About Emma Stevens
Emma Stevens isn’t just an author; she’s a survivor, a fighter, and a person who is dedicated to a more reflective, non-dualistic way of thinking and being. As a U.S. domestic adoptee from birth, Emma’s journey has been one of overcoming layers of trauma from the pain of relinquishment to the struggle of navigating identity in a world that often fails to understand.
Emma’s Story
Growing up in the shadow of an authoritative, cult-like family, Emma faced challenges that tested her spirit and resolve. But it was her harrowing experience with an exploitative therapist that truly shaped her path. What began as a quest for healing became a nightmare of manipulation and abuse, highlighting the urgent need for change within the mental health profession.
Now, Emma is on a mission to redefine the narrative surrounding adoption and mental health. Through her writing, she sheds light on some of the complexities of the adoptee experience and exposes the dark underbelly of unethical therapy practices. With courage and conviction, she advocates for greater awareness and support for those who have been exploited and marginalized.
Join Emma Stevens as she shares her journey of healing, empowerment, and advocacy. Her memoir, the culmination of a life marked by resilience and determination, is a testament to the intensity of speaking truth to power. With an undergraduate degree in journalism and a background in psychology, Emma brings both insight and expertise to her storytelling.
Beyond her work, Emma is a devoted mother to two adult children and two beloved cat companions. Her passion for life, love, and learning echo her strong conviction of saying “yes” to life and seeing everything as being connected.
Welcome to Emma Stevens’ world—a place where courage knows no bounds and the human spirit soars. Explore her books and discover how learning to change a mindset can bring the power of choice into your life and the ability to stand strong in difficult and challenging situations.
Emma’s Books
From her debut, The Gathering Place: An Adoptee’s Story, to her second book, A Fire Is Coming, and to her latest release, Choosing to Breathe, each book offers a deeply personal journey filled with raw emotion, resilience, and hope. Emma’s storytelling prowess shines through as she invites readers to walk alongside her through life’s challenges and triumphs. Whether you’re an adoptee seeking solace in shared experiences or a reader eager to gain insight into the complexities of the human spirit, Emma’s books promise to leave a lasting impression. Discover the power of storytelling to inspire change, foster empathy, and illuminate the path to healing.
The Gathering Place
The true story of when Emma learns her birth mother wrote and signed a letter about her to the adoption agency, she knew she had to have that letter if she were to ever discover her birth mother’s true identity. Her birth mother had used a fictitious name at the maternity home and used an assumed name on Emma’s original birth certificate. Emma takes bold measures to get ahold of that letter and start solving the puzzle that is her life.
A Fire Is Coming
The true story of when Emma Stevens learned her new next-door neighbor was a psychologist, she innocently asked about how to find a therapist for her own issues. Dr. Carol Brenner decided to accept her as a patient. Against a backdrop of the Laguna Beach Fire, the insidious drama unfolds as Emma finds herself enmeshed in an unhealthy dependency on her therapist, who not only fostered this dependence but also used it to dominate and control her.
Choosing To Breathe
What if living a life true to yourself meant unraveling everything you were taught to believe? In this powerful continuation of her story, Emma Stevens returns to The Gathering Place and shares the hard-earned wisdom that comes from confronting loss, identity, and truth. As an adult adoptee raised to feel grateful rather than grieve, Emma was shaped by silence, expectation, and trauma. But deep within, resilient parts of her fought to be heard. Through raw and reflective storytelling, she explores what it takes to stop merely surviving and start living intentionally. Her journey is a call to anyone who’s ever felt like they were performing a version of themselves for others. Honest, insightful, and deeply human—this memoir is an invitation to breathe, to question, and to reclaim the life that is truly yours.