Emily Cranston

About Emily

Thank you for allowing me to be the one you share your story with. Life can be really difficult and at times it can be even more difficult to remember that you don’t have to do life alone. One of the many joys that I experience from being a therapist is when my clients are able to come out of their shell, allow themselves to be vulnerable, and realize that they can trust somebody else when there might not have been many people in their lives that they were able to trust.

I have known that I wanted to be a therapist since I was a teenager and realized the life that I was living was not a “normal” life. I mean what is normal anyway? I have experienced some of the challenges that often accompany loving someone that struggles with both mental health and substance use issues. Which is why both mental health and substance use are two areas that I am passionate about. I remember growing up wishing that I had somebody to talk to who would understand or just be there when I needed them; I didn’t have that because I was invalidated and given the message that it is not okay to talk about how you are feeling. I’m sure many of you have experienced this too. Well, your experience is valid; your emotions are valid, and I want to be that safe person for you.

I can’t wait to support you and share this journey with you!

Sessions With Emily

I hope that my office becomes your safe place. I don’t have all the answers, but I will be here with you every step of the way to find those answers and to support you. I can’t “fix” you because that would imply that you are broken, and you are not broken; no matter what you’ve been told or what message you have been given. You may be struggling right now and that is okay; I cannot wait to support you and share those struggles with you. I will remind you again and again that you are not alone. I believe in being transparent with my clients because the therapeutic relationship is the foundation for therapy. I use a person-centered therapeutic approach, meaning you lead the session. I will provide a nonjudgmental environment and unconditional positive regard. Let’s learn together, heal, and grow through the discomfort!

Specialties And Training

I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stout with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and two specific areas of concentration- child and adolescents and substance use. During my time in school, throughout my field experience, and during my internships, my decision to become a therapist has never wavered; it has only been reinforced time and time again. I love watching my clients make that connection, like that aha moment, being able to finally put the pieces together. I love seeing and talking with people about the progress that they’ve made throughout their time in therapy, because sometimes it can be hard to recognize when we’ve spent so much time focusing on what isn’t going well rather than what is going well. My personal favorite though, is when my clients come in and tell me that they’re using the skills and strategies that we’ve discussed and “they actually worked,” as if they doubted that they would. Having doubts is normal though; I believe it is just another part of the process.