Dr. Michelle Emmerling
Currently doing in person and telehealth sessions
Dr. Emmerling strives to ensure that each client is addressed as an individual with unique perspectives and worldviews. With this understanding in mind, the therapeutic journey is specifically tailored to each person’s specific needs and goals and in conceptualized as a collaborative process. She strives to make sure that every client feels seen, heard, and understood so that they are able to feel safe enough to explore into their mental health concerns with an openness and curiosity. In addition, Dr. Emmerling sees her role as supporting the client to better understand their struggles, what is “blocking” them from the healing process and learning how to be more attuned to their inner world. She believes that no one is “unmotivated” for recovery or healing; instead, there is a competing motivation that is often hijacking them from being able to access what they need to begin the healing process.
Dr. Emmerling specializes in the assessment and treatment of Eating Disorders/Disordered Eating and Body Image Concerns. She also has expertise in working with perfectionism, emotional concerns and dysregulation, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, anxiety, social anxiety, relationship concerns, communication skills, self-harm, struggles with boundaries and assertiveness, and family/parenting struggles.
The main clientele that Dr. Emmerling works with are adolescents (12 and up) and adults. She also has a passion for working with caregivers who are supporting their loved one’s recovery. This is done in either a personal therapy or workshop format.
Dr. Emmerling has specific training from the world’s leading experts in Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Emotion-Focused Skills Training (EFST), and Somatic Experiencing and Body-based Skills. She also has in-depth training in Mindfulness Based Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Existential Humanistic Therapy, and Compassion based therapy. She is also a Emotion Focused Skills Trainer and Clinician and a Powered By Emotion Associate.
Dr. Emmerling works from a family based and systems model and as such, believes in empowering family members and caregivers/parents to take an active role in their loved one’s recovery. She believes the family is often the key to recovery if they are given the right skills and support to help their loved one navigate their struggles and emotional world. Dr. Emmerling uses Emotion-Focused Skills Training as her guiding framework supporting caregivers/parents to learn advanced caregiving skills to facilitate their loved one’s healing journey.
She has experience in a variety of settings including hospital, community, private practice, and non-profit where she has worked with people with various concerns across the lifespan. She has also worked as an adjunct professor at the University of Alberta and is a published author and researcher on topics such as eating disorders, memory, emotions and emotional dysregulation, interoceptive awareness, and the therapeutic relationship.
- Emotion-Focussed Therapy (EFT)
- Mindfulness-based Therapies
- Emotionally Focussed Couples Therapy (EFT)
- Emotion Focused Skills Training
- Emotion Focused Family Therapy
- Somatic Experiencing
- Existential Humanistic Therapy
- Adjunct Professor and guest lecturer at the University of Alberta
- Trained by world’s leading experts in Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Trained in EFST model and for Eating Disorders
EFST and/or Eating Disorder Trainings Offered
(EFST for Parents and Caregivers) – Stronger Together: Parenting with Awareness
At Emmerling Psychology, Dr. Michelle Emmerling offers parenting support through the Emotion Focused Skills Training (EFST) model—an approach that goes far beyond traditional parenting courses. Rather than focusing only on strategies or surface-level skills, EFST is about creating meaningful change from the inside out. It helps parents and caregivers build awareness of what emotionally “hijacks” them in difficult moments—the reactions, triggers, and internal blocks that can make it hard to stay present, connected, or consistent with boundaries.
This work invites a deeper understanding of yourself as a parent: what gets in the way of helping your child feel truly seen and heard, what makes it hard to hold or step back from boundaries, and how your own emotional experiences can shape your responses. As this awareness grows, something powerful begins to shift. When your own emotional pain and reactivity are no longer in the driver’s seat, you’re better able to respond to your child with clarity, compassion, and confidence. This creates the conditions for stronger, more secure relationships—and allows you to become the kind of support you may have always needed yourself.
