Substance Use Psychiatrists in Santa Monica, CA
I work primarily with adults who are navigating neurodivergence, trauma, substance use, or major life transitions.
As a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, I provide psychiatric evaluation, medication management, and ongoing support. I integrate evidence based approaches such as mindfulness, trauma focused therapies, and personalized medication care within a holistic framework that centers each patient’s goals and long term wellbeing.
I work primarily with adults who are navigating neurodivergence, trauma, substance use, or major life transitions.
As a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, I provide psychiatric evaluation, medication management, and ongoing support. I integrate evidence based approaches such as mindfulness, trauma focused therapies, and personalized medication care within a holistic framework that centers each patient’s goals and long term wellbeing.
As a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, I believe that everyone deserves compassionate and effective care. If you're feeling stuck and unsure about how to manage your symptoms, I'm here to help. Let's work together to uncover the underlying causes of your struggles, address any co-occurring conditions, and develop a customized treatment plan that integrates evidence-based approaches for optimal healing.
As a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, I believe that everyone deserves compassionate and effective care. If you're feeling stuck and unsure about how to manage your symptoms, I'm here to help. Let's work together to uncover the underlying causes of your struggles, address any co-occurring conditions, and develop a customized treatment plan that integrates evidence-based approaches for optimal healing.
I specialize in medication management for young adults and adults with ADHD, mood, and anxiety disorders. I particularly enjoy working working with clients from diverse social, cultural, and economic backgrounds. I completed my MD at Rutgers University and my PhD and residency at UCLA. I am also currently a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellow at Stanford University and am actively involved in research at Stanford to understand how to utilize virtual and augmented reality to improve psychiatric outcomes. I currently see adults only in my practice but will expand to seeing children and adolescents in the future.
I specialize in medication management for young adults and adults with ADHD, mood, and anxiety disorders. I particularly enjoy working working with clients from diverse social, cultural, and economic backgrounds. I completed my MD at Rutgers University and my PhD and residency at UCLA. I am also currently a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellow at Stanford University and am actively involved in research at Stanford to understand how to utilize virtual and augmented reality to improve psychiatric outcomes. I currently see adults only in my practice but will expand to seeing children and adolescents in the future.
I’m Eric A. Lazcano, M.D., an ABPN Board-Certified Psychiatrist. I completed medical school at UT Southwestern and served as Chief Resident during psychiatry training at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. Since 2018, I’ve led a South Bay Los Angeles private practice. Many of my clients are high-achieving professionals who feel anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck despite doing everything “right.” They want to regain focus, balance, and a deeper sense of peace. Together, we work toward calmer minds, better sleep, and lasting freedom from stress.
I’m Eric A. Lazcano, M.D., an ABPN Board-Certified Psychiatrist. I completed medical school at UT Southwestern and served as Chief Resident during psychiatry training at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. Since 2018, I’ve led a South Bay Los Angeles private practice. Many of my clients are high-achieving professionals who feel anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck despite doing everything “right.” They want to regain focus, balance, and a deeper sense of peace. Together, we work toward calmer minds, better sleep, and lasting freedom from stress.
Psychiatric treatment should not just be about providing medicine, but to help you understand what you may be unaware of, recurring patterns that may be sabotaging or affecting you negatively, to freeing you from mental duress. To allow yourself to enjoy life, have more resilience with adversity, and help expand your true self. I work with professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives who want more than quick fixes or rushed appointments. My approach is collaborative, personalized, and designed to help you regain clarity, stability, and momentum. We focus not just on symptom relief, but optimizing how you think, feel, and perform.
Psychiatric treatment should not just be about providing medicine, but to help you understand what you may be unaware of, recurring patterns that may be sabotaging or affecting you negatively, to freeing you from mental duress. To allow yourself to enjoy life, have more resilience with adversity, and help expand your true self. I work with professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives who want more than quick fixes or rushed appointments. My approach is collaborative, personalized, and designed to help you regain clarity, stability, and momentum. We focus not just on symptom relief, but optimizing how you think, feel, and perform.
Jamie is a board certified psychiatric nurse practitioner, specializing in the treatment of depression, anxiety, PTSD, trauma, ADHD, substance abuse, OCD and mood disorders. She works closely with a residential treatment center in West Los Angeles that offers more intensive treatment for trauma and OCD.
