Alex Harris, Intern

she/they

For some people, time that’s focused on just “you” is daunting. We live in an era of both unprecedented connectivity and deepening individualism: with more freedom to define and identify ourselves, it can be hard to just “be”; and the more we embrace the uniqueness of our experiences, the harder it might feel to belong. To me, the task of therapy is to locate and understand our “self” in ways we (paradoxically) cannot alone. I see meaning and healing as deeply connected, and hope to find both in our work together.

My name is Alex, and I am an intern at Emerge while pursuing graduate study at the University of Minnesota. I provide individual psychotherapy to young adults and adolescents under the supervision of Deanna Pelley, MA, LPCC. As a therapist, I am informed by psychoanalytic theory and practice from a feminist lens, including both empirical and postmodern influences. In therapy, I strive to balance care with courage, acknowledging that important tasks are often hard, but also that pain is no measure of “gain.”

I strongly believe in the therapeutic value of negotiating difference, and am committed to serving individuals across backgrounds with integrity. Since moving to the Twin Cities from the San Francisco Bay Area over 10 years ago, I have worked with highly diverse groups of people in many roles and industries. I recognize both the opportunities and challenges of all kinds of transitions, and welcome clients seeking clarity and compassion through change.