Anika Vallejo, MS, LPC
Hello! I am so glad you’re here.
My name is Anika Vallejo and I am the founder of Emerge Counseling. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), licensed in the state of Wisconsin and located in Milwaukee (Shorewood).
My goal as a therapist is to assist people through life’s challenges and celebrate in their successes. I started Emerge Counseling because I am passionate about providing a safe and welcoming environment for all to process the vast expanse of human emotion, and to dive deeper to allow the unconscious to become conscious.
As someone who grew up in Central Wisconsin, I spent most of my summers up north at my family’s cabin. The time spent in and around the water grounded me and provided a safe space for being fully present and truly myself. When I was choosing a name for my practice, the word Emerge kept returning to my mind as it relates to the water and allowing your true self to bloom.
Today, I assist my clients in emerging from their unique and personal binds, and into a new and freeing way of life. I believe that real and lasting change is possible, and that through therapy one can discover new possibilities of how life can be different, worth living, and truly beautiful.
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I base my practice on the understanding that whole-body wellness directly impacts mental health. For that reason, I take a holistic approach to identify all parts of a person’s life (sleep, stress, medical diagnosis, diet, exercise, etc.) to better understand their mental health related struggles.
On top of that, my eclectic style of therapy utilizes several different evidence based approaches to uniquely mold a style that will address the issues of each beautifully unique person I work with. I utilize techniques primarily from-
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Attachment Theory
Somatic Therapy
Feminist Therapy
Person Centered Therapy
I also infuse each session with my own use of an empathetic and direct style (+ humor) to assist in individual’s personal growth.
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Prior to establishing Emerge Counseling, I worked at several private practice clinics with diverse populations. I have experience working with children, adolescents, adults and seniors of all backgrounds with issues regarding anxiety, depression, grief, motivation, behavioral issues, gender identity and sexuality, trauma, ADHD, OCD, the foster care system, personality disorders, body image issues, and relationship concerns.
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Anxiety - "overthinkers" and "intellectualizers" (ie. those who need to know the “why”)
Adults with challenging parental relationships
Grief
Life Changes/Transitions
Burnout
I work with adults of all backgrounds, ethnicities, religious beliefs, sexual orientations and gender identities through an eclectic and inclusive style of therapeutic modalities.
Many therapists choose specialities because they themselves have lived experiences that have caused them to understand those issues on a deeper level. I am no different. I have dealt with anxiety and varying levels of grief in my past, so though I have not lived your experience, I empathize deeply with the anguish it can cause.
Please know that you are not alone and life can get better. I feel you, I hear you, and I am there for you.
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Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Licensed in the State of Wisconsin
License Number 10722 - 125
Master of Science (M.S.), Professional Counseling
Concordia University Wisconsin
Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Psychology, and Minor in Ethnic and Racial Studies
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
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When I’m not in the therapist’s chair you can find me taking walks around Milwaukee’s many beautiful parks, reading, watching the occasional (or frequent) cute cat video, feeding the hundreds of birds that make my yard their home, and of course enjoying time with friends and family.
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