David S. Gordon, Ph.D.
Dr. David Gordon is a clinical psychologist who has been in private practice for over thirty years working with individuals of all ages, couples, families and groups. Dr. Gordon received his B.A. in psychology from the University of California, Berkeley and his doctorate from the University of California, Los Angeles where his research focus included the biological-psychosocial factors contributing to mood disorders and the understanding of Attention Deficit Disorder and its treatment.
Dr. Gordon's graduate training primarily focused cognitive-behavioral approaches to therapy, but recognizing the value of more comprehensive training, he pursued additional coursework and mentorship in psychodynamic theory and techniques. In addition, he received extensive training in clinical hypnosis from Jean Holroyd, Ph.D. and Michael Diamond, Ph.D. at the UCLA-Neuropsychiatric Institute, and independently from Bernhauer Newton, Ph.D. and Jan Berlin, Ph.D.. He was trained in guided imagery techniques from Marielle Fuller, a pioneer in the area of guided imagery for dynamic exploration. When Ms. Fuller retired from her work at the Neuropsychiatric Institute in 1990, Dr. Gordon took over as faculty in charge of her guided imagery seminar for psychiatry residents, psychology interns and community psychotherapists. In addition over the past twenty years he served as clinical teaching faculty for the Southern California Society of Clinical Hypnosis and has facilitated workshops for the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis.
For several years, Dr. Gordon applied his clinical training to the field of litigation consulting. Together with his colleague, Carol Jaenicke, J.D., Ph.D., he co-founded the firm of Janice and Gordon, specializing in facilitating focus groups, case preparation, witness preparation, and selecting and working with juries.
Over the years, Dr. Gordon has developed an interest in the dynamic relationship between the mind and body, and the psycho-neurobiological processes involved in the body's ability to self-regulate, including the relationship between emotion/cognitive states and autoimmune processes. He has special interest in the use of clinical hypnosis as a vehicle for facilitating clients' greater empowerment and active engagement in their own healing processes.
Dr. Gordon always has valued giving back to the clinical community and the larger public community as well. For many years he served on the board of the Los Angeles Society of Clinical Psychologists, including as its President. In addition, he served for many years as teaching faculty for the Southern California Society for Clinical Hypnosis until it suspended its activities. Furthermore, over the past several years Dr. Gordon has served as an associate clinical faculty member for the UCLA Pediatric Pain and Palliative Care Program in the School of Medicine, consulting on clinical cases and working with child patients and their families with respect to psychotherapy and clinical hypnosis.
His friendship as well as professional association with Cynthia Costas Cohen, M.F.T. has lead to the creation of their book, The Glass Enclosure: Psychodynamic Exploration Through Guide Imagery, published by Zeig, Tucker and Theisen (2017).