I'm Dr. Wendy, an Addiction and Trauma Specialist passionate about creating safe and welcoming spaces for deep healing and connection. I integrate the Compassionate Inquiry psychotherapeutic approach, yoga and meditation, and evidence-based practices (DBT) to support students and clients on their learning and healing journey. ​
My doctorate is in clinical psychology from APA-accredited California School of Professional Psychology. I published Beyond Addiction: Kundalini Yoga and Mindfulness Meditation for Recovery from Opioid Dependence (2015) prior to completing a two-year post-doctoral internship in Dialectical Behavior Therapy.
I created and currently direct the Addiction and Recovery Specialization at Antioch University Los Angeles. I'm also a core faculty member and am deeply committed to training future therapists in compassionate, trauma informed ways of working with others.
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I facilitate CI groups, lead Beyond Addiction retreats, and work with individuals as a CI Practitioner drawing inspiration from Gabor Maté and Sat Dharam Kaur's work.
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Memoir coming soon:
No Contact: The Ultimate Act of Self Compassion
COMPASSIONATE INQUIRY
FOUNDING FACILITATOR + CERTIFIED PRACTITIONER
Compassionate Inquiry (CI) is a psychotherapeutic approach developed by Gabor Maté and Sat Dharam Kaur. I've been part of the team since 2018 and have facilitated over 30 year long online biweekly groups since we launched the professional training in January 2019. I enjoy supporting participants and teams of interns from around the world throughout our transformational journeys together.
In private sessions, we work closely in relationship to uncover core wounds and traumas at the root of addictive behaviors and self-defeating patterns.
I also present on the use of CI in the treatment of addiction and trauma at international conferences.
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Group Facilitation ~ Individual Therapy ~ Public Speaking
ADDICTION + RECOVERY SPECIALIZATION COURSES​
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Assessment and Treatment of Addictive Disorders
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Integrated Treatment of Co-Occurring Disorders
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Understanding and Treating Addiction:
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Biological Perspective
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Psychological Perspectives
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Socio-Cultural and Political Perspectives
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Systems Perspectives​​​​
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MASTERS IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM
CORE FACULTY
DIRECTOR: ADDICTION + RECOVERY SPECIALIZATION
Dr. Wendy is dedicated to preparing students to understand the complexities of addiction and to compassionately treating those who suffer through a multi-dimensional framework. From the time she was invited to create this cutting edge and innovative graduate-level specialization, she has been committed to providing an inclusive, welcoming environment in the classroom and sharing her passion for an integrated approach to understanding and treating addiction. The many factors that cause and maintain addiction along with various entry points for intervention are included in the ongoing curriculum development for the Addiction and Recovery Specialization. Her courses are academically rigorous, theory-based, experiential, and process oriented.
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BEYOND ADDICTION
INTERNATIONAL TRAINER AND FACILITATOR
I've been a Level II IKYTA certified teacher of Kundalini Yoga and Meditation since 2010 and launched the first community-based Kundalini Yoga for Recovery program at Golden Bridge Los Angeles. I returned to school for my doctorate in clinical psychology, focused on the intersection of two topics I was most passionate about: kundalini yoga and recovery. I published my dissertation on the topic and presented Beyond Addiction workshops for many years at the east and west coast Sat Nam yoga festivals leading up to the pandemic.
As an International Trainer and facilitator for Beyond Addiction: The Yogic Path to Recovery, I continue to lead retreats around the world and especially enjoy co-facilitating the course with BA founder and my personal mentor, Sat Dharam. The course includes a 9-day immersion and is followed by 4-months of integration where participants are supported by weekly facilitated zoom meetings. I create a safe and inclusive container and from this space, a beautiful healing occurs in support of deep connection to self, Spirit, and one another.
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2026 BEYOND ADDICTION RETREATS
Catalunya, Spain March 8-17
Owen Sound, Canada May 16-24
East Sussex, UK September 8-18​​​
PRIVATE PRACTICE
ADDICTION & TRAUMA SPECIALIST
Dr. Wendy supports an international clientele with her integrative approach that includes Compassionate Inquiry, Beyond Addiction: The Yogic Path to Recovery, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Many of her clients are healing from substance abuse and behavioral addictions rooted in trauma and through their work together, move toward sustainable recovery by healing the pain that seeds self-defeating patterns. Those who are looking to improve their daily lives by uncovering blocks that interfere with optimal functioning will gain beneficial skills and insight with her individualized approach.​​​​
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Relational trauma
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LGBT affirmative psychotherapy
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Codependency
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Recovery coaching
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Psychedelic Preparation + Integration
INTERVIEWS
CONTACT
We're all just walking each other home
Ram Dass