Dyan Kolb
MSW, LCSW
Clinical Social Worker/Therapist
Los Angeles, USA
Answers questions in Addiction Treatment · Addictions · Adolescent Issues
About Dyan Kolb
I have always been interested in human behavior and learning about what motivates people intrinsically to make the choices they make. As a clinical social worker, my background and training invited me to explore the impact of different systems in the environment that take part in the outcome of human behavior. Helping others identify personal strengths and what is working in their lives in effort to solve current problems contributes to the difference between just having a "job" and actually loving the work that I do. Helping others develop and maintain the tools to create a life worth living is why I enjoy working in the mental health field.
What I do
As an addiction specialist, my goal is to help you understand your addiction and the underlying mental health issues while utilizing research supported cognitive and behavioral techniques to reduce relapse occurrences. While we can’t change difficult situations of the past, we can work together to better understand and resolve challenges in your life. By applying complementary therapy approaches and techniques, we can identify long-standing behavior patterns or negative perceptions that may be holding you back from experiencing a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
My story
I have always been interested in human behavior and learning about what motivates people intrinsically to make the choices they make. As a clinical social worker, my background and training invited me to explore the impact of different systems in the environment that take part in the outcome of human behavior. Helping others identify personal strengths and what is working in their lives in effort to solve current problems contributes to the difference between just having a "job" and actually loving the work that I do. Helping others develop and maintain the tools to create a life worth living is why I enjoy working in the mental health field.
Why life is worth living
There is so much goodness in the world to be experienced.
Treatment Offered
Specialties
Therapy approaches
Patient population
Modalities
Answered Questions(6)
State laws regarding conservatorship and mental health
Is there a law in Michigan where family members can sign a court order to keep a family member in a rehabilitation center?
Read answer →Trust and Intimacy
Hello, I have a question regarding a 2.5 month relationship with a man I am in. I waited for 2 months before finally being so attracted to him to have sex. I wanted to get to know him first. I saw things I liked and didn't like and ultimately although ideally I'd like to wait even longer to get to know him, I knew his main strengths and weaknesses. I am 40 and he 43 and so I was thinking marriage with people I date, but given his credit/debt issues, and needing to see if he is aggressive side is just moodiness men can have or more, I decided I really was attracted to him physically & mentally but wanted to wait for marriage; after 2 months he gave me a promise ring, but I still didn't sleep wt him right away so he knows he can't dangle that in front of my face to get me into bed; but at one point he did get very angry with me because in his mind he had shown his commitment so what was the problem; given that we were both attracted he had a point but I didn't want to be pressured so I waited a bit longer and went with it when I wanted to and was ready. I had him tested and he is clean but because of our ups and downs at the start of this relationship and as trust i s not strong partially because I don't and never have trusted easily coming from a divorced household, and partially because he has an adventurous style and I haven't known him for long enough, I am worried we had sex without a condom and even when I got condoms (he does pull out), what if he is not loyal then I could catch an STD after he got tested and I saw the results; he hates then condom and to be honest with you I don't like it either; I dont' want to force him but don't want to catch anything either if trust is not as high as it coulld be. I have heard from someone who knows him at a party he is very loyal and he says he is but I need to knwo him long enough to know this for sure because couple times so far when we got into fights I told him let's take a break or it may have appeared like we had broken up (what if he did anything with someone during these times) I am aware & working on my trust but he has a high sex drive and ego so I don't want to gamble with my health. what should I do to protect myself? get a female condom? funny thing is with the pull out method I am not so worried about pregnancy as I have always wanted a child and I think if it happens I have a choice to abort or keep it. My first concern are catching diseases. Or should I insist even if he cant' cum we have sex with a condom anyway and try our best; last time I insisted on condoms he bought them and brought them and after a minute took it off and said he 'd put it on at later stage, but he didn't. it bothered me, but at same time I didn't love the feel either, and worried if he really can't cum with one on, it could cause problems and end of the relationship? or am I wrong in thinking that, and is it just an excuse he can't cum wt a condom on? please help I don't want myhealth in jeopardy but I don't want to be paranoid either if I asked him to be tested and he did it and showed me the results. How do increase trust to such a high level that we can actually do it without condoms? but thing is even we do that from here on, during those fights and me saying let's take a break from relationship which lasted less than 48 hours because he was still calling me, he could have had sexual contact with others thinking we are on a break?? this is mentally and emotionally draining me I am stressed, my body is showing it I had a cold sore, and now some white sores in my mouth and stomach problems (i had a pregnancy test done after first time sex/pull out so stomach problems not pregnancy, and pulling out seems to work for me and many others to not get pregnant, I also have RX for pills if I am too concerned re this, my major concerns are STDS if someone is not faithful), so it's a question of 100% trust in this man right now.
Read answer →To intervene or not intervene
How do you do an intervention when the person you want to do an intervention on is high all of the time. If they are not high on some rare occasions it is only because they could not score drugs and during these brief periods they are sick and very irritable and it is hard to imagine an intervention having much chance of a good end result. But on the other hand, is an intervention going to work when the intervnetionee is sitting on the couch nodding off? How do we overcome this very basic roadblock?
Read answer →When to get legal advice
anger problems alcoholism mental disorders can my boyfriend use his issues to help him fighting a assault charge he wasnt un his right mind
Read answer →Loved ones of addicts and alcoholics
My fiancé is currently in treatment for herion and meth and he recently told me that he can't be with me right now because he has to fix himself and he needs to be selfish. He also is in treatment 2 and 1/2 hours away from where we live and he is planning on living there when he gets out. I feel like I'm being abandon and i am not sure how to process this all because it was a big shock to me. What can I do to better understand what he is going through?
Read answer →Tough Decisions
I am a single mom. My kids dad is a deadbeat. I work 2 jobs and the night one is I am a bartender and that is the job that pays enough to keep our heads above water. I was a big drinker in high school and I stopped when I got pregnant but now I am drinking again. My customers share me tequila shots and it is the kind of bar where the staff have to be fun and party and make other people party and drink more. I was just drinking a few drinks a night from customers but for the past 6 months I am having way more. I cant barely remember getting home half the time but the more I am drinking the more money I am making from tips. I am getting to be an alcoholic again but I need this job and theres no way I can make enough to pay for everyone with out it. My mom takes care of my kids when I am at work and she says she is getting sick of me behing hungover. I go to work at 12 pm and I get home at 2 in the morning and then in the morning I have to do all the laundry and dishes and everything. Everyone always say to go to AA but what if you work all the time and have 2 little kids. Every morning I wake up and I am so scared that something bad happened last night. What am I supposed to do in this situation. I feel so trapped.
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