Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Poole.
Hi Emma, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m Emma Poole, a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist proudly serving the Maryville/East Tennessee community. I was born and raised in Blount County, so “home” has always meant these mountains, rivers, and the connections of this place. I earned both my B.A. in Psychology and my M.S. in Marital & Family Therapy at Lee University, graduating in 2019. From the start, I knew I wanted to work with relationships: how we relate to our families of origin, how our early relational experiences shape trust, how we show up for each other—and ourselves—in the most important connections of our lives.
Right out of grad school, I entered a period of “on-the-ground” work — meeting adults and couples who had carried relational wounds, trauma, anxiety, disconnection. I began to see that many of the issues people brought into my office weren’t isolated: they were relational, systemic, and rooted in patterns that went deeper than surface symptoms. That realization encouraged me to specialize in two key tracks: 1) couples therapy via Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), a model known for repairing attachment and reconnecting partners; and 2) trauma-informed work using EMDR to help individuals move through and beyond the relational burdens they carry.
Today, I am a director at Cove Mountain Counseling in Maryville which has been around since 1993. Cove Mountain Counseling didn’t start out as my “baby” but has quickly become so. I am so proud of the work our team does for our community.
When I’m not in the office, you’ll likely find me with my husband, our daughter and two rescue dogs — reading, gardening, driving through the mountains, playing board games, and cheering for the Vols.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it has been not a smooth road. There have been plenty of bumps along the way — becoming a new mom, navigating personal health challenges, working through the uncertainty of COVID, and making the big transition from running my own private practice to joining (and later directing) Cove Mountain Counseling. Each season came with its own learning curve, but also a lot of growth and perspective.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At Cove Mountain Counseling, we’re a group of therapists who genuinely care about creating a space where people feel seen, safe, and understood. Our team works with kids, teens, adults, couples, and families through all kinds of life transitions — from anxiety and depression to trauma and relationship challenges.
Personally, I specialize in trauma recovery and couples therapy, using approaches like Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and EMDR to help people heal the patterns that keep them stuck. What sets us apart is how relational and collaborative our work is — both within our team and with our clients.
What I’m most proud of is how our practice reflects the heart of our community — compassionate, grounded, and growth-oriented. We want readers to know that therapy doesn’t have to be intimidating. It’s a safe, supportive place to learn, grow, and reconnect with yourself and the people you love.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I definitely lean into a variety of apps, books, podcasts and other resources to keep myself grounded, sharp and inspired — both in work and in life.
A few books that have really shaped how I think and live are Hold Me Tight by Dr. Sue Johnson, Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy, Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski, The Power of Attachment by Diane Poole Heller, and The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk. Each one offers such a unique perspective on connection, attachment, healing, and the ways our bodies and relationships hold our stories.
I also love podcasts, for the busy seasons when sitting down to read is difficult. Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown and Pinkpill Rx are favorites for their mix of psychology and real-life conversation. A Mindful Moment helps me slow down and recenter, while Holy Hurt explores faith and trauma in really meaningful ways. And Ideal Practice — hosted by Wendy Pitts Reeves, who also happens to be the founder of Cove Mountain Counseling — is a wonderful resource for therapists and entrepreneurs in the mental health field.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://CoveMountainCounseling.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/covemountaincounseling/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578756878473
