Psychotherapy delivered by psychiatrists trained to do it well.
At Wave Psychiatric Group, psychotherapy is not an afterthought. Majority of our board-certified psychiatrists have received extensive post-residency training in evidence-based therapy modalities — offering a level of psychotherapeutic depth that is rare in a psychiatric group practice, and rarer still in one that also accepts insurance.
Why psychiatrist-delivered psychotherapy is different
Most psychiatric practices in Los Angeles offer one of two things: medication management from a psychiatrist, or therapy from a psychologist or licensed therapist. The two are typically delivered by different clinicians, in different offices, sometimes with limited communication between them.
At Wave, several of our psychiatrists provide both. This integrated model — one physician managing your medications and delivering your psychotherapy — offers clinical advantages that the split model cannot easily replicate.
Your psychiatrist understands the full arc of your presentation. They know how your anxiety shifted when your antidepressant was titrated. They noticed the change in your affect three sessions before you did. They can distinguish a medication side effect from a therapeutic impasse. They can hold the biological and psychological dimensions of your illness simultaneously and adjust both in real time.
This is what psychiatry was designed to be — and it is what we practice at Wave.
Our approach to psychotherapy
We do not practice a single modality with every patient. Different conditions respond to different therapeutic approaches, and different patients engage differently with different models. Our psychiatrists are trained across a range of evidence-based modalities and use clinical judgment to match the approach — or combination of approaches — to the individual.
What follows is an overview of the modalities practiced at Wave, what they are, and the conditions for which the evidence is strongest.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy
Psychodynamic psychotherapy is rooted in the understanding that psychological symptoms arise, at least in part, from unconscious conflicts, unresolved early experiences, and relational patterns that repeat across a person's life. Rather than targeting specific symptoms directly, psychodynamic therapy works at the level of underlying structure — examining the patterns, defenses, and relational dynamics that generate symptoms across multiple domains.
Psychodynamic therapy is particularly well-suited for patients with chronic or recurrent depression, anxiety that has not responded fully to symptom-focused approaches, personality pathology, relational difficulties, and those seeking a deeper understanding of themselves rather than symptom relief alone. It tends to be longer-term, though shorter-term psychodynamic approaches exist and are practiced at Wave.
Our psychiatrists' psychodynamic training includes completion of formal psychoanalytic psychotherapy programs post-residency at psychoanalytic institutes here in Los Angeles.
Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP)
ISTDP is a highly structured, evidence-based form of psychodynamic therapy developed by Habib Davanloo. It works by systematically identifying and working through the anxiety and defenses that block access to underlying emotions and to genuine therapeutic change. Unlike traditional psychodynamic therapy, ISTDP is explicitly focused on producing rapid, measurable change — often within a compressed treatment frame.
ISTDP has a substantial evidence base for depression, anxiety disorders, somatic symptoms, and personality disorders. It is particularly effective for patients who have had limited response to other treatments, including medication, and for those whose difficulties are rooted in long-standing characterological patterns rather than acute situational stress.
ISTDP requires rigorous training and ongoing supervision. Dr. Lyu has completed dedicated ISTDP core training as well as advanced training, and incorporates it into his clinical practice at Wave.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is among the most extensively researched psychotherapeutic approaches in existence. It operates on the premise that distorted or unhelpful patterns of thinking drive emotional distress and maladaptive behavior, and that identifying and restructuring those patterns produces symptom relief. CBT is structured, present-focused, and typically time-limited.
The evidence base for CBT spans virtually every major psychiatric condition: major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety, OCD, PTSD, insomnia, eating disorders, and more. For many of these conditions, CBT is considered a first-line treatment alongside or in place of medication.
At Wave, CBT is offered as an adjunct to medication management, and as a component of integrated treatment combining multiple modalities. We are also well-connected to expert CBT psychotherapists here in Los Angeles that we can refer you to as well.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Internal Family Systems is a model of psychotherapy developed by Richard Schwartz that conceptualizes the mind as comprised of distinct sub-personalities or "parts," each carrying its own perspectives, emotions, and agendas. Symptoms arise when parts take on extreme roles in response to painful experiences — often in an attempt to protect the individual from deeper emotional pain. The therapeutic work involves developing a relationship with these parts from a place of curiosity and compassion, ultimately facilitating healing of the underlying wounds they protect.
IFS has a growing evidence base and is particularly well-suited for trauma, anxiety, depression, and patients who find more structured or directive approaches feel invalidating or insufficient. It is also used effectively as a complement to other modalities. Dr. Lyu and Dr. Schneider have both completed official level 1 training with the IFS Institute.
