Dr. Rainey Temkin, PhD
Clinical Director
Rainey Temkin, PhD, is the Clinical Director at Alta Mira Recovery Programs as well as a licensed clinical psychologist. She began her time with Alta Mira as a primary therapist in 2018, then transitioned to the Clinical Director role in early 2023. Rainey knew immediately that Alta Mira’s values and deep commitment to excellence were a clear match with how she approaches her own work.
She obtained a PhD in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Serious Mental Illness and Diversity and Community Mental Health from Pacific Graduate School of Psychology at Palo Alto University as well as an MA in Counseling Psychology from the Wright Institute in Berkeley. She also received specialty training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Psychosis. Rainey was able to bring her expertise with serious mental illness to Alta Mira, along with a deep understanding of the interconnection between substance use and mental health. In her practice, she believes in the importance of both physical and mental well-being in recovery and to explore and investigate the mechanisms of change from an individual perspective.
Rainey developed the current curriculum for Dialectical Behavior Therapy at Alta Mira and recognizes, through this modality, the importance of both insight-oriented psychotherapy combined with actionable skills training to more effectively alter problem behaviors. She holds the dialectic of acceptance and change as the foundation for her clinical work and supports clients in developing a clearer sense of self, learning how to manage their emotions in a healthy way, accepting the highs and lows of life without impulsive action, and creating and improving healthy and stable relationships.
Furthermore, Rainey brings her expertise in mindfulness to the community at Alta Mira, facilitating a daily morning meditation practice to underscore how awareness in the present moment decreases our daily suffering. Rainey has been working with dual-diagnosed and chemically dependent individuals in a variety of settings, including inpatient, public hospital, and community mental health clinics.