EFST parenting support is offered in workshop formats, as well as individualized or co-parent sessions that are tailored to your unique family and needs. This is not about being a perfect parent—it’s about becoming a more aware, connected, and effective one. Reach out to learn more about how this approach can support you and your family.
EFST-P (EFST for Parents and Caregivers) - Stronger Together: Parenting with Awareness
At Emmerling Psychology, Dr. Michelle Emmerling brings over 15 years of experience working with Emotion-Focused approaches, with a deep passion for teaching and mentoring caregivers, parents, clinicians, and organizations. Her work is grounded in the Emotion Focused Skills Training (EFST) model, which she has integrated through a family-focused lens alongside Dr. Joanne Dolhanty. Over the years, Dr. Emmerling has delivered this work locally, nationally, and internationally, and is currently mentoring an eating disorder program in Queensland, Australia, supporting their treatment teams in implementing EFST in meaningful, sustainable ways.
At the heart of EFST is the NET model—Navigating Emotions, Enhancing Motivation, and Transforming Relationships. This framework offers a powerful shift in how we understand ourselves and others, whether in clinical work, parenting, caregiving, supervision, or team dynamics. It helps individuals recognize the emotional “triggers” or “hijacks” that can interfere with effective communication, connection, and boundary-setting. By increasing awareness of these internal processes, we can begin to change how we relate to others—creating space for people to feel more seen, heard, and understood, while also fostering meaningful shifts in behavior and symptoms.
Dr. Emmerling is deeply committed to making this work accessible and impactful. She offers EFST training through both in-person and virtual workshops, tailoring each experience to meet the unique needs of teams, organizations, and communities. Whether supporting clinicians in their professional growth or helping parents and caregivers reconnect with their capacity to support their loved ones, her approach is grounded, practical, and transformative.
Supporting Clinicians with EFST: Supervision and Consultation
Emotion-Focused Skills Training (EFST) isn’t just a tool for helping clients—it’s also a compassionate approach to supporting the therapists and clinicians who guide them. EFST in supervision and consultation creates a safe, reflective space where professionals can explore their emotions, grow their skills, and feel supported in the work they do.
A Human-Centered Approach to Supervision
Supervision with EFST goes beyond case notes and techniques. It focuses on the emotional experience of the therapist—the moments of doubt, frustration, or uncertainty that naturally arise when working with clients.
Through EFST-informed supervision, clinicians can:
- Explore their feelings in a safe, non-judgmental environment
- Notice and move through internal blocks like self-criticism or overwhelm
- Build self-compassion, confidence, and presence in session
This approach helps clinicians bring their full, authentic selves to their work—creating stronger connections with clients.
Enriching Case Consultation
EFST also transforms consultation. Instead of simply discussing “what to do,” EFST encourages reflection on the emotional dynamics at play—for both client and therapist.
Clinicians learn to:
- Identify patterns in clients’ emotional experiences that may be blocking change
- Recognize how their own responses shape the therapeutic process
- Practice interventions in real time, gaining confidence in their skills
The result is a deeper understanding of the work and a greater ability to respond with empathy and clarity.
Experiential Learning That Feels Alive
EFST supervision and consultation is hands-on and experiential. Clinicians engage in exercises such as:
- Guided emotional reflection
- Chair work to explore internal conflict or self-criticism
- Role-play and rehearsal of therapeutic interventions
- Supportive feedback rooted in empathy and attunement
This approach doesn’t just teach skills—it nurtures growth, resilience, and insight/awareness.
Nurturing Therapist Well-Being
By addressing the emotional challenges of clinical work directly, EFST supervision supports therapist well-being. Clinicians often notice:
- Reduced stress and burnout
- Increased clarity and confidence in their practice
- Stronger, more attuned connections with clients
Creating Meaningful Practice
EFST in supervision and consultation is about more than technique—it’s about cultivating presence, empathy, and emotional awareness in every session. It helps therapists connect with their clients and with themselves, fostering growth, compassion, and meaningful practice.