Emmy Vanichtheeranont

Licensed Professional Counselor, NCC, MS
(she / her)

In-Person & Virtual Sessions
Therapy for Teens 15+, Adults & Partners

A woman with long black hair smiling, sitting on a gray sofa in a living room, wearing a white and navy striped shirt.

Have you ever felt caught between who you are and who everyone else expects you to be? Maybe you feel things deeply, struggle to set boundaries without guilt, or find yourself putting others' needs ahead of your own. You might be navigating complicated family relationships, repeating patterns you thought you'd moved past, or wondering what you actually want for yourself. Whatever brings you here, we can work together to make sense of what's been keeping you stuck and find a way forward that feels right for you.

I'm Emmy, and I love helping people make sense of themselves and their relationships. I'm especially passionate about family-of-origin and intergenerational trauma, identity development, and the ways our early experiences influence how we see ourselves and connect with others.

As a second-generation Asian American therapist, I also bring an appreciation for the ways culture, family, and belonging can shape our identities. I believe it's possible to honor where you come from while making room for who you want to become.

Find me on Psychology Today

  • I specialize in working with adolescents and adults experiencing stress, anxiety, mood swings, life transitions, trauma concerns, and identity exploration. In couples therapy, I specialize in strengthening communication, intimacy/connection, and conflict resolution within the relationship.

  • I'm not here to just agree with you, but I'll always be on your team.

    I want therapy to feel like a real conversation, where you can be honest, think out loud, and explore things without worrying about saying the right thing. I'll take the time to understand your perspective, but I won't hesitate to offer a different one. Sometimes that means asking a question you haven't considered, pointing out a pattern, or gently challenging an assumption. I'll always approach those conversations with warmth, honesty, and respect for your ability to decide what's right for you.

  • Clients describe me to be warm, real, and passionate.

  • If you are considering therapy for the first time, or if you want to try someone new, I would be honored to embark on your mental health journey with you. Therapy with me is not performative, and the goal is not to be perfect but to be present. My approach to therapy balances warmth and gentle confrontation when necessary, but I will always be on Team You through it all.

  • I particularly enjoy working with highly sensitive people and those navigating intense emotions, complex trauma, borderline personality disorder (BPD), and challenging relationship dynamics. I'm comfortable sitting with difficult feelings, and I don't expect you to have everything figured out before we start. While diagnoses can be helpful, I don't believe any single label tells the whole story of who someone is.

Areas of Focus

Top Specialties:

  • Anxiety

  • Emotional Regulation

  • Culturally Sensitive Care

Areas of Expertise:

  • Asian American Mental Health

  • Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

  • Coping Skills

  • Child of Immigrant Complexities

  • Depression

  • Executive Functioning

  • Identity Exploration

  • Intergenerational Trauma & Healing

  • Life Transitions

  • Mood Disorders

  • Racial Identity

  • Relationship Issues

  • Relationship Therapy

  • Self Esteem

  • Stress & Burnout

  • Trauma & PTSD

Works With
Teens 15+, Adults & Partners

Schedule
Monday (Afternoon-Evenings)
Tuesday (Afternoon-Evenings)
Wednesday (Afternoon-Evenings)
Thursday (Afternoon-Evenings)

In Network With
BCBS PPO
Aetna PPO
Anthem Blue Cross PPO
Cigna/Evernorth PPO

Education
Master of Science in Clinical Counseling, Illinois Institute of Technology,
Gottman Method-trained

Personal Interests
I enjoy moving my body; I'm obsessed with hot yoga sculpt and running. I adore dancing with my friends at concerts, but also relaxing at home with a good book or movie. 

Therapy with Emily

Understanding why we do the things we do can be incredibly valuable. But I also want to help you figure out what to do with that understanding.

I incorporate Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and practical, individualized strategies to help you navigate emotions, build healthier relationships, develop sustainable routines, and reconnect with things that bring you joy. I'm also Gottman trained and enjoy helping couples better understand each other and work through conflict.

My hope is that therapy helps you feel more confident in who you are, more connected in your relationships, and better equipped to navigate life's challenges. We can make space for the difficult parts of your story while also working toward a life that feels more fulfilling, meaningful, and genuinely yours.

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured, goal-oriented type of talk therapy that can help manage mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, and emotional concerns, such as coping with grief or stress.

  • Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) addresses the mental health needs of people suffering from the destructive effects of early trauma.

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of talk therapy, specially adapted for people who experience emotions very intensely.

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a type of psychotherapy that helps you move beyond negative thoughts and feelings in a meaningful way by accepting that your thoughts and emotions are an appropriate response to certain situations and committing to making changes in your life that match your values.

  • Helps people resolve ambivalent feelings and insecurities to find the internal motivation they need to change their behavior.

  • Gottman Method Couples Therapy aims to disarm conflicting verbal communication, increase intimacy, respect, and affection, remove barriers that create a feeling of stagnancy, and create a heightened sense of empathy and understanding within the context of the relationship.

Schedule a Session or Consult

Interested in working together? Fill out the form, call (630) 940-6828 or email scheduling@paderatherapy.com. We also offer a 15-minute free phone consultation.

Insurance or Self Pay

Learn more about using your insurance. If we are an out-of-network provider or you do not have insurance, our rate is currently $135 for a 50-53 minute session. However, we also offer reduced rates in special circumstances. Finances should never be a deterrent for seeking help.

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