Today we’d like to introduce you to Troy Gabrielson.
Hi Troy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am from L.A. and have spent much of my adult life here. I studied psychology in college and loved these classes, but for a while, I considered working as an organizer or in other fields that required fluency in Spanish. I was serious enough about this that I wrote my undergraduate thesis on migrant farm work and mental health, and I spent some time in Central America in my twenties.
Eventually, it became clear to me that therapy was my passion, so after attending UCLA for graduate school and becoming licensed as a clinical social worker (LCSW) I worked in a number of programs as a therapist and supervising therapists. At the beginning of the pandemic I started working online with people in tech and found that virtual sessions are surprisingly personal and effective.
I knew I wanted to be my own boss and have full autonomy in my clinical decision-making. In 2024, I started my private practice and have been doing that full-time since 2025.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
For the first five years after graduate school I was a social worker in nonprofit clinics. The populations that these programs serve have immense needs; many clients experience what the field calls tri-morbid issues – mental health, substance use, and medical. There is a substantial need for specialized support, but this is not my calling. It took me a while to understand my burnout and accept that I needed to pivot.
In starting my private practice I realized that therapists don’t realize that starting a practice means starting a business. I now understand that doing so is complicated, hard, and very time-intensive. For a while, I tenuously tried to balance putting in enough hours without running myself into the ground. I was also running my practice while maintaining my day job, which was intense. It’s better for my clients and for me that I can now devote myself completely to my practice.
I talk with clients all the time about dealing with uncertainty, and my experience in the last year has provided my own opportunity to face that. Developing my practice has also been a lot of fun. I’ve learned a lot.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My practice is Troy Gabrielson, LCSW. I work with people who are experiencing OCD, anxiety disorders (like phobias and panic attacks), and insomnia. I also support new dads in adjusting to the pregnancy and postpartum period.
I love this work. It means so much to me to be able to spend my days in conversation with people. Therapy is a human relationship, so therapists bring themselves into the room. Clients experience my inquisitiveness, my curiosity, and my compassion. I always try to lead with kindness but also deploy an irreverence and directness when the relationship calls for that and I sense a client will respond well to those qualities. I’ve found that this blend of warmth and candor can help clients feel both supported and challenged in ways that foster lasting change.
I’m also committed to following the research evidence on what works in therapy. Notably, working from the evidence means incorporating the information that’s right in front of me, too. If a client doesn’t respond well to an approach, we’ll trouble-shoot it. If things still aren’t improving, we might look at alternatives.
As an example, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is considered the frontline treatment for OCD, but we know that a portion of clients will drop out of care or won’t find it helpful. If I see a risk of either of these things happening with a client I’ll talk with them about getting out ahead of this. If they’re still not responding to the treatment, I might recommend a referral. Following the evidence means being flexible with our methods.
It’s a point of pride for me to be steeped in the research literature on these issues but also be able to adapt care to suit individual clients’ needs. I’ve had many tell me that prior sessions were too rigid or didn’t respond to their preferences. How can we expect people to get better if we’re not listening to them? That’s where I strive to stand out.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I’ve been very motivated by a dogged commitment to success. I used to be a bit of a NASA nerd and particularly resonate with the idea loosely credited to Apollo program flight director Gene Kranz that failure is not an option. Paradoxically, I’m also willing to fail. I constantly remind myself that in order to build something great I have to be willing to put myself out there, take risks, and do things that scare me. This draws directly from the same anxiety playbook that I use with clients.
The other side of this commitment is an understanding that success demands a lot of work. I’m inspired by the stories of actors, comedians, and entrepreneurs for their willingness to try again and again without a guarantee of success, and often, with a track record of many failures. I find that attitude beautiful and really encouraging.
Pricing:
- $200 for individual sessions
Contact Info:
- Website: https://troygabrielsonlcsw.com
Image Credits
Marina Babigian, Bee Street Studio
