Linda / Emma Stevens

Author

Emma Stevens is a U.S. domestic adoptee from birth and has survived layers of trauma
that have put her on multiple journeys. She developed the inner strength and courage to surmount
the many struggles she faced. Her traumas were born from first being relinquished and then
becoming an adoptee who struggled with being forced to wear an impossible mask of playing the
part of the “good adopted child.” 
Her childhood upbringing of an authoritative, cult-like family, predisposed Emma to
several more struggles. One of them was falling prey to an exploitative therapist where she
unknowingly entered a cultic, one-on-one relationship with her psychologist. Someone who was
to help, support, and provide healing – instead, held Emma captive in a psychological
nightmare. 
Because of these past traumas, it’s Emma’s desire to be part of the movement that is
dedicated to help bring forth change to the way our world views the needs and support of
adopted individuals, as well as bring awareness of the exploitation that can occur by the hands of
counselors, therapists, and other healthcare professionals. By sharing her experience of being
exploited by her abusive psychologist/social worker, Emma feels strongly to expose and bring
light to what an unethical, boundaryless, professional therapy situation may look like. 
This memoir is Emma Stevens’ second book. Her first was The Gathering Place: An
Adoptee’s Story. She has an undergraduate degree in journalism and has completed Master’s
level course work in psychology, specializing in Marriage, Family, and Child counseling. She
has two adult children and two cat children who she adores.