Dr. Kern's Addiction Treatment Philosophy

What are your life goals? Moderation? Abstinence?
Or something in between?

I work with clients in my private addiction alternatives practice in Los Angeles who sincerely want to get more control of their problem behaviors and addictions, but don't like the traditional, 12-step treatment approach. I do not believe that a single, inflexible treatment method can work for everyone, so I help each of my clients choose his/her own, unique path to a better life. I have found that abstinence from drugs or alcohol is the right treatment goal for some clients, while moderate drinking or drug use is a realistic goal for other clients. All that matters is what works for you.

How to get rid of destructive habits.

Giving up a destructive habit can be accomplished successfully in two ways: One way is by substituting an alternative dependency. The second way is by learning how to rely on one's own inner skills. Only by having the skills within yourself can you have true self-confidence. Depending on something outside of you, even if it is a non-destructive dependency, can only lead to a lifetime of fears, self-doubt and insecurities.

The science of making lasting changes in your life.

At the core of my treatment philosophy is a psychological phenomenon called "Stages of Change." This is what it means:

Armed with a step-by-step Action Plan, based on these "stages of change," you will have the highest possible chance of succeeding. You will begin to manage your bad habits and improve your personal relationships with the people you love.

Learn proven life-management skills.

For the past 30 years, I have worked one-on-one, by phone or in person, with clients in my private practice in Los Angeles who are struggling with alcohol, street drugs, prescription drugs, and excessive behavior concerning gambling, spending, sex, pornography, Internet, and food, to name just a few. I know what is working, not only in my own private practice, but in cutting-edge practices and treatment facilities across the country and around the world.

Knowledge first, Treatment second...
Bridging Session

My first session with you is not a therapy session. It is a strategic planning and information session. Before you found my website, you probably thought that the AA treatment approach was the only way. Now that you know other treatment methods exist, it is my job to first educate you about your new options without confusing you. In the process, you and I will collaboratively design an Action Plan for your changing your behavior(s) with specific actions for you to take -- step 1, step 2, step 3, and so forth. If you don't want to do it, if it doesn't appeal to you, it won't be in the Action Plan. By the end of this intense hour, most of my clients have the confidence and knowledge to begin decreasing or eliminating their destructive habits without further help from me.

Thirty years as an addiction alternatives psychologist has shown me that you can learn to have confidence in your own abilities, to trust your own judgment, and to trust that you will consistently act in your own best interests. I look forward to helping you get out of your destructive situation and begin to gradually create a life that makes you feel better about yourself, happier and more self-confident.



Contemporary Addiction Recovery Guidance and Treatment