Los Angeles Addiction Specialist
Struggling with addiction can be crippling. Dr. Samuel Lee specializes in treating addiction through natural healing techniques in patients throughout Los Angeles from his practice in Playa Del Rey, California.
Make AppointmentWholeness and Wellness Over Medication
Do you feel like doctors have been medicating you, but not fully understanding you?
I work with my patients through an integrative and spiritual approach to not only treat mental illness but to promote physical, mental, and energetic wellness. To do this, we will emphasize using medications for psychiatric stabilization with a common long term goal of tapering off of medications while optimizing natural healing techniques to accomplish a sustained state of wellbeing.
An Integrative Approach to Addiction
Addiction Q&A
How does Dr. Lee treat addiction?
Dr. Lee understands how crippling addiction can be. Addictions can take form as a substance abuse problem or behaviors that have harmful consequences to one's life. Dr. Lee treats addiction through a holistic approach, creating a customized treatment plan for each of his patients. These therapeutic approaches can include, but are not limited to therapy, breathwork exercise, Harmonyum healing, and plant based medicine.
Dr. Lee seeks to not only treat mental illness and addiction but to promote physical, mental, and energetic wellness. To do this, he will emphasize using medications for psychiatric stabilization with a common long term goal of tapering off of medications, while optimizing natural healing.
What is addiction?
Addiction is a complex condition, a brain disease that is manifested by compulsive substance use despite harmful consequence. People with addiction (severe substance use disorder) have an intense focus on using a certain substance(s), such as alcohol or drugs, to the point that it takes over their life. They keep using alcohol or a drug even when they know it will cause problems. Yet a number of effective treatments are available and people can recover from addiction and lead normal, productive lives.
People with a substance use disorder have distorted thinking, behavior and body functions. Changes in the brain’s wiring are what cause people to have intense cravings for the drug and make it hard to stop using the drug. Brain imaging studies show changes in the areas of the brain that relate to judgment, decision making, learning, memory and behavior control.
These substances can cause harmful changes in how the brain functions. These changes can last long after the immediate effects of the drug — the intoxication. Intoxication is the intense pleasure, calm, increased senses or a high caused by the drug. Intoxication symptoms are different for each substance.
What are the symptoms of addiction?
Symptoms of substance use disorder are grouped into four categories:
- Impaired control: a craving or strong urge to use the substance; desire or failed attempts to cut down or control substance use
- Social problems: substance use causes failure to complete major tasks at work, school or home; social, work or leisure activities are given up or cut back because of substance use
- Risky use: substance is used in risky settings; continued use despite known problems
- Drug effects: tolerance (need for larger amounts to get the same effect); withdrawal symptoms (different for each substance)
Conditions I Treat
I work with my patients to overcome the mental health challenges they are facing. Together we will use an integrative approach to mental that helps them achieve a sustained wellbeing.
My Credentials
Are you seeking a psychiatrist who is passionate about what he does and who takes an integrative and spiritual approach to mental health? Are you seeking a psychiatrist who is comfortable with alternative, holistic, and complementary treatments while having a judicious and conservative approach to psychiatric medications?
Explore my credentials
Board Certified Psychiatry and Neurology
B.A. Magna Cum Laude in Religion from Pacific Union College
MD Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Residency in Psychiatry, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA.
Inpatient Adult Psychiatrist, Kaweah Delta Mental Health Hospital
Primary Attending Geriatric Psychiatrist at the Auerbach Inpatient Psychiatric Jewish Home Hospital
General Adult Outpatient Psychiatrist, Kaiser Permanente
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Visiting My Practice
I work directly with patients in my Los Angeles based private practice.
What can I expect on my first visit?
Prior to our first visit, we can connect on the phone for a brief 5-10 minute conversation to ensure that we are a good fit to work together. You may also fill out an initial intake form and send it back to me so we can save time for our actual visit, and I can have an idea of your medical history prior to meeting
During our first visit, I will strive to be completely present with you. This means, I will not be typing and you will have my undivided attention and care.
We may utilize breath work to arrive in a relaxed and present state of being.
We will then proceed to engage in open and honest dialogue and everything we speak about will remain confidential.
We will explore your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health and examine areas of strength, and areas that we may want to bring into balance. We will discuss symptoms, without placing you into a box of a diagnosis. When we feel there is a mutual understanding of the desired outcome of treatment we will formulate a realistic, specific treatment plan geared towards eradicating symptoms by addressing the root cause. We will ensure that you have the adequate knowledge, tools, medication (if necessary), supplements, and support to make progress towards your goal of becoming the best version of yourself.
Treatment Fees
Initial Consult (60-90 minutes) $400
Starting with our first session, we’ll clarify what your specific needs are and how to address them.
Follow Up (30 minutes) $200
I work with you directly to put you on a path to sustained wellbeing.
15-Minute Follow Up — As varies
There may also be occasion for a brief phone follow up.
