Photo of Samer Mahdi Kamal, Psychiatrist in 90048, CA
Samer Mahdi Kamal
Psychiatrist, MD, ABPN
Verified Verified
West Hollywood, CA 90048  (Online Only)
"The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love, and to be greater than our suffering." - Ben Okri Dr. Samer Kamal is a highly respected, licensed psychiatrist specializing in ADHD, PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, Panic Disorders in Beverly Hills and the Los Angeles area, and Palm Springs, California. Dr. Kamal completed his MD at Loma Linda University, followed by a residency at New York Medical College. Dr. Kamal is passionate about life and people whose goal is to heal the mind and make a real difference in his patients lives.
"The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love, and to be greater than our suffering." - Ben Okri Dr. Samer Kamal is a highly respected, licensed psychiatrist specializing in ADHD, PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, Panic Disorders in Beverly Hills and the Los Angeles area, and Palm Springs, California. Dr. Kamal completed his MD at Loma Linda University, followed by a residency at New York Medical College. Dr. Kamal is passionate about life and people whose goal is to heal the mind and make a real difference in his patients lives.
(951) 488-6328 View (951) 488-6328
Photo of Daniel Son, Psychiatrist in 90048, CA
Daniel Son
Psychiatrist, MD
Verified Verified
Los Angeles, CA 90048  (Online Only)
I am proud to have completed formal fellowship training in both Child & Adolescent and Addiction Psychiatry. I have a particular interest in the treatment of severe mental illness and adolescents with addiction issues. I completed my medical degree at Loma Linda University and completed my Psychiatry residency and 2 fellowships at the University of Louisville. I focus on providing thorough diagnostic interviews and providing medication management services.
I am proud to have completed formal fellowship training in both Child & Adolescent and Addiction Psychiatry. I have a particular interest in the treatment of severe mental illness and adolescents with addiction issues. I completed my medical degree at Loma Linda University and completed my Psychiatry residency and 2 fellowships at the University of Louisville. I focus on providing thorough diagnostic interviews and providing medication management services.
(424) 484-7248 View (424) 484-7248
Photo of Ellie Mizani, Psychiatrist in 90048, CA
Ellie Mizani
Psychiatrist, MD
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Los Angeles, CA 90048  (Online Only)
My top priority is the well being of my patients and their families and I pride myself in providing the absolute highest quality of psychiatric care to my patients. My practice is focused on treating children, adolescents and young adults with mood, anxiety and behavioral disorders, as well as addiction. One of my areas of specialty is ADHD for which I have had specialized training. I am currently a staff physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and was previously Clinical Assistant Professor in Psychiatry and Pediatrics at USC and an attending physician at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.
My top priority is the well being of my patients and their families and I pride myself in providing the absolute highest quality of psychiatric care to my patients. My practice is focused on treating children, adolescents and young adults with mood, anxiety and behavioral disorders, as well as addiction. One of my areas of specialty is ADHD for which I have had specialized training. I am currently a staff physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and was previously Clinical Assistant Professor in Psychiatry and Pediatrics at USC and an attending physician at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.
(310) 929-6912 View (310) 929-6912
Chronic Pain Psychiatrists

How does chronic pain therapy work?

Engaging with a psychotherapist to help treat chronic pain does not mean that one’s pain is all in their head. Therapy for chronic-pain patients has been shown to benefit both the mind and the body, targeting physical symptoms and increasing daily functioning. In other words, for many, addressing their emotional health through therapy affects their physical health. A therapist can help a client challenge unhelpful thoughts about pain and develop new ways to respond to it, such as distraction or calming breathing techniques. Studies have found that therapy can be as effective as surgery for certain cases of chronic pain and many doctors recommend trying psychotherapy in advance of considering invasive surgery.

What are the most effective treatment options for chronic pain?

Stress, anxiety, depression, catastrophizing, ruminating, lack of activity, and social withdrawal all make chronic pain worse. Addressing these issues, research shows, can help people gain control over their pain symptoms. Therapeutic approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, biofeedback, and mindfulness-based stress reduction, along with greater pain-management education, have been found to help people reduce fear and disability.

Are there new treatments for chronic pain?

Many cases of chronic pain, particularly those involving back pain, remain medically unexplained. But there is evidence that changes in the brain or nervous system are caused by previous physical ailments such as tissue damage; in such cases, the brain may continue to send out pain signals despite the physical cause having healed. To aid patients under these circumstances, a recently developed treatment known as pain reprocessing therapy (PRT) is designed to help the brain “unlearn” this response. A PRT practitioner helps individuals to reduce the “threat value” of their ongoing pain signals until they can reappraise them as less threatening and fear-inducing. They also help an individual to develop new emotional regulation skills.

How long does therapy for chronic pain take?

There is no set timeline for recovery from chronic pain, especially as there may be a range of physical and psychological causes for any individual’s discomfort, but most patients should expect to see a therapist for a number of weeks or months, typically spanning at least 12 sessions. Studies of pain reprocessing therapy found that many individuals’ experience of pain lessened in eight sessions over four weeks.