Meet the Founder

Hi, I’m Emma Donovan—a Licensed Professional Counselor, Board Certified Holistic Nutritionist, and a clinician trained in functional medicine through the Institute of Functional Medicine. I’ve worked in the therapy field for nearly a decade, and my passion for holistic health and integrative healing began long before my professional training ever started.

Over the years, I’ve sought wisdom and healing across cultures—studying yoga in India, mindfulness in Thailand, and shamanic traditions in Ecuador. I spent a year and a half living and working in Thailand, where I served as a therapist and developed holistic education programs. These experiences, along with my background as a yoga teacher, have deeply shaped my perspective on healing and the interconnectedness of body, mind, and spirit.

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From the beginning, I’ve been a synthesizer. I’ve always felt called to bridge disciplines, explore complexity, and connect the dots between fields that don’t traditionally speak to each other.

That’s what led me to create the Holistic & Functional Psychology Institute—a space where science and spirituality, body and mind, clinical practice and ancient wisdom can come together for the benefit of both therapists and their clients.

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I founded this institute out of a deep concern: despite growing destigmatization and broader acceptance of therapy, rates of mental health issues continue to skyrocket. While still helpful in many ways, it’s clear that traditional therapy alone is no longer enough. We need a more comprehensive, root-cause approach—one that honors the whole person and the interconnected systems that shape wellbeing.

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Through this work, I aim to empower mental health professionals to practice in a way that is evidence-based, spiritually informed, deeply fulfilling, and legally and ethically sound. My goal is to help you thrive professionally, personally, entrepreneurially, and holistically—while offering your clients care that is not just effective, but transformative… for them and for you.

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Outside of my professional work, I live a quiet life rooted in personal and environmental wellness—walking or hiking daily, gathering fruit from our urban garden, slow-preparing locally and regeneratively grown food for loved ones, daydreaming about how to build a better world, and continually exploring how to live in alignment with the rhythms of nature and spirit.