Programs & Therapists — California

How to choose a BPD therapist.
List your name in our Programs and Therapists section.

• Cynthia Skale, LCSW #21567
  24445 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 105
  Torrance, CA 90505
  (310) 283-9027
  cynthiaskalelcsw@yahoo.com

  I am a California Licensed Clinical Social Worker offering both individual DBT and DBT Skills groups in the South Bay area of Los Angeles and also in Orange County. For those clients who prefer an alternative treatment approach to DBT, I also provide two other evidence-based treatments, i.e. TFP (Transference-Focused Psychotherapy) and POST (Psychodynamically-Oriented Supportive Therapy). My offices are conveniently located to serve clients in the areas of Torrance, Palos Verdes, the Beach cities, LA Harbor area, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, and Irvine.

• Sylma Fine, M.A., MFT, ATR-BC
  555 Middlefield Road, Suite 102C
  Palo Alto, CA 94301
  650-838-9552
  sylmafinetx@yahoo.com
  www.sylmafine.com

  "I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Registered Board Certified Art Therapist in practice in the Mid-Peninsula area of Silicon Valley.

  Working with teens, I believe in their innate power to make their lives productive and full of joy, and in the power of the family to support that change. Teens often begin therapy with the notion that they are broken and need to be fixed. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) allows the incorporation of a premise that really makes sense to adolescents: I am perfect and I need to change.
  This idea creates room and hope for profound acceptance and improvement.

  Another aspect of DBT that teens can relate to is the fact that the therapeutic exchange allows for the adolescent to be the expert in the room. Thus both the teen and the therapist are able to be teachers and students in this dialectical approach.

  In addition to working with teens individually, I offer DBT Skills Training group with coaching and support for Teens, with a concurrent DBT Family Skills Group in order to maximize understanding and decrease conflict within the family."
  

• Marita Gladson M.A.
  New Hope
  3140 Redhill #103
  Costa Mesa, Ca
  (714) 838-1784 ext. 252

"My interest is to help people in a chaotic relationship, such as someone diagnosed with BPD. Parents, siblings, friends, co-workers, learn ways to relate, clear delineation of responsibility and how create their own place of emotional safety. The chaotic person is not usually present in session. I am a cognitive behavioral therapist."

• Michael H. Foust, Ph.D.
  540 Golden Circle Dr
  Suite 211
  Santa Ana, Ca 92705
  (714) 834-9222
  www.drfoust.net
  michael@drfoust.net

  "I offer cognitive therapy emphasis; logical consequences and constructive use of anger are targets. Support and maintenance of self-image separate from the 'self-view that has been traumatized.' Use of group therapy during later stages of work. Welcome interviews by prospective clients. Current treatment of BPD is best conceived as trauma treatment and follows the course of controlled exposure to stimulus in addition to Linehan's DBT skills training"

• Eric Bellman L.C.S.W.
  32129 Lindero Cyn. Rd. # 108E
  Westlake Village, CA. 91361
  ( 805) 493-2492
  westlakedr@aol.com

  "I have been practicing for more than 25 years in the Los Angeles, California area. I have worked with and had success with BPD patients. I use a multi-variable approach to clients that includes cognitive behavioral psychodynamics and DBT approach technique with medical teamwork as needed by the individual."

• Daniel A. Kupper, Ph.D
  Associate Clinical Professor, Psychiatry, UCLA.
  Senior Therapist and Supervisor at the Borderline Personality Disorder Initiative, UCLA, Dept of Psychiatry.
  
  1917-1/2 Westwood Blvd., Suite 2
  Los Angeles, CA 90025
  (310) 441-5537
  daniel.kupper@roadrunner.com

  "I am in private practice and an assistant clinical Professor in psychiatry and psychology at UCLA, specializing in Personality Disorders."

• Thomas Marra, Ph.D. PSY7934
  550 Wave Street
  Monterey, CA 93940
  (831) 645-9000
  www.depressedandanxious.com

  "I am a clinical psychologist who uses the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) approach to BPD, including offering the skills training modules of Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Skills."

• Angela R. Wurtzel, MA, M.F.T.
  27 East Victoria St.
  Rear Cottage
  Santa Barbara, CA 93101
  (805) 884-9794
  angela@angelawurtzelmft.com
  www.angelawurtzelmft.com

"Angela is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist specializing in the treatment of eating disorders and self-injury, self destructive behaviors that are common amongst people who suffer from borderline personality disorder. I work from a psychodynamic point of view, however, I also encourage clients to take action against their self destructive tendencies.

I have done some training with Marsha Linehan and DBT and Robert Firestone and his Voice Therapy Training, both of which are extremely helpful in working with self destructive, impulsive behaviors and feelings. I offer individual, family and conjoint therapy, as well as group therapy. I am available for consultation and sessions by appointment.

• Melinda Carlisle
  Licensed Marriage and Family therapist # 43877 3880
  South Bascom Avenue, Suite 116
  San Jose, CA 95124
  mcarlisle@criticalpathcounseling.com

  
  "I am a Dialectical Behavior Therapist (DBT)who helps people that have difficulty managing their emotions to regain control and improve their relationships. If you are someone who is struggling to keep from blowing up, yelling, or hurting the ones you love I can help you learn the skills to change your behavior and feel peace and joy in your life. If you are anxious and worried about the way you or someone you love is acting, or if you are depressed and feel out of options, call me right away ( I actually answer my phone!)

  You may not have caused the emotional regulation problems you have today but you CAN solve them. Let me help.

  In addition to offering individual DBT Therapy I also offer Skills training groups in Mindfulness, Interpersonal effectiveness, Emotional regulation, and Distress Tolerance. I also offer Christian Counseling to those who seek it."