Therapists in Orinda, CA

If you find yourself struggling in life to feel whole, happy, at ease with yourself and being in the world, or feel frustrated with a lack of intimacy in your relationships, I can help you. It is important when searching for a therapist that you feel an honest connection. I give a free 30-minute consultation to help you decide if working with me is a match. I have trained in trauma recovery, somatic work, psychodynamic, cognitive, mindfulness, bioenergetic analysis. My focus has been working with individuals around healing from PTSD, anxiety, eating disorders, bi-polar, and marital relationship issues.

We all need support because at times life can be difficult. It may be enough to talk with friends or other people you trust but sometimes not. Maybe you are feeling alone or not connected with yourself and people around you. Therapy can be a way to help you reconnect. I offer a genuine environment in which we look together how you can get back on track. I believe that connection is a basic human need: being connected with yourself and with the people around you. This is a core value in all of my work.

Navigating life challenges can be overwhelming at times. Loss, too little nuturing, and unresolved wounds can leave us feeling depressed, anxious and searching for answers. Therapy can help us make sense of these and bring us back to our authentic self. By providing a nuturing and collaborative environment we can create change together!

Providing Somatic Psychotherapy, Somatic Experiencing, Ketamine-Assisted Therapy, and Psychedelic Integration. I specialize in supporting people with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mood-related issues. I am dedicated to helping you find balance, clarity and meaning in their lives through evidence-based mind-body psychotherapy. My goal is to create a safe and comfortable space to explore and grow, going at a pace that does not overwhelm the nervous system, and allows for integration.

Make therapy a gift to yourself and the journey of a lifetime. Experience the therapeutic process as an exploration into a landscape full of your own creative capacities, strengths, and dreams that already exist. Replace out-dated belief systems with new ones that better reflect your current, authentic self. Continue the process of growing into the person you believe yourself to be. Move from the victim to the empowered. I work in collaborative ways with you, helping to identifying assumptions, thoughts, and beliefs that are keeping you from the experiences, relationships, and life that you want.

Life can be hard. Things that may feel easy at one time, feel impossible at another. Sometimes, there are issues that feel like they'll never go away. I work to create an environment where we can think together about what is troubling you and get to the root of the issues, so lasting change can be possible.

The interface between contemporary psychology and the wisdom of contemplative practice spirituality is central to my work with individuals and couples and to my general approach to therapy. With the use of MINDFULNESS based therapy and a non-judgmental and non-pathological approach I create a healing and supportive environment were growth and transformation can take place through our in depth process of exploration. From this general holistic and contemplative perspective I address a variety of issues of emotional, existential and relational nature with both individuals and couples and would be very happy to help you as well!

Do you wish for greater success, self-acceptance, love and connection? Do you desire to live your life more authentically? Difficult life histories and current obstacles hinder us from becoming who we want to be. With my help, past events and unfruitful ways of being can be processed and transformed so that they no longer impact your present or future. Modalities such as EMDR, psychodynamic therapy, emotionally focused therapy and sensorimotor psychotherapy will help you discover and embody a new way of being. I am fiercely committed to helping you clear your path forward to embrace greater ease, integrity, belonging, and love.

The therapeutic encounter is a unique collaborative journey. We cannot control what crosses our path, but we can see ourselves as brave enough to face it. People come to me when they are in struggling or stuck and want to improve their life, hope and relationships. I provide a safe space to explore issues with food, substance abuse, anxiety, depression, self-worth, loss and creativity. I love to work with couples using Emotion Focused Therapy. I am insight minded. I can help you face fears, own longings, repair hurt, deepen connection, renew dreams. I can hold your story. I am trauma-informed. I won't shy away from the hard stuff.

My primary focus is rooted in the belief that identifying strengths and resiliencies are key components to working effectively in the therapeutic format. We will stay focused on using these abilities to inform decision making while also exploring the impact of personal challenges. I like to use curiosity, intuition and empathic insight to continually deepen our therapeutic connection, and to offer homework to keep the work alive during the week. Working in this dynamic style ideally creates an increased sense of Self, motivation for change, and a reduction of current problematic symptoms.

