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Emily Priestaf, LMHC

Experienced mental health professional

Provides online counseling through BetterHelp

At a glance

Emily is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.

5.0 stars
Clients are very satisfied with Emily. View 13 reviews
Speaks English
Offers Telehealth visits
Licensed in Washington and Wisconsin

Recent reviews

Great listener isn’t annoyed when I’m repetitive

Reviewed August 2024

Been making a lot of progress thanks to my weekly appointment with Emily. She is great in regards to offering strategies to cope with overwhelming and irrational negative feelings, working with me through depressive episodes, and being supportive yet challenging me about my adhd behavioral struggles. Also, she does a great job being empathetic. I always feel comfortable with her and look forward to our sessions!

Reviewed November 2019

More about Emily

  • 10 years' experience
  • Female
  • LMHC, LPC

Hello! My name is Emily, and I’m a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) in the state of Washington, a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in the state of Wisconsin, and am a board certified music therapist (MT-BC) with an M.A. in clinical mental health counseling and music therapy.

If you are struggling to cope with difficult emotions or have experienced stressful life experiences, connecting with a therapist can equip you with skills and support. Additionally, working with a therapist can help you build awareness around yourself and your relationships. I care deeply about the relationship I establish with my clients. I am supportive, empathetic and nonjudgmental, bring warmth and compassion to the work and enjoy working collaboratively.

My treatment approach combines person-centered, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and creative practices. You are an individual and know yourself best, so I like to be able to give options for how we can work based upon what you are hoping to focus on for goals. If you are the kind of person who needs a sounding board, I can be that for you. If you are a person who needs structure and support, we can use more CBT. If you like more of a creative approach with music, art, or other expressive avenues, we can utilize those in the therapeutic process. If all or none of those sound like they would be a good fit, I would love to hear what you need and will support you, because again, you know yourself and your needs better than anyone else.

I will help you identify and meet your goals, challenge thought patterns, draw on your own strengths to problem solve and help you learn new tools to function effectively and fulfill your potential. I have a breadth of experience working with kids, teens, young adults, and adults. I look forward to hearing from you and learning about your challenges and goals for the future.

Specialties

Stress Anxiety LGBT Trauma and abuse Depression Family conflicts Sleeping disorders Parenting issues Self esteem Career difficulties First responder issues Gender dysphoria Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships Young adult issues

Treatment Approaches

  • Client-Centered Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Solution-Focused Therapy
  • Trauma-Focused Therapy

Licenses

Emily Priestaf's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1013326289.

  • LMHC · Washington · LH60848378 · Expires September 2025
  • LPC · Wisconsin · 7199-125 · Expires February 2025

About online counseling

Affordable.
Pay a low flat fee.
Convenient.
Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
Available now.
There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.

Online counseling, also known as teletherapy, is a method of delivering mental health services through digital means such as video conferencing, phone calls, or messaging platforms. It can be an ideal option for individuals who have difficulty accessing traditional therapy due to geographical distance, time constraints, or personal preferences like privacy and comfort. Many people find it easier to open up from the familiarity of their own space.

Teletherapy has been found to be highly effective, with studies showing that it can produce similar outcomes to in-person therapy, particularly for issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The flexibility and accessibility it offers make it a valuable alternative to conventional therapy settings.

Reviews for Emily Priestaf

All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.

Overall rating:

5.0

13 reviews

5
4
3
2
1

Clients mention: Great Grateful Comfortable Encouraging Helped Helping Professional Supportive Wonderful Anxiety

Great listener isn’t annoyed when I’m repetitive

Reviewed August 2024

Been making a lot of progress thanks to my weekly appointment with Emily. She is great in regards to offering strategies to cope with overwhelming and irrational negative feelings, working with me through depressive episodes, and being supportive yet challenging me about my adhd behavioral struggles. Also, she does a great job being empathetic. I always feel comfortable with her and look forward to our sessions!

Reviewed November 2019

Emily is great!

Reviewed November 2023

Therapy is really important to me. Though I prefer in person, I just can't find a therapist in my area who is taking new patients. So I turned to betterhelp.com. Emily's demeanor, communication skills, and professionalism come through right away, and alleviate my reluctance toward video chat therapy. I am comfortable with her, and can foresee ongoing weekly sessions that will take care of my needs and really help me help myself.

Reviewed July 2022

Emily has been a trusted lifeline for me through some really rough stuff. It is obvious how much she cares for people and how seriously she takes her work. I am always grateful for her help and hold her in the highest regard.

Reviewed February 2021

So wonderful

Reviewed August 2020

Emily is great. She is helping me with the parts of my depression that medication can’t help. I’m making huge progress already.

Reviewed July 2020

Emily's ability to gain visibility on the core blocks that hold me back from my wants/desires, has been noticeable from the very start. I always word vomit how I'm feeling, without any structure, and she always somehow brings it back in an organized and structured way that I could never create for myself. Every question almost that Emily has asked, along with the sequence, has illuminated entire blindspots that end up changing my life as soon as my brain knows to look out for that thing. The effects are instantaneous, our brain does the work for us once we know what to focus on - and Emily has absolutely given me those focus points. Thank you Emily!

Reviewed June 2020

Emily is absolutely outstanding. Every session I have I come out feeling refreshed and having tools to tackle life. I was so nervous to be vulnerable with someone professional but all she has done is curb that fear. For someone who saw herself as so broken and lost and only after just a few sessions seeing myself stronger and more willing to take advice, it’s stands as a testimony to counseling. I have far more work to do for myself but I’m much more excited for that now more than ever. I thank Emily so much, and I will continue to listen to her professional advice as long as she’ll have me!

Reviewed April 2020

Emily is wonderful! She is kind and caring and challenges you to think in different ways. By doing therapy with her, my life has improved significantly for the better and I feel for the first time in my life I have a handle on my anxiety and depression. She is encouraging, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work with her on this journey of therapy. She is a phenomenal therapist, and has made a positive difference in my life!

Reviewed January 2020

I have only been working with Emily Priestaf for about a week but she has already helped give me ideas on how to help beat my depression and get back into doing the things I love. She is very encouraging and helps talk me through what I’m feeling. Being back in therapy has helped a lot and I couldn’t be more grateful to have her as my therapist.

Reviewed July 2019

Emily has been incredibility helpful and supportive in the entire therapy process. She always listens fully to whatever is on my mind and provides useful strategies in helping me address my issues, so I can be successful in the future.

Reviewed April 2019

Emily has been a great resource and I’ve not only followed and used the tools she has recommended, but I have used the information to help get better. I’m grateful for her and for this app/program. If you’re looking for someone with knowledge, understanding, kindness and compassion - look no further than Emily.

Reviewed August 2018

How was your experience with Emily?

Frequently asked questions

Does Emily Priestaf offer telehealth visits?

Yes. Emily Priestaf works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.

What language(s) does Emily Priestaf speak?

Emily Priestaf speaks English.

How many years of experience does Emily Priestaf have?

Emily Priestaf has 10 years of experience.

Where is Emily Priestaf licensed to practice?

Emily Priestaf is licensed to practice in Washington and Wisconsin.

Does Emily Priestaf accept clients outside of the United States?

Yes, Emily Priestaf accepts clients outside of the United States.

Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?

Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."

What treatment approaches does Emily Priestaf offer?

Emily Priestaf offers clients Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Therapy.

How can I communicate with Emily Priestaf?

Emily Priestaf can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.

How do I get started with Emily Priestaf?

Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.

Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.

And recovery is possible.

Messaging
Live Chat
Phone
Video

When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.