Emily Turner
MA, AMFT

Education

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara 
• Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego, one of the only COAMFTE-accredited (highest level of MFT accreditation in the US) training programs in California

Professional

Before becoming a therapist, I worked as a recruiter and talent leader in San Francisco and Atlanta and was responsible for building and leading teams at hyper-scaling tech companies. My work was varied, but my favorite responsibility was coaching individuals through major life transitions and goal achievement. While many of my recruiting counterparts were focused on filling open headcount or the hiring goal, my focus very naturally shifted to the people I worked with and their stories. 

In my second professional life, I am a registered associate Marriage and Family Therapist #140686 under the supervision of Sean Davis, Ph.D., LMFT #45885. The transition was a natural one, given it offered an opportunity to explore what I love most. The opportunity to see people for their authentic selves and sit alongside them during life’s challenging twists and turns is such a great honor and one I’m incredibly grateful for.

I have practiced therapy in medical settings, working with clients aged 8 to 85, including varied gender identities, sexualities, and ethnicities. 

I’ve also regularly worked with individuals trying therapy for the first time who were referred to me by their primary care doctor. I’m passionate about working with individuals who are new to therapy; I offer compassion to clients who feel skepticism or resistance when testing the waters of therapy. However, if it’s not your first time, that’s OK, too — we can continue building on your previous work!

If you feel motivated to improve your life, I’m here to advocate for you in the therapy room, encouraging you through the obstacles that arise or the uncertainty you may feel in the process. I’m committed to my clients’ growth and doing what’s best for them, and I strive to always bring engagement and genuine care to my client-centered approach. 

Clinical Specialties

• High-functioning anxiety and other challenges linked to anxiety, such as perfectionism, people-pleasing, and avoidance
• Helping couples rebuild intimacy, closeness, and connection 
• Grief & loss
• Helping adult children of emotionally immature (disengaged, disconnected, or dismissing) parents heal from past hurts and build more connected, congruent lives
• Adjusting to change and difficult life transitions

My approach to therapy is personalized to you because your experiences are solely your own. Accordingly, I use an individual-centered, goal-oriented approach. At times, I emphasize validation, providing a supportive space for your experiences. When appropriate, I adopt a more active and collaborative role, engaging in problem-solving, redirecting, and breaking things down. My primary goal is to empower you as an expert in your own life. Clients often appreciate my authentic and genuine style, which they find distinct from other therapists. Therapy can be challenging, and for it to be most effective, it requires you to open up, bring your whole self, and trust the process and your therapist. That’s why I strive to do the same, creating a safe and empathetic space for you to explore and grow.

Throughout our time together, I’ll help you discover how your past relationships and family history shape your present and then help you use that insight to determine how you want to reshape your future. Together, we’ll uncover moments where you’ve acted on “autopilot” or overlooked your feelings and needs, with the goal of reconnecting to your most authentic self. 

Given you know yourself best, I’ll consistently look to you for feedback to build trust as we navigate this journey together. I’ll support you in uncovering the insights you seek, whether it’s understanding your experiences (the “why”) or discovering practical strategies (the “how”) for change. My flexible approach incorporates techniques and skills personalized to support your specific life goals. If you’re dedicated to improving your future by better understanding and appreciating your past, I’m here to support you in connecting those dots. If you’re looking to identify new opportunities to do things differently in the future, I’m here to help guide you towards feeling “unstuck” — however works best for you.

Personal

Australia-born, British-bred, and US-raised. I grew up in Southern California, but my British roots are very near and dear to my heart (minus the cold weather…definitely need some sunshine in my life). Sushi rolls, soulful chats with friends over wine, summer storms, solo concerts on the drive to work, when the trees bloom, a perfectly curated workout playlist, puppy kisses, little acts of kindness, and self-care massages — these are a few of my favorite things.

When not in the therapy room you can find me spending quality time with my fiance and our two golden retriever fur babies, enjoying board game nights; or perfecting my fantasy football teams (my guilty pleasure).