CJ Backer LMFT

Hi I’m CJ

I see therapy as a place where you get honest with yourself, your patterns, your pain, and your potential. I work with individuals, couples, and families who aren’t just looking to feel better they’re looking for something real. Not peace that comes from avoiding conflict, but the kind that comes from being fully seen, heard, and understood even in the mess.

Most of us develop habits and defenses to get through life. Some serve us, others start to block us. My job is to help you see the difference, get curious about where they come from, and decide which ones you’re ready to let go of.

At Emotive Wellness, healing isn’t about fixing what's broken. It’s about uncovering what's true and choosing to move toward it especially the parts of you that feel hidden or stuck.

We live in a world that rewards performance and discourages authenticity. This work is about slowing down, cutting through the noise, and reconnecting with what matters so you can live in alignment with who you really are, not who you've been told to be.

-CJ

EXPERIENCED

With over 20 years of experience working with individuals, couples, and families in both clinical and pastoral settings, I support clients navigating concerns such as anxiety, depression, vulnerability, identity, faith, relationships, grief, and life transitions.

Process of Change

Our goal is to create small, consistent shifts just 1% at a time to better identify and respond to triggers, regulate mood, and examine the core beliefs that shape your understanding of who you truly are, both the empowering and the limiting ones. To get down to the core of who you are and who you desire to be.

Flexible

The speed at which the world moves around us can be overwhelming, and the responsibilities we carry often leave cause us to prioritize the things for ourselves out of the equation. As a husband and father, I understand this firsthand. That’s why I offer a variety of meeting times to make it easier to connect without adding to the stress, and to support you in creating space for reflection, clarity, and meaningful change.

  • My Therapeutic Approach

    My approach is both person-centered and evidence-based. I draw on practices like CBT, DBT, and motivational interviewing to support clients in navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, and major life transitions. At the core of our work is a collaborative process of gaining self-awareness and developing the skills needed to regulate emotions, challenge unhelpful thought patterns, and shift behaviors that no longer serve you so you can make choices that align with your truest self.

  • What should I expect from our first session

    Our first session is about viewing the landscape of who you are. You don’t need to have the perfect words or a polished story. You just need to show up as you are. I’ll ask some questions to get a sense of what’s bringing you in, what’s getting in the way, and what you’re hoping will be different.

    The intention is not to solve everything in an hour. It’s about starting to name what matters, where you’re stuck, what you’ve been carrying, and what kind of change you’re looking to bring into your life.

    By the end of it, you’ll likely have felt a sense of something that drives so many of our actions: what it’s like to be seen, heard, and understood maybe for the first time. This sets the table for the real work to begins.

  • What you can expect from me in session.

    To hold space for you to be fully human without judgment, without pressure.

    To reflect, clarify, and help you discover what’s real.

    To assist you in taking small, meaningful steps toward what you want to bring into your life.

    To honor the wins that are achieved and find humor in the journey.

  • More about me

    Throughout my life, I’ve been honored to walk alongside people who feel disconnected—in their relationships with others and with themselves. Early on, I felt a deep call to serve, which led me into ministry as a pastor to youth and young adults. In that role, I had the privilege of holding space for those navigating life transitions, wrestling with identity, and asking meaningful questions about faith and belonging.

    As I became more aware of the emotional and relational needs that were going unmet, I felt drawn to pursue a deeper, clinical understanding of healing. That journey led me to work in community-based settings—meeting clients where they were, often in their own environments, and supporting some of our most vulnerable populations. While I no longer practice in that setting, that experience continues to shape my work and my commitment to understanding each client's world fully. I later transitioned into working within commercial insurance environments, which gave me valuable insight into how to support clients in accessing care while navigating the complexities of coverage.

    These diverse experiences; whether from the Church setting to the community and now private practice, continue to inform the way I show up in the session; with humility, compassion, curiosity, and deep respect for the complexity of each person’s story.

  • Lets get started

    Our first step is a free 15-minute conversation. This time is for you to experience how I approach therapy an opportunity to feel heard and understood. It’s also a moment for me to learn about the work you wish to do, so together we can determine if this is the right path for you.

    This initial connection lays the groundwork for real healing and meaningful change