About Me
Licensed Clinical Psychologist (PSY33326)
Benjamin Steinman, Psy.D
I am licensed in California by the Board of Psychology as a Clinical Psychologist and specialize in adult psychotherapy, psychological assessment, and clinical consultation.
I completed my doctoral internship at Napa State Hospital where I provided assessment and rehabilitation for people who were civilly committed by the State of California or found incompetent to stand trial. While working at Napa State Hospital, I was trained in trauma informed care, psychological assessment, dialectical behavioral therapy, and psychoanalysis. Later, I finished my postdoctoral residency at Kaiser Permanente in Pleasanton where I provided solution focused therapy and evidence based practices.
Before graduate school, I worked as a Life Skills Trainer at a rehabilitation center for individuals with traumatic brain injury, as a Behavioral Interventionist for children on the autism spectrum, and as a Peer Counselor for UC Davis’s Counseling and Psychological Services Center. In graduate school I also worked as a training assistant for both the Wright Institute Assessment Clinic, and the Wright Institute Psychodynamic Clinic in Berkeley. I also have experience providing psychotherapy in a middle and high school setting, community mental health center, and medical wellness center. Finding the right therapist is incredibly important, call today for a free 15-20 minute video or phone consultation and see if services are right for you.
Consider your readiness for change.
Don’t walk blindly into therapy. Think about where you are, what paths are available, and what you think the best style is for you.
Am I ready for change? Is it safe? What would change look like? How do I change?
Structured
I keep things grounded by relying on standardized psychological measures, primarily goal focused treatment plans, progress tracking, and goal oriented work that is highly solutions focused. Example: I have anxiety, what feeds my anxiety, what skills can I use to overcome my anxiety, how will I know when my anxiety has improved.
Therapy Style
-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
-Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Semi-structured
A hybrid of defined and flexible goals, closed and open ended questions, well rounded conversations where we pay attention to things both previously discussed and also overlooked.
Therapy Style
-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
-Insight Oriented Therapy
-Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
-Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
-Narrative Therapy
-Psychodynamic Therayp
-Trauma Informed Therapy
Open Format
Although I always rely on standardized psychological measures to monitor progress, this can be less of the forefront of work. Some of us need time to get into the nitty gritty without being asked to dive head first into stress, trauma, shame, or chronic experiences with mental illness. An open format pushes aside “the agenda” many therapists feel the need to have and can provide a safe environment to grow into change without enabling behaviors. Open formats can sometimes provide more momentum for change by building off of successes and reminding ourselves that we are good enough.
Therapy Style
-Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
-Narrative Therapy
-Psychodynamic Therapy
-Trauma Informed Therapy