Hi, it's nice to meet you!

I'm Claire Emery-Wootton, and I'm glad you're here.

What is a fun fact about myself?

I am an avid birder and can identify dozens of different bird calls.

What can you expect as my client?

I take a strengths-based, values-driven approach to help clients live their lives in a way that is meaningful to them. In our sessions together, I will strive to bring empathy, openness and compassion to the client-counselor relationship. I believe in the importance of honoring your unique lived experience and take a collaborative approach to goal-setting. I also recognize that effective therapy is not one-size-fits-all, and will work with you to explore the strategies that best suit your specific needs. My counseling philosophy is first and foremost Person-Centered, through an Existential lens, utilizing techniques from third-wave cognitive behavioral modalities such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Who am I outside of therapy?

Nature is my happy place and I try to spend as much time as I can outside. I also love crafting, playing board games and video games, cooking and baking, going to movies, and hanging out with my dog.

Pronouns: She/Her

How did I become a therapist?

My path to becoming a therapist was not a linear one, and filled with ups and downs. Like most people, I’ve had my own struggles, and mental health counseling has made all the difference for me in my personal life. Additionally, I have held previous jobs working with people who had fallen through the cracks in our mental health system, and these experiences made me want to gain the skills necessary to more effectively help people who need it.

I am in my third year of graduate school at Lewis & Clark College, seeking my master’s degree in Professional Mental Health Counseling, and will graduate in Spring 2027. I received my BA from the University of Iowa.

In addition to interning at True Heart Therapy, I currently work as a Graduate Assistant at the Lewis & Clark Community Counseling Center, and spent two semesters seeing clients there as a practicum student. I also spent two semesters volunteering with Problem Gambling Services, where I gained knowledge about working with people experiencing problem gambling and their families. Prior to entering graduate school, I worked for a company specializing in helping older adults transitioning into assisted living and memory care, and also volunteered with the Children’s Healing Art Project.

I am excited to work with individuals of all ages, from children to older adults. I love working with young people who might be exploring their identity, relationships and direction in life for the first time. In particular, I am interested in issues pertaining to life transitions, depression, and anxiety. I am always open to meeting new challenges and discovering new areas of interest, and believe that every client offers the opportunity to grow and more fully discover myself as a counselor.