Emilee Norgord (MSMHC)

Parents often seek therapy for their child when they notice them struggling emotionally, behaviorally, socially, or academically. You may have noticed your child becoming more anxious, withdrawn, overwhelmed, emotional, or hard on themselves, and despite your best efforts, you may feel unsure how to best support them. Starting therapy can feel like a big step for both children and parents, but it can also provide a safe and supportive space for growth, healing, and connection. I strive to create an environment where children and teens feel comfortable being themselves while helping families feel supported throughout the process.

I work from a humanistic, evidence-based approach and believe every child has the ability to grow, build resilience, and develop healthy ways to navigate life’s challenges. My work is guided by the belief that children are often stronger and more capable than they realize, even during difficult seasons. I aim to create a welcoming and collaborative therapeutic space where young clients feel heard, understood, and safe exploring their emotions and experiences.

When working with me, parents can expect a collaborative approach focused on helping children build practical coping skills, emotional awareness, confidence, and healthier relationships. I work to help children and teens better understand their feelings while supporting parents in fostering growth and connection outside of sessions. My goal is for clients to leave therapy feeling more grounded, empowered, and equipped to handle challenges with greater self-confidence and self-compassion.

I support children and adolescents who may be struggling with:

  • Anxiety, stress, or overwhelming emotions
  • Difficulty adjusting to life transitions, changes, or new expectations
  • Big feelings during confusing or stressful stages of development
  • Low self-esteem or harsh self-criticism
  • Social or relationship challenges
  • Identity exploration and emotional growth
  • Difficulty managing emotions or coping in healthy ways
  • Building confidence, resilience, and emotional regulation skills

In sessions, I may incorporate mindfulness and somatic awareness techniques to help children and teens better connect with and understand their emotions. Depending on each child’s age, interests, and comfort level, I may also use creative and expressive approaches such as art, journaling, music, and play-based interventions to support emotional expression and self-exploration in a developmentally appropriate way.

My goal is to help children recognize their strengths, develop tools that fit their unique needs, and feel more confident navigating everyday challenges. I work to support both children and their families in building emotional resilience, improving communication, and helping young clients feel steadier, more capable, and better prepared for what lies ahead.

Emilee Norgord

Eating Disorders - It's Not About the Food

By Kelly Lopez

If it’s not about the food, what is it really about?

The eating disorder serves a function, it does a job. Despite the problems an eating disorder creates, it is an effort to cope, shield against, communicate, and solve problems. Behaviors may be a way to establish a sense of power or control, self-worth, strength, and containment. Bringing may be used to numb pain. Purging may be a way to release emotions. When one cannot cope in healthy ways, adaptive functions (behaviors) are created to ensure a sense of safety, security, and control.
According to Carolyn Costin*, some of the “adaptive functions that eating disorder behaviors commonly serve are”:
It’s not about the food, it’s a way of coping with low self-esteem, negative emotions, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, unstable home, difficulty resolving conflict and much more.
*Costin, Carolyn. The Eating Disorder Sourcebook: A Comprehensive Guide to the Causes, Treatments and Prevention of Eating Disorders. 3rd. edition, McGraw Hill, 2007.
Fuller, Kristen. “Eating Disorders: It’s Not All about Food.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 22 Mar. 2017