Our Staff

Emma Braks

MOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist

I grew up in Spokane, WA and became interested in occupational therapy after working at a retirement community as a Resident Experience Coordinator. I later attended Eastern Washington University (EWU), where I received my bachelor’s degree in exercise science and my master’s degree in occupational therapy.

At EWU, I was selected as the Exercise Science Student of the Year in 2020 and the Outstanding Student in Occupational Therapy in 2022 for my academic achievements. I completed a 12-week level II fieldwork placement in hand therapy in Bellingham and another 12-week rotation in pediatrics in Deer Park, WA.

“We had only one real textbook, he said: our patients. We should trust only what we could learn from them–and from our own experience.” -Bessel Van Der Kolk

In The Body Keeps the Score I love how this quote reminds me to listen to my patients and look at their unique experience, rather than reduce my patients solely to their textbook condition.

I’m an occupational therapist specializing in hand therapy. I always strive to reduce pain levels while improving function so patients can get back to the things they enjoy doing or need to do.

One of my passions is treating conditions with a prominent neurological component, like focal hand dystonia or traumatic amputations. The brain-body connection continually amazes me.

I enjoy working at Gabbert Clinic because it is a small clinic that places patient experience and patient care first and foremost!

What is Emma Watching, Reading, or Listening to?

• Extraordinary Attorney Woo (show)
• Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro (book)
• Ear Biscuits (podcast)

I enjoy hiking, indoor cycling classes, watching Korean dramas, learning about other cultures, and traveling.