages 18-65. Individuals experiencing trauma, individuals with post-traumatic stress, individuals with sexual trauma, individuals with depression and anxiety, individuals with OCD, dissociation challenges, and individuals with personality issues.
Therapy Services & Specialties
Concerns & Challenges Addressed
Abuse / Abuse Survivor IssuesAnxietyAttachment IssuesBipolarBody ImageDepressionDissociationDomestic Violence
Therapeutic Approaches & Evidence-Based Methods
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Body-Mind PsychotherapyCognitive Processing TherapyCulturally Sensitive TherapyDialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)Exposure TherapyEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)
Industries & Communities
LGBTQ+BIPOC