Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Kupferman.
Hi Emily, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Venezuela, and if you had asked me back then what I wanted to be, I would have confidently said “a doctor.” I was actually accepted into medical schools in Venezuela before moving to the U.S. at 18. Becoming a physician felt like the most natural path for someone who always cared deeply about people and wanted to help.
But life had other plans.
When I arrived in the U.S., I started my undergraduate studies as a biology major, fully intending to continue into medicine. At the same time, I was navigating the challenges of starting over in a new country, learning a new language, working, studying, and building a life from zero. It was a period that tested me in ways I didn’t expect. And in the middle of all of that, psychology found me.
I took my first psychology course as an elective, and it felt like something clicked into place. It was the first time I learned how much our thoughts, early experiences, emotions, and relationships shape every part of who we become. The more psychology classes I took, the more I felt like I was finally learning about myself—my patterns, my strengths, the resilience I had developed from leaving home so young and moving through life’s challenges. It felt less like switching majors and more like coming home to the work I was always meant to do.
Motherhood later became another powerful turning point. Becoming a mom deepened my understanding of emotional development, identity shifts, and the invisible load parents carry. It helped me see how much unhealed parts of ourselves show up in parenting, and it strengthened my commitment to helping others navigate those tender seasons with compassion, tools, and support.
Today, as a psychotherapist specializing in couples, parents, and perinatal mental health, my work is a blend of everything that shaped me, my fascination with human behavior, my own healing journey, my experience growing up in Venezuela, and the resilience that comes from rebuilding a life in a new country.
My path wasn’t linear, but it was intentional. Every challenge, every pivot, and every life lesson brought me here. And I’m grateful that the work I do now allows me to turn my story into hope, understanding, and transformation for others.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has definitely not been smooth, though I think that’s true for most meaningful journeys. Moving to the U.S. at 18 came with a steep learning curve. I had to rebuild everything from scratch: a new language, a new culture, a new support system. There were moments of deep loneliness, financial stress, and the constant pressure of trying to succeed while feeling like I was always one step behind.
Academically, the transition was tough too. I started as a biology major with dreams of becoming a doctor, all while juggling work and adjusting to life here. I did have a period of denial and felt I was born to be a doctor and there was no other option… As I shifted into psychology, I had to confront my own patterns, fears, and unhealed parts of myself. Studying human behavior means you inevitably end up meeting yourself along the way, and that can be one of the hardest parts.
Motherhood added another layer of complexity. Becoming a mom while building my career and business showed me the emotional weight parents carry, especially mothers. The identity shifts, the guilt, the exhaustion, the pressure to show up perfectly, it pushed me to grow in ways I wasn’t expecting. It also gave me a deeper understanding of the very clients I support today.
And like many immigrants, I’ve had to work through the quiet but persistent feeling that I always needed to “prove myself,” to be strong, to not disappoint anyone back home. Learning to soften that pressure and trust my own voice has been one of my biggest challenges and my greatest growth.
But in each difficult chapter, there was also resilience. Every struggle shaped the way I show up, with humility, compassion, and a real understanding of what it feels like to rebuild, to doubt yourself, and to keep going anyway.
The road wasn’t smooth, but it was transformative. And I’m grateful for each challenge because it made me the therapist, mother, and woman I am today.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Mindful Seeds Therapy?
Mindful Seeds Therapy is my private practice, created as a compassionate and accessible space for individuals, couples, and especially postpartum moms who often feel overlooked during one of the most vulnerable phases of their lives. I offer therapy entirely through telehealth, which has been essential for the population I serve: moms who are healing, nursing, juggling newborn schedules, or simply trying to find time for themselves. Being able to access therapy from home removes a huge barrier and allows them to receive support without added stress.
My therapeutic approach is grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and I’m especially passionate about work around values. I help clients reconnect with who they are beneath the overwhelm, the expectations, and the identities they feel pressured to carry. ACT allows me to guide people, particularly new mothers, toward emotional flexibility, self-compassion, and a life that feels aligned with what truly matters to them, not what they “should” be doing.
With couples, I use the Gottman Method, an evidence-based approach that supports partners in building stronger communication, reducing conflict, and rebuilding trust. Many of the couples I work with are navigating the transition to parenthood, which can shake even the strongest relationships. Helping them reconnect and understand each other’s emotional worlds is work I deeply love.
What sets Mindful Seeds apart is the blend of clinical expertise and lived experience I bring. As a bilingual immigrant, a mother, and a therapist who understands firsthand the emotional complexity of perinatal transitions, I show up with warmth, authenticity, and a realistic approach that meets people where they are.
If there’s one thing I’m proud of most, brand-wise, it’s the intentionality behind the space I’ve created. Mindful Seeds stands for warmth, honesty, and real-life support. I’m proud that clients feel they can come exactly as they are: exhausted, emotional, overwhelmed, hopeful…and still feel held. I’m proud that my practice has become a place where people can understand themselves more deeply, heal old patterns, strengthen their relationships, and reconnect with what matters most.
What I want readers to know is that Mindful Seeds Therapy is more than just weekly appointments. It’s a space where people can slow down, make sense of their emotions, and plant the seeds for resilience, clarity, and meaningful change.
I am also proud to be in-network with most major insurance plans and to serve clients across the entire state of Florida, making therapy more accessible, affordable, and attainable for the people who need it most.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is living in alignment with my values, both personally and professionally. I’ve learned through my own journey, through motherhood, and through the work I do every day that when we’re connected to our values, life feels more intentional, grounded, and meaningful. It becomes less about perfection and more about authenticity.
Connection matters deeply to me, connection with myself, with my family, and with the people I serve. I believe that when people feel truly seen and understood, healing becomes possible. That’s at the heart of my work and the heart of who I strive to be.
Compassion also matters. Life is hard. People carry so much silently. I care about creating spaces, at home, in my practice, in my community, where people can be imperfect and still feel loved, supported, and worthy. Becoming a mother amplified this even more for me. It taught me how essential compassion is, especially toward ourselves.
And resilience matters. Growing up in Venezuela, moving to the U.S. at 18, building a life from scratch, navigating challenges, and becoming a mother, all of those experiences shaped the way I show up today. They taught me that resilience isn’t about being strong all the time; it’s about finding your way back to yourself, again and again.
Ultimately, what matters most is being able to use my experiences, my training, and my heart to help others feel less alone, more empowered, and more connected to what truly matters in their own lives. That’s my purpose, and it’s what guides everything I do.
Pricing:
- I offer individual therapy sessions at $160 and couples therapy at $190 for private pay clients. I also accept many major insurance plans, including Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Oscar, Oxford Health Plans, UMR, and Surest (formerly Bind), making therapy more accessible for clients across Florida.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mindfulseedstherapy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulseedstherapy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindfulseedstherapy/
