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Hi! I’m Gillian Dreher, LMFT.

As a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (#153746) in California, I work with adults and teens who are dealing with stress, sadness, overwhelm, or questions about who they are and what’s next. I specialize in trauma, anxiety, depression, and family challenges and have specialized training in EMDR, DBT, and Expressive Arts Therapy.

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Feeling lost, overwhelmed,
or not like yourself?

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Are you feeling lost in life or overwhelmed by the weight of the world? Have you been struggling with stress, worry, or sadness that you just can’t shake? Do you want a change but aren’t sure what or how to make it happen?

I work with adults and teens who are not feeling like themselves lately and are dealing with stress, sadness, or questions about who they are and what’s next. My aim is to help you discover your strengths and work with them so you can become your best self and build a life you love. Whether you are hoping to heal from your past or explore your future, I will create a supportive space for you to process your emotions and help you discover the life you've been longing for.

In our first few sessions, we’ll get to know each other, figure out where you’re at, where you want to go, and how you can get there. Therapy isn’t always easy, but I’ll bring positive energy and support — and I believe we can have some fun along the way too! After meeting with me, clients feel less overwhelmed, better able to cope, and are living more present and fulfilling lives.

Get back to living a life you love.

Book a free consultation

What therapy is like with me

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I’m down to earth and I don’t love “therapy speak”

I’m a real person and I’ll talk to you like one too. As an artist and former tech worker, I bring a unique perspective and real world experience building a life that aligns with my values.

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I meet you where you’re at— and challenge you a bit too

I’ll work with the goals and topics that you bring in and will never push you to talk about or focus on things that you don’t want to— but I will give you a gentle nudge when you’re ready for it.

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I understand that therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all

I’ll work with you to figure out the sort of therapy that works best for you, whether that means traditional weekly therapy, a handfull of extended sessions, bi-weekly sessions, or something else entirely.

You’re not broken—
the system is.

It can feel impossible to keep up with the fast pace of life and all it’s many demands. I can help you discover how to navigate this overwhelmingly overproductive world with presence and awareness so you can live a life that feels great and aligns with your values.

Get Started

Techniques I use

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  • Whether you are experiencing PTSD symptoms, anxiety, depression, OCD, eating challenges, or other challenging symptoms, EMDR can help you make quick progress to feeling happier, healthier, and more like yourself.

  • I love to incorporate expressive arts interventions into my sessions. If you are interested in this sort of work, please let me know! I’m currently pursuing certification as an EXAT(Expressive Arts - Trauma Informed) therapist.

  • I often incorporate DBT skills into my therapy work and have a flexible and client-centered approach to taking my clients through the stages of DBT. I am trained by the Behavioral Tech Institute and love to help my clients access their “wise mind” to live in better balance.

  • I have a wide toolkit of additional skills that I’ve gained through a variety of trainings. I meet my clients where they’re at and use the tools that best serve their needs.

My specialties

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As a former tech worker, I know what it’s like to work in that fast paced world, to experience layoffs, and to wonder what’s next.

Tech workers

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Life is long and you don’t need to stay stuck in something that isn’t making you happy! I can help you navigate your next move mindfully.

Career changes & life transitions

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Growing up is hard enough without the added stress that young people deal with these days. I meet adolescents where they’re at and help them figure out who they are and where they want to go next.

Teens & tweens

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Complex trauma, anxiety & depression

Whether you experienced a big “T” trauma or lots of little things throughout your life, I can help you get to the bottom of and treat your symptoms.

Get in Touch

Whether you have a question or are ready to get started, please do reach out.

Book a free consultation
Message me on Psychology Today