Reza Nabavi, PhD
Founder & Executive Clinical Director
Dr. Reza Nabavi is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and the Founder and Executive Clinical Director of Resolutions Therapeutic Services in Santa Monica, California. With over 20 years of clinical experience, Dr. Reza specializes in working with individuals and families navigating substance use disorders, process addictions, mood and anxiety disorders, men’s issues, interpersonal challenges, and co-occurring conditions.
Grounded in psychodynamic training, Dr. Reza practices an integrative and evidence-based approach at his clinic that include modalities such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Somatic Experiencing (SE), Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Havening, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and The Daring Way™. His approach weaves together humanistic, family systems, and mindfulness-based cognitive-behavioral therapies to create an individualized path toward healing and growth.
Known for his warm, empathic, and direct style, Dr. Reza helps clients develop insight while emphasizing strengths-based, practical strategies that lead to lasting change. He believes in empowering individuals by teaching tangible coping skills that foster self-efficacy and resilience. This philosophy underpins the intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) he developed at Resolutions Therapeutic Services, which emphasize actionable tools and real-world application for sustainable recovery.
Dr. Reza earned his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Social Behavior from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and his Master’s and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) in San Francisco—the nation’s first professional school of psychology. He co-authored the Masculinity Attitudes, Stress, and Conformity (MASC) Questionnaire, a research instrument exploring men’s attitudes toward traditional masculine norms and the stress associated with gender role conflict. His expertise in the psychology of men is reflected in the two men’s groups he leads—one focused on relationships and healthy sexuality, and another on mindfulness-based relapse prevention for men in early recovery.
Dr. Reza completed APA-accredited postdoctoral training and is a certified domestic violence and abuse counselor. His extensive background includes work in community mental health agencies, residential treatment centers, domestic violence shelters, schools, and both inpatient and outpatient settings. As an authorized provider for the treatment of problem and pathological gambling, certified through the UCLA Office of Problem Gambling, he brings specialized expertise in the treatment of addictive behaviors to his clinical work.
Throughout his career, Dr. Reza has served in leadership and clinical roles at world-renowned residential treatment centers in Malibu and West Los Angeles, where he has treated individuals seeking recovery from both primary mental health issues and addiction. He has had the privilege of working with high-achieving individuals, including executives, medical professionals, attorneys, entertainers, and athletes. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Reza has taught doctoral-level courses on topics such as Psychology of Men and Masculinity, Theories of Personality, Substance Abuse Assessment and Treatment, Group Process, and Child Abuse.
At the core of his philosophy, Dr. Reza embraces an “East meets West” approach, combining the rigor of Western psychological science and evidence-based treatment with the mindfulness, balance, and holistic wellness principles of Eastern traditions. For clients interested in integrative and whole-body healing, Dr. Reza incorporates elements such as mindfulness, yoga, breathwork, movement, and fitness-based wellness practices to support harmony of the mind, body, and spirit. This approach reflects his belief that emotional health, physical wellness, and spiritual balance are deeply interconnected—and that lasting healing involves nurturing the whole person.
Since founding Resolutions Therapeutic Services, Dr. Reza has been dedicated to building a team of exceptional clinicians and developing one of the most comprehensive, DBT-informed, trauma-focused, and evidence-based intensive outpatient programs in the greater Los Angeles area. His ongoing commitment to excellence, compassion, and integrative wellness continues to guide his mission: helping individuals and families achieve lasting resolution, balance, and meaningful transformation.