local storiesOctober 14, 2025

Life & Work with John Elliott of Los Angeles

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to John Elliott.

Hi John, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
John Foster Elliott began his career in psychology at age twenty-one, founding the first crisis intervention and drug-counseling center at Pennsylvania State University. He worked with Dr Steven Danish and others in utilizing Rogerian techniques for paraprofessionals and presented his first paper for the APA at age 22. John graduated cum laude in 1974, receiving the Eric Walker Award for “the most outstanding character, leadership and citizenship” among the senior graduating class. He went on to Los Angeles and established several other non-profit mental health programs for the poor and disadvantaged. Both the Los Angeles City Council and the California State Assembly officially commended John for his work in the field of substance abuse. He also studied Gestalt and NeoReichian therapy for five years with Eric Marcus, MD, one of the founders of the Gestalt Institute of Los Angeles. His other clinical interests included the study of unconscious imagery, metaphor and Ericksonian hypnotherapy. He has a keen interest in collaborative therapy and has written a piece for Barry Duncan in Heroic Clients, Heroic Agencies, a manual for client-directed outcome informed therapy.
John received his Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology in 1981 at International College and was licensed by the State of California as a Marriage and Family Therapist in 1982.
He has been a consultant for government and private agencies across the country, including:
the National Free Clinic Council, Los Angeles County Health Dept, Lutheran Social Services, LEAA, California BBSE Orals Commission, LAPD, LA Drug Abuse Task Force, Impact House, CRI-Help, Pasadena HS Peer Counseling, Old Time Steelworkers Fund, Project Heavy, the California State Assembly and a variety of film production companies in Hollywood.
In his spare time John practices meditation, is a performing singer-songwriter and a writer. He currently works with Titan Studios in Sherman Oaks, Ca.
John’s book “Directions in Life for the Occasionally Confused” was released in Nov of 2004. John has also hosted “Shrinking Outside the Box” for 97.1 FM Talk Radio in Los Angeles, as well as appearing on numerous syndicated talk shows.
John’s most recent book “The Paradox Bridge”was published in March of 2025,
And is on Amazon…
His YouTube, Channel Post Trump-matic Stress Recovery premiered in July of 2025.
He has been happily married 43 years to his wife Beth, a classical musician.
And yes, -they make beautiful music together.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Struggles along the way…
Founded my first crisis intervention center at State College Pennsylvania at age 20. Had to appear before the Governor’s
Justice commission for the initial grant approval when I was in jail in Washington DC Mayday 1972 protesting the Vietnam War. Barely made it back in time…(Nobody kept their wallets. The FBI has me registered as Pluto from Uranus. And now I hate baloney sandwiches which is all we were fed for three days. )
One of my first jobs was Executive Director of the Do It Now Foundation in Hollywood 1976. First day at work two counselors
were arrested for six ounces of heroin and a sub-machine gun. The Board of Directors hired them back after I fired them.
I secretly wrote another grant for Echo Park and they were going to fire me at a special board meeting, but I had about 150
people show up including city councilmen, state assembly reps and community leaders.
-Good thing my first degree was in community development.
We developed a sterling reputation at Sunrise community and opened two residential treatment centers for alcoholic and
drug dependent teens, 13-18 in Compton and Korea town. After 5 years we were promised a cost of living increase by the
National Institute of Drug Abuse. I convinced our local bank president to front us the money that we were going to get. The state reneged on the cost of living increase, and I resigned. However, the Board wanted me to stay on as Clinical director, so I went to graduate school. to get my Masters in Clinical Psychology. I did so and received my degree and license in 1981-1982.. I also received a divorce.( Going to school full time and having a full time job and doing crisis management was not helpful for my relationship.)
Plus on the side, I was a singer songwriter, and that career was floating like a leaf in the wind. -Until I met my current wife of 43 years and a producer discovered me. I got to record with musicians from Van Morrison, Journey, Suicidal Tendencies,
and so on. The album went nowhere, -not enough wind to even blow the leaf.
Around that time my father and my wife’s father died in the same week when we were on vacation.
My first book Directions in Life for the Occasionally Confused was accepted in 2002 The publisher went bankrupt in 2003 and a got some rinky-dinky company to publish it in 2004. Finally got the rights back.
Also, have a new book out on Amazon as well as a YouTube channel -Post Trump-matic Stress Recovery
-I died twice, the first from a botched hernia surgery, and them fro a heart attack three years ago,, after I got Covid.
I’ve been meditating since I was 18, I have a wife and family that love and respect me and I love what I do.
For the most part, I also like and respect who I am.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Psychotherapy Individual, Family and Couples & Consulting Psychotherapy

Mindfulness-Empathy-Authenticity

Hope-…and a little Care-frontation

What you want to change about yourself is up to you. I will support this process in any way I can that truly empowers you. First and foremost I believe all therapists need to have empathy. But we need to remember that empathy, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. For some of you that will mean just listening with respect. For others it will mean being direct, even if it hurts to hear it. For others it will mean guiding you to form your own conclusions and resolution.
I am a writer, a singer-songwriter and work with many creative people.
Yet, I also keep up on the science and research for what helps people change.
On Individual Growth

It’s not about making the right decision;

It’s about making your decisions right.

The real choice isn’t between being right or wrong; it’s between being right and

effective.

And, sometimes both if you’re lucky.

You can’t walk away until you are walking towards…

The first part of change is embracing exactly who you are. Only then can we embrace who we can become.

All crap is also fertilizer and all problems may also be solutions. (That’s why it’s hard to get rid of them.) At our best we make a garden.

Then again , -there’s always carpet cleaner…

I work on changing patterns, -not pathology.
Relationships

Love does not conquer all. It’s not all-powerful. Just because you are Rembrandt, -one of the greatest artists off all time doesn’t mean those that are blind will see your paintings. Love is simply the most important thing. Respect and trust are equally important.

(So is finding a bathroom when you really, really need it.)

It’s all relative, as everyone is someone’s son or daughter or mother or father or brother or sister or wife or husband or uncle or aunt or grandparent or cousin or….

We need to connect and belong without compromising our integrity and autonomy. I’ll do my best to show you how as a couple; as a family, as a friend.
Freedom of Heart and Security of Mind

The heart has reasons reason knows nothing about. The heart gives us passion and motivation and the power to change. This can be freedom. The mind can help us establish the stability we also sorely need in our lives. We need to be open to the light and shadow within us to empower both. Security without freedom ultimately creates stasis. Freedom without security ultimately creates chaos.

I will do my best to help you find the balance that may be lacking in your life.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Different Human Being Traits I Practice

• Compassion without pity.
• Pride without arrogance.
• Humility for its own sake.

• Adaptiveness without placation.

• Honesty without righteousness.

• Humor without depreciation.
(okay -sometimes if we can laugh with each other)

• Knowledge without idealization of said
knowledge.

• The ability to both follow and lead.

• A healthy disrespect for unnecessary pain,
martyrdom, and tyranny.

• A healthy respect for the intent behind behavior.

• A genuine liking of human beings.

• A genuine liking of oneself.
• The ability to hold a position that maintains
integrity and to let go of one that simply maintains ego.
• A capability to accept and admit to confusion
and limitations.
• An equal capability to embrace certainty
and strength.
• Openness, receptivity, and a natural warmth.

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