Drug Abuse Therapists in West Hollywood, CA

I treat both couples and individuals (18+) and tailor psychotherapy to meet the goals and needs of the patient. The therapeutic relationship is especially important and my goal is to provide a collaborative and interactive psychotherapy experience. I have almost 20 years experience treating people who experience depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder and symptoms of alcohol and drug abuse. I also have the experience and privilege of serving a culturally and ethnically diverse population, including the gay and lesbian community. My office is located on Beverly Boulevard across the street from El Coyote Restaurant.

I began my private practice with one purpose in mind: to treat clients with respect for the possibility of change in their lives. It is my belief that the best treatment includes the development of a trusting relationship. I am here to support you in creating a life of courage in which you can tackle the obstacles that have limited your potential. I empower individuals to replace feelings of hopelessness with hope for a brighter future. Together, we can forge a plan that will lead to a much more fulfilling life experience.

Do you feel truly heard and seen in your relationships? Are you out of the closet, but still struggle with your identity? Does low self-esteem get in the way of living more authentically? Are you sober curious? Have you been harmed by religion, but want to connect more spiritually? Do you feel trapped in a pattern of choices that, while you recognize aren’t supportive, you continue making despite the negative consequences? I can relate. I’ve been there. It's not uncommon for gay men to experience the effects of heteronormativity. Which is why an affirming therapist can help foster resilience in a unique way.

I believe in an approach to psychotherapy that is empathetic, collaborative and tailored to an individual's unique needs, where you feel understood from the first meeting. My approach recognizes the importance of the relationship between us, where therapy is an opportunity to make changes in our relationships by working within one in a therapeutic environment where you feel respected and supported. Life can be painful and challenging; my goal is to provide a space that feels safe and non-judgmental in order to experiment with new ways of thinking, gain insight, and have a happier, healthier, and fuller life.

I help people navigate the big choices in life, confront issues like depression and anxiety, and face down bigger problems like addiction or unresolved trauma. Maybe you sense something isn’t quite right — your job, your marriage, your personal relationships and want to get “back on track.” Together we can face difficult choices, move through the stages of change, and help you recover a sense of personal integrity. I work with couples, individuals, and sometimes families to improve communication, explore values, and address underlying issues which may be a source of conflict.

I’m a clinical psychologist and I specialize in therapy for adults. If you’re here, I’m guessing it’s because you are struggling with something in your life and feel like you need help. I know how hard it can be to reach out and ask for help, and I’m glad that you’ve made it this far. Therapy doesn’t have to be daunting and mysterious. At the most basic level, therapy is just two people relating with one another in a relaxed, safe, and supportive atmosphere. What makes it different from other relationships is that we keep the focus on you, and I have specialized training that enables me to foster the conditions necessary for change.

I provide individual, couples, and group therapy to adolescents and adults, with specialities in addiction, trauma, and identity issues. I use evidence-based approaches and have specialized training in mindfulness-based therapies, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, and Cognitive Processing Therapy.

I firmly believe living a life of authenticity and balance will lead one to the life they seek. I engage my clients through active listening, conversation and safe exploration within an affirmative space that is free from judgment. My practice combines both traditional methods to provide insight and awareness to the root of individual struggles, coupled with a modern approach to guide clear integration of techniques for lasting change.

I grew up in a small steel mill town in Ohio. I earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University in the nascent field of Psycholinguistics. Upon graduation I moved to West Hollywood and became an activist in its inception as the “first gay city in the US”. I’m proud to have been a catalyst for inclusion in a business operation that had been a bastion for exclusivity where I opened doors without regard to race, sexuality, gender identity, or abledness. My Practice reflects that inclusivity. I see primarily Adult Individuals; as well as young adults & teens; ranging in age from 14yo thru + +; and Couples .

“I’m having an existential crisis” & “I’m struggling with my goals” are oftentimes one of the first sentences that a person says to me when seeking therapy. My clients are vibrant, smart, creative individuals who want to increase their quality of life. People who come in for therapy are struggling with life transitions, grief & loss, career issues, artistic blocks, anxiety, disappointment, depression, anger, frustration, addiction issues, and interpersonal, or romantic challenges. They are looking to feel better, make strides in their personal lives and careers, understand themselves, and seek opportunities to change their lives.

