Thom Keenan-Hunt Psychotherapy

Bio

Being a psychotherapist is a second career for me. Prior to my work as a therapist, I worked in the entertainment industry as an actor on stage, in television, and film, as well as behind the scenes in production. Of course, that means I was a waiter and bartender as well!

In 2008, I experienced a career shift and entered the recovery industry, working for the next two years as an office manager and substance abuse counselor at Frank's House, a residential treatment center in the Silverlake area of Los Angeles. In 2010, I received my certification as a Drug & Alcohol Counselor from Los Angeles City College’s Human Services program.

Following that, I enjoyed a nearly seven-year career at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, serving in various capacities as a volunteer, an intern and an employee under the Center’s Mental Health Services department.

As the Outreach Specialist of the LGBT Center's Addiction Recovery Services, I conducted outreach efforts throughout L.A. County and on social media, saw individual and group clients as an addictions counselor, and co-facilitated weekly addiction education and relapse prevention groups for the Center’s Intensive Outpatient Program. A highlight for me was providing harm reduction groups for the Center’s annex, The Youth Center On Highland, working with homeless LGBTQ youth. Finally, my career at the Center culminated as an MFT trainee, where I completed my clinical internship in 2016.

I opened my private practice in May 2019. I also worked for a year at CAST Centers in West Hollywood from 2020 through 2021 at the height of the pandemic, as well as joining Antioch University Counseling Center's School-Based Program to work with high school-aged teens.

I received my Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles in 2016, and in May 2022 I became a fully licensed MFT.

About Me

My Aproach

My Approach

We often feel stuck in patterns that no longer work, whether in relationships, jobs, or even problem narratives about ourselves we’ve become entrenched in. These unhealthy thoughts, feelings, behaviors and attachments can lead to ineffective coping mechanisms such as anxiety, depression or addiction. But how do you break these patterns? Having someone who listens, aligns with your needs, and who is trained in uncovering stressors and seeking solutions can be powerful. Therapy can help you identify these limitations and begin a transformative and empowering experience for you.

I work with individuals and couples, specializing in gay male/LGBTQ populations. Utilizing psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, narrative, family systems, and attachment theories, I consider unconscious processes, formative events and early attachments, and connect how they continue to influence your feelings, behaviors and relationships. I also consider the impact of growing up queer in a heteronormative culture, as well as how the intersection of multiple identities (sexual, gender, culture, racial, etc.) may continue to affect our current thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

We can also re-write problem stories and beliefs about yourself instead of critical and judgmental negative self-views and stories we sometimes cling to because they are familiar but no longer serve you, and may even continue to hinder your growth.

My approach is an easy-going collaboration with you designed to shift ineffective patterns, in a safe and affirmative environment. Rather than tell you what you want to hear, I want to investigate things you perhaps aren’t seeing and help empower you in finding answers that feel right. Please reach out and contact me for a free consultation.

Services

I provide a broad range of services to individuals and couples, specializing in addiction recovery, HIV-positive clients, gay-identified men, and the greater LGBTQ community. Some of the areas I treat include:

Gay men's issues such as substance abuse and addiction, HIV/AIDS, sex and sexuality, relationships, and aging.
LGBT Issues, including coming out, homophobia, and living in a heteronormative culture.
Addiction and recovery, from contemplation to harm reduction and abstinence-based models.
Gender identities and expressions; non-binary and intersex identities; sexuality and sexual expression.
Depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and other mental health diagnoses.
Job and career issues, stress reduction, and anger management.
Relationship issues, effective communication strategies and conflict resolution.

Fees

Fees are $200 for individual therapy, $300 for couples. Payment methods include cash or credit card. Some sliding scale appointments are available.

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Privacy Policy

Confidentiality & Privacy Policy:

The law protects the relationship between a client and a psychotherapist, and information cannot be disclosed without written permission. There are a few exceptions:

Suspected child abuse, dependent adult or elder abuse. The law requires an immediate report to the appropriate authorities.
If a client threatens serious bodily harm to another person/s, I must notify the police and inform the intended victim.
If a client intends to harm himself or herself, I will make every effort to enlist their cooperation in ensuring their safety. If they do not cooperate, I will take further measures without their permission that are provided to me by law in order to ensure their safety.

Fees

FAQs

How can therapy help me?

Psychotherapy can be beneficial in numerous ways. Therapists provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management and creative blocks. Therapists can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marital issues, and the stresses of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn.

What is therapy like?

Each person has different issues, goals and expectations for therapy, thus it will be different depending on the individual. You can expect to discuss current events happening in your life, personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress or new insights gained from the previous therapy session.

How long should I remain in therapy?

Therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue such as an immediate crisis situation, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or a desire to advance your personal development. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular weekly sessions with your therapist.

How can I benefit most from my therapy?

In my experience, active participation as well as the relationship you form with your therapist are key ingredients for effective therapy. Your therapist may also occasionally suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process - such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals.

What about medication vs. psychotherapy?

Medication and therapy can be used separately or in combination as an integrative approach to wellness. Medication can sometimes be an effective tool for addressing symptoms of depression, bipolar, anxiety and other disorders. Talk therapy dives deeper by addressing underlying causes of these symptoms, such as unresolved conflict or emotional stress. Medication is only prescribed by someone licensed to do so, usually a psychiatrist or medical doctor. MFT’s are not licensed to dispense prescription drugs, but your therapist can work with your medical providers to assist you.

FAQs

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