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
evaluation
diagnosis
treatment planning
consultation / diagnostic clarification / second opinion
medication management / psychopharmacology
telehealth / telepsychiatry via doxy.me
laboratory blood testing / Quest laboratories
urine toxicology testing
genetic testing / Genomind
psychotherapy – individual, couples, family
anxiety 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 disorder
substance use disorders, and substance induced disorders
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
insomnia and sleep disorders
personality disorders
sexual dysfunction / treatment of sexual side effects
forms / letters, including for emotional support animals and more
Addiction 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 disorders
substance induced disorders: mood, depression, anxiety, psychosis
tolerance, withdrawal, dependence
detoxification, including evaluation for inpatient or outpatient level of care
maintenance treatment / relapse prevention (opioid agonist treatment / suboxone, naltrexone / Vivitrol, disulfiram, acamprosate)
psychotherapy – motivational interviewing and more
harm reduction
drug use monitoring / urine toxicology testing and interpretation
opiate / 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 syndrome
hallucinogen 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 disorder
cocaine use disorder / crack cocaine use disorder
tobacco use disorder
caffeine use disorder
gambling disorder / gambling addiction
behavioral addictions / sex addiction / video game addiction
expert witness / court testimony / forensic consultation
Child and adolescent psychiatry (with Alan Hanft, M.D.)
evaluation
diagnosis
treatment planning
consultation / diagnostic clarification / second opinion
medication management / psychopharmacology
treatment 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 information
nasal esketamine (Spravato), FDA-approved for treatment of depression. See the ketamine page for more information
buprenorphine / Suboxone or Sublocade depot for opiate use disorder
naltrexone or depot naltrexone (Vivitrol) for opiate use disorder, see Alkermes website with patient information and more
naloxone (Narcan) rescue kits for opiate use disorder
omega-3 fatty acids / fish oil / Vascepa / Lovaza for depression, anxiety, ADHD, and/or psychosis
stimulants (Adderall, amphetamine, Ritalin, methylphenidate) and non stimulant alternatives (guanfacine, atomoxetine) for ADHD
propranolol (Inderal) for performance anxiety, anxiety
N-Acetylcysteine, for treatment of skin picking, hair pulling, impulse control disorders, gambling, and cannabis use disorder; see this article
clozapine (Clozaril) for treatment refractory schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder
medical marijuana / cannabis and CBD for PTSD or anxiety
thyroid hormone supplementation for treatment resistant depression
light 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 here
preparatory 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 here
whole body hyperthermia for depression, see research paper here
individualized tapers for SSRI discontinuation syndrome, see research paper here
