Marriage & family therapist, couples therapist, family therapist, therapist, Gottman therapist, EMDR therapist, IFS therapist, sex therapist, Philadelphia, Philly LMFT

Emma Carpenter, LMFT

You’re feeling disconnected from the people who matter most—your partner, your family, even yourself. Communication has broken down, past wounds keep resurfacing, and you’re stuck in the same painful cycles. I work with individuals, couples, and families who are struggling to hold their relationships together under the weight of stress, conflict, or emotional distance. My approach is direct, compassionate, and collaborative, using real-life tools to give you lasting changes you can have relationships that feel fulfilling again.

My Focus

You’re feeling the strain. Maybe your relationship is filled with tension, distance, or painful patterns that keep repeating. You’re arguing more, communicating less, or feeling uncertain about your future together. Perhaps you're stuck in the overwhelm of career pressure, financial stress from student loans, or the weight of delayed life milestones like marriage or starting a family. If you grew up with emotionally unavailable parents, you might also be struggling to feel safe in relationships or constantly second-guessing your worth. And you’re adding the idea of parenting which can feel isolating—especially when you’re trying to stay connected with your partner while managing the emotional demands of your kids.

You want something more. You want to feel close again—to rebuild trust, communicate clearly, and feel secure in your relationship. You want to heal from the past, stop carrying emotional burdens that were never yours, and create healthier patterns moving forward. You want to feel grounded in yourself, confident in your decisions, and supported in your connections—with your partner, your family, and your own inner voice. You’re ready for a relationship that feels safe, resilient, and emotionally fulfilling.

That’s where I come in. I specialize in working with millennial and modern couples navigating relational stress, life transitions, and intimacy challenges. Using the research-backed Gottman Method, I help couples improve communication, manage conflict, and deepen emotional and physical intimacy. For individuals healing from complex trauma or emotionally immature family systems, I use Internal Family Systems (IFS) and EMDR to gently process pain, build self-compassion, and support lasting emotional healing. I also work with families to improve communication, resolve intergenerational patterns, and strengthen the parent-couple bond. With advanced training in sex therapy and sexology, I offer an inclusive, affirming space for LGBTQ+ clients and those exploring consensual non-monogamy (ENM). Together, we’ll work to restore connection—in your relationships, and within yourself.

Through our work together, you can look forward to:

  • Increasing your self-esteem and confidence

  • Building secure attachments that make you feel safe within your relationships

  • Healing from past traumas and managing the transitions life throws your way

  • Overcoming challenging relational issues and finding harmony in your connections

I provide appointments at our Philadelphia office along with the option for online sessions for residents of both New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

My rate per 50-minute session is $180 for individuals, $200 for couples

My Specialties

relationships

Using Gottman Method and family systems approaches, I help clients understand what it takes to have healthy, happy, lasting relationships with those they love

Trauma

Clients struggling from past traumas will be provided a safe space and given the tools and understanding needed to heal using IFS and EMDR therapies

life transitions

The mental and emotional toll of life transitions can cause depression, anxiety, and self-doubt, all of which I help my clients overcome so they can live their best life

attachment

Forming a secure attachment is essential for building strong relationships and self-esteem, so I guide clients through the process of healing insecure attachments

virtual mental health therapy

trainings & education


  • MA Counseling Psychology, concentration in Marriage & Family Therapy

  • National Certified Counselor

  • AAMFT Supervisor Candidate

  • Level 3 Gottman Method Trained

  • EMDR Trained

  • Trauma & Attachment

  • Sex & Sexology

  • Eco-Therapy

  • Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)