In a perfect world, going to therapy and getting mental health help shouldn't raise any eyebrows, especially given the many recent heartbreaking headlines surrounding lack of awareness and resources. A new Downtown L.A. wellness center aims to break all of that stigma by turning the traditional treatment model on its head.
Enter Therapy Lab, a science-based, HIPAA-compliant mental wellness haven that opened at the end of June near DTLA's Financial District. Founded by USC adjust faculty member and clinical psychologist Dr. Chandler Chang (who's also behind Golden Hour Therapy), the space "offers time-limited therapy treatments designed to address clients' needs and goals within a recommended number of sessions."
Here's how it works: In order to give patients more control and guidance, all booking, intake, and billing are done online, while therapy is categorized under Life, Body, and Emotions treatments. Science-based psychology methods include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and exposure/response prevention, to name a few, and services range from $125 to $200.
The Life category focuses on relationships, dating, mindful living, and (millennials, listen up) even adulting, while Body focuses on issues like insomnia and breaking unwanted habits and dependencies. Emotions hone in on depression, anxiety, and more, and treatments for that category even includes virtual reality-powered therapy to help patients face fears such as public speaking.
Even Therapy Lab's relaxation-ready waiting room does things differently. The welcoming communal space swaps the usual generic plastic seating and beige walls for comfy upholstered and rattan chairs, chic wallpaper, a meditation area, and sparkling water on tap.
In a release, Chang explains: "Therapy Lab's practice is primarily based on the Unified Protocol — a sequential, time-limited approach that leverages the 'greatest hits' of evidence-based treatments. [It's] designed for the client who wants a playbook for behavior change and emotion regulation. We seek to educate our clients, help them cultivate positive habits, and create long-term strategies to enhance their lives."
Into it? Learn more and book your next mental self-care session online here.
Therapy Lab, 1127 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1218, L.A., 90017; (323) 455-8080
