About
Dr. Ryan is a board certified psychiatrist and psychotherapist based in Los Angeles with fellowship training in addiction psychiatry, specializing in psychedelic psychiatry and ketamine assisted psychotherapy. After researching psychedelics and ketamine in his training, he started this clinic in 2016 to be one of the first to provide ketamine with psychotherapy. In addition to clinical duties, he also is engaged in research, consulting, and expert witness work.
University of California, Davis – B.Sc. microbiology; glycobiology lab work 2002-2006
University of California, Irvine – M.D.; left M.D./Ph.D. program ‘08; 2006-2010
UCLA-Olive View – psychiatry internship and residency; research 2010-2014
University of Washington – fellowship in addiction psychiatry; research 2014-2015
Clinical experience: UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, several Veteran Affairs medical centers, Kaiser West Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University, St. Joseph Center, The People Concern (formerly Ocean Park Community Center), and Venice Family Clinic. Outside of typical inpatient or outpatient settings, he has worked in the field on homeless outreach and full service partnership (FSP) programs, practicing “street psychiatry” as it is called.
Research experience: study physician, clinical trial design, consulting, data analysis, manuscript write up. Ketamine for treatment resistant depression (UCLA, UW, Stanford), MDMA assisted psychotherapy for PTSD (MAPS), depot naltrexone for harm reduction in alcohol use disorder (UW), feasibility study measuring ketamine’s effects on the brain (Kernel, Cybin).
Academic interests include: ketamine for treatment resistant depression, ketamine assisted psychotherapy, cannabis, psychedelics, club drugs, hallucinogens, addiction, functional neuroimaging
Through his diverse experiences and training in both pharmacology, psychotherapy, Dr. Ryan’s approach integrates individually tailored therapeutic interventions, typically including lifestyle changes and sometimes medication options, with novel treatments such as ketamine assisted psychotherapy, in an empathic, non-judgmental, safe space, helping individuals find meaning, understand themselves, and motivate to make positive changes. He has applied these principles in those suffering from PTSD, anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, and substance use disorders. In terms of psychotherapeutic alignment, he integrates knowledge and practices from psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and motivational interviewing, and particularly enjoys working with individuals in helping them achieve meaningful personal growth.
In his free time, Dr. Ryan enjoys listening to music, reading, seeing friends, and spending time outdoors in nature, be it at the beach, the Santa Monicas, the high sierra, or gardening. He is an avid cyclist, surfer, and rock climber.
Services
General and addiction psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, psychotherapy, ketamine assisted psychotherapy, psychedelics consultations
We offer a variety of services in general psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, and child / adolescent psychiatry, offer consultations regarding psychedelics, and offer ketamine assisted psychotherapy for psychiatric indications such as treatment resistant depression (TRD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorders, and more. For a detailed listing of procedures and different modalities offered, please read below. Ketamine and ketamine assisted psychotherapy is described in further detail here.First visits tend to be longer and are typically at 1 hour in duration for adults (or 1.5 hours for children or adolescents) which includes an extensive history, diagnosis, creating a collaborative treatment plan, various treatment options (including lifestyle changes, psychotherapy, and medication options), and discussion on these topics. If indicated and desired, medications can be prescribed on the first visit, or sometimes this first visit may entail discussion of possible options. Frequency of follow up is adjusted to the needs of the individual: for someone recently hospitalized or desiring psychotherapy the next follow up session could be the following week. In contrast, someone on a stable dose of medications, without any pressing issues could manage with appointments every two to three months. We are also available for one time consultation visits, to provide a second opinion on diagnosis or treatment, or for addiction evaluations mandated by licensing boards.Speaking engagements, training, consulting, clinical trials, expert witness testimony
Outside of clinical work, we are also available for speaking engagements, consulting, expert witness testimony, and professional training on such topics as psychedelics, or ketamine assisted psychotherapy. Please contact the office for details.General psychiatry
evaluationdiagnosistreatment planningconsultation / diagnostic clarification / second opinionmedication management / psychopharmacologytelehealth / telepsychiatry via doxy.melaboratory blood testing / Quest laboratoriesurine toxicology testinggenetic testing / Genomindpsychotherapy – individual, couples, familyanxiety disorders: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia / social anxiety, performance anxiety / fear of public speaking / stage fright, panic disorder / panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)mood disorders: major depressive disorder / episodes, dysthymia, adjustment disorder, bipolar disorder, depression, mania, hypomania, treatment resistant depression (TRD)psychotic disorders: schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, psychotic depression, bipolar I disordersubstance use disorders, and substance induced disordersattention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)insomnia and sleep disorderspersonality disorderssexual dysfunction / treatment of sexual side effectsforms / letters, including for emotional support animals and moreAddiction psychiatry (with Wesley Ryan, M.D.)
