Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

I treat Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) from the lens that BPD has been over pathologized, and is often a form of attachment trauma. Though it can be traumatizing or upsetting to some to receive this diagnosis, I want patients to understand that BPD can absolutely be treated, and does not mean that you are “crazy” or “too much” for clinicians or loved ones in your personal life. Through work with a therapist that actually understands the disorder and takes an empathic approach, individuals living with BPD can find a life worth living.

Borderline personality disorder is a mental illness marked by an ongoing pattern of varying moods, self-image, and behavior. These symptoms often result in impulsive actions and problems in relationships. People with borderline personality disorder may experience intense episodes of anger, depression, and anxiety that can last from a few hours to days. Individuals with borderline personality disorder may experience mood swings and display uncertainty about how they see themselves and their role in the world. As a result, their interests and values can change quickly. People with borderline personality disorder also tend to view things in extremes, such as all good or all bad. Their opinions of other people can also change quickly. These shifting feelings can lead to intense and unstable relationships.

Efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment

such as rapidly initiating intimate (physical or emotional) relationships or cutting off communication with someone in anticipation of being abandoned

A pattern of intense and unstable relationships with family, friends, and loved ones

often swinging from extreme closeness and love (idealization) to extreme dislike or anger (devaluation)

Distorted and unstable self-image or sense of self

Impulsive and often dangerous behaviors, such as spending sprees, unsafe sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, and binge eating

Please note: If these behaviors occur primarily during a period of elevated mood or energy, they may be signs of a mood disorder—not borderline personality disorder

Self-harming behavior, such as cutting

Recurring thoughts of suicidal behaviors or threats

Intense and highly changeable moods

with each episode lasting from a few hours to a few days

Chronic feelings of emptiness

Inappropriate, intense anger or problems controlling anger

Difficulty trusting

which is sometimes accompanied by irrational fear of other people’s intentions

Feelings of dissociation

such as feeling cut off from oneself, seeing oneself from outside one’s body, or feelings of unreality

BPD is an issue that must be treated by a clinician with legitimate, accredited training in dealing with this population. I have been working with acute BPD patients for over ten years, and use psychoanalytic, DBT and CBT interventions with this population. I am intensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy, the only evidence based treatment for BPD. Whether you see me for a comprehensive DBT program, or for DBT informed psychotherapy, you can be assured that I provide the highest quality of care and have a passion for working with BPD individuals. I know how hard it can be to find empathic care when you suffer with BPD, and I will work with you to make sure you get control of your emotions, instead of your emotions controlling you. Together, we can create a life worth living for you, and help you reach your goals.

Eating Disorder Specialty

I treat patients from the perspective that eating problems or eating disorders are the symptoms of deeper issues. From my perspective, eating disorders function in the same ways that other addictive disorders do, and at times are more challenging, as one cannot just abstain from eating.

Food and eating patterns frequently reflect the expression of unmet needs. They often mask anger, anxiety, depression, fear, loneliness or other feelings. As your therapist, it is my job to work with you collaboratively to help you explore the issues that are driving your eating disorder so that you can move towards and achieve your desired change.

Together we will work to uncover your own personal story and history with food and eating, and identify achievable goals for us to work toward. My goal is not to take your eating disorder away from you, it is to help you discover the hidden meaning behind your struggle and help you learn how to deal with these feelings in healthier ways. I maintain relationships with top dietitians, psychiatrists and eating disorder treatment programs in and outside of Los Angeles, and am well versed when it comes to working in treatment teams with this population.

Addiction Specialty

Deciding whether or not alcohol and drugs are causing un-manageability in your life can be very hard. Addiction is a self diagnosed disease, and while the feedback of an honest therapist can help, ultimately it is up to each person to decide if they have a problem with substances.

I have worked with people struggling with addiction for years, and consider myself an expert in this area. Whether you are someone who identifies as an alcoholic or an addict, someone who abuses substances or binges on them, or someone who just “parties” too much, I believe I can help you.

I treat addiction by meeting you where you are at, and coming up with a treatment plan that you are comfortable with. I know how confusing the process of trying to reign in the use of substances can be, and understand that it is not as simple as it seems. I also believe that relapse is sometimes part of the process, and I often work with chronically relapsing clients, and have had success with helping them achieve their goals. I also have relationships with the best addiction psychiatrists, sober livings, and residential and out patient treatment centers in Los Angeles and around the country, and can help with referrals to these if needed.