Therapy shouldn’t be scary.

Emily Fenster, LCSW, CEDS

I offer psychotherapy for families, teens, & adults.

Interested in working together? Reach out for a free & confidential 15-minute phone screening:

510-210-3917

emilyfensterlcsw@gmail.com

More about me

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience providing psychotherapy to individuals and families. I specialize in helping people recover from eating disorders, build a more peaceful relationship with food and their bodies, and feel more at home in themselves. My work is grounded in a trauma-informed approach and also addresses concerns such as anxiety, depression, and ADHD that often intersect with disordered eating. I am a certified eating disorder specialist (CEDS), FBT certified, and EMDR trained.

In addition to individual therapy, I work closely with parents and families. I help caregivers strengthen communication, deepen connection, and navigate the challenges of supporting a child with an eating disorder with greater confidence and clarity.

My approach is collaborative and tailored to each person’s unique needs. I create a space where clients feel safe to open up at their own pace, feel understood and supported, and where meaningful, lasting change can unfold over time.

Treatment Modalities

I offer many different treatment approaches. We can work together to figure out which approach works best for you. Click the drop-down menu to the right to learn more about each method.

  • Learn to relate to your thoughts in a new way. Unhooking from unhelpful thoughts and patterns can allow you to live your life according to your most important values. By staying present and embracing flexibility, ACT can help you create psychological distance from thoughts that are getting in your way.

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) involves understanding the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Through this process, you'll learn to develop replacement thoughts and behaviors that promote improved emotional well-being.

  • DBT focuses on accepting yourself as you are in this moment while also developing more effective skills in mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance.

  • Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present in the moment, aware of your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings without judgment. It helps you connect with the here and now, fostering a sense of calm and clarity.

  • Ambivalence about change is normal. Motivational Interviewing (MI) can help you explore the pros and cons of making changes, guiding you toward decisions that align with your goals and values.

  • Health at Every Size (HAES) is an approach that promotes health and well-being for people of all body sizes. It focuses on self-care, intuitive eating, and respect for body diversity, rather than pursuing weight loss as a primary goal.

  • Parents are often the most important support when a teen is struggling with an eating disorder. I guide and support parents as they support their teen to recover.

  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based psychotherapy approach that helps people heal from trauma and distressing experiences by processing memories in a safe, structured way. Through guided eye movements or other bilateral stimulation, EMDR helps the brain reprocess stuck memories, reducing their emotional impact.

$200/hr

Sliding Scale

My current rate is $200/hr but please do not hesitate to reach out for a sliding scale fee.

Superbills

Provided every month

I do not accept insurance at this time, but I can provide a monthly superbill that you can present to your insurance company.

Contact Me

Interested in working together? Call 510-210-3917 for a completely free, confidential 15-minute consultation, or fill out some of your information and I’ll call you. I look forward to hearing from you.