Jamie is a board certified psychiatric nurse practitioner, specializing in the treatment of depression, anxiety, PTSD, trauma, ADHD, substance abuse, OCD and mood disorders. She works closely with a residential treatment center in West Los Angeles that offers more intensive treatment for trauma and OCD.
I'm Dr. Alex Sahba, double board certified in general psychiatry and forensic psychiatry and trained at UCLA. I conduct legal / forensic / psychiatric evaluations for court, risk assessment (violence / sexual), diagnostic psychiatric evaluations, competency evaluations, drug & alcohol evaluations, fitness-for-duty evaluations, cognitive evaluations, immigration evaluations, workers' compensation (QME/AME) evaluations, and other types of psychiatric evaluations / assessments.
I'm Dr. Alex Sahba, double board certified in general psychiatry and forensic psychiatry and trained at UCLA. I conduct legal / forensic / psychiatric evaluations for court, risk assessment (violence / sexual), diagnostic psychiatric evaluations, competency evaluations, drug & alcohol evaluations, fitness-for-duty evaluations, cognitive evaluations, immigration evaluations, workers' compensation (QME/AME) evaluations, and other types of psychiatric evaluations / assessments.
Great to meet you!
I am Amber Mitchell. I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). I have over 18 years in the medical field. I practice general adult psychiatry and specializes in major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety, OCD, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. I am versed in perinatal and reproductive psychiatry including postpartum depression and preconception counseling.
Great to meet you!
I am Amber Mitchell. I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). I have over 18 years in the medical field. I practice general adult psychiatry and specializes in major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety, OCD, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. I am versed in perinatal and reproductive psychiatry including postpartum depression and preconception counseling.
Samaneh Fanaeian is a Board Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, who graduated from Walden University. Samaneh has been in the mental health field for over five years has experience working with both adolescents and adults. She completed her Bachelors of Science at Chamberlain University and received her Masters of Science in Psychiatry from Walden University. In addition, she is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the American Psychiatric Nurses Association.
Samaneh Fanaeian is a Board Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, who graduated from Walden University. Samaneh has been in the mental health field for over five years has experience working with both adolescents and adults. She completed her Bachelors of Science at Chamberlain University and received her Masters of Science in Psychiatry from Walden University. In addition, she is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the American Psychiatric Nurses Association.
Chelsea Neumann, MD is an integrative psychiatrist in California who is double board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in General Psychiatry as well as Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Neumann practices using an integrative psychiatry model which incorporates the biological, psychological and social factors that contribute to the health and well-being of the whole person and family. She treats children, adolescents and adults of all ages. Her practice includes therapists and a nutritionist who provide all services within one mental health home at West Coast Integrative Mental Health.
Chelsea Neumann, MD is an integrative psychiatrist in California who is double board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in General Psychiatry as well as Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Neumann practices using an integrative psychiatry model which incorporates the biological, psychological and social factors that contribute to the health and well-being of the whole person and family. She treats children, adolescents and adults of all ages. Her practice includes therapists and a nutritionist who provide all services within one mental health home at West Coast Integrative Mental Health.
My practice is built on a simple belief: psychiatric care should be personal because each of us is unique. I am a board-certified psychiatrist based in Santa Monica, dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality mental healthcare to adults. In our sessions, we’ll have the space to understand your whole story, not just a diagnosis.
My practice is built on a simple belief: psychiatric care should be personal because each of us is unique. I am a board-certified psychiatrist based in Santa Monica, dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality mental healthcare to adults. In our sessions, we’ll have the space to understand your whole story, not just a diagnosis.
I am currently an outpatient provider with experience in treating a number of psychiatric conditions, including substance abuse and behavioral addictions. In terms of an ideal patient, at our practice we strive to treat the patient as a whole and believe in the biologic, psychologic, social, and spiritual approach. As such, an ideal patient would be willing to discuss each aspect. While I do prescribe medications, I try to minimize these through use of the other approaches. Of note, as I do outpatient office-based care, I do not provide 24/7 care.
I am currently an outpatient provider with experience in treating a number of psychiatric conditions, including substance abuse and behavioral addictions. In terms of an ideal patient, at our practice we strive to treat the patient as a whole and believe in the biologic, psychologic, social, and spiritual approach. As such, an ideal patient would be willing to discuss each aspect. While I do prescribe medications, I try to minimize these through use of the other approaches. Of note, as I do outpatient office-based care, I do not provide 24/7 care.
