Therapy for people who are trying to stay human in a hard world.

Queer-affirming relational therapy for adults navigating identity, relationships, and the emotional weight of this political moment.

Now Accepting new clients

I’m Emma. I work primarily with people who are carrying a lot. Old patterns, complicated relationships, painful histories, the quiet weight of everyday life. 

In our work together, we slow things down. We make room for grief, worry, confusion, anger. We tend to the hurt. We look at the narratives that aren’t serving you, and rewrite them together. 

My job isn’t to fix you or push you toward some polished version of yourself. It’s to sit with you in the complexity, and to help you feel less alone inside it.

About Me

For many people, having an overlap
in identities can be important.

Here are some identities I navigate and am happy to share:

  • I’m a queer parent living in Philly.

  • I’m part of an interracial family, raising a multiracial child.

  • I’m Jewish (Ashkenazi and Sephardi/Mizrahi) and I oppose the occupation of Palestine.

  • My family is from Eastern Europe and the SWANA (Southwest Asian North African) diaspora, specifically Iran and Iraq.

  • I’m a second-generation American and
    grew up with an immigrant parent.

I’m a relational psychotherapist, which
means I’m interested in your relationships
and how they shape your life.

This also means that our therapeutic relationship is the main tool for your growth and healing. When you feel heard and validated, it gives you the foundation to build healthy relationships with yourself and others.

I’m not the kind of therapist who sits back and scribbles on a notepad. I believe that you’re the expert of your life and I’m here to support you — to hold the map, flashlight, and the bag of snacks.

For more information on my therapeutic approach, click here.

What Informs My Practice

My practice is an amalgamation of my education, training, work experience, and personal interests.

  • My undergraduate career focused on intersectional queer and feminist theory, history, and literature.

  • I trained in social work at Hunter College, a public university in New York City known for its commitment to social justice and anti-oppressive social work practice.

  • In my pre-therapist former life, I was a teaching artist, workshop facilitator, and nonprofit program coordinator.

  • I have always loved media and pop culture. I’ve been known to quote a meme in session and would love to know what TV show you’re currently watching.

  • I’m kink positive, fat positive, and pleasure positive. I affirm poly and queer identities.

FAQs

Starting therapy can be a bit daunting. To make things easier, I’ve put together a list of frequently asked questions.

  • At this time, I do not take insurance. As an out-of-network provider, I provide my clients monthly documents (superbills) that they submit to insurance for partial reimbursement. For more on this, click here.

  • I’m currently seeing clients online via a secure telehealth platform.

  • My fee is $170/session. However, I know that times are hard right now and some folks may need to pay a lower fee. We can discuss this further in our consultation.

Click here for more FAQs

Contact Me

Taking the step to seek therapy is huge and reaching out is a big part of that journey. If you have any questions or want to learn more about my approach, feel free to contact me.

Emma Shakarshy, LCSW
530-430-7896 | emmashakarshylcsw@gmail.com
Philadelphia, PA, 19144
License #CW021872
NPI #1417465972