Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Julia Rosengren.
Dr. Rosengren, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Growing up, both of my parents worked in the medical field. I understood empathy and the importance of mental wellbeing at an early age. In my family, psychotherapy was considered a practical step one took when distress was experienced. Thus, I began my own therapy during the confusing transitions of my teenage years. My therapist’s office felt like a safe reprieve and a place where I could learn to understand myself. When I realized I could help others by being a psychologist, I knew my future was having my own practice.
Over the years of working with various populations, I realized how much addiction, depression, and anxiety were present no matter where I was working. Addiction was also a disorder that many people felt frustrated by and it appeared to be treated differently than other afflictions. It was then that I knew I wanted to dive into the research about substance use and train with other professionals who had dedicated their lives to working with those suffering from addiction. Since then I have developed my private practice where I specialize in addiction from a non-12-step approach, depression, and anxiety. I spend a great deal of time educating the public, my colleagues, and clients’ families about all kinds of addiction. My hope is to dispel the many misconceptions that people have around mental health and addiction.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There are always challenges and that is what keeps me on my toes. Balancing life and building a practice was hectic and made me practice what I preach every day. I had to build in self-care for myself and not let anything disturb my emotional balance because, without that, I am not able to be present with my clients.
During my licensure process, I also had a difficult experience with the California Board of Psychology. Despite them acknowledging I had completed all the requirements, they said they were missing a form which kept me from getting my license for about two years. I had to complete my postdoctoral hours twice and worked hard to build my practice despite the setbacks. It was all worth it and every obstacle has given me more perspective and understanding in my work with others.
Julia Rosengren, Psy.D. – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a licensed psychologist and specialize in addiction, depression, and anxiety. I work with all addictive behaviors such as substance use, porn addiction, gambling, etc. While I am knowledgeable about the 12-steps, I practice from a non 12-step method which includes evidenced based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Harm Reduction Therapy. I work well with complex cases and really enjoy working with those that are ambivalent about changing. I also specialize in working with chronically suicidal individuals. I treat both adolescents and adults.
Additionally, I am one of the few people in California who practices Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) It is the alternative to Al-Anon. It is an individual therapy for family and friends that teach concrete techniques on how to engage with your addicted loved ones. It is empirically supported by getting treatment-resistant individuals to reduce their use, get in treatment, and/or create a better quality of life for the family and friends.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Having someone tell me they did not kill themselves because of the work we did together. The most humbling and proudest moments are when I have connected with people and helped them feel safe enough to begin the change process.
Pricing:
- Individual sessions: $150 per 50 minutes
- Substance Use Eval Reports $450
Contact Info:
- Address: 5252 Balboa Ave. Suite 803 San Diego, CA 92117
- Website: www.drjuliarosengren.com
- Phone: 858-432-3919
- Email: drjuliarosengren@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/DrJuliaR/
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