addiction evaluations, licensing/employment evaluations (ie, for nursing, medicine, transportation)substance use disorders / “drug and alcohol problems”dual diagnosis; ie, overlap between general psychiatry and substance use disorderssubstance induced disorders: mood, depression, anxiety, psychosistolerance, withdrawal, dependencedetoxification, including evaluation for inpatient or outpatient level of caremaintenance treatment / relapse prevention (opioid agonist treatment / suboxone, naltrexone / Vivitrol, disulfiram, acamprosate)psychotherapy – motivational interviewing and moreharm reductiondrug use monitoring / urine toxicology testing and interpretationopiate / opioid use disorder (oxycodone / Percocet, hydrocodone / Vicodin, methadone, heroin)alcohol use disorder / “alcoholism”sedative-hypnotic use disorder (Valium, Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, benzodiazepines, quaaludes, barbiturates, gamma hydroxy butyrate)cannabis use disorder / “marijuana addiction” (including synthetic cannabinoids such as “Spice”)cannabinoid hyperemesis syndromehallucinogen use disorder (LSD, psilocybin, ibogaine, mescaline, 2C-series, 25-I, “club drugs”, and various other substances such as synthetic phenethylamines and tryptamines)hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD)methamphetamine / amphetamine use disordercocaine use disorder / crack cocaine use disordertobacco use disordercaffeine use disordergambling disorder / gambling addictionbehavioral addictions / sex addiction / video game addictionexpert witness / court testimony / forensic consultationChild and adolescent psychiatry (with Alan Hanft, M.D.)
evaluationdiagnosistreatment planningconsultation / diagnostic clarification / second opinionmedication management / psychopharmacologytreatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)Specific treatments
ketamine infusions / injections for treatment resistant depression (TRD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more. See the ketamine page for more informationnasal esketamine (Spravato), FDA-approved for treatment of depression. See the ketamine page for more informationbuprenorphine / Suboxone or Sublocade depot for opiate use disordernaltrexone or depot naltrexone (Vivitrol) for opiate use disorder, see Alkermes website with patient information and morenaloxone (Narcan) rescue kits for opiate use disorderomega-3 fatty acids / fish oil / Vascepa / Lovaza for depression, anxiety, ADHD, and/or psychosisstimulants (Adderall, amphetamine, Ritalin, methylphenidate) and non stimulant alternatives (guanfacine, atomoxetine) for ADHDpropranolol (Inderal) for performance anxiety, anxietyN-Acetylcysteine, for treatment of skin picking, hair pulling, impulse control disorders, gambling, and cannabis use disorder; see this articleclozapine (Clozaril) for treatment refractory schizophrenia and bipolar I disordermedical marijuana / cannabis and CBD for PTSD or anxietythyroid hormone supplementation for treatment resistant depressionlight therapy for depression or bipolar depression, as well as seasonal affective disorder (including blue blocking glasses and light box treatment), see research papers here, and here, and here, and herepreparatory and integrative therapy sessions for psychedelic sessions (e.g., ayahuasca, psilocybin)complementary psychiatry (for example, vitamin D and/or L-methylfolate supplementation such as with Enlyte, Enbrace HR, or Deplin)probiotics for bipolar mania prophylaxis / prevention (Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis strain Bb12), see research paper herewhole body hyperthermia for depression, see research paper hereindividualized tapers for SSRI discontinuation syndrome, see research paper here