ADHD, anxiety, perfectionism, self-esteem, parent coaching, maternal mental health including prenatal and postpartum struggles
Emily Steffen
How I Can Help
Pronouns:
She/her
Clients Seen:
Teens, Young Adults, Parents
Specialized Training:
Yoga Training, ADHD, Maternal Mental Health
First Things First
Good therapy starts with an honest and authentic connection. I am here to co-create a space where you feel safe to be yourself. I will be consistent, non-judgemental, direct, and kind. We will work together to build your resilience, tackle life’s challenges head-on, and help you to become the best version of yourself. I believe that the foundation of effective therapy lies in a strong, trusting relationship, and I am committed to ensuring that we’re the right fit for your goals and needs.
I work with teens, college students, young adults, and parents to help them tackle challenges like anxiety, mood disorders, perfectionism, relationship struggles, trauma, self-esteem issues, ADHD, and big life changes. With my background as a high school teacher and athletic coach, I deeply understand the pressures and responsibilities that come with striving for success.
What To Expect From Our Work Together
In our sessions, I’ll use a mix of honesty, empathy, and directness to help you see where you’re stuck, figure out what’s in your way, and identify what you really want out of your life. I’m here to help you create actionable steps to help get where you want to go. You are the expert of your own life, and I’m here to support you in finding the best way forward. I’ll bring patience, consistency, and a steady, non-judgmental approach to our work—because that’s what I truly believe will help you thrive.
As a parent of young children, I have a personal passion for maternal mental health and supporting parents in overcoming the guilt and stress that often accompany the challenge of prioritizing self-care and finding balance. I am currently completing certification in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C) and specialize in working with new mothers and women navigating the postpartum period. I also have experience coaching parents of school-aged children and teenagers who struggle with anxiety, depression, and ADHD.
What You Need to Know About Me
I have been through my own fair share of challenges—burnout after a decade of teaching high school and coaching competitive sports, navigating postpartum health struggles, and learning how to reorient my life and career along the way. I intimately understand how it feels to merely survive and not thrive. It has not been easy, but all of my challenges have taught me how important it is to reconnect with my values and to prioritize what really matters. Spending time with my husband, two kids, and friends has helped me find balance, explore new passions like tennis, pickleball, and yoga, and rediscover a commitment to building a life that is rooted in my desire for genuine connection, self-care, honesty, empathy, and growth.
I grew up in the Chicago suburbs, attended college in Colorado, and earned my degrees in English and Film Studies before pursuing my Master of Arts in Clinical Social Work from the University of Chicago. I completed my clinical training at Compass Health Center and have worked as a therapist in private practice with children and teenagers (ages 4-18) and their parents. My therapeutic approach is rooted in psychodynamic and client-centered principles, and I am extensively trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). When I’m not working, you’ll probably find me chasing my toddlers around, trying to catch up on sleep, or unwinding on my couch with my dog and a good book.