Meet Dr. Drew

Trust is key for successful treatment.

Research shows that the trust a client feels in bringing their most vulnerable self to counseling is a core-factor in how much improvement they will see.

It is vital that you can build trust with any therapist.

• Dr. Drew started direct clinical work in 2001 on a counseling and crisis intervention hotline based at the University of Maryland, College Park. This training helped lay the foundation of providing strength-based, person-centered, and culturally sensitive treatment to diverse populations.
• Upon graduation he immediately enrolled in a Ph.D. program at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The program was one of only two doctoral programs in the nation that issued combined degrees in Counseling, Clinical and School Psychology.
• Dr. Drew then went to Stanford University to work and train in the Counseling and Psychological Services center, before being hired as a staff psychologist at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He later served as Director of Counseling at a small graduate and medical health sciences university in the San Francisco Bay Area.
• In addition to direct clinical work he has also served at the director level of two nonprofits: Pacific Pride Foundation in Santa Barbara, CA and Active Minds in Washington D.C.

With his own experiences of managing mental health over time he is better able to help you recognize the paths that will or won’t work in your treatment.

Dr. Drew provides an active role in counseling, not just a passive listener, asking questions like:

• What has worked for you in the past?
• What barriers are preventing you from achieving your current goals?
• What supports do you have that can help you grow in healthy directions?
• What resources can you draw on that will help you achieve a more balanced self?
• How can we reflect on what you have accomplished?

Every counseling relationship is unique and requires unique attention. Dr. Drew keeps his client load moderate so he can devote attention to each person and couple he is working with at a given time.

Personally, I love living in San Diego, spending time exploring our natural beauty. I love to travel and see the world in new cultures and contexts. I love trying new foods and exploring cuisine