Welcome to my Psychology Today page and thank you for your interest. Most of us need help at some point in our lives. There's no need to struggle alone,I can help. My sessions take advantage of the fact that our brains are plastic and can change patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving. How do I know this? For twenty years I have helped clients alleviate depression, grief, anxiety and stress, worked through relationship problems, and identified and stopped self-destructive patterns and situations that disrupt daily life.

People come to see me for a wide variety of reasons, but almost always, they feel stuck in some way—whether from difficult or volatile relationships, overwhelming thoughts and emotions, addictions, or the effects of trauma. I work with adults of all ages, kids, and couples, to figure out what’s keeping them stuck and unhappy, and to help them in getting freed up to live life in new ways. As a psychoanalytic therapist, I can help you cultivate a more integrated and accepting awareness of the different parts of your life, yourself, and your present experience. Our work together would be unique, based on you as an individual.

As a therapist, I actually talk. Having authentic conversations with you is important to me. I validate and honor all your reactions to life and want to know about them. More technically, I practice eclectic asset-based (your strengths, safety and support) , attachment-informed (secure relationships), intersubjective (noticing how we relate), and Jungian (making the unconscious, conscious) psychotherapy.

I welcome humans from all walks of life who are interested in creating a safe space dedicated to exploring themselves and their relationships. I work in a dynamic and engaging way, collaborating with my clients to create goals, examine behavioral patterns, improve communication, and support authentic self-expression. I was trained by Queer legend Dossie Easton, co-author of "The Ethical Slut" and life-long advocate of those who live non-traditional lifestyles. I have an extensive background in understanding the unique issues that affect LGBTQ+ people and am honored to support the mental health of our community.

"Out beyond ideas of wrong doing and right doing there is a field. I'll meet you there." Rumi. I have over 15 years of experience dealing with individuals, couples, groups in various issues. The heart of my work is to assist you to live an emotionally authentic life in relationship to yourself and others. In the process of discovering your true self you will learn how certain emotions, behaviors and beliefs have affected your life and your relationships and you will become empowered to make important changes. My style is warm, non-judgmental and at the same time direct and confrontative.

Ready to Reset & Discover? Finding the right therapist can be daunting. While making that decision, consider this! Darick is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who specializes in addiction, trauma, family systems and interpersonal relationships while meeting the client "Where they are". He utilizes understanding and compassion, while encouraging you to push your limits, learn and grow. He utilizes a variety of intervention models designed to treat you as an individual; Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness, Sober Coaching and being a Sober Companion, both therapy supported.

I believe that taking the step to begin therapy is the most courageous, brave act one can take toward healing. It can be very intimidating and scary, trusting another person with some of the most painful feelings and experiences you have gone through. My work is highly compassionate and empathic, with a culturally sensitive approach to each individual. Through the therapeutic relationship we will explore how your past experiences have contributed to your current challenges. Therapy is a safe and sacred space to explore current and past traumas, to develop self-compassion and to create a deeper self-understanding.

Psychotherapy can be a challenging and rewarding process. People often come to treatment to talk about what's wrong, but it is also important to talk about what's right. Each person has natural areas of strength we can capitalize on to increase coping skills, reduce distress, improve relationships, and develop a more adaptive outlook. With a collaborative approach that combines insight-oriented and goal-directed interventions, we will work together to create new pathways towards well-being.

Are you a gay man who is trying to reduce conflict in your relationship? Do you have concerns about sexual frequency or performance/satisfaction? Do you want help in how to grow your career/income, cope with workplace stress, gain self-confidence in sex and dating, or cope with a medical or psychiatric challenge (depression, anxiety, ADD, OCD, PTSD)? Support for healing from a traumatic experience (violent crime, illness, accident), or recovering from difficult past experiences in your Family of Origin or past relationships? Recover from substance issues? I help gay men with all of these issues and more in my long (32 years) career.