Licensed to practice in California and accepts 60 insurances. Specializes in Anger Management, Depression, Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD) and 2 more.
Orin Conant
(he/him)
About me
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 15 years of experience helping adults navigate anxiety, depression, stress, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, trauma-related concerns, life transitions, and patterns of self-criticism or avoidance. My approach is warm, compassionate, collaborative, and active. I want therapy to be a place where you feel genuinely understood and accepted, while also being supported in making meaningful changes. I believe people grow best when they are met with both kindness and honesty. I draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Compassion-Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, Motivational Interviewing, and Exposure and Response Prevention when appropriate. Rather than relying on a single method, I tailor treatment to each person’s needs, values, strengths, and goals. I am especially interested in helping clients better understand the patterns that keep them feeling stuck and develop healthier ways of responding to difficult thoughts, emotions, relationships, and life circumstances. My goal is not simply to reduce symptoms, but to help clients build greater self-understanding, resilience, emotional flexibility, and confidence in their ability to handle life’s challenges. I consider it a privilege to support people through the deeply human process of healing, growth, and becoming more fully themselves.
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
Our first session will be an opportunity for us to begin getting to know one another and to understand what has brought you to therapy. I will invite you to share what you have been experiencing, what feels most difficult right now, and what you hope may be different as a result of our work together. You will not be expected to tell your entire story all at once, and we will move at a pace that feels manageable. I will ask questions about your current concerns, relevant history, strengths, support system, relationships, and previous experiences with therapy. We will also begin identifying patterns that may be contributing to distress, such as avoidance, self-criticism, emotional overwhelm, unhelpful coping strategies, or difficulty responding effectively to thoughts and feelings. I will explain how I work, discuss which therapeutic approaches may be most helpful for your needs, and answer any questions you have about the process. Depending on what brings you to therapy, treatment may include practical coping skills, cognitive and behavioral strategies, mindfulness, compassion-focused work, emotion regulation, communication skills, or gradual work with avoided situations. By the end of the session, my goal is for you to feel heard, respected, and clearer about how therapy may help. Together, we will begin developing a treatment plan that reflects your needs, values, strengths, and goals. Therapy with me is collaborative: I will bring clinical knowledge, guidance, and honest feedback, while recognizing that you are the expert on your own life.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
One of the greatest strengths I bring to therapy is the ability to create a warm, accepting environment while also helping clients move toward meaningful change. I listen carefully, seek to understand each person without judgment, and tailor treatment to the individual rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach. I bring many years of clinical experience, a strong foundation in evidence-based treatment, and the ability to draw from several therapeutic approaches depending on what will be most helpful. My work is informed by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Compassion-Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, mindfulness-based interventions, Motivational Interviewing, and exposure-based strategies when appropriate. I am active and engaged in sessions. I offer practical tools, education, honest feedback, and thoughtful questions that help clients recognize patterns, understand themselves more clearly, and develop new ways of responding to difficult thoughts, emotions, relationships, and life situations. I also bring compassion, patience, curiosity, and respect for the courage it takes to begin therapy. My goal is to help clients feel supported while also becoming more confident in their own ability to cope, make thoughtful decisions, set healthy boundaries, and live in ways that reflect their values.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
My ideal clients are adults who may appear capable on the outside but feel overwhelmed, anxious, discouraged, self-critical, or stuck on the inside. They may be navigating depression, relationship difficulties, stress, life transitions, low self-esteem, trauma-related concerns, intrusive thoughts, or patterns of avoidance that have gradually made life feel smaller. I work especially well with clients who want more than a place to vent. They are looking for a therapist who will listen carefully, help them understand the patterns affecting their lives, and offer practical tools and honest feedback. They do not need to arrive with everything figured out; openness, curiosity, and a willingness to take small steps are enough places to begin. Many of my clients want to develop a healthier relationship with themselves. They may struggle with shame, perfectionism, harsh self-judgment, difficulty setting boundaries, or feeling responsible for everyone around them. Others want to manage strong emotions more effectively, communicate more clearly, tolerate uncertainty, or stop allowing fear to make important decisions for them. My ideal client is not someone with a particular diagnosis or background, but someone who is ready to approach therapy as a collaborative process. I welcome clients who want to build greater self-understanding, emotional flexibility, resilience, and confidence while creating a life that feels more consistent with their values.
