McKenna Emmerich is a Licensed Resident in Counseling in Virginia, a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and a resident therapist at Brickel and Associates, LLC, in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia.
McKenna strongly believes that clients come into therapy with many strengths that have been developed to cope with life challenges. From this, she brings a strengths-based approach that acknowledges the skills that have helped clients survive to where they are now and works to help clients explore and expand these qualities through building a safe and secure therapeutic relationship. McKenna practices from a trauma-informed lens and uses a person-centered approach to therapy that emphasizes empathy and unconditional positive regard.
McKenna has experience providing treatment to adolescents, adults, couples, groups, and families in a variety of settings, including a crisis center and a partial hospitalization program. Understanding that the needs of each client are unique, she utilizes an integrative approach to counseling for collaboratively treating trauma, anxiety, depression, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, substance use, relationship issues, and attachment issues. McKenna incorporates elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and expressive therapies to help clients work with their challenges and make meaningful change happen in their lives.
McKenna is committed to professional development and furthering her education. She is currently practicing toward licensure, under the supervision of Robyn Brickel, M.A., LMFT. She actively seeks out training and learning opportunities that will advance her skills in the field.