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Emily Cave, LISW
(She/Her/Hers)

Modalities: TF-CBT, EMDR, Perinatal Mental Health

Perinatal: Advanced Training

I received my Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) degrees from Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa. Following graduate school, I worked at a non-profit organization as a school-based counselor for children and adolescents in Dubuque elementary and high schools. I later moved back to the Des Moines area to work at a nonprofit organization as a school-based mental health therapist for children, adolescents, and families in the public school setting.

I am also a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) in the state of Iowa with certification in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and training in various treatment modalities, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). My perinatal background includes professional training in perinatal mental health as well as personal experience with pregnancy loss and a prolonged stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for my micro-preemie son.

NPI: 1639693252

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What My Support Looks Like

I have a passion for working with teens, young adult women, and parents who are navigating life during and after their baby’s NICU stay. Whether your little one(s) is in the NICU for one day or hundreds of days, it’s often an extremely tough and unexpected experience, filled with an abundance of grief and uncertainty. It can be difficult to explain the ins and outs of your family’s NICU stay to someone who’s unfamiliar with the NICU world. With my knowledge of the NICU, you’ll be able to discuss your experiences and be met with more of an understanding, so we can focus on healing rather than spending your valuable time and energy defining all of the NICU terminology.

My counseling style is warm, compassionate, and non-judgmental. My goal is to provide a safe space for you to be your authentic self. I offer a client-centered and collaborative approach, tailoring treatment to your individual goals and preferences. I value the fact that you are the expert in your own life and am honored to join in your healing journey.

In My Free Time You Can Find Me…

My husband and I have a little boy who brings us so much joy and keeps us busy. In my free time, I enjoy getting together with family and friends, traveling to England to visit my in-laws and traveling to nearby countries, checking out local events and restaurants, going on walks, thrift shopping, and relaxing at home watching a movie or TV show.

Book With Emily

To schedule an appointment with Emily, please email her by clicking the button below.

Book with emily

You Don’t Have To Do This Alone

What do Bloom's perinatal mental health designations mean?

Perinatal mental health is one of Bloom’s core specialties, so we’re intentional about how we describe each provider’s training in this area. You’ll see one of three designations on every counselor’s profile: Certified, Advanced Training, or Growing Interest. Here’s what each one means.

What does "Certified" mean?
Certified indicates a provider is Certified in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C) — the formal, board-recognized specialty certification in perinatal mental health. Earning the PMH-C requires advanced education, supervised clinical training, and meeting professional standards set specifically for supporting individuals and families through the perinatal period.
What does "Advanced Training" mean?
Advanced Training means the provider has completed Bloom’s foundational two-day perinatal mental health training plus additional, advanced perinatal-specific coursework. These providers have pursued real, substantial education in the assessment and treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, even though they haven’t yet completed the PMH-C certification process.
What does "Growing Interest" mean?
Growing Interest means the provider has a genuine clinical interest in supporting individuals through pregnancy, postpartum, and the transition to parenthood, but hasn’t yet completed Bloom’s training threshold for our Advanced Training designation. It’s an honest starting point, not a lesser one — many of our most experienced perinatal providers began here.
What does "Growing Interest" mean?
Growing Interest means the provider has a genuine clinical interest in supporting individuals through pregnancy, postpartum, and the transition to parenthood, but hasn’t yet completed Bloom’s training threshold for our Advanced Training designation. It’s an honest starting point, not a lesser one — many of our most experienced perinatal providers began here.
Why does Bloom make this distinction?
We believe you deserve to understand the training and experience behind the provider you’re choosing. Rather than using a vague catch-all term, we want our language to be transparent and specific — so you can find a provider whose background genuinely matches what you’re looking for.
Why does Bloom make this distinction?
We believe you deserve to understand the training and experience behind the provider you’re choosing. Rather than using a vague catch-all term, we want our language to be transparent and specific — so you can find a provider whose background genuinely matches what you’re looking for.
What if I'd like to work with a provider at a different level of perinatal training?

That’s completely okay! You can browse our full team on the Meet Our Counselors page, where every provider’s designation is listed alongside their focus areas, so you can find the best match for your needs — whether that’s deep perinatal specialization or simply the right overall fit for you.