The Trauma Therapist Helping Teens Develop Resilience with Emily Waitt
Apr 8, 2026
Emily Waitt, LMFT, founder of Kincove Adolescent Therapy and Wellness, specializes in neurobiologically-informed care for teens and young adults. She talks about her path into therapy, designing teen-friendly clinical spaces, trends in teen mental health like perfectionism and tech impacts, and how to engage parents while building resilience and identity in youth.
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Early Therapy Shaped Her Career
- Emily Waitt started therapy at 12 after her parents' high-conflict divorce and later returned at 17 with outward anger and a BPD diagnosis at 19.
- The early exposure work helped insomnia, and later intensive programs felt unhelpful though ultimately supportive in recovery.
Diagnosis Can Oversimplify Experience
- Labels can feel like a box that explains behavior to others but may not fit the person's lived experience.
- Emily felt the borderline diagnosis gave others a simplified lens that implied intentional manipulation rather than complex family dynamics.
Kincove Born From COVID And Aesthetic Choice
- Emily and her sister founded Kincove during COVID to create a healing space for teens and young adults with an in-person community feel.
- They prioritized a colorful, nonclinical clinic environment with murals and welcoming design to avoid a 'stuffy brown couch' vibe.