Find a Therapist in South Gate, California.

I believe that psychotherapy is helpful to help clients who are experiencing a wide variety of issues. I employ a blend of cognitive behavior therapy and psychodynamic therapy to help clients start feeling better quickly while giving them time and space to work on deeper issues. This approach can help you in making progress with anything from anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, self-esteem, panic, and more. My approach is collaborative, supportive, and direct. We will work together to determine your goals and tailor a plan to reach them. Let me help guide you towards feeling your best self.

My view of psychotherapy is a very personal one. My relationship with my clients is of utmost importance, because our work needs to feel safe, respectful, caring and effective. My clients and I decide together on goals for our work. The safety can allow my clients to explore parts of themselves and their histories that have shaped their views of self and views of others, including the meaning of life and their deepest fears and needs. Our work will respect who you are, what you have experienced, your fondest desires, and the blocks you have learned to set up for your protection and that perhaps no longer serve you. You may find that you no longer have to feel alone and untended.

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.

I am a psychodynamic trained therapist. Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a form of depth psychology and is similar to psychoanalysis. It is also known as insight-oriented therapy and focuses on unconscious processes as they are manifested in a person’s present behavior. The goals are for a client to become self-aware and understand the influence of their past on their present behaviors. The psychodynamic approach enables the client to examine unresolved conflicts and symptoms that arise from past dysfunctional relationships.

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

Are problems from your past creating issues for you today? Do you need help learning more constructive ways to deal with life's challenges? Do you feel stuck in the same unhealthy patterns, and can't find your way out of them? If this sounds like you, I'd like to help. I am committed to creating a place where you feel safe to heal, and uncover emotional wounds and memories, so that you don't continue with self-defeating, maladaptive behaviors.

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.

I believe in creating an atmosphere in therapy in which you can feel safe and comfortable with me so that you can share what is bothering you without judgement. Clients give me feedback that I am warm, caring , humorous, and easy to talk to. I believe that successful therapy also involves learning new skills and learning to think differently about your life or whatever is bothering you. To achieve this, I often encourage between sessions "homework" to accelerate therapeutic progress.

A number of benefits are available from participating in psychotherapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues, and creative blocks. Many people find that therapists can be helpful in managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and daily stress. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn

My approach to psychotherapy is warm, relational, and collaborative. I view therapy as a space for clients to explore who they are, what they want, and what may be getting in the way of feeling fulfilled. Together, we’ll examine patterns, beliefs, and emotions that are impacting your well-being, both past and present. I integrate evidence-based modalities like EMDR and DBT with insight-oriented talk therapy to support lasting, meaningful change. Whether you're navigating life transitions, relationship issues, or seeking deeper self-understanding, therapy can help you reconnect with yourself and move forward with greater clarity and confidence.

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.

Meetings typically feel like engaging conversations where together we take on a problem (or a set of problems) that has been affecting your life in a way that is not what you want. Over the course of these conversations, you might expect to gain a better sense of where you stand and how you want to proceed, based on your skills, your resourcefulness, and what is truly important to you.

In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, we look at the underlying concept, which is that your thoughts and feelings play a fundamental role in your behavior. For example, if you spend a lot of time thinking about plane crashes, runway accidents, and other air disasters, you may find yourself avoiding air travel. The goal of cognitive behavior therapy is to teach you that while you cannot control every aspect of the world around you, you can take control of how you interpret and deal with things in your environment.