Emma Hoskins, MS

Resident in Counseling

Emma is a Resident in Counseling who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders and complex trauma. After graduating with honors from James Madison University, she went on to receive a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Longwood University. She is currently under the supervision of Elizabeth Holt, LPC, who specializes in complex trauma, substance use, and eating disorder treatment.

As a skilled clinician with experience treating clients in various stages of crisis, Emma has worked at a number of eating disorder treatment programs in Virginia at the residential, in-patient and partial-hospitalization levels of care. These include Cumberland Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Dominion Hospital’s Reflections Unit, Veritas Collaborative, and Prosperity Eating Disorders and Wellness Center. Emma has experience in both state & private hospitals, along with community mental health programs, providing treatment to those with major mood disorder, psychotic, and personality disorder diagnoses.

Treating clients of all genders and backgrounds, between the ages of 12 and 30, Emma primarily works with individuals who have trauma and/or are working on eating disorder recovery. She is a LGBTQIA+ ally. 

Outside of counseling, Emma enjoys doing SFX makeup looks, listening to music and spending time outside with her partner and their pitbull. Having grown up in a British household, she especially appreciates dry humor!

Therapeutic Approach

Emma sees eating disorder recovery to be, albeit at times messy, a beautiful process. She approaches counseling with a warm and compassionate spirit, meeting her clients where they are, without rushing them into recovery. Emma will work with you on your timeline to meet your goals. Whether it is your first time in therapy or not, Emma is appreciative of the time she has with each client she works with. Emma views the therapeutic relationship to be the basis of all therapy and takes time to get to know her clients as people. Emma uses Rogerian & person-centered techniques, along with expressive activities (such as art or music) to connect with clients.

Education

Longwood University, Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling

James Madison University, Bachelor of Science in Psychology

As a Resident in Counseling, Emma is currently under the supervision of Elizabeth Holt, LPC, who can be reached at 804-255-9597.

Clinical Specialties

  • When an individual has endured either multiple and/or chronic traumatic events, sometimes people begin to experience the inability to regulate their nervous system. This can lead to emotional dysregulation, untrustworthiness, nightmares, anxiety, impulsive behaviors, low mood, avoiding things that remind you of the traumatic event, anger outbursts, along with a number of other symptoms. Emma works with individuals on complex trauma utilizing Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) where the goal is to help the client gain relaxation techniques in order to tell a trauma narrative & desensitize from the event.

  •  Emma views disordered eating as a coping skill the psyche creates to manage anxiety that comes from trauma. Emma works with clients experiencing anorexia nervosa (restrictive & b/p type), bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, ARFID (Avoidant-Restrictive Feeding Intake Disorder), OSFED (Other Specified Feeding Eating Disorders), & EDNOS (Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified), & diabulimia. Emma utilizes Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT).

  • Emma knows that complex trauma & eating disorders are rarely singular issues in themselves. Emma works with individuals who have mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders secondary to trauma and/or disordered eating. Emma uses Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Social Rhythm Therapy.