Dr. Emily Gordon, Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Last week, I had the pleasure of photographing an Editorial Mini Session with Dr. Emily Gordon. Dr. Gordon is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist offering teen & adult therapy, parenting guidance, and speaking engagements based in Natick, MA. You can find Dr. Gordon on Instagram at @dremilygordon and her website, dremilygordon.com. Read on for an interview with Dr. Gordon, and to see some of the portraits from our Mini Session!

Q: Please introduce yourself!

A: I am a licensed clinical psychologist with and office in Natick MA, though I am able to work with people virtually in MA, VT and FL. I have almost 25 years of experience working with adolescents, adults and eating disorders. I am a therapist, speaker and educator. 

I focus on tuning in - understanding your own experiences, relationships, feelings, wants, needs, values, and hopes. I also work on tuning out the many messages, expectations and “should’s” that come at us incessantly and from a very early age.  I help develop strategies and practices to regulate feelings, align with your values, improve relationships and find meaning, connection and health.

I love working with teens and I love helping the people who support teens like parents, teachers, coaches, etc..  I believe wholeheartedly that adolescence is a pivotal and exciting time, and that how we respond as parents is SO important! I want to give parents ways to understand their teens and themselves, to find ways to connect with and empower their teens. 

Q: What were you like as a child? Did any of your interests align with your current work?

A: I was a pretty busy kid, I was interested in a lot of things, and I was a hard worker. I've always been interested in collecting with, understanding and helping other people, and I would say a lot of what I did in high school laid the groundwork for my career as a psychologist. I was also interested in art and did a lot of painting through high school and college, and while I don't do much anymore, I am still inspired by color, light and creativity.

Q: How did you decide to start your business?

A: I always knew I wanted to have a private practice. At the start of my career I worked in adolescent treatment programs at McLean hospital. I loved my colleagues and the milieu, but was trying to start a family and needed more independence and less stress. It was scary at first, but somehow I committed to renting space and figuring out how to fill my practice. It is very rewarding and empowering and also very scary to be a solo woman business.

Q: What is your favorite part of your work / running your business?

A: I love the people I get to work with and I love that there is always SO MUCH to learn.

Therapy is a very intimate relationship and I am honored to share in others journeys and to walk with people as they struggle through heartache and challenge and then finding strength and resilience. It is incredibly meaningful and gratifying work, and the feeling of being able to connect with and help others is so inspiring. 

I learn about so many things I would never come to experience from those that enter my office. I love reading about and applying new theories and treatment approaches, ways of understanding mental health, and the science underneath emotions and connections.

Q: Can you share a favorite story from running your business? 

What comes to mind is an ongoing conversation I have with my Dad—he often asks me how work is going. Sometimes I answer, "great, I'm really busy, feeling good, working on new things" and sometimes I answer, "well, it's kinda slow, but I'm using the time to enjoy other things in my life (kids, cooking, reading, relaxing...)" or "it's slow and I worry about where referrals will come from." He always chuckles and responds, "It's never quite right, is it?". This always stops me in my tracks and reminds me that things are always changing, some times life is busy, sometimes it's hard, sometimes it feels good. It's always important to focus on what is happening now and to try to just be in the present. I'm reminded that if I focus on the things that are important—providing good clinical care—then the rest will follow. And I have the power and the responsibility to manage what I take on and I probably need to improve my ability to set my own boundaries.

Q: What is a typical day in your life like?

A: I wake up, get myself ready, get my high schooler to school, and run to the office to see whoever is scheduled throughout the day. I try to make time for connecting with others, working on the tasks of my business, and general things I need to get done for my family and my life. Somedays I fit in movement and some days I decide to sleep. I then get my high schooler at school at the end of the day (or coordinate with my husband or other driving partner), make dinner or figure out what is for dinner, and then sit for a few minutes. In the evenings I have more things I need to get done, I go to a high school sporting event or drive to various lessons/classes, or I make time for my own enrichment and connection (dinner with friends, book club, talk on a topic I am interested in, etc.). I use my driving time to listen to books and podcasts or to connect with my college kids or other family and friends.

Wow, this sounds like a lot. I am working on making time when I wake up for some breathing, meditation or just quiet, and I really enjoy reading before i go to bed.

Q: What are your hopes and dreams for your business?

After working for more than two decades with teens, young adults and women (mostly) around self-image, relationships and finding their voice, and also raising 3 amazing people with my husband, I find myself compelled to get out of my office. I want to do more speaking and educating others about how mental health is essential and what we can do to take care of ourselves and the people we are care about. I am so excited about turning toward supporting parents as they navigate the complex teenage years. Teens need parents and adults to understand them and guide them, and parents care deeply about their kids and the relationships they have. But we don't always know and understand all that is going on, we need more skills for managing ourselves and communicating with others, and all of this is SO IMPORTANT! I have lots of ideas about how to educate, support and inspire parents and I hope 2025 is the year that this part of my mission takes off!

I also have a goal of making time to put my experiences and ideas out in the world, which means making time for in person connection and engagements and more interaction online. I went WAY out of my comfort zone and started an Instagram page for my psychology practice, so come find me on LinkedIn and/or Instagram!

About Editorial Mini Sessions

Editorial Mini Sessions are 15 minute portrait sessions based on the backdrops and lighting styles Diana uses when photographing magazine assignments.

If you’re interested in signing up for an Editorial Mini Session, please email dianalevinephotographer@gmail.com to be added to the mailing list, where you’ll receive all the upcoming dates and details! Each Editorial Mini, Diana chooses a different backdrop and lighting that she uses when photographing magazine covers and features, and books 15 minute photo sessions so that anyone can join for beautiful, creative, magazine-style portraits! You can learn more at dianalevine.com/editorialminisessions

Diana’s Editorial Mini Sessions take place at various studio spaces in the Greater Boston area. These Mini Session days are convenient for people who live in the Greater Boston or MetroWest Boston area, including: Newton, Needham, Wellesley, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Natick, Westwood, Weston, Wayland, Sherborn, Dover, Medfield, Sudbury, Waltham, Ashland, Southborough, Concord, and Lexington.

At Diana’s Headshots Mini Sessions and Editorial Mini Sessions, she regularly photographs executives, attorneys, medical professionals, psychologists, realtors, business, marketing and communications specialists, journalists, authors, wellness and fitness instructors, designers, dancers, stylists, creatives, and professionals of all backgrounds in the Boston area. She uses the same studio lighting she uses for magazine editorial portraits, and retouching is included with all final selected photos.

About Diana

Diana Levine is a Boston based editorial photographer, specializing in portraits for magazines, headshots, branding portraits, families and children. Her clients include Boston Globe Magazine, Boston Magazine, BC Law Magazine, Simmons Magazine and more. She has photographed notable personalities such as Kim Kardashian, Alicia Keys, Usher, New Kids on the Block, One Direction, among many other musicians, actors, politicians, athletes and more. You can find her full portfolio at dianalevine.com