Max
Bird-Ridnell.

Training & practice

Max Bird-Ridnell is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Los Angeles.

I have been working in treatment for over 15 years, and I trained in Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy with Allan Abbass, Jon Frederickson, and John Rathauser.

I am Clinical Director of Stairway Resource Center, an intensive outpatient addiction program. My work draws on experience with the 12 Steps and Edward Khantzian’s self-medication theory. In my approach, alcohol or drug use can be a way of managing painful feelings. Therapy explores those feelings and the role substances have played in coping with them.

Teaching & perspective

As adjunct faculty at Pacifica Graduate Institute, I teach addiction, clinical practice, and short-term dynamic psychotherapy.

I am licensed in California. I work in person and via Zoom.

Training & supervision

I also offer training and supervision to other clinicians.