Do you want help because you are anxious or depressed? Having problems with relationships? Work? Sleep? Drugs or alcohol? We can work together to find what will work best to resolve your problems. Using a biopsychosocial approach we can plan a treatment program that may include psychotherapy, medication, and other psychosocial interventions. My aim is to work collaboratively with you to find what will work best to resolve the issues which most concern you. Current evidence of what is effective will be an important part of a treatment plan we put together.
Do you want help because you are anxious or depressed? Having problems with relationships? Work? Sleep? Drugs or alcohol? We can work together to find what will work best to resolve your problems. Using a biopsychosocial approach we can plan a treatment program that may include psychotherapy, medication, and other psychosocial interventions. My aim is to work collaboratively with you to find what will work best to resolve the issues which most concern you. Current evidence of what is effective will be an important part of a treatment plan we put together.
I find that life is a challenge for most of us. The desire to avoid pain is a natural human mechanism and whether we're doing it with defense mechanisms or perhaps working too much or over exercising or drinking, just being human and living within our society creates obstacles to stress free living. We are complicated creatures and it has taken us years of experiences and usually some trauma to become who we are now. I believe each of us have the capacity to heal and there is not one 'right' way to do it. I believe strongly that healing doesn't happen in isolation and prioritize the relationship we co-create.
I find that life is a challenge for most of us. The desire to avoid pain is a natural human mechanism and whether we're doing it with defense mechanisms or perhaps working too much or over exercising or drinking, just being human and living within our society creates obstacles to stress free living. We are complicated creatures and it has taken us years of experiences and usually some trauma to become who we are now. I believe each of us have the capacity to heal and there is not one 'right' way to do it. I believe strongly that healing doesn't happen in isolation and prioritize the relationship we co-create.
I am board certified in Adult Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine and received my medical degree from Drexel University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. I completed my training in adult psychiatry at UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute and have pursued fellowship training in integrative medicine. I currently serve on the Board of Directors of the California Society of Addiction Medicine and have been a member of their education committee since 2014. I specialize in personalized integrative mental health treatment.
I am board certified in Adult Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine and received my medical degree from Drexel University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. I completed my training in adult psychiatry at UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute and have pursued fellowship training in integrative medicine. I currently serve on the Board of Directors of the California Society of Addiction Medicine and have been a member of their education committee since 2014. I specialize in personalized integrative mental health treatment.
I am a board certified psychiatrist and scientist with over 10 years experience in the practice of evidence-based medicine. While I specialize in treating patients experiencing disturbed moods and poor impulse control (e.g. Bipolar disorder and ADHD), I treat nearly the full spectrum of psychiatric conditions. With expertise in psychiatry and neurobiology I provide patients with an individualized approach that combines the most effective tools including cognitive-behavioral therapy and state-of-the-art psychopharmacology.
I am a board certified psychiatrist and scientist with over 10 years experience in the practice of evidence-based medicine. While I specialize in treating patients experiencing disturbed moods and poor impulse control (e.g. Bipolar disorder and ADHD), I treat nearly the full spectrum of psychiatric conditions. With expertise in psychiatry and neurobiology I provide patients with an individualized approach that combines the most effective tools including cognitive-behavioral therapy and state-of-the-art psychopharmacology.
Matthew Goldenberg D.O. is double Board Certified in Psychiatry and Addiction Psychiatry and is a certified Medical Review Officer (MRO). Dr. Goldenberg is an expert in the evaluation and treatment of mental health disorders and is an addiction specialist for adults in his private practice in Santa Monica, California. Dr. Goldenberg is a trusted aviation & HIMS trained psychiatrist providing evaluations for pilots for the FAA and has extensive experience evaluating and treating healthcare providers. He is licensed in the states of CA, Hawaii, Alaska and Utah and is a former president of the Southern California Psychiatric Society.
Matthew Goldenberg D.O. is double Board Certified in Psychiatry and Addiction Psychiatry and is a certified Medical Review Officer (MRO). Dr. Goldenberg is an expert in the evaluation and treatment of mental health disorders and is an addiction specialist for adults in his private practice in Santa Monica, California. Dr. Goldenberg is a trusted aviation & HIMS trained psychiatrist providing evaluations for pilots for the FAA and has extensive experience evaluating and treating healthcare providers. He is licensed in the states of CA, Hawaii, Alaska and Utah and is a former president of the Southern California Psychiatric Society.
