Pregnancy, Prenatal, Postpartum Therapists in Orinda, CA

Dr. Barbara Grelling is a licensed psychologist with more than twenty years of clinical experience. She specializes in the treatment of adults with anxiety, depression and life stress. Dr. Grelling helps women who are dealing with anxiety and/or depression during pregnancy , the postpartum period, and throughout motherhood. Dr. Grelling also specializes in helping older adults cope with the emotional consequences of loss, caregiving demands, illness, disability and other age-related changes.

In my practice of helping others strive for mental wellness, I believe in taking a holistic approach. I specialize in working with children, teens and adults with anxiety, depression and life transitions. I also work with parents in ways to effectively support their children and manage their own mental well-being throughout the parenting journey. In addition I have previously served hundreds of parents and their children in speciality areas such as teen anxiety, teen DBT, and pre-adolescence emotional regulation skill building. I also have specialized training in Perinatal Mental Health through Postpartum Support International.

At some point in our lives each of us faces obstacles or barriers we can't seem to overcome on our own. It's part of the human condition. Fortunately, professional counseling and psychotherapy can help you develop ways of moving forward through the places where you feel stuck. The empathic, and non-judgmental therapeutic relationship I offer can help you discover, or rediscover, your own strengths to heal, thrive, and create the relationships and life you desire.

*VIDEO/PHONE SESSIONS AVAILABLE* Do you find yourself facing difficult or unexpected struggles? Responding to life's challenges can be hard and can result in stress and unwanted feelings or symptoms. I am here to help you gain the strength, confidence, and clarity needed to tackle life’s obstacles and to feel well. I work with individuals from adolescence through adulthood who are dealing with a range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, life transitions, relationship and parenting concerns, grief and loss, trauma recovery, and more. I also help couples work through problems and strengthen their bond.

A clinical and developmental psychologist with over 30 years experience, I work with adults, parents and children from birth through adolescence. Development is a continual balance of equilibrium and disequilibrium; a lifelong process as our bodies, brains, relationships and societal expectations change. While the challenges along the way bring the discomfort of vulnerability and negative emotions, they also create opportunity for growth and change. From infancy on, we all have an inner vitality into which therapy can allow us to tap. Therapy provides a safe protected space that nurtures exploration, reflection, growth and change.

I have over 25 years of clinical experience helping adults, couples and families work through their difficulties and challenges. I strive to provide a warm, respectful and safe environment for my clients to feel both nurtured and challenged. Together, we explore solutions and strategies for change and healing.

You’re struggling with difficult feelings in your relationship with a spouse, partner, your child, family members, friends or people at work. Or you may be trying to come to terms with painful feelings about things that happened in the past. When you’re hurting or feeling confused, you don’t know what to do. People in your life may not understand you or your experiences. You may want to develop greater self-awareness and hope to find a greater sense of choice and freedom in your life. It takes courage to sit with the layers of your experience. And it also takes time. Therapy allows for time to look inside and be present.

I specialize in working with couples, parenting, parents with special needs children, young adults and grandparents. Family conflict, divorce, blended families who are undergoing a wide range of emotional, behavioral, academic, and relational issues need support and tools. Retirement, aging, caring for aging parents, caring for ill-loved ones, coping with life threatening illness and grief and loss are also important issues impacting life and family. Therapy can bring understanding, increase communication and create healthy relationships, life transitions and families.

My orientation is cognitive and behavioral (CBT). I'm a caring compassionate listener and also actively engage with clients to elicit thoughts, feelings, and strategies for healing. My specialties include eating disorders, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, couples, family issues, parenting, and teens. My therapy approach is directive and problem-solving while encouraging self-acceptance and compassion. I believe that everyone is capable of change at his or her own rate and comfort level. I help my clients eliminate self-critical thinking that too often sabotages their happiness and their relationships.

Whether you are depressed, anxious, confused, or wanting better communication between you and your partner, family, friends or self, I can help you get to know yourself and what is driving your thoughts and feelings. This self wisdom leads to greater choice in your relationships. You can only change you, but changing you leads to changes in the world around you, including the people in your life. I would love to help you listen to and trust your inner guidance in making choices that support you.

Are you suffering from sleepless nights and unable to shut off your mind from stress and negative thoughts? Has stress been affecting your health and well-being? Have you felt stuck in terms of your ability to move toward your goals or have the life or career that you want? No matter what challenges you are facing, such as stress, illness, trauma, life transition, relationship issues, or loss, I can help you make the necessary changes to move toward what is most important to you in your life.

I offer strategies and tools for teens and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, self-harming behavior, and trauma. My highest aim as your therapist is to co-create a lasting and genuine healing relationship, one where you feel supported to express yourself authentically and make the changes necessary in your life to live, love and work wholeheartedly. My warm, genuine and practical approach allows us to move through difficult times and gain clarity about yourself and your relationships . All are welcome in my office and I see clients from 13 on up.

There comes a time when people need some help to cope with many of life’s challenges. I have 25 years of clinical experience and am passionate about people. I’d love to help you on your journey toward healing and self-discovery. Life can be overwhelming at times and having a supportive person to help you navigate it can be life changing. My goal is to help you understand yourself more and guide you on the path that works best for you.

I am here to help you create your most beautiful life! Whatever you are going through, I am here to listen, support, and encourage you in the process. My cat, Lucy, often likes to sit in on sessions :). I would describe myself as authentic, compassionate, and colorful.

Choosing a therapist online can be a challenge because it is hard to get a gut feeling if there will be a good match. I invite you to watch a brief video on my website to get a sense if you would feel comfortable working with me. I specialize in working with people who feel stuck or believe that they have "tried everything." I am a Certified EMDR Therapist and an Aprroved EMDR Consultant. In my office, you will find a safe place to explore, grow, and heal.

Helping people overcome the rippling impact trauma has on one's life (your relationship to self, others, and the world). Creating a heart-centered space of safety - that supports the process of moving through suffering - helping find and execute whatever your deepest wishes are for your life. In the process uncovering joy, playfulness, EMPOWERMENT, self-love, self-worth, and ways to implement self-care to make your life goals doable and sustainable! Empowerment to speak your truth, advocate for yourself and learn new ways to communicate with others. A list of extensive training I have participated in is on LinkedIn.

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.

As a clinical social worker, I have an eclectic approach to treatment. I help you examine your life experience holistically. I walk beside you in treatment, support you in your endeavors, and cheer you on towards wellness. My therapeutic approach and compassion are rooted in my past work with the homeless population, foster youth, the severe and persistently mental ill, and survivors of rape, domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. After receiving an M.S.W. from the University of Southern California, I practiced in the Los Angeles and San Francisco area.

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.