Licensed Marriage & Family Therapy
There is a safe place to land, and your inner strength is still there. Ember & Shore Therapy offers warm, grounded, evidence-based care for individuals, couples, and families ready to find their footing again.
Photo by Janek Valdsalu on Unsplash
The inner spark that remains even in burnout — your resilience, still glowing beneath the surface.
Steadiness and grounding — a safe, stable place to land no matter how rough the waters have been.
"You don't have to carry your pain alone or forever. There is a safe place to land, and your inner strength is still there."
© Ember & Shore Therapy, PLLC
About the Practice
Ember & Shore Therapy, PLLC is a Minnesota-based outpatient mental health practice founded by Lea Semler, LMFT. We provide relationship-centered, trauma-informed therapy for individuals, couples, and families navigating anxiety, relational stress, life transitions, trauma, and emotional burnout.
As an LMFT, our approach is uniquely systems-based — meaning we look at how the relationships and environments around you shape your experience. Healing rarely happens in isolation, and we hold that truth in every session.
Ember & Shore provides a highly personalized, warm experience for clients who prioritize the therapeutic relationship and a grounded environment.
Who We Help
Burnout, chronic stress, or the sense of "just getting through the day" — we help you find rest and restore your capacity.
Couples and families experiencing conflict, disconnection, or communication breakdowns can rebuild trust and closeness.
Life changes — loss, divorce, illness, parenthood, career — can destabilize even the most grounded person.
High-functioning anxiety, quiet depression, or a persistent emptiness — you deserve support even when you appear okay.
We work with children, adolescents, and young adults, supporting them through anxiety, identity, family stress, and the challenges of growing up.
Every session is trauma-informed. You set the pace. Safety and trust come first, always.
Services
All services are available via telehealth or in-person. Sessions are tailored to your unique needs — no one-size-fits-all treatment here.
A dedicated space to process and explore your inner world — anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, relationship patterns, and more. Build coping skills, self-awareness, and a stronger relationship with yourself.
Children, Adolescents & Adults
Strengthen your relationship, rebuild after rupture, or find clarity about your future together. We work with couples of all kinds — married, dating, same-sex, and everything in between.
All relationship types welcome
For families of all shapes and sizes — blended families, LGBTQ+ families, and families navigating significant change. Communicate better and reconnect across generations.
Blended, LGBTQ+, all family structures
Professional supervision for pre-licensed therapists seeking LMFT licensure in Minnesota. Grounded, collaborative, and systems-informed guidance to support your clinical growth.
Pre-licensed therapists
Fees & Insurance
We believe quality mental health care should be within reach. We offer multiple ways to make sessions work for your situation.
We accept Aetna, Carelon Behavioral Health, Cigna, and Quest Behavioral Health. Contact us to verify your specific plan before your first session.
Prefer not to use insurance, or uninsured? We offer a sliding scale fee based on household income. Reach out to discuss what works.
We accept cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA/HSA). Payment is collected at the time of service.
Have questions about your specific plan or cost? Contact us — we're happy to help before you commit.
FAQ
Yes! All services are available via telehealth or in-person. Telehealth sessions are conducted through a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform, so you can connect from the comfort of your home anywhere in Minnesota.
We work with children, adolescents, adults, and seniors, as well as couples and families. If you're unsure whether we serve your specific situation, don't hesitate to reach out.
This varies widely. Some clients benefit from a focused 8–12 session series; others value ongoing support over a longer period. We'll regularly check in about your progress and goals together.
Yes. Everything shared in therapy is strictly confidential under HIPAA and Minnesota law, with limited exceptions (such as immediate safety concerns). Full details are provided during intake.
Ember & Shore is an outpatient practice and is not a crisis service. If you are in crisis, please reach out to one of these resources immediately: call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line), or go to your nearest emergency room.
Get in Touch
Reaching out is an act of courage. Whether you have questions or are ready to schedule, we're here. Expect a response within one business day.
All communication is kept strictly confidential.
© Ember & Shore Therapy, PLLC
Meet Your Therapist
Lea Semler is the founder of Ember & Shore Therapy, PLLC. She believes therapy is a space where we can tend to the "embers" of our past while finding a steady "shore" to stand on today. With almost two decades of clinical experience, Lea has dedicated her career to supporting individuals, couples, and families through their most complex transitions.
Lea earned her Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy from St. Cloud State University and has been a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) since 2008. Her background includes experience in residential treatment, education, and private practice. She specializes in Anxiety, Trauma (TF-CBT trained), Mood Management, and Relationship Dynamics.
Outside the office, Lea is a lover of all things warm — from summer cabin days with her husband and children to the peace of the ocean and a winter fireplace. She believes in the healing power of good food, a solid sense of humor, and a steady path forward.