Emily Weatherby Latta
MS, LMFT
Authentic Life Therapy
Helping you make genuine change
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
About Me
M.S. in Psychology
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
B.A. in Communication Studies
Westmont College
Welcome
Hello! I'm Emily Weatherby Latta (Weatherby is my legal name and Latta is my married name) and I am glad that we found each other. I'm a wife, mom, bonus mom, and adventurer. One of my favorite ways to recharge is doing something active in nature: mountain biking, snowboarding, trail running and hiking.
I enjoy working with adult individuals and couples in all stages of life, with an emphasis on helping those individuals who struggle with anxiety, depression, grieving a loss, desire to strengthen their self esteem/self image or need help transitioning through a difficult change. In addition to traditional cognitive behavioral therapy,and Gottman Couples Method, I utilize holistic therapy practices that include mindfulness, compassion and strength-based approaches, and somatic therapy (e.g. physical movement in walk-and-talk therapy). I am thrilled you found your way to me today so you can find the genuine change you have been searching for.
Who I work best with
My clients may not be sure what they need or how to heal but they know they need help. They see the benefit of seeking professional assistance in their quest to become their best self or in healing from a loss or other traumatic life events. My clients are open to working collaboratively with me on a regular basis; they are wiling to try various therapeutic strategies both in and out of session in order to be active participants in their healing process. They understand that healing takes time and therapy is not a quick fix (even though I wish it was!). My clients are the reason I do what I do. They are some of the bravest people I know. I consider it an honor and privilege to be a part of their process.
My approach to our work together
I have person-centered and compassionate approach to our work together and believe you already possess everything you need to achieve your goals. As your therapist, my role is to provide you with support, insight, and strategies; I will most likely even challenge you every once in a while. I don't believe that it should take months to experience progress so I use methods that offer benefits within a short amount of time. I use therapeutic strategies like cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and solution-focused coaching, as well as healing practices like mindfulness and meditation. In working with couples, I use Gottman Method Couples Therapy. You will be an active participant in your therapy and I will ask you to give me feedback so I know what is and/or is not working well for you.
Therapy Services
RELATIONSHIPS
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We grow in connection with others. I believe humans are born with an innate need to connect and yet humans are complicated, so connection with other humans in the form of relationship can be complicated. They have the potential to heal or harm us. I create a supportive space where you can discuss issues and solutions to strengthen and feel more positively about your most important relationships, whether with your romantic partner/s, friend/s, family, and/or self. I have completed Level 1 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and I use Gottman Method Couples Therapy in my work with couples.
SELF ESTEEM/
SELF IMAGE
So often we seek others and/or things to bring us happiness, calm our anxiety, or ________ (fill in the blank). While I believe that our circumstances and relationships greatly affect us, I believe everything is built upon the love, acceptance, and belief we have in ourselves. How can we believe and accept someone else's love if we don't love ourself? Building, or rebuilding, a sense of self-worth, confidence, and trust in one's self is necessary to healthy relationships with others and most importantly, with ourselves.
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“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we'll ever do." - Dr. Brene Brown
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WALK-AND-TALK
Exercise in therapy has been shown to decrease symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Additional benefits include improved mood and sleep patterns; increases in self-esteem, energy, and focus; and greater creativity. I don't believe walk-and-talk therapy is beneficial for everyone so I will work collaboratively with the client/s to decide, after the initial intake sessions, if it would be a good fit for you. After experience leading backpacking trips in the Sierras with teens, and researching wilderness therapy programs, I have wanted to integrate exercise, nature, and therapy for years and although COVID-19 has been really difficult, I am grateful for the push it gave me to make walk-and-talk therapy happen.
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ANXIETY & DEPRESSION
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One of the deepest forms of suffering we create for ourselves is believing, “Something is wrong with me.” Chronic self-judgment, depression, anxiety, and shame can make it challenging to live with balance and purpose. Suffering is often worsened by isolation and disconnection from our emotional pain, which are both classic symptoms of anxiety and depression. I use a compassion-based approach and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help change core beliefs and create new neuropathways that allow us to be a better version of our authentic self.
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COLLEGE/
LIFE TRANSITIONS​
Many people have a love/hate relationship with change that can be confusing, often filled with seemingly opposing emotions: excitement, fear, risk, the desire for stability and predictability, and a desire to mix things up and try something new. Whether it be college, a move, a new job, becoming a parent, getting married, divorce, retirement, or any other life transition you find yourself needing help to process and move through, therapy can be extremely helpful. A mantra you will hear me say often is, "If you want different you have to DO different." Doing different can be hard and scary...AND also has the potential to be amazing and better than you can imagine.
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GRIEF & LOSS​
I view grief as loss of any kind, whether it be from death, divorce, a job – basically anything that finds you in a place in life you did not desire, choose, or imagine. Everyone grieves differently, so it is important to know what you need to be able to grieve well, or perhaps it would be helpful to understand how to best support a loved one who is grieving. Grief can be a lifelong process and is not something we ever "achieve" or "conquer." Accepting something your soul seems to want to reject can feel impossible. With time and work, the intensity, duration, and frequency can lessen. Humans are incredibly resilient and I consider it an honor to help you move through your grief process. To regain strength and hope and fully LIVE.
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BLENDED FAMILY DYNAMICS
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Blending a family can be a challenging and lonely experience for everyone involved. I work with adult individuals and/or couples at various stages of the process of unifying their unique families together. The process of blending families takes time, often longer than we expect and/or like. I provide a safe space and support to help you process difficult feelings and expectations you may have of yourself, partner, kid/s, and/or stepkid/s.
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PREMARITAL
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Marriage is one of the most important decisions a couple can make. Seeking therapy together as a couple after the decision to marry has been made can be a helpful part of the process in preparation for the big transition marriage will bring. Discussing expectations, exploring family of origin rules and cultures, and looking at the couple's dance during conflict are all a part of premarital counseling.
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GET IN TOUCH
Tel: (805) 316-1544
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I also offer online therapy via Zoom​