Find a Therapist in Rolling Hills, California.

Psychotherapy is the use of psychological methods to help a person change behavior and overcome problems in a positive manner. Its aim is to help people understand the thoughts behind feeling anxious or depressed and addressing these thinking patterns. Psychotherapy will help you change behaviors and habits that are limiting you, to experiencing your fullest potential.

Dr. Levine is one of only 5% of all clinical psychologists holding Board-Certification (ABPP) & has over 30 years of experience, having previously served as the Chief of Psychology at Mt Sinai Medical Center in NY and then as a Psychologist at UCLA Medical School. He then completed a 2-year Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Cognitive-Behavior Therapy at Temple University Medical School in Philadelphia. He will answer the phone (323-417-2325) personally with no receptionist or secretary to deal with! Or, simply email him at BHpsychologist@gmail

Most of us don’t think about our mental health until we have a disorder or a serious problem that impacts us negatively. Many of us have learned communication, coping skills, and parenting skills from our caregivers which have not always been positive or helpful. Through our life experiences we develop good or bad habits, a positive or negative world view, effective or poor communication skills, healthy or unhealthy coping skills. Therapy by a professional can teach you new skills and behaviors to improve your relationships, increase your satisfaction and happiness, and improve your overall well being.

My approach to psychotherapy involves a comprehensive evaluation to examine the specific needs of the client. Several modalities are utilized for treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy. Therapy generally involves not only examining how our past experiences have informed our sense of self and well being, but understanding how to move forward effectively by developing healthy coping strategies. I treat individuals, couples, families in an outpatient setting. I treat both adolescents and adults.

My approach to psychotherapy is specialized to each individual I work with. Even though symptoms of eating disorders and the underlying issues may be common amongst people who suffer from anorexia, bulimia and binge eating, understanding one's own personal history, story and psychology is what helps develop insight and sustain change. It is my clinical belief that eating disorders, self injury and compulsive shopping each provide a sense of emotional soothing and regulation that may be absent or limited in the person who suffers from one of these "hunger diseases". In my clinical work, I help people develop emotional regulation skills and insight.

Psychotherapy can be a frightening word because “psycho” brings up images of Norman Bates and he is certainly someone none of us want to be associated with. The truth is that psychotherapy is just a fancy word for counseling. If “therapy” is used alone, people ask if it is physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc. A prefix was needed to distinguish it from other therapies and unfortunately “psycho” was chosen. Please don’t let the word stop you from seeking any necessary help you may be seeking. Needing help doesn’t mean you are crazy or that you are weak. We all need help at various stages of our lives and if you are in need now, please let me assist you. Call me at 714-751-0888.

When providing psychotherapy ("talk therapy"), I offer a safe and compassionate space where you can bring your full self without judgment. Together, we’ll explore your thoughts, emotions, and experiences to uncover patterns that may be keeping you stuck. My goal is to help you gain clarity, heal from past hurts, and develop tools that support lasting change. Through this process, you can strengthen your emotional well-being and move toward a life that feels more balanced and fulfilling.

People go to therapy to address a problem that is distressing them and causing interference in a significant aspect of their life (work, social life, interpersonal relationships, sleep, etc.) After the immediate problem is resolved or significantly reduced, most of my clients continue to stay in therapy because they have started noticing a change in themselves that they like! To me, therapy isn't just about reducing symptoms. It is about much more. It's about experiencing meaning in life. It's about connecting with the best version of ourselves and knowing that person is there within us. That's true self-confidence. My clients tend to tell me they feel more "whole". That's therapy to me.

Many of us seek therapy to get relief from emotional distress, or to manage a problem that we are having in our lives. But often, those problems are connected to something deeper and causes us to feel “stuck” in patterns that we are unaware of. A full exploration of your history helps to uncover those more unconscious thoughts and reactions. Learning to manage the problems, while also addressing the underlying triggers is a crucial part in feeling more effective.

The issue is not what happened to you, it’s the impact it had and how you are able to deal with it. Psychotherapy helps. It involves our talking together to address the problems you’re having in your life. We’ll see what works, what doesn’t, why not, what you’ve tried, and what other options there may be. We’ll look to understand how the difficulties came to be and what gets in the way of changing them. We’ll see what’s happening in your life now and how old patterns of thinking and behaving may interfere for you. We’ll explore other alternatives. I strongly believe people can change, and I see that happening in my office regularly. You’d be surprised how therapy can change your life.

Psychotherapy can provide you with insights and concrete strategies for coping and growing. We all have experienced frustrations from childhood that can develop into triggers, provoking intense feelings. Therefore we look for triggers and their roots, explore thoughts and feelings to facilitate understanding and healing. The focus is on new coping skills, relaxation techniques, restructuring your thoughts. You also learn to live more consciously and apply new strategies. It takes time -- it’s like building muscle strength. In close collaboration, we will together monitor your changes and process your reactions to weekly events as they relate to our work.

Dr. Sobo integrates traditional psychodynamic psychotherapy with progressive psychotherapeutic interventions such as Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and Mindfulness training. These techniques help to treat the effects of patients presenting problems as well as traumas. Patients learn to facilitate emotional and cognitive processing, as well as cultivate self-awareness of inner body sensations. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy has been reported to reduce symptoms of PTSD, nightmares, panic attacks, and hyperarousal, while providing tools to help increase feelings of safety and a sense of control over one’s self.

Ask yourself, when was the last time I invested in me, my own well-being and overall health? Psychotherapy offers you the opportunity to express your unspoken fears and worries in a healthy way while learning insight as to the causes of the underlying issue. While supported by your therapist, you have the opportunity to explore and process the impact of life events (ie., childhood experiences/relationships, major life changes such as marriage, birth of a child, divorce, loss of a loved one, and current relationships) in a non-judging environment that will afford you the opportunity to improve your overall level of functioning.