Influential Woman · Mental Health
Emely Rumble, LCSW
Psychotherapist, Bibliotherapist, Literapy
Springfield, MA 01103
Clarity came from slowing down and listening to myself. Books helped too; reading someone else's story gives you language for what you're carrying.
Emely Rumble, LCSW · In Her Own Words
In Conversation
Emely Rumble for Bold. Brilliant. Unstoppable.
Read the transcript
Emely Rumble, LCSW: Speaker: Emely Rumble, Psychotherapist, BibliotherapistWhat does being an Influential Woman mean to you?Emely Rumble: Hi, I'm Emily Rumble, a bibliotherapist, social worker, and author of Bibliotherapy in the Bronx. To me, being an influential woman isn't about titles or followers, it's about impact. It's about how you show up for yourself, for your community, and for the next generation watching you when you don't even realize it. Being an influential woman means using your voice, your creativity, and your story as medicine. It's knowing that the small moments, the encouragement we give others, the way that we show up in our authenticity with honesty and vulnerability, even the boundaries that we set personally and professionally, all of those ripple out farther than we can imagine. If I could give one piece of advice to a younger woman chasing their dreams, it would be this, Don't wait for permission to begin. Start where you are with what you have and trust that it's enough. Your path might look different from what you imagined, but that doesn't mean it's wrong. Every detour teaches you something essential. About who you are becoming. Surround yourself with people who celebrate your growth, not just your achievements, and remember, healing, rest, and joy are not distractions from success, they're a part of success. Keep writing your story even when the chapters are messy, because the world needs your voice and the world needs your voice exactly as it is.What's one piece advice would you give to younger women chasing their dreams?Emely Rumble: If I could give one piece of advice to younger women chasing their dreams, it would be this Don't wait for permission to begin. Start where you are with what you have and trust that it's enough. Your path might look different from what you imagined, but that doesn't mean it's wrong. Every detour teaches you something essential about who you are becoming. Surround yourself with people who celebrate your growth, not just your achievements. And remember, healing, rest, and joy are not distractions from success, they're part of it. Keep writing your story even when the chapters are messy, because the world needs your voice, and the world needs your voice exactly as it is.
Her Story
About Emely
Emely Rumble, LCSW is a distinguished Psychotherapist and Bibliotherapist in Private Practice at LiterapyNYC, as well as an educator, poetry therapist, and author whose work bridges the worlds of literature and mental health. As the founder of LiterapyNYC, she has pioneered an innovative approach to healing that merges storytelling and therapy, offering clients a space where words become tools for emotional insight, resilience, and connection. Her passion for the written word and her commitment to community wellness converge in her debut book Bibliotherapy in the Bronx, a groundbreaking exploration of how reading can nurture healing in diverse and underserved communities.
With over a decade of experience in social work and education, Emely has served as an Early Childhood Social Worker with the NYC Department of Education, an Adjunct Professor at Queens College, and a Program Coordinator at The Children’s Storefront. Her professional path reflects her belief in the transformative power of accessible, culturally responsive mental health care, particularly for children and families navigating complex social systems. Through her teaching, writing, and therapeutic practice, she continues to advocate for literacy as a form of liberation and therapy as an act of storytelling.
Emely’s expertise and voice have been featured in major media outlets including CNN Wellness, Katie Couric Media, and Publishers Weekly, where her work has been recognized for advancing conversations about health literacy, bibliotherapy, and community care. Guided by her love for literature and her lifelong mission to make therapy inclusive and human centered, Emely remains dedicated to helping individuals discover their own stories and the healing power within them.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Emely
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my deep love for literature and my passion for providing therapy that supports all children and families. This combination fuels my commitment to creating meaningful connections, fostering emotional growth, and helping others find healing and expression through words and understanding.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
A mentor once told me, “Your career should reflect your calling.” That wisdom shaped everything I do—from founding LiterapyNYC to writing Bibliotherapy in the Bronx. I’ve learned that success feels different when it’s rooted in service, creativity, and community care.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women is to honor both your artistry and your empathy. In this work, your imagination is as important as your intellect, and your story will always be part of your greatest offering.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is the growing threat to access- access to stories, to truth, and to safe spaces for reflection. As libraries face censorship and book banning, the role of mental health professionals and storytellers becomes even more vital. We are the keepers of narrative freedom. We remind communities that stories are medicine, that empathy grows through diverse voices, and that healing begins when people see themselves reflected on the page. Our opportunity lies in using literature and therapy together to preserve imagination as a form of resistance and collective care.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me in both work and life are compassion, integrity, and community. I believe in leading with heart, creating spaces where people feel seen and safe, and honoring the power of storytelling to connect us across difference.
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