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
Interpersonal Psychotherapy is a time-limited, structured psychotherapy that focuses on improving interpersonal functioning and resolving interpersonal problems as a means of reducing psychiatric symptoms. IPT operates from the premise that psychiatric symptoms — particularly depression — arise and are maintained in an interpersonal context, and that improving the quality of relationships and social functioning produces meaningful and durable symptomatic improvement.
IPT has a strong evidence base for major depression, perinatal depression, eating disorders, and bipolar disorder. It is particularly well-suited for patients whose depressive episodes are clearly linked to grief, role transitions, role disputes, or interpersonal deficits.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
Accelerated Resolution Therapy is a relatively newer evidence-based psychotherapy that uses eye movements — similar in mechanism to EMDR — alongside imagery rescripting and other techniques to rapidly process and reframe distressing memories and sensations. ART is structured and typically brief, often producing meaningful symptom relief within one to five sessions for targeted traumatic memories or distressing experiences.
ART is used at Wave primarily for trauma and PTSD, acute stress responses, phobias, and distressing somatic experiences. Its brevity makes it a useful adjunct to longer-term therapeutic work or to medication management for patients who want targeted processing of specific memories without committing to an extended therapy course.
Prolonged Exposure (PE)
Prolonged Exposure is a highly structured, evidence-based protocol developed specifically for the treatment of PTSD. It works through two primary mechanisms: imaginal exposure, in which the patient revisits the traumatic memory in a controlled therapeutic context, and in vivo exposure, in which the patient gradually approaches trauma-related situations, people, or places that have been avoided. Through repeated exposure without the feared consequence, the trauma loses its capacity to generate overwhelming fear and avoidance.
PE has the strongest evidence base of any psychological treatment for PTSD. It is a first-line recommendation in clinical guidelines from the VA, the Department of Defense, and the American Psychological Association.
Integrated treatment — therapy and medication management with one psychiatrist
For patients who want psychotherapy and medication management with the same clinician, Wave offers fully integrated psychiatric treatment. Your psychiatrist manages both, within a single ongoing relationship, with a unified treatment plan. There is no coordination gap, no split chart, no "my psychiatrist says one thing and my therapist says another."
This model is not available everywhere. It requires psychiatrists who have invested significantly in psychotherapy training beyond residency.
When we refer
Our psychiatrists' schedules have finite capacity for psychotherapy, and we are committed to being direct with patients about availability. When our psychotherapy slots are full, or when a patient's therapeutic needs are better served by a specialized therapist — such as a dedicated couples therapist, a therapist specializing in eating disorders, or a therapist providing a higher frequency of sessions than our schedule permits — we refer. We maintain a trusted network of experienced psychotherapists across the Los Angeles area and work to match patients to the right fit.
Insurance and fees
Wave Psychiatric Group accepts Aetna, Optum / UnitedHealthcare Behavioral Health, Meritain Health, Oxford Health Plans, ComPsych, UC SHIP, and others for diagnostic assessment appointments. Self-pay rates are also available.
Call us at 323-688-6380 or complete our intake form and our team will verify your benefits before your first appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is seeing a psychiatrist for therapy different from seeing a psychologist or licensed therapist?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor with specialized training in psychiatry. When a psychiatrist provides psychotherapy, they bring a medical and biological understanding of mental illness to the therapeutic work — including the ability to prescribe and manage medications within the same treatment relationship. For patients who need or may need medication alongside therapy, working with a psychiatrist who is trained in both eliminates the coordination challenges of the split model.
How do I know which type of therapy is right for me?
You do not need to know before your first appointment. Your psychiatrist will conduct a thorough diagnostic evaluation and discuss the therapeutic approaches most supported by evidence for your specific presentation, as well as your own preferences and goals for treatment. The right modality is a clinical and collaborative decision — not something you are expected to arrive with.
How long does therapy typically last?
Duration depends on the modality, the condition, and the individual. CBT, IPT, PE, and ART are structured, time-limited approaches that typically run 8 to 20 sessions for a defined presenting problem. Psychodynamic therapy and IFS tend to be longer-term, particularly for patients with complex histories or characterological presentations. Your psychiatrist will discuss expected duration at the outset of treatment and revisit it as your work progresses.
Do you offer therapy via telehealth?
Yes. Psychotherapy sessions are available via secure telehealth video for patients anywhere in California. Most therapeutic modalities translate well to the video format, and many patients find the accessibility of telehealth reduces barriers to consistent attendance — which is itself a meaningful contributor to therapeutic outcomes.