Meet Our New Intern: Emma Doran

Hi everyone! My name is Emma Doran and I am currently in my second year at the University of Minnesota in the Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology masters program. I graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor’s of science degree in Psychology and a minor in Neuroscience. Being very interested in the mind-body connection, or the link between a person’s thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors, and physical health, I became a certified personal trainer and register yoga teacher (RYT-200) in order to help people discover this. Doing so allowed me to discover my love for helping people and seeing growth in their own personal lives. This quickly led to my current passion for counseling. Since then I have thrown myself into my education. 

My interests in counseling currently lie in the areas of grief/loss, anxiety, and emotional regulation, trauma-based counseling. Grief is something everyone will encounter in a lifetime, and I am particularly interested in the common behavior patterns we experience that help or harm us in the grieving process. I am very drawn to helping clients create meaning through their losses and adjusting to their new normal. Furthermore, many individuals may experience some sort of trauma throughout their development and I take interest in how childhood trauma plays a role in adult development and behavioral diagnosis associated with such childhood experiences.

I am a big supporter of Animal Assisted therapy. Animal Assisted Therapy is when animals, such as horses, dogs, cats, pigs, and birds are used in goal-directed treatment sessions. I have found in my personal life that animal interaction can provide a sense of calm, comfort, or safety and divert attention away from a stressful situation. Research shows how developing a bond with an animal can help both adults and children stabilize their emotions, develop a better sense of self-worth and trust, and improve their communication and socialization skills. I have a registered therapy dog, named Rocky, who has begun working with anxious and stressed students to find a place of calm through the nonjudgmental and unconditional love of a dog. 

I chose WildTree Psychotherapy because of the warm and welcoming practice. Immediately upon entering, I felt a sense of acceptance, encouragement, and an environment perfect to foster emotional wellness and growth. I stand behind their beliefs of the importance of the mind-body connection and creating a personalized treatment style that best fits their clients. Wild Tree is a practice full of professionally trained, compassionate therapists who are dedicated to helping clients on their journey to wellness.

I became a counselor because of my passion for seeing growth in people. Through fostering an environment of mindfulness and self-awareness, I am excited to join you on your journey of self-growth, enhancing your mind-body connection and overall life satisfaction.

By: Emma Doran, BS