Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Shepardson.
Emma, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I moved to the Carolinas in 2019 after graduating with my master’s degree. I was looking for an adventure outside my comfort zone. So, I moved here without a job and without knowing a soul. I quickly gained employment with local Child & Family Services in the foster care unit. In that role, I gained a foundation of knowledge about policy and the importance of hands-on work in the community. After pursuing my clinical licensure, I was transferred to a domestic violence shelter where I counseled and advocated for women fleeing abusive relationships. Serving my community in this way was deeply meaningful to me and affirmed my passion for trauma-informed care. A few years later, I was transferred to the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) where I worked with children who had experienced various types of traumas. Throughout my career, I worked with people who have endured incredible hardship. Supporting my clients through healing and growth has been an honor, and their resiliency continues to inspire me. In the midst of all that, I opened Sunflower Therapy. The first year and half of owning my practice, I was operating via telehealth on an extremely part time basis. Eventually, I was connected with an incredible mentor who helped me secure an office and gave me the confidence to pursue my practice full time. In October of 2025, I did just that. So, here I am.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In a social work program, they teach you what you need to know about clinical work. They don’t, however, teach you a thing about owning a business. It has been a learning curve. Thankfully, I have a network of other practice owners who have given me a pathway to be successful. I absolutely would not be where I am today without the ones who walked this road before me. Additionally, as I’m sure comes with owning any small business, there is a sense of imposter syndrome. I have a tendency to minimize the work that has gone into building my practice. My husband has been a constant source of encouragement and makes sure I acknowledge my hard work. With owning a small business, there is a balance of patience, perseverance, and recognizing your achievements.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Sunflower Therapy LLC?
My practice is rooted in belief that you can heal from trauma. I will meet you right where you are and support you as you navigate life’s challenges. What sets me apart from other therapists is my experience with childhood sexual abuse. I’ve supported individuals from ages 6 to 70 navigate the aftermath of surviving childhood abuse. It’s a topic that many people wish could disappear, but it won’t. It is common, and it needs to be addressed. I understand that trauma recovery is not one size fits all. I tailor each treatment plan to meet the specific and individual goals of each patient. I’m trained and experienced in multiple modalities including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, commonly known as EMDR. I want people to know that no matter how long you’ve been holding onto the abuse, the secret, or the shame, it is never too late to reach your potential. It is possible to have deep, meaningful, and honest relationships. It is possible to feel confident in your skin.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
It might surprise others to learn that my passion for EMDR was born out of my own experience as a client. I struggled for most of my life with a needle phobia. It was so severe that I could not even imagine being around a needle without an emotional reaction. I was 25 years old and already a practicing therapist when I decided to do something about it. I connected with an EMDR therapist who gave me hope that I could overcome this phobia. In just a handful of highly targeted sessions, that hope became reality. I’m not going to say I look forward to getting blood drawn or receiving a shot, but I don’t even think about it until I’m at the doctor’s office. Once I experienced the results for myself, I knew I needed to share this therapy with others. A year later, I was trained in EMDR and use it regularly ever since.
Pricing:
- Pricing is available on my website!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sunflowertherapyllc.net
- Instagram: @sunflowertherapyllc
- Other: emma@sunflowertherapyllc.net
