David Borof

My name is David Borof, and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with the State of California. Providing therapy and being able to serve others is my passion. I consider providing therapy as my art, although I stay on top of the latest research and evidence-based practices. I look forward to working with you!

My approach

Research shows that what is most effective in therapy is a therapeutic alliance and good rapport. My main focus is to establish a safe space to explore thoughts, feelings, and behaviors with empathy and by supporting the client's self-determination. I focus on building a secure attachment using a variety of techniques and theories including psychodynamic theory, object relations theory, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral theory, dialectical behavioral theory, and mindfulness-based practices. Employing an eclectic approach, I minimize power differentials and work collaboratively with my clients.

My focus

I work with adults, couples, and families of all ages and identities. I treat depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and I specialize in the treatment of addictions, including substance use and sex addiction.

My communication style

As a humanistic therapist, I focus on respect, dignity, and self-determination of clients. I want clients to feel seen, heard, and respected by providing a safe space to allow for the exploration of anything and everything. I enjoy collaborating with my clients in a therapeutic alliance to establish goals and to work together towards achieving them.

My journey to mental healthcare

My journey to becoming a therapist started as a client. I remember thinking that if I could help people in the way that my therapist had helped me, that I would have a good life. From there, I went to school to become a therapist, graduating with honors and a specialization in addiction studies. My internship took me from working with teens and their families struggling with substance use disorders to working with adults, couples, and families recovering from sex addiction. As a therapist, I enjoy my practice and serving my clients. I believe that I am living a good life.

My goals for you

I am most interested in what the client wants to achieve through therapy. By establishing client goals, these goals can then be measured in terms of progress towards achieving them. Client goals can be refined, changed, and added as therapy continues. I routinely check in with the client to make sure that we are heading in the right direction toward achieving goals together.

My first session with you

In a first session with me, after establishing informed consent and discussing limits to confidentiality and safety planning, we would talk about what brings you to therapy, whether you have been to therapy before, and what you hope to achieve through therapy. We would then produce a treatment plan consisting of goals for therapy. Finally, we would answer any questions and discuss techniques and practices. In other words, we would make sure that the client knew what to expect in therapy.