Emily Hurley
Emily Hurley
(she/her)
My name is Emily and I'm a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in the state of California. I have 5 years of professional experience as an individual therapist, parent counselor, family therapist and clinical case care coordinator. I have a school counseling credential and experience working with pre-k through 12th grade students, in both public and non public schools. My expertise is in helping clients with anxiety, stress, depression, family conflict, parenting issues, motivation, self-esteem, confidence, ADHD and Autism. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment to meet your unique and specific needs. I am goal oriented, creating measurable action steps for clients to work on towards achieving their set goals. Goals will be created in a collaborative manner between therapist and client. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and healthier life and to take the first steps towards change. My goal is to support and empower you in that journey. I utilize a creative and collaborative approach, and I'm here to meet you where you're at. Things you should know about my therapeutic approach: -Goal oriented with use of action steps towards set goals. -Collaborative with clients throughout treatment. -Utilizes respect and empathy. Therapy is a judgement free zone. -Provides psychoeducation. -Creative treatment interventions that can include play-based therapy, art therapy, journaling, homework, and therapeutic games and activities. Interventions are chosen based on client need and interest. -Evidence-based treatment and use of therapeutic modalities: CBT, DBT, person-centered and family therapy.
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
Our first session is a chance for us to get to know each other. We'll explore your hopes and concerns for therapy, begin discussing possible treatment goals, and start building a foundation of trust. In the following sessions, we'll work together to establish clear goals and identify initial action steps tailored to your needs. As therapy continues, our focus will be on deepening our therapeutic relationship, understanding what's happening in your life, developing useful skills, and reviewing or adjusting action steps as you make progress.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my creative and collaborative approach. I bring structure and accountability to the therapy process while maintaining a deep sense of care and genuine curiosity for each client. I draw from evidence-based techniques and thoughtfully tailor interventions to align with each person’s unique needs, goals, and interests.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I specialize in working with children, teens, young adults, parents/caregivers and families navigating anxiety, depression, neurodiversity, motivation, conflict, relationships, self-esteem issues and life challenges. My approach is structured, collaborative and goal oriented. I’m best suited to support clients who are open to setting clear goals and working toward them through practical, measurable action steps. I provide accountability in a compassionate, non-judgmental way; exploring with you what may be getting in the way when goals aren’t being met and adjusting the plan as needed to better support your growth. Populations I Serve & Common Areas of Support: Children and Adolescents (Pre-K through 12th Grade)- -Anxiety, depression, ADHD, Autism, and emotional regulation -Academic stress, low motivation, self-esteem, peer or family conflict -Support with IEPs/504 plans, behavioral concerns, or school transitions Parents and Families- -Family conflict and communication challenges -Parenting support, especially with neurodiverse children -Coaching, psychoeducation, and emotional support for caregivers -Parenting strategies (examples: boundary setting, family agreements, expectations/consequences and technology agreements) Young Adults and Adults- -Managing anxiety, depression, and life transitions -Building self-esteem, motivation, and confidence -Strengthening life skills, organization, and career direction -Exploring identity, purpose, and creating meaningful community
About Emily Hurley
I identify as
Serves ages
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Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
ACT stands for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. I support clients with accepting painful thoughts and feelings and learning how to handle these in new, creative ways. Ignoring and trying to get rid of painful thoughts and feelings will not work long term. Instead, it's about learning how to handle those thoughts and feelings in new ways so they don’t control your life. I help clients make room for difficult emotions rather than fighting them. This is the "Acceptance" part of ACT. I also support clients with helping them to figure out what really matters to them and take steps toward that life. That’s the "Commitment" part. ACT skills I utilize with clients include: Being present- learning to notice your thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them. Letting go of the struggle- accepting that some things are outside of your control. Choosing what matters- identifying your values and committing to actions that bring meaning to your life. A metaphor within ACT: Think of it like learning to steer a boat through rough waters. Rather than trying to stop the waves, you still move forward, even if the water is choppy. We are unable to stop the waves, but can control how we navigate them.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT, which stands for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, is based on the theory that our thoughts, feelings, and actions are all connected. The idea is if we change the way we think about things, it can help change how we feel and what we do. For example, if you're constantly thinking "I'm not good enough", this can lead to feeling sad or anxious, and maybe avoiding things you care about. Using CBT, I help clients to work on noticing those thoughts, understanding how they affect them, and learning how to respond to these thoughts in a more helpful way. CBT skills I utilize with clients include: Identifying unhelpful thinking patterns. Looking at evidence for and against unhelpful thoughts. Practicing more balanced ways of thinking. Identifying small behavior changes that can improve mood and confidence. CBT is a very hands-on, practical approach. As a therapist utilizing CBT, I am able to provide tools to clients for them to learn about and practice in session and utilize in their life. I support clients with creating measurable and achievable goals and action steps to work on towards goals. The goal of CBT treatment isn’t for clients to just "think positive", but to think more realistically and take steps that move them toward feeling better and living the life they desire.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
DBT stands for Dialectical Behavior Therapy. This treatment method is especially helpful for people who feel overwhelmed by intense emotions, have trouble with relationships, or find themselves stuck in patterns that hurt more than help. The word "dialectical" means two opposing things can be true at once. In DBT, we’re always looking for that middle ground: finding balance between two sides. Instead of thinking in all-or-nothing ways like "I’m either a total failure or totally fine", we learn to see the full picture. DBT utilizes a variety of skills within 4 main skill areas: 1) Mindfulness- learning to slow down and be present in the moment without judgment. 2) Emotion regulation- understanding and managing strong feelings without being controlled by them. 3) Distress tolerance- getting through tough moments in a healthy way without making things worse. 4) Interpersonal effectiveness- communicating clearly and setting healthy boundaries in relationships. Utilizing DBT, I support clients to better understand their patterns, practice new ways of responding, and finding more balance between acceptance and change.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
Utilizing person-centered therapy, I meet clients where they are at. I am not here to judge; I am here to listen, support, and help clients to better understand themselves and what they desire in life. The person-centered approach is based on the belief that people grow and change when they feel truly heard, accepted, and understood. I work to create a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can be themselves, whether they're feeling lost, confused, sad, angry, or anything else.
Family Therapy
Family therapy is a type of counseling where the therapist works with the client and their family members together. Families are connected: how one person feels or acts can affect everyone else. Rather than focusing on just one person, we look at the whole family system and how they interact. In family therapy, a variety of topics may be discussed and explored. This includes: Talking about challenges the family is facing (examples: communication problems, conflicts, or changes). Building understanding and support. Family members learning ways of relating to each other. Boundary and limit setting. The goal is to help the family work as a team, improve relationships, and find solutions that work for everyone.