Emily C. Engel, Psy.D. PLLC

When it comes to your life, you are not just the artist, but the masterpiece as well.
- Cleo Wade -

Text

Welcome

Pursuing mental health care is a courageous and well-deserved step. Whether you seek a safe place to heal from past experiences, improve connection in relationships or cope with emotional challenges, I am honored to walk beside you.

I am pleased to offer individual and family psychotherapy as well as consultative services to Charlotte, North Carolina and the surrounding areas. I serve children through adults and specialize in anxiety, depression, trauma and addiction recovery. Beyond my private practice, I provide education and trauma response services to local community members. It is my privilege to serve individuals from diverse backgrounds. I am a LGBTQ+ affirming and antiracist therapist with services available in English and Spanish.

Please feel free to explore this site, and reach out if I can be of assistance. I look forward to connecting!

Warmly,

Dr. Engel

The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.
- Carl Rogers

Text

About

Dr. Engel’s favorite subjects in grade school were History and English. Even as a child, the resilience of the human spirit individually and in community fascinated her. She poured over Anne Frank's diary, debated implications of child labor during the Industrial Revolution, and was inspired by Harriet Tubman's heroism. These interests led her to study Psychology, Sociology and Spanish at Villanova University, where Dr. Engel participated in a service learning community that provided care to families in need in Philadelphia, PA. Witnessing the interaction between academia’s social sciences and families’ own lived experiences in the face of adversity reinforced her drive to serve in a clinical capacity.

Dr. Engel earned her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Long Island University - C.W. Post in NY. As an intern at Queen’s Children’s Psychiatric Center, Dr. Engel worked with children and families in inpatient, school, and outpatient settings. At North Shore-Long Island Jewish Medical Center’s Division of Trauma Psychiatry, she provided evidence-based interventions to crime victims, military and law enforcement individuals and their families, who were experiencing a variety of anxiety, substance use and sleep difficulties. As a member of the Red Cross: Disaster Mental Health Institute, Dr. Engel also helped develop the C.W. Post Trauma Response Team, a community disaster response training program, and provided services for 9/11 families, first responders and other survivors of community traumas. In fact, Dr. Engel’s trauma response work was honored by the American Psychological Association, Div 12, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, and Long Island Business News.

Dr. Engel was excited to move to Charlotte with her family, and has been in practice locally since 2010. In her practice, she believes that each therapeutic journey is founded upon a collaborative, warm and respectful relationship. In session, she may be informal, encouraging, and/or challenging, and she always welcomes your feedback as you work toward your goals. Dr. Engel believes that each therapeutic journey is unique, and is privileged to accompany you as you build a life of healing, growth, and meaning.

There is no wholeness outside our reciprocal humanity.
- Bryan Stevenson

Text

Psychotherapy

Dr. Engel is pleased to provide individual and family psychotherapy services to children, adolescents and adults. Beginning at the initial consultation, she collaborates with clients about their treatment goals and plan. Dr. Engel incorporates various evidence-based approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral therapies, dialectical behavior therapy, family systems and insight-oriented therapies, as appropriate. With children, therapy may involve play while therapy with teens may incorporate games and frank discussion. With clients of all ages, Dr. Engel seeks to develop a trusting, authentic relationship in which clients can explore, improve relationships, and make desired life changes.

Examples of Issues Addressed In Therapy

- Anxiety
- Depression
- Trauma/Grief
- Addiction
- Sleep
- Attention
- Anger Management
- Coping with Chronic Medical Conditions
- Divorce/Family Relationships
- Social Difficulties
- Parenting Concerns
- Sexual and Gender Identity
- Body Image

Be patient toward all that is unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves...Live the questions now.
- Rainer Maria Rilke

Text

Presentations

Dr. Engel is available to speak to community members about a range of mental health topics. She offers formal presentations as well as more informal discussions in a variety of contexts such as schools, parent groups, physicians’ offices, places of worship, treatment centers, and other community organizations. Please contact Dr. Engel for a list of available topics and related details.

Vulnerability is our most accurate measurement of courage.
- Brené Brown

Text

Trauma Response & Recovery

It is Dr. Engel's sincere passion and privilege to facilitate others' healing from various traumas and tragedies. She offers trauma response and therapeutic services to community members following a range of traumas and crises (suicide, tragic loss, sexual abuse, natural disasters, racial trauma, combat, first responders, school violence, etc.).

Dr. Engel was fortunate to be trained in mental health first responding through the Red Cross: Disaster Mental Health Institute, Dr. Thomas Demaria, Director of the World Trade Center Family Center and C.W. Post Trauma Response Team, and the Division of Trauma Psychiatry at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York. In addition, Dr. Engel’s past trauma response work has been recognized by the American Psychological Association, Div. 12, the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum and Long Island Business News.

Following a crisis, it is often helpful for the community to receive professional guidance to best enhance recovery in survivors. Dr. Engel meets with affected children, parents, staff members, leadership, etc, and supports each of them in their roles. Services include Psychological First Aid, organizational consultation, psychoeducation and crisis counseling.

For many, more personalized psychotherapeutic approaches allow for greater healing. Individual offerings include Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT), Cognitive Behavior Therapy for PTSD, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Exposure Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS). All approaches are evidence-based and incorporated into healing work that is collaborative, validating and empowering.

Dr. Engel welcomes you to contact her for more information.

Text

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.
- Maya Angelou

Fees

Fees: Fees vary depending upon the service requested, and are due at the time of service. Please note that payment is ultimately your financial responsibility. Feel free to contact Dr. Engel for more information.

Insurance: Dr. Engel does not contract with managed care companies, and is considered an “Out-of-Network” provider. As such, payment is due at the time of session. Clients with insurance coverage may then request a statement of payments to submit to their insurance provider for Out-of-Network reimbursement. Before utilizing this option, clients should inquire with their insurance provider about their Out-of-Network mental health benefits as well as other payment options such as a health savings or flexible spending plan. If you have any questions about navigating your benefits, please feel free to ask Dr. Engel.

Text