One of the benefits of working with me is my perspective in
helping so many others with perhaps very similar challenges to
yours, who have come in the years before you. I know gay men's
issues professionally because I've made a study of gay men's
mental health, and because unlike other therapists who claim to
work with gay issues, I AM a gay man, 24/7.
I know HIV issues beyond other therapists who say they know
and work with HIV because I've studied HIV (especially the
mental health and psychosocial aspects) for over 17 years and
lived with HIV successfully myself also for over 17 years.
I know about local life in West Hollywood and Los Angeles,
its culture and dynamics, rewards and challenges, because I've
lived here as an adult for nearly 25 years.
Background
I am a graduate of UCLA (BA, 1987) and of the USC School of
Social Work (MSW, 1994), where I received special training and
certification in working with people with psychiatric disorders
(depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder,
panic disorder, social anxiety, etc.).
Before my career as a therapist, I was in the corporate
world, where I gained many of the skills I use when I coach
people on supervising others and other workplace skills. For a
number of years, I was a clinician and administrator in
non-profit organizations, where I was Clinical Director of 2
AIDS service organizations, supervising departments of mental
health, case management, treatment education, peer support, and
home health. I was a monthly columnist on HIV mental health
issues for A&U, America's AIDS magazine, for 2 years, and these
collected columns form the basis of my self-published book,
Positive Outlook: How to Successfully Live with HIV Today. I'm a
frequent contributor to Frontiers and IN LA magazines in Los
Angeles, as well as POZ and Instinct magazines, and to various
television projects.
My job is to provide you with a private, safe, confidential
space to come each week, at a time set aside just for you, with
my undivided attention, where you can work toward goals that are
important to you and that would relieve you of burdens or
improve your quality of life. Everything we talk about is
strictly confidential, except for the most extreme legal
situations (like if you were suicidal and a few others I could
explain).
Many people think they have to really "need" therapy to come
in; that's not really true. Our work can begin whenever you WANT
it to. There is really no such thing as people who "need"
therapy versus people who don't. Everyone could benefit from
knowing themselves better and setting goals to improve their
life.
The most common technique I use is called the
cognitive-behavioral approach. This is a very interactive
technique to change the way you think about yourself, which
changes the way you feel, which changes your behaviors, which
then changes your life in all kinds of positive ways. With some
people, I also draw from a more casual "life coaching" approach,
where you learn how to get more things done, deal with anger,
manage your time, deal with drinking or using, make a budget,
plan your career, feel better about yourself, or communicate
better with others.
What is happening with you that I might be able to help with?
I hope I earn your trust enough to let me work with you.
Contact me at the email form at the bottom of this page if
you have questions or would like to learn more. If you would
like an appointment, I can usually see you within the same
business week.
Other Services
I also offer you:
Couples Counseling -- I help gay, lesbian, and straight
couples achieve a more satisfying relationship by learning how
to "really" communicate with each other, reducing the number or
intensity of fights, having more or better sex, negotiating the
details of spicing up a monogamous relationship or having an
open relationship, or dealing with other types of stress that
impact a relationship like illness, money troubles, or
difficulties with the "in-laws."
Drug/Alcohol/Addiction Services -- It seems that over the
past couples of years I've been helping more guys in the
community with issues related to their use of crystal meth or
cocaine. I also help people with changing other behaviors like
too much gambling, too much sex, or other "too much" behaviors.
To do this, I help them using very familiar programs like the 12
Steps, but I also incorporate the use of the Harm Reduction
Model, which is for people who don't like 12-Step programs but
still want help.
Phone Counseling -- If you can't make it in in person, I
offer my clients the option of calling in for a phone session,
such as from a hotel on a business trip or from a film location
for actors or production staff.
Executive Coaching Services for executives who have trouble
with people in the office getting along, or who want to be more
productive and satisfied in their work.
Career Counseling Services for people who are searching for a
new job, changing their career, or who want to ask for a raise,
supervise a staff, or cope with a difficult boss.
Weekend Counseling -- If you need an appointment on a
Saturday or Sunday, I work with an associate, Geoff Milam, MSW,
ASW at 917-754-2816. He is not yet licensed, yet is a competent
and fine therapist in his own right who graduated from a
prestigious and rigorous graduate training program at New York
University (NYU). He is legally able to work with clients under
my license with regular oversight and clinical supervision, at a
somewhat reduced fee rate. Call him directly for information on
fees and appointment times. Geoff focuses on serving the gay
community, but works with many different kinds of people.
Another associate, Michael Kaltenbach, LCSW, is a very talented
therapist who also offers weekend appointments in my office at
323-646-1139. So if you really need a Saturday or Sunday
appointment, Geoff and Michael are wonderful resources for this.
Speaking Engagements/Workshops are something I offer on a
variety of topics, such as "How to Have the Life You Want!", "No
More 'Cheating': How to Have an Open Relationship without Hurt
Feelings" (for gay male couples), "HIV and Aging", "HIV 101,"
"Stress Management," "Your Mind and Money," "Moved to Move:
Motivation for Exercise," and "Beyond Condoms: HIV Prevention
Via Sexual Harm Reduction". The times, locations, and fees for
these are negotiated based on the date and location. See other
pages on website for more information on this, or email me at
the form below.
Insurance
If you request, I can provide you with standard forms you can
submit so you can receive at least some reimbursement if you
have PPO health insurance with out-of-network benefits. There
are pros and cons to doing this, which we can discuss when we
talk. There are many benefits to just hiring me privately and
leaving the "Big Brother" aspects of the insurance industry out
of our work entirely. I can also provide you with receipts so
you can deduct the cost of sessions with me from your taxes as
either a medical expense or a business consultation expense
(subject to IRS limitations; see your tax accountant for
details).
How to Get Started
Sessions are 45-50 minutes in length, and I recommend that we
meet once per week, on the same day and time each week, so you
keep the momentum going to reach the goals you set for yourself.
Your rights are protected by my full compliance with the laws
of the State of California and with the Codes of Ethics as a
member of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, the
National Association of Social Workers, the California
Association of Marriage & Family Therapists, the California
Welfare & Institutions Code, and federal HIPAA laws.
Sound good? OK! For more information or to schedule an
appointment, just call my office anytime (24-hour voicemail) at
310-726-HELP (4357). Let me know a little about how I can help
you. Tell me some good times to reach you, and I'll call you
back very soon. (Giving me your work number or your cell phone
number might help me to reach you faster.)
If you would like to receive my FREE bimonthly newsletter via
US Mail, "Have The Life You Want," just email me at the form
below with "Newsletter Request" in the Subject line. This is
mailed hard copy, so be sure to include your US Postal address.
For more information, please also see the other pages of my
website.
Thanks again for visiting. I look forward to meeting you!
Articles by Ken Howard, LCSW
Coming out again and again
cont.