Struggling with paranoia disorder can be frustrating. Dr. Samuel Lee is a Los Angeles based paranoia specialist who utilizes natural healing techniques to help his patients overcome their fears and paranoia to increase their wellbeing and live vibrant lives.
Make AppointmentDo 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.
Paranoia involves intense anxious or fearful feelings and thoughts often related to persecution, threat, or conspiracy. Paranoia occurs in many mental disorders, but is most often present in psychotic disorders. Paranoia can become delusions, when irrational thoughts and beliefs become so fixed that nothing (including contrary evidence) can convince a person that what they think or feel is not true. When a person has paranoia or delusions, but no other symptoms (like hearing or seeing things that aren't there), they might have what is called a delusional disorder. Because only thoughts are impacted, a person with delusional disorder can usually work and function in everyday life, however, their lives may be limited and isolated.
Symptoms of paranoia and delusional disorders include intense and irrational mistrust or suspicion, which can bring on sense of fear, anger, and betrayal. Some identifiable beliefs and behaviors of individuals with symptoms of paranoia include mistrust, hypervigilence, difficulty with forgiveness, defensive attitude in response to imagined criticism, preoccupation with hidden motives, fear of being deceived or taken advantage of, inability to relax, or are argumentative.
The cause of paranoia is a breakdown of various mental and emotional functions involving reasoning and assigned meanings. The reasons for these breakdowns are varied and uncertain. Some symptoms of paranoia relate to repressed, denied or projected feelings. Often, paranoid thoughts and feelings are related to events and relationships in a person's life, thereby increasing isolation and difficulty with getting help.
A delusion is an odd belief that a person firmly insists is true despite evidence that it is not. Cultural beliefs that may seem odd, but are widely accepted do not fit the criteria for being a delusion. Two of the most common types of delusions are delusions of grandeur or persecutory delusions.
Delusional disorder is characterized by irrational or intense belief(s) or suspicion(s) which a person believes to be true. These beliefs may seem outlandish and impossible (bizarre) or fit within the realm of what is possible (non-bizarre). Symptoms must last for 1 month or longer in order for someone to be diagnosed with delusional disorder.
Treatment of paranoia is usually via medication and cognitive behavioral therapy. The most important element in treating paranoia and delusional disorder, is building a trusting and collaborative relationship to reduce the impact of irrational fearful thoughts and improving social skills. It can be difficult to treat a person with paranoia since symptoms result in increased irritability, emotionally guardedness, and possible hostility. Often times, progress on paranoid delusions and especially delusional disorder is slow. Regardless of how slow the process, recovery and reconnection is possible.
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.
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?
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
I work directly with patients in my Los Angeles based private practice.
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.
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.