Dr. Kevin Simonson offers an integrative approach to mental health care, specializing in mood disorders, anxiety, and PTSD. With years of experience, he combines evidence-based treatments like TMS, Ketamine, and MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, with a holistic, personalized approach. Certified in Psychedelic Therapy, Integrative Psychiatry, and Psychodynamic Therapy, Dr. Simonson ensures that each patient receives the most advanced care tailored to their needs. We’re dedicated to helping you achieve lasting well-being through innovative and compassionate treatment.
Dr. Kevin Simonson offers an integrative approach to mental health care, specializing in mood disorders, anxiety, and PTSD. With years of experience, he combines evidence-based treatments like TMS, Ketamine, and MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, with a holistic, personalized approach. Certified in Psychedelic Therapy, Integrative Psychiatry, and Psychodynamic Therapy, Dr. Simonson ensures that each patient receives the most advanced care tailored to their needs. We’re dedicated to helping you achieve lasting well-being through innovative and compassionate treatment.
If your child is anxious, struggling in school, or not acting like themselves, I can help.
I work with children and teens facing anxiety, ADHD, mood changes, and behavioral challenges that affect home, school, or relationships. My approach combines evidence-based psychiatry with thoughtful psychotherapy.
I don’t aim to change your child, but to help them understand themselves and build healthier patterns. I offer therapy and medication management when appropriate, with a careful, individualized approach.
If your child is anxious, struggling in school, or not acting like themselves, I can help.
I work with children and teens facing anxiety, ADHD, mood changes, and behavioral challenges that affect home, school, or relationships. My approach combines evidence-based psychiatry with thoughtful psychotherapy.
I don’t aim to change your child, but to help them understand themselves and build healthier patterns. I offer therapy and medication management when appropriate, with a careful, individualized approach.
Taryn enjoys working with patients from all walks of life and values creating a collaborative relationship in care. In order to best understand patients, Taryn explores their physical, mental, psychosocial, and spiritual backgrounds to help build a treatment plan that’s tailored to them. She aims to meet her patients where they are and help them move forward at a pace that feels right for them.
Taryn enjoys working with patients from all walks of life and values creating a collaborative relationship in care. In order to best understand patients, Taryn explores their physical, mental, psychosocial, and spiritual backgrounds to help build a treatment plan that’s tailored to them. She aims to meet her patients where they are and help them move forward at a pace that feels right for them.
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Nearby Substance Use Psychiatrists Searches for Santa Monica
- Beverly Hills
- Century City
- Culver City
- El Segundo
- Encino
- Inglewood
- Marina Del Rey
- Pacific Palisades
- Sherman Oaks
- Venice
- West Hollywood
- West Los Angeles
FAQ - Substance Use Psychiatrists
Ho can psychiatrists help with substance use disorders?
Substance use disorders are characterized by the use of alcohol, prescription medications, or other drugs in ways that harm a person's health, relationships, or responsibilities at home, work, or school. While not everyone who uses substances meets the criteria for a disorder, substance use that becomes frequent, risky, or disruptive to daily life may indicate the presence of a substance use disorder. In these cases, psychiatric care can be critical to helping clients reach recovery. Psychiatrists who specialize in substance use can help individuals understand the role substances play in their lives and support them in making changes through a combination of therapy and, when appropriate, medication.
How do psychiatrists treat substance use disorders?
At the start of care, psychiatrists typically conduct a thorough evaluation of a client's current substance use and assess for any co-occurring mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression. This assessment helps determine whether outpatient care is appropriate or if a higher level of support—such as a detox program or intensive outpatient program (IOP)—is needed first. Once an appropriate care setting is identified, the psychiatrist and client work together to establish treatment goals and a personalized plan. This plan may include therapy approaches such as motivational interviewing, harm reduction strategies, or relapse prevention. For some individuals, medication-assisted treatment (MAT)—such as buprenorphine for opioid use or naltrexone for alcohol use—may be used to manage cravings, withdrawal, or relapse risk.
How can I find a psychiatrist who specializes in substance use disorders?
The Psychology Today online directory is a useful tool for finding psychiatrists (MDs) and psychiatric nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) who specialize in treating substance use. The directory allows users to search for providers with expertise in specific areas, such as alcohol use, drug use, or dual diagnosis. It also includes filters for insurance coverage, location, session format (in-person or telehealth), and provider identity characteristics, such as gender or cultural background. When evaluating a psychiatrist, it's helpful to ask about their experience treating the specific substance of concern, as not all providers treat all types of substance use. Understanding their approach to therapy and medication can also help ensure the provider is a good fit.