Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Weller.
Hi Emily, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Curiosity and desperation were the key ingredients to the recipe of my life and career. I was raised in Woodstock in a big, homeschooled family, by an eccentric mother which fostered a creative but slightly abnormal outlook on life. I graduated from Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor’s in Communication and Minor in Women & Gender Studies. Dreams of hosting a radio show (podcasts were not a thing back then) were clouding the reality of where that degree could take me. Thus, I ended up meandering through everything from night clubs and bartending to eventually finding myself in a relatively successful role in medical sales in Optometry. I worked two jobs to barely keep health insurance, and pay off my student loans. Eventually, the paychecks and security from my jobs wore down my mental health. I was depressed, unfulfilled and found myself fantasizing about walking out of my cubicle into the abyss. I put my social skills and curiosity to good use when I began asking people out to lunch with the intention of learning about their careers. One hour with an older, rough and tumble therapist inspired me to pursue a career in the helping profession. After receiving my Sex Coaching certification, I decided I wanted to take the risk and apply for a Master’s program for counseling. I got a job at a treatment center to bolster my resume and got to work. That process started in 2019. Six years and thousands of hours of training, education and experience later, I am finally living a life that feels balanced, fulfilling and no longer desperate. The curiosity remains and fuels me in every hour that I get to meet with my therapy clients. I am currently an Associate Professional Counseling under supervision, working at two private practices and building my own brand. It has been a long road but each step of the way, I have gained clarity, compassion and enthusiasm for this work.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The journey from working two unfulfilling jobs and actually starting my career in counseling was fraught with rejection, road blocks, and self-doubt. In order to apply to a Master’s program for counseling, I had to go back and retake classes for my Bachelor’s degree that I had received years earlier. My grades were not good enough and I was missing credits. I spent a year saving for school, taking classes, and working on my coaching certification while working at a treatment center for sex offenders. I interviewed for the Master’s programs and got rejected by every program the first round. I was told I came off too “sales-y” and inauthentic. In service and sales jobs, I had been praised and rewarded for my charm, but was wholly rejected for it in this arena. I had to wait another year to apply again. At that time, my partner was emotionally very supportive through my self-doubt spirals but eventually he told me I needed to go see a therapist to give me more solid support. I went back and saw that therapist I had had lunch with months prior. He was not a warm and fuzzy guy, but the care he provided was deeply therapeutic. I had to work through my low self-esteem, fear, and trauma in order to stay focused on my goals. In 2021, I received my coaching certification and I finally got accepted into the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at University of North Georgia. The three years I spent there were transformational, but exhausting. Not only do the professors educate, but they also provide poignant feedback on you as a person. This type of training and challenge, pushed me to be more confidence, compassionate and ultimately prepared me for the work I get to do today.
We’ve been impressed with Sundance Counseling, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Sundance Counseling is my private practice for counseling and therapy, but I am supervised by Skye McIntyre at SkyeHelps Counseling in Dahlonega where I see clients two days a week. I also see clients virtually all over the state of Georgia and at Indigo Therapy in Kennesaw. In all of these practices, I see people who are dealing with everything from anxiety to career concerns, but I specialize in Trauma, Addiction and Sex Therapy. I am known for my ability to connect with each individual in an intentional way and provide authentic connection to help foster healing. What sets me apart is how I use my own flawed, humorous, painful human experience and extensive psychological training to help people understand themselves and eventually have fulfilling, self-lead lives. I am most proud of the growth and healing of the people I get to help and support. I want people to know that no matter how small or big your problems are, we all need support, compassion and clarity to make it through this wild world today. I provide in-person and virtual individual, partnered/couples, and group counseling. In the future, I plan to expand my services to provide a space for deeper community building.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
As a therapist, it is my job to hold space for others and not make it about me. So there is probably a great deal that people would be surprised to know about me. I am an unapologetically silly and unserious hippy. I have aspirations to do stand-up comedy in the future, but currently I am writing a psychological fiction based on my life. In my spare time, I listen to reggae and create stained glass artwork. Finding balance between the deep work that I do and the joys of life is incredibly important to me. Seeking out humor, playfulness and creativity is my hobby and lifestyle.
Pricing:
- Individual $150
- Couples $150
- Guest Speaking from $400
- Sex Education from $400
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/emily-weller-kennesaw-ga/1427577
- Instagram: Sundance_Counseling
