Psychiatry & Psychotherapy
Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Eating Disorders
San Pedro and Long Beach California

Psychiatry & Psychotherapy
Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Eating Disorders San Pedro and Long Beach California

(310) 957-2099
Call Us Today
Accepting Most Insurances

How will therapy help Me?

The therapy process is a supportive process which builds on your strengths and provides a safe, nonjudgmental environment to overcome your challenges. Increasing your understanding by providing education and support is an important aspect of treatment. Therapy may assist with helping to identify how your thoughts influence your mood and behaviors and restructuring your thought processes so that your mood improves and your behaviors are more positive – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. One should leave treatment with more positive life skills. An individual may also attend therapy for overall self-improvement and not necessarily have identified a specific problem. Improving communication and overall quality of life is ultimately the goal of therapy.

How long do I have to attend therapy?

The length of treatment will depend on the significance of the problems you are seeking treatment. Together we will discuss the course of treatment and periodically reevaluate the length of treatment. One should receive skills necessary to assist them during their time in therapy and the rest of their life. Once you have accomplished your goals or decide to end treatment, we will then review your progress and life-long coping skills developed during your time in therapy.

How much does therapy cost?

Most insurance companies provide a mental health benefit. The cost of treatment will vary depending on the insurance and may be the same copay as your Primary Care Physician. Please verify with your insurance that the Psychotherapist is listed as an approved Provider. If you are paying for treatment, please phone and we can discuss the cost of treatment.

Couples Therapy South Bay

Couples therapy presents a unique challenge. Every individual brings their own individual values and concerns to a relationship. It is when these values and concerns conflict that the relationship experiences a communication breakdown. Attending couples therapy once a week is most often not sufficient to repair a relationship. An hour of psychotherapy a week does not allow for the individual differences to be confronted and change to happen. How do you sort out a lifetime of differences or a relationship crisis one-hour a week?

How is our couples therapy intensive treatment unique?

In our couple’s therapy intensive, the Therapist will understand your differences as a couple and as unique individuals.

How often do I have to attend?

The treatment is 5 weeks or longer depending on the problems There are 3 sessions a week scheduled. Each individual will be seen individually once a week as well as together as a couple once a week. Each session is 60 minutes.

Why do we have to meet three times a week?

The biggest problem in a relationship is communication. So if you are experiencing communication difficulties how will you improve these communicate difficulties one hour a week together? Each individual session has a goal of figuring out what information you want to communicate during your couples time and looking at what barriers have prevented you from communicating such.

Are our individual session details communicated to our partner?

Confidentiality will apply to the information communicated during individual time. The “no secrets policy” that you often hear about with couples Therapists does not apply. Ultimately it is the Therapists job to help the individual determine what is in the best interest of his/her relationship versus the Therapists discomfort holding secrets. During your individual time, you will have the opportunity to sort out these difficulties.

What sorts of problems does your intensive couple’s treatment help with?

  • Infidelity does not always have to be the end of a relationship. It could be a start of a new beginning.
  • Parenting and Co-parenting difficulties.
  • Lack of sexual, emotional and physical intimacy.
  • Addiction complexities interfering with relationship.
  • Recovering sexual intimacy that has been lost for many years in a relationship.
  • Mental health complexities interfering with the relationship.
  • Values differences.
  • Financial problems.
  • Mid-life crises and identity crisis of one or both individuals.
  • Workaholism and effects on a relationship.
  • Divorce – often some intensive work before divorce will help both individuals leave the relationship feeling better about themselves and the journey ahead of them.

How do we get started?

Please complete the visitor feedback form below to request services. Make sure to enter couples intensive in the service you are requesting. Consult each other on your calendars and be prepared to provide a range of days and times each of you are available to attend three times a week.

We look forward to the opportunity to assist you both with rejuvenating and repairing your relationship.

Autism Services

What is Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)?

ASD is a condition causing a person is able to have problems with social interaction and communication. In addition to challenges socializing and communicating, individuals with ASD have repetitive, and/or restricted behaviors and/or interests. Most people notice the symptoms and behaviors of ASD begin to interfere with daily life early on in life (before age 2) however sometimes this disorder goes on undiagnosed for years. ASD includes a wide spectrum of functioning, symptoms and behaviors ranging from mild to severe impairments. Mild types of ASD may include problems with social interaction, feeling “awkward” with others and challenges in establishing healthy and rewarding relationships (both friendships and romantic relationships). More severe ASD can cause a person to have difficulty speaking to others and understanding any type of social interaction.

How do I know if my loved one or I have ASD?

If you suspect that you or your child may have ASD there are diagnostic assessment tools conducted by our psychologist that can determine your diagnosis. Meeting with one of our clinicians is a first step to understanding your diagnosis.

How can therapy help?

Therapy can be very helpful for those with ASD and their families. Learning behavioral modification techniques, as well as communication and social skills can help to alleviate the impairments caused by ASD. Additionally, family therapy can be helpful in fostering better communication, strategies for daily living and building rewarding relationships between all family members. Lastly, those with ASD may suffer from other mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, OCD, relational problems and more. These co-occurring mental health problems are highly treatable with therapy. 

Psychological Testing

What is psychological testing?

Psychological testing is an assessment process used to understand and examine a person’s domains of functioning including: cognitive, behavioral, emotional, adaptive, social and personality. Psychological testing outcomes provide thorough information and feedback related to diagnosis and recommendations. This process utilizes data collected from research-based tools in order to give a comprehensive picture of a person’s functioning, strengths, and areas of growth. Recommendations developed based on the testing results give suggestions not only for therapeutic treatment planning, but also for family/relational functioning, community resources and referrals, and education/school success.

 

When can psychological testing help?

The Following Moderation Management Group is NOT Recommended for Individuals Who Have Attended Alcohol/Drug Rehabilitation Program(s) & Those Who Identify Themselves as Having a Severe Problem with Alcohol.

This group is about preventing alcoholism, NOT a recommended group for alcoholism.

Self Management • Balance • Moderation • Personal Responsibility

Concerned About Your Drinking?

We can help! 

Moderation Management Meeting

“According to the NIAAA and many other independent researchers, there are four times as many problem drinkers as alcoholics in this country. Yet there are very few programs that specifically address the needs of beginning stage problem drinkers (MM website).”

MM is for Problem Drinkers with a Goal of Preventing Alcoholism. Approved DUI Court Card Provider.

When:
Weekly on Tuesday Evening 7:00 to 8:00

RSVP Required Due to Limited Seating MMSouthBay8@gmail.com

Facilitator:
Sandy

The Following information may be found on the Moderation Management website, www.moderation.org/

MM meetings are free of charge. Small donations made by individual members and MM groups are used to support community and national programs.

What is Moderation Management?

Moderation Management (MM) is a behavioral change program and national support group network for people concerned about their drinking and who desire to make positive lifestyle changes. MM empowers individuals to accept personal responsibility for choosing and maintaining their own path, whether moderation or abstinence. MM promotes early self-recognition of risky drinking behavior, when moderate drinking is a more easily achievable goal.

Is MM for every person with a drinking problem?

No. Research suggests that no one solution is best for all people with drinking problems. There are many possible solutions available to each individual, and MM suggests each person finds the solution that is best for him or her. MM is good place to begin to address a drinking problem. If MM proves to be an ineffective solution, the individual is encouraged to progress to abstinence.

MM is NOT recommended for individuals with severe dependence on alcohol

Thank you!