Paul Sussman, Ph.D.

About Dr. Sussman

Let me introduce myself and share some of my experience as a psychologist. I am a licensed clinical psychologist and a licensed marriage family therapist with a full-time private practice in Banker's Hill (Hillcrest) San Diego, CA. I have been in licensed and in private practice for almost 20 years.

I specialize in action-oriented, relational, depth, and results-oriented psychotherapy with couples and individuals and facilitate psychotherapy groups for men who were sexually abused as children as well as groups to help men deepen their capacity for relational intimacy. I am trained in a range of psychotherapeutic approaches including cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, somatic-relational and psychodynamic psychotherapy.

I am a Certified Bioenergetic Therapist (www.sdiba.org) as well as a Certified Imago Relationship Therapist based on Harville Hendrix Ph.D.'s Imago Relationship Therapy (see www.relationshipsolutions.org and/or www.gettingtheloveyouwant.org). I am on the faculty at the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University teaching courses to graduate students and mental health professionals in the areas of human sexuality, clinical supervision, countertransference, sexual orientation and relationships and intimacy. I love my work!

Having completed six years of training with the San Diego Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis I am certified in bioenergetic analysis (somatic/relational therapy) and have presented workshops at both local and international bioenergetic conferences on themes of intimacy and sexuality.

I also teach and train mental health professionals and graduate students through the California Psychological Association, San Diego County Health and Human Services, San Diego State University, Relationship Training Institute, San Diego Psychological Association and Alliant International University. I worked with The US Navy for eight years specializing in researching and treating service members and their families dealing with sexual abuse and domestic violence and co-authored the U.S. Navy’s Sexual Abuse Treatment Manual. I have done research in the areas of domestic violence and HIV/ psychoneuroimmunology in association with UCSD, worked at UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute and was the clinical supervisor at the Relationship