Meet the Founders of
The Therapy Group
Jennifer Chaiken &
Emmalee Bierly

At The Therapy Group, we believe that everyone deserves a place to feel seen, supported, and understood. Life can be messy, complicated, and overwhelming at times, and therapy should be a space where you can show up exactly as you are.

We created this practice with the hope of making therapy feel approachable and real — a place where healing happens through genuine connection and where growth feels both possible and supported. Therapy here is not about judgment or “fixing” you. It is about sitting together as human beings, creating safety, and finding new ways forward.

Our co-founders, Jennifer Chaiken, LMFT, and Emmalee Bierly, LMFT, met in graduate school and quickly discovered they shared the same dream: to build a practice that feels warm, down-to-earth, and deeply rooted in compassion. Together, they built The Therapy Group on the belief that therapy works best when it feels human, and that the relationship you create with your therapist is the most powerful tool for change.

how the therapy group was born

Jennifer and Emmalee first met in graduate school, where they quickly realized they shared the same vision for what therapy could be. Both had seen the research, and experienced it firsthand, that the strongest predictor of success in therapy is not the specific technique used but the relationship you build with your therapist. The American Psychological Association (APA) and decades of studies confirm that this “therapeutic alliance,” which includes trust, safety, and collaboration, is the foundation for meaningful change.

But as they moved through training and early clinical experiences, Jennifer and Emmalee also noticed something troubling. Too often, therapy felt overly clinical, detached, or impersonal. They saw how hard it could be for clients to bond with therapists who hid behind professional distance or jargon. And without that bond, therapy was less effective and often discouraging.

That realization became their driving force. They wanted to create a practice where therapists could show up as highly trained professionals and also as real, approachable human beings. A place where clients could feel welcomed just as they are, without judgment, and where therapy would be a collaboration rooted in connection, authenticity, and trust.

That vision grew into The Therapy Group. Every therapist who joins the practice is chosen not only for their clinical expertise but also for their ability to connect deeply, warmly, and genuinely with people. Here, therapy is not about labels or problems. It is about people. It is about creating a relationship strong enough to support healing, growth, and lasting change.

Jennifer Chaiken, LMFT
Co-Founder & Therapist

Emmalee Bierly, LMFT
Co-Founder & Therapist

With over a decade of experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist, Emmalee Bierly has worked extensively with individuals, couples, and families, helping them navigate challenges and discover new ways to thrive. She is especially passionate about supporting mothers as they face the profound transitions of parenthood, offering both compassion and practical tools to help them balance the demands of motherhood with their own identity and well-being.

Emmalee is known for her direct yet deeply supportive approach. She believes therapy should be a place where clients feel safe enough to be open, but also encouraged to make meaningful changes. Her style combines honesty, warmth, and practicality, creating an environment where clients feel both cared for and empowered.

Grounded in systemic and relational frameworks, Emmalee tailors her work to meet each client’s unique needs. Whether helping a couple rebuild trust, guiding a mother through overwhelm, or supporting an individual in self-discovery, she is committed to creating lasting change through authentic connection and self-awareness.

Beyond her work with clients, Emmalee has also transformed her love for therapy into a commitment to supporting other clinicians. As an AAMFT Approved Supervisor, she mentors and guides therapists in their professional journeys, helping them grow in their skills while also encouraging them to connect with clients in meaningful, down-to-earth ways.