Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Orange, CA

My name is Heidi Dryer and I obtained my license as a Marriage and Family Therapist in 2015 but I started practicing in 2012 under supervision. I am a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and I am also certified in Nutritional and Integrative Medicine for Mental Health. I specialize in working with survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

Healing from complex trauma requires looking at your whole self, not just your symptoms. Complex trauma leaves a lasting blueprint on your mind, body, and nervous system, which is why traditional talk therapy alone often feels like it isn't enough. An integrative health approach addresses this by combining gentle psychological healing with body-based therapies, nutrition, and lifestyle support to help you feel safe in your own skin again.

As a highly compassionate and empathic therapist, I am able to provide the space you need to process on a deeper level to cultivate self-awareness and insight so that you can fully understand yourself, experiences, their implications in your life and world, with development of genuine self-love and self-care. I am passionate about helping others find happiness in themselves, their relationships, their everyday lives, and in their world, and love the work I do.

Hi & Welcome. We all face challenges at times throughout our lives. We may need support finding self-awareness and compassion which I believe is the key in the healing process. I enjoy acting as an empowering guide along your journey. I believe in our innate capacity to change and create a meaningful and UPLIFTING life. My goal for you is to foster a safe, accepting and also challenging space that encourages personal growth and empowers you to make positive changes that support your values.

I am a double board certified (in Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine) adult psychiatrist.

I treat psychological difficulties with a compassionate, yet results-oriented approach. When someone suffers from a medical disorder, a comprehensive assessment of the problem is required in order to obtain an accurate diagnosis. If the diagnosis is incorrect, treatment will repeatedly fail. As a diagnostician, my focus is to treat people, many of whom have been non-responsive to previous psychological / medical treatment, in this same way. Only with a correct diagnosis will treatment be effective. Once determined, goals discussed, a treatment plan in place, the therapy begins. With time and work, individuals grow to experience enhanced emotional health, freedom from the emotional angst and suffering that previously existed, improved relationships, higher levels of consciousness, psychological insight, a stronger identity of oneself along with interpersonal and professional contentment.

Let me help you with anxiety, depression, grief recovery, trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, addictive/co-dependence issues, self esteem, and other serious life issues. I hold an MA Degree in marriage, family and child counseling. I conducted my LMFT practicum at Loma Linda Behavioral Medical Center.

It takes real courage to take this first step toward prioritizing your mental health, and I want to honor that. Beginning therapy can feel vulnerable, unfamiliar, or even intimidating, and I understand that. Maybe you’ve spent a long time in survival mode, developing ways of coping that helped you get through hard experiences but may no longer serve you. That can show up as disconnecting from yourself or others, struggling with boundaries, or carrying a story about yourself shaped by cultural or relational expectations. Wherever you are, we can start exactly where you are.

My work centers queer and transgender preteens, teens, and adults, as well as individuals with current or past foster care involvement. My clients may be feeling overwhelmed, questioning their identity, or don't know where to start with therapy. I can support you by helping you notice patterns and build trust in your own process.