Dr. Steven Blakely , CA Psychologist 20483

Dr. Steven Blakely is a licensed psychologist with a doctoral degree in psychology from the California Graduate Institute in Westwood, California. He also holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, and maintains certificates in behavioral medicine and hypnotherapy, reflecting additional training in those areas.

His career has included direct work with inpatient psychiatric populations in mental hospitals for six years, extensive experience conducting psychological and educational testing of children, adolescents, and adults for twelve years, and twelve years serving older adults in skilled nursing and assisted living settings, where depression, anxiety, worry, and grief were common clinical concerns. Across these roles he developed a broad familiarity with mood disorders, trauma, addiction, sleep difficulties, ADHD, grief, parenting issues, anger, bipolar conditions, and coping with life changes.

Dr. Blakely emphasizes acceptance, mindfulness, meditation, and inquiry work as core elements of treatment, and he has created structured therapy homework to help people manage mood and quiet the mind. He approaches care as an ongoing seeker of knowledge, committed to refining skills and supporting patients in cultivating present-moment awareness, acceptance, and nonjudgment as pathways toward greater mood stability.

Evidence-based approaches and online care

Dr. Blakely practices Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which focuses on helping people clarify their values and take committed action while learning to accept difficult thoughts and feelings rather than fighting them. He also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a structured approach that identifies unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and teaches practical skills to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and mood dysregulation. In addition, he integrates hypnotherapy techniques learned through formal certification to support relaxation, focused attention, and habit change when appropriate.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Dr. Blakely works with each person to identify goals, preferences, and daily challenges, and then tailors a plan that may combine methods over time to find the best fit for the client’s needs.

Online therapy offers flexibility and accessibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit care into a busy life, maintain continuity between sessions, and use tools and homework assignments in real time. Licensed professionals and therapists can adapt these formats to support progress across a wide range of concerns while working collaboratively with the client.