Hi there! You can call me Em (they/them).

Queer, non-binary femme, social worker, Texan, coffee enthusiast, & recovering perfectionist.

Credentials

• Em Manning, Licensed Master Social Worker, Texas: #113230; Supervised by Joan Long, LCSW-S Texas: #52016

• M.S. in Social Work from The University of Texas at Austin

• B.A. in Feminist Studies from Southwestern University

• EMDR Trained

I believe the relationship between therapist and client can be profoundly healing in itself. I draw from attachment theory, Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), mindfulness, and parts work to co-create a compassionate, nurturing space where you feel empowered and affirmed. I treasure moments of attuned connection with clients—whether through shared laughter, reflective silence, or the process of repairing the inevitable bumps along the way.

Authenticity and connection are at the heart of my therapy work.

As a social worker, I approach therapy through a lens of anti-oppression, cultural humility, and a person-in-environment perspective. I hold awareness of the profound ways systemic harm—including racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, fatphobia, and capitalism—shapes both personal and collective mental health. In our work together, I show up as a collaborative partner, supporting you in reconnecting with your own power, agency, and inner wisdom.

Much of my work centers on helping clients untangle relational patterns rooted in early attachment wounds. Whether you’re coming in as an individual or with a partner, we’ll explore how early experiences continue to shape present-day relationships—and how you can move toward greater connection, authenticity, and repair. I blend warmth and directness to create a space that invites both safety and stretch, helping individuals and partners build trust in their ability to navigate conflict and repair connection.

I’m especially passionate about working with queer couples and relationships, including those in non-traditional or non-monogamous structures. I support partners navigating communication challenges, rebuilding trust after betrayal or infidelity, struggling with intimacy, or longing for deeper emotional and physical connection. In my couples work, I primarily draw from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), a compassionate, research-supported approach that helps partners understand the underlying emotions and attachment needs shaping their interactions. Together, we slow things down, make sense of stuck patterns, and create space for more connected, responsive, and secure ways of relating.

I am EMDR Trained (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and support clients navigating a range of traumatic experiences, including interpersonal trauma, childhood abuse and neglect, sexual and relationship violence, and other trauma-related experiences. I believe each person carries an internal treatment plan—your system already holds the wisdom it needs to heal. Through EMDR, parts work, and somatic awareness, I help clients build a more compassionate relationship with their internal world and deepen their connection to the body. Because trauma lives in the body, our work often involves learning to recognize nervous system cues and respond with curiosity, care, and compassion.

In addition to trauma and relational work, I support clients navigating life transitions, existential concerns, perfectionism and burnout, shame and self-criticism, and patterns such as people-pleasing, boundary challenges, and over-functioning. I also work with clients exploring identity-related questions within the broader context of meaning-making and self-understanding.

I’m deeply committed to supporting queer, trans, and gender-diverse clients, particularly in the context of ongoing systemic harm and political violence—especially here in Texas. For those seeking gender-affirming care letters, I offer a limited number of no-cost assessment spots each month, available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Ready to connect? Learn more about working with me at the bottom of this page.

Let’s Get Personal

A little about me – I was born and begrudgingly raised in Texas, as evidenced by my enthusiastic use of the word "y'all" (hey, it's inclusive!). Over the years, I've come to see Texas as my home. I believe in the creativity and resilience of our communities, and I refuse to discount the south. After graduating from Southwestern University with a B.A. in Feminist Studies, I spent several years doing reproductive justice work before transitioning to the tech industry for longer than I'd care to admit. Over time, my personal experiences in therapy sparked a passion for mental health, and I felt called to become a therapist. I earned my Master’s Degree in Social Work from The University of Texas at Austin. Before working at Sanctuary Counseling, I provided individual and group therapy, as well as crisis intervention, to undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Texas Counseling and Mental Health Center. When I’m not seeing clients, I love experimenting in the kitchen, practicing joyful movement, spending quality time with my spouse and close friends, and starring in my own at-home fashion shows.