Licensed Marriage and Family Counselor and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor

Kirsten Emery

MS, LMFT, CADC
Therapy for Individuals, Couples and Families ages 18+

As a family and systems therapist, I’m passionate about helping people uncover how past experiences may be shaping their present. Together, we’ll connect the dots between where you’ve been and where you want to go, so you can move toward the life you envision for yourself. Watching clients use these insights to create real, positive change is one of the most meaningful parts of my work.

My style is both empathetic and direct. I’ll help you identify patterns that no longer serve you, while also equipping you with practical tools to find relief in the here and now. Every client’s journey is unique, so we’ll create a personalized path to healing — no cookie-cutter treatment plans, just what works best for you.

I specialize in working with people navigating substance use, eating disorders, body image concerns, depression, and anxiety. I also support individuals living with personality disorders, as well as those impacted by loved ones who struggle with them. As a systemic therapist, I have a special interest in supporting clients exploring polyamorous and alternative relationships, BDSM, and kink, with a focus on sex positivity, consent, and healing from attachment trauma.

A little about me:
Outside the therapy room, you’ll often find me browsing bookstores, diving into fantasy or speculative fiction, writing, or spending time outdoors. I also love being with my husband and our parrot, Gizmo — who keeps us endlessly entertained with his goofy personality.

Top Specialties:

  • Addiction

  • Consensual Nonmonogamy

  • Eating Disorders

  • Sex-Positive, Kink Allied, BDSM

Areas of Expertise:

  • Alcohol Use

  • Anger Management

  • Antisocial Personality

  • Behavioral Issues

  • Bipolar Disorder

  • Body Positivity

  • Borderline Personality (BPD)

  • Chronic Relapse

  • Codependency

  • Depression

  • Drug Abuse

  • Dual Diagnosis

  • Eating Disorders & Body Shame

  • Emotional Disturbance

  • Family Conflict

  • Gambling

  • Impulse Control Disorders

  • LGBTQ+ Issues & Identity

  • Life Transitions

  • Men's Issues

  • Mood Disorders

  • Narcissistic Personality (NPD)

  • Obesity

  • Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD)

  • Open Relationships Non-Monogamy

  • Peer Relationships

  • Personality Disorders

  • Relationship Issues

  • Self Esteem

  • Self-Harming

  • Sexual Addiction

  • Stress

  • Substance Use

  • Suicidal Ideation

  • Teen Violence

  • Video Game Addiction

  • Women's Issues

I’m in network with:

Licensed provider in Illinois and Wisconsin.

Aetna

Anthem

BCBS PPO

Cigna / Evernorth

United Healthcare

Call (630) 940-6828 or email scheduling@paderatherapy.com to set up an appointment or schedule a 15-minute free phone consultation.

  • 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.

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

  • Used commonly as a treatment for OCD, the exposure component of ERP refers to practicing confronting the thoughts, images, objects, and situations that make you anxious and/or provoke your obsessions.

  • 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.

  • Narrative therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on helping individuals understand and change their life stories.

  • MBSR is an evidence-based program designed to reduce stress & enhance wellbeing through mindfulness practices.

  • An attachment-based approach looks at the connection between a person’s early attachment experiences with primary caregivers - and the person’s ability to develop normally and ultimately form healthy emotional and physical relationships as an adult.

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

“I am passionate about helping clients uncover ways in which their past experiences might be holding them back from embracing the life they want for themselves.”

— Kirsten Emery

Questions about insurance?

Give us a call or email scheduling@paderatherapy.com. We can often work with insurance companies if we are out-of-network. If we are an out-of-network provider or you do not have insurance, our rate is currently $135.00 for a 53 minute session. However, we also offer reduced rates in special circumstances. Finances should never be a deterrent for seeking help! We work with families to come up with a number that works for you.