My Story

Hello! I’m Emily Ferrara. I’m the founder and director of Simplify Life Counseling + Coaching. My journey to becoming a therapist came from my own lived experiences as a child who struggled with undiagnosed social anxiety and OCD along with chronic medical issues.  I can remember feeling stuck in constant mental anxiety loops but never having a way to name or address them.  Feeling ashamed that I couldn't "think" or pray or do my way out of it, I learned to perform and achieve to feel better, but it was never enough.  And even though I didn't have the answers, I longed to break free from anxiety's prison.  In my 20’s I learned about my specific diagnosis and the best treatments for it. Receiving this information gave me hope and a desire to help others so that they don’t have to struggle like I did for so many years. I've devoted my life's work to researching, understanding, and addressing clinical anxiety in kids, teens, and adults so they too can live with greater freedom!

How I work

While having a diagnosis is helpful, it’s not your identity! In therapy, it's really important that you feel like a unique person, not a number and not just your diagnosis. As your therapist, using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), I serve as a guide who helps you learn about the connection between your brain, feelings, negative thought patterns, and behaviors.  By using assessments to gauge progress, I love when clients can confidently see their progress over our time of working together.

And whether it's a teen or adult, I am doing a good job when I'm ultimately out of a job.  Meaning, that I want to give you the tools you need to succeed and then implement them in your everyday life and relationships.  

About Emily

When I'm not counseling, I'm usually with my extroverted husband and very active daughter either having dance parties in our home, watching Bluey, or going to the park. My husband and daughter keep me on my toes and laughing more times than not. Working out, going to church and spending time with friends/family are other activities that refill my cup throughout the week. My husband is an avid marathon runner so when we can, I love traveling to different cities or countries to cheer him on and sightsee too!

Emily’s counseling session fee is $250 per 50-minute session.

{Currently offering in person or virtual sessions}

Who I Help:

• Female Tweens/Teens

• Female Young Professionals and Adults

I Specialize In:

• Anxiety

• OCD

• Social anxiety/phobias

• Work/Life Balance

How I Work:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Family Systems

My Education + Certification:

• Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Family Studies with a Child Life Therapy Concentration from Samford University

• Masters of Arts in Counseling from Dallas Theological Seminary

• PhD in Christian Counseling from International University