Photo of Cynthia Stern, Clinical Social Work/Therapist in 90094, CA
Cynthia Stern
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
Los Angeles, CA 90094  (Online Only)
The individuals, families, and couples I treat should expect to produce true fundamental change.I practice a brief systemic solution focused treatment. Be ready to work with me to construct a clear understanding of the problem/symptom in order to co-create an action plan. Clients should expect to practice new patterns of behavior both in and out of sessions. I prescribe strategic interventions such as tasks, rituals, enactments, and assignments. I have integrated my expertise as a psychotherapist with my life coaching skills.I see my role as a change agent. I specialize in high conflict relational challenges and divorce.
The individuals, families, and couples I treat should expect to produce true fundamental change.I practice a brief systemic solution focused treatment. Be ready to work with me to construct a clear understanding of the problem/symptom in order to co-create an action plan. Clients should expect to practice new patterns of behavior both in and out of sessions. I prescribe strategic interventions such as tasks, rituals, enactments, and assignments. I have integrated my expertise as a psychotherapist with my life coaching skills.I see my role as a change agent. I specialize in high conflict relational challenges and divorce.
(310) 494-7260 View (310) 494-7260
Alcohol Use Therapists

Are there specific medications for alcohol use?

There are oral medications approved to treat alcohol use disorder—such as disulfiram, acamprosate, and naltrexone, which also comes in an injectable form. These medications do help people reduce their drinking as well as avoid the problem of relapse. Naltrexone helps reduce cravings, disulfiram can make a person feel sick when they drink, and acamprosate may help ease symptoms like poor sleep and anxious feelings.

How do alcohol recovery or rehabilitation programs work?

In inpatient programs, individuals live in a facility with other patients in recovery; in outpatient programs,individuals live at home. These facilities are staffed with healthcare professionals including physicians, nurses, psychologists, counselors, and psychotherapists. Staff can also include people who have recovered themselves, serving as mentors and guides. These programs may use abstinence, harm reduction, detoxification, psychotherapy, and other tools for recovery.

How do 12-step programs combined with psychotherapy work?

Members of 12-step programs help each other reach abstinence and work to maintain it. These programs promote complete change in the individual’s emotional, mental, physical, and even spiritual perspectives. Some programs require that new members attend 90 meetings in 90 days. Many people do attend these programs in conjunction with their work in psychotherapy; the combination of therapy along with 12-step can be extremely effective.

How does harm reduction combined with psychotherapy work?

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, harm reduction prevents death, injury, disease, overdose, and substance misuse. People who choose harm reduction for alcohol use reduce the amount of alcohol they intake. It is not abstinence-based like a 12-step program, but combining harm reduction with psychotherapy proves to be effective for many people.