GABRIEL DURKIN, MSW
Mindfulness and Inquiry Based Therapy
ABOUT ME
My desire to become a psychotherapist has come from observing my mind through mindfulness meditation. Noticing the cause and effect between thoughts and emotions has inspired me to study cognitive-behavioral therapy and different ways of questioning stressful thoughts.
I have had a daily mindfulness meditation practice since 2011, trained as a Buddhist monk in Burma, and spent two and a half years living at Buddhist monasteries. I have had the privilege to teach mindfulness in various settings, including a hospital, public high school, prison, and community mental health center. These experiences have shaped the way I approach mental health and investigate the source of suffering.
I am an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW # 89595) and work under the supervision of Zack Oldenburg (LCSW # 65362). I hold a Master of Social Work degree from USC and B.A. in psychology and art history from NYU. For my graduate school internships I was a psychotherapist trainee at The Relational Center and an interfaith chaplain at Cedars Sinai Hospital.
THERAPEUTIC APPROACH
Mindfulness and Inquiry for Depression and Anxiety
Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment in a non-judgmental way. Sometimes noticing and being with what is present with warm and compassionate attention will be the right medicine. Other times, it will be useful to identify and question your stressful thoughts. This is called inquiry. Through this gentle inquiry process you will have the chance to one by one explore the validity of the thought, the effects of believing the thought, experience who you would be without the thought, and consider how opposite thoughts could be as true, if not more true, than the original thought. This process is known as Inquiry Based Stress Reduction or "The Work of Byron Katie."
Topics we may explore include, but are not limited to, negative self-talk, body image, gender, trauma, relationships, family conflict, prejudice, fear of death, money, illness, and work. There is no thought too dark and no experience too intense to be shared with me. I give you permission to show up with your full humanity—with your joy and sorrow, love and anger.
INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY THERAPY
$150 for 50-minute session. Therapy will be conducted through Zoom or phone during this pandemic.
I offer reduced fee spots for individuals who cannot afford my standard rate. I am not contracted with any insurance companies, however if your insurance covers out-of-network services, I can provide you with a superbill for reimbursement. Fees are due at the time the session is held. Please give me at least a 24-hour notice if you need to cancel an appointment. Otherwise, you will be charged at the full-rate.