Specialties
Top specialties
Anger Management
Depression
Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD)
Other specialties
Anxiety
LGBTQ
Identifies as
Buddhist
Christian
Man
Serves ages
Adults (18 to 64)
Elders (65 and above)
Teenagers (13 to 17)
Licensed in
California
Accepts
Aetna
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Ambetter from Health Net
Amerihealth Administrators
Anthem
Blue Cross
Independence Administrators
Independence Blue Cross
Arlo
AvMed
Blue Shield
Blue Shield of California - Medi-Cal
Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
Carelon Behavioral Health (Commercial)
Sutter Health Plan
IHSS Healthy Workers
Cash - $160 per session
Centivo
Central California Alliance for Health (Medi-Cal)
Cigna
Cigna - HealthEZ
EAP:Cigna
EAP:Evernorth
EAP:UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Evernorth
GTEB
Gold Coast Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
Golden Rule
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
Health Net (Commercial)
Health Net (Medi-Cal)
Community Health Plan of Imperial Valley (Medi-Cal)
CalViva Health (Medi-Cal)
Health Plan of San Joaquin/Mountain Valley Health Plan – Medi-Cal
L.A. Care PASC-SEIU
L.A. Care Covered
L.A. Care Covered Direct
L.A. Care Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Partnership HealthPlan of California (Medi-Cal)
San Francisco Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
Santa Clara Family Health Plan - Medi-Cal
Scripps Health Plan
Sharp Health Plan
Surest (formerly Bind)
Tufts Health/Cigna
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
Location
Virtual
My treatment methods
Compassion Focused
I have extensive experience incorporating Compassion-Focused Therapy into my work with clients who struggle with shame, self-criticism, anxiety, depression, low self-worth, and difficulty treating themselves with kindness. Many people understand intellectually that they “should” be more compassionate toward themselves, but find that self-criticism feels automatic, protective, or deeply ingrained. I help clients understand why these patterns develop and learn more effective ways of responding to themselves. My approach to Compassion-Focused Therapy is warm, collaborative, and practical. I help clients better understand the interaction among the brain’s threat, drive, and soothing systems and recognize how early experiences, relationships, stress, and learned coping patterns may contribute to emotional distress. This framework can reduce shame by helping clients see that many painful reactions are understandable human responses rather than personal failures. In sessions, we may use compassionate imagery, mindful awareness, supportive inner dialogue, perspective-taking, breathing practices, and exercises designed to strengthen the compassionate self. I also help clients develop the courage to face difficult emotions, set healthy boundaries, take responsibility when needed, and make changes that support their well-being. I view compassion not as avoiding discomfort or simply trying to feel better, but as developing the wisdom, strength, and commitment to respond to suffering in a helpful way. My goal is to help clients become less dominated by shame and self-criticism and more able to approach themselves and their lives with courage, warmth, and understanding.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been a central part of my clinical work throughout my career. I use CBT to help clients better understand the connections among their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and life circumstances. It can be especially helpful for anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, stress, relationship difficulties, and patterns of avoidance or self-criticism. My approach to CBT is collaborative, practical, and individualized. I do not treat thoughts as problems simply because they are negative or uncomfortable. Instead, I help clients examine whether certain thinking patterns are accurate, balanced, helpful, or contributing to feeling stuck. Together, we identify the beliefs and behaviors that may be increasing distress and develop more flexible and effective ways of responding. In sessions, we may work on recognizing unhelpful thinking patterns, evaluating assumptions, developing coping strategies, increasing meaningful activity, improving problem-solving, and gradually approaching situations that have been avoided. I also help clients connect these skills to their personal values and everyday lives so that therapy feels relevant rather than overly mechanical. My goal is not to teach clients to “think positively,” but to help them think more clearly, respond more intentionally, and build confidence in their ability to manage difficult situations. I use CBT in a supportive and compassionate way, balancing practical change with respect for each client’s history, strengths, and pace.
Daialectical Behavior (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy has strongly influenced the way I help clients manage intense emotions, cope with distress, improve relationships, and respond more effectively during difficult moments. I often draw from DBT when clients feel emotionally overwhelmed, struggle with impulsive reactions, experience conflict in relationships, or have difficulty finding a balance between accepting themselves and making meaningful changes. My approach to DBT is practical, collaborative, and compassionate. I help clients identify patterns that may be creating additional suffering and develop skills in mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. These skills can support clients in slowing down, understanding what they are feeling, making more intentional choices, and communicating their needs more effectively. In sessions, we may practice grounding strategies, ways to tolerate distress without making the situation worse, methods for regulating strong emotions, and communication skills for setting boundaries or navigating conflict. I also use the DBT concept of “wise mind” to help clients find a more balanced response between emotion and reason. I value the dialectical principle that acceptance and change can occur together. Clients do not have to reject or criticize themselves in order to grow. My goal is to help them respond to difficult experiences with greater awareness, flexibility, self-respect, and confidence.
Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)
Exposure and Response Prevention is one of the evidence-based approaches I use when working with clients who struggle with obsessive-compulsive patterns, anxiety, avoidance, or fear-based behaviors. I use ERP thoughtfully and selectively, depending on the client’s needs, goals, and presenting concerns. My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and paced carefully. I help clients understand how avoidance, reassurance seeking, checking, mental rituals, and other short-term coping strategies can unintentionally strengthen anxiety over time. Together, we identify patterns that may be keeping the problem going and develop gradual, purposeful opportunities to practice responding differently. ERP is not about forcing someone into overwhelming situations or eliminating every anxious thought. Instead, it helps clients build greater confidence in their ability to experience uncertainty, discomfort, or intrusive thoughts without relying on compulsive or avoidant responses. I provide education, support, and clear guidance throughout the process. When appropriate, I integrate ERP with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, mindfulness, and compassion-focused strategies. This allows treatment to address both behavior change and the way clients relate to themselves during difficult moments. My goal is to help clients become less controlled by fear and more able to make choices based on their values and long-term well-being.
17 ratings with written reviews
June 14, 2026
Orin is so kind and compassionate. Talking to him feels like getting a hug sometimes. But, he also knows when to push and help you find understanding. I can't wait to keep working with him!
Verified client, age 35-44
May 25, 2026
I had put in the information before the appointment we were looking for couples therapy. He let us talk for twenty minutes about our private struggles and what we were going through without ever cutting in to tell us he doesn’t work with couples. It was very unethical and seemed like he just wanted to hit a certain amount of time to get paid and hear our private information and send us on our way without any help. It was odd and uncomfortable.
Verified client, age 25-34
December 30, 2025
It’s a great way to be able to express my feelings and thoughts to an outside source besides family or friend.