Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Jesse Spiegel.
Hi Dr. Spiegel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In reality, I was introduced to the life of a psychologist as a child. My Mom is a psychologist working in Bethesda, MD. While I did not initially think I would follow in her path, I often admired the various ways she has been able to make a serious positive change in people’s lives who have been suffering. Despite my admiration for my mother, I wanted to forge my own path and I ended up completing my undergraduate degree at the University of Maryland studying government and politics. After an initial job in the legal industry, I realized that I was looking for work that was more personal, direct and the opportunity to make a transformative change in the life of others. Lo and behold, I decided to take a leap and do a career change as I completed my doctorate in clinical psychology (PsyD) at Widener University in Philadelphia, PA.
After finishing my subsequent fellowship in New York City, I moved to Los Angeles. Shortly after I arrived, I ended up training and working with my mentor, Dr. Sarah Haider. Dr. Haider provided me with fundamental training on utilizing exposure therapy in treating OCD and anxiety. I also obtained advanced training with the International OCD Foundation and ended up working alongside many experts in my field, which cemented my interest in treating OCD and anxiety disorders.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have definitely been some struggles! For starters, I was diagnosed with a learning disability at a young age. This led to a personal experience in which I had to study harder than many of my peers in order to accomplish the same goals. This was especially challenging when completing my graduate studies and being with some high-achieving students.
Additionally, I am from the East Coast and I always imagined that I would be living in New York. After I completed my fellowship in New York City, I struggled to find the right work opportunity as a newly licensed psychologist. This led to me pivoting and taking a job that brought me all the way out to Los Angeles. While I did not ever expect to make such a move, I feel grateful as it led to me training with some amazing experts in my field. As a major added bonus, I ended up meeting my wife while out here in LA!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I work in private practice treating children, adolescents, and adults in the Westwood area of Los Angeles. I meet with clients both in-person and virtually. I specialize in treating OCD, anxiety disorders, and insomnia. I also am a clinical instructor at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine’s Psychiatry Department.
My clinical work can often differ from traditional therapy through its use of exposure-based interventions. This work involves people directly facing their fears in order to have sustained improvement. For example, an adult client with a life-long driving phobia may spend sessions with me driving their car on the left lane of the freeway. Likewise, a child client with contamination-related obsessions could spend their appointments touching dirty objects. The work can be challenging, but clients are often able to see tremendous, sustained growth!
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
My favorite part about Los Angeles is absolutely the weather! Growing up on the East Coast, I am used to seasons and the cold. I ended up moving to Los Angeles in December 2017. I remember going out for a run in my first month here, which coincided with the beginning of winter. The weather was in the 60s and beautiful. It also felt like a major juxtaposition to me when I heard people complaining about it being too cold!
The most concerning part of the city to me is the homelessness situation. It has gotten dramatically worse in the five years that I have been living in Los Angeles and it often feels very difficult to resolve.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.drjessespiegel.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drjessespiegel/
