David Haynik

My name is David Haynik. I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the State of California (Lic. No. 86555). I provide both in-person and telehealth psychotherapy, with an office located at 7211 Santa Monica Blvd in West Hollywood. At the core of my work is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT is a values-based, evidence-supported approach that focuses less on eliminating uncomfortable thoughts or emotions and more on changing our relationship with them. From an ACT perspective, emotions are not a problem to be fixed—they are a natural part of being human. Much of our suffering comes from how tightly we become fused with our private psychological experiences, allowing thoughts and feelings to define who we are or dictate what we do. Through ACT, we work to cultivate psychological flexibility—the ability to be present with our internal experience while choosing actions guided by what truly matters to us. Rather than focusing on what we cannot control, ACT emphasizes what is within our influence: the here, the now, and how we respond. The model works through six interconnected processes: emotional flexibility, cognitive flexibility, attentional flexibility, flexible perspective-taking, values or chosen purpose, and committed action (behavioral flexibility). ACT is often described as a “third-wave” cognitive behavioral therapy and is grounded in behaviorism, functional contextualism, and relational frame theory. It is supported by a large and growing body of research, including randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses, demonstrating effectiveness across a wide range of concerns such as depression, anxiety, substance use, chronic pain, trauma, and stress. ACT has been shown to be comparable in efficacy to traditional cognitive behavioral therapy, with particular strength as a transdiagnostic approach and evidence for durable outcomes over time. In addition to ACT, I integrate insights from attachment theory, feminism, Buddhism, and psychodynamic therapy. These influences help me provide a warm, flexible, and reflective space where clients can explore life’s challenges with curiosity rather than judgment. I also believe transparency matters in therapy. While professional boundaries are important, I tend to share parts of myself that clients will likely come to know anyway. I’m a white, gay/queer, cisgender man and I use he/him/his pronouns. I live and work in West Hollywood and am originally from Cleveland, Ohio, where I completed both my undergraduate and graduate degrees in social work at Cleveland State University. I began my social work career working in HIV/AIDS services and later moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, where I lived from 2004 to 2015. During that time, I worked at a small, community-based mental health organization in a range of roles—from psychotherapist to Vice President. I later spent four years in New York City, primarily in nonprofit leadership positions, before moving to Los Angeles in 2019, where I hope to stay. On a more personal note, my partner and I share our home with a small dog named Pearl, a miniature Australian Shepherd who somehow ended up even smaller than advertised. One of my main hobbies is maintaining a saltwater aquarium—a 65-gallon ecosystem filled with coral, fish, and various invertebrates. If you’re ever looking to practice avoidance of difficult therapeutic work, asking me about my aquarium is a reliable strategy; I can talk about it at length. I also enjoy crocheting, running, and working out. Despite living in Los Angeles, I am not particularly well-versed in movies, television, or pop culture. If you reference a quote or actor I don’t recognize, I’ll likely ask with genuine curiosity or just nod and smile. I try not to overly focus on pathology, though I recognize that many people are accustomed to identifying themselves through diagnostic labels. I most often work with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, trauma and post-traumatic stress, stress, relationship challenges, questions related to gender identity and sexual orientation, and the many difficulties that arise in everyday life. I generally keep standard business hours and work with clients who are interested in developing a more flexible relationship with their internal experiences in the service of living a meaningful, values-guided life.