I think you know what would make you happy but don't know how to make it happen. This applies to both individuals and couples. People stop themselves from moving forward because they think they can't or don't deserve to get their own needs met. I can help you overcome blocks, fears, guilt, depression, and/or self-defeating behaviors so you can free yourself to be happy and more successful. It seems daunting but, with support and direction, it is possible to improve your life. This is even true for people who are suffering from more debilitating problems such as Bipolar Disorder, OCD,or Schizoaffective Disorders.

My experience includes 15 years of helping clients heal themselves and their relationships.The essence of my counseling approach is each person has access to health and well being regardless of what is currently being experienced. I help clients regain that innate health through deep listening and non-judgmental feedback. I work deeply with current thoughts, beliefs and feelings about one's self to uncover deep seated self-judgment that blocks happiness. Anxiety, depression and unhappiness transform into greater peace and understanding. In turn, self awareness is enhanced which leads to greater understanding, compassion and empathy for self and others.

Dr. Embrey has practiced psychotherapy in Europe for 15 years and in California since 1990, emphasizing the possibilities of making life better. He has been educated in England and Sweden as well as his doctorate in California. Many choices in life are difficult. Trying to understand our choices, what motivates them and seeing clearly the patterns of our life is the start of choosing a new direction for ourselves or our relationships. I understand how to produce change. I work with individuals and couples mostly, with the utmost care, respect and consideration of situations we find ourselves in.

Therapy can help you overcome difficulties, live creatively, and feel more alive. Many people become stuck in ways of thinking and living that no longer serve them. Through a caring therapeutic relationship, you can develop the courage to live in a meaningful and fulfilling way. Over the past 25 years, I have helped people with a wide variety of issues work through significant challenges, freeing them to make better choices. In addition to my clinical work, I teach and supervise at various training programs throughout the Bay Area, and was the Director of Counseling at California College of the Arts for 15 years.

Ideal clients: Those in therapy or have been in therapy, on the front lines of their own self-work or are on the path of self-growth, who are transitioning out of unhealthy relationships and into healthy ones. Those for whom the quality of their relationships are front and center and are driven by their need and pursuit of connection. The people I work best are those who value their relationships above all else. All of the work I do is about empowering the transformation of their relationships by developing the relationship with your Self.

Life guarantees each of us joy and despair. And yet, our highly individualistic culture seems to over promote self sufficiency. I've found that life transitions, relational and professional challenges are considerably more manageable with consistent support. Through reflection, collaborative brainstorming and guidance in noticing response patterns, clients in my care become more aware. This growing self awareness uncovers outdated beliefs, surfaces issues that need tending and, most importantly, gives folks more agency around their daily life choices. I enjoy this discovery process with individuals, couples and parent/child teams.

I have dedicated over 30 years to provide an avenue for healing to survivors of trauma. As an integrative therapist I am not restricted to a particular methodology or school of thought. Instead, I can draw on different methodologies and treatment modalities. I am a therapist who gets to the heart of the matter quickly. I can assist you in finding a higher level of inner peace. In this therapeutic relationship, you are nurtured while dealing with challenges, and together, we will explore practical solutions and strategies for your journey.

Everyone has challenges and battles to fight. A pain-free life is not always possible. Even the strongest people amongst us need a little bit of help to work through some of life’s difficulties. Whether you struggle with depression, grief, anxiety, or other issues, you should know there is hope for better tomorrows.

Are you tired of emotional pain? Whether you're upset about problems in your relationship, unhappy about a breakup or divorce, feeling depressed or anxious, or are dealing with other life challenges, my goal is to help you reclaim the happiness you deserve and make lasting changes in your life. My style is solution-focused and interactive, and I will make every effort to get to the heart of the matter so you can start feeling better right away. I work with individuals and couples, and have extensive experience in relationship counseling and in treating depression, anxiety, and a variety of other difficulties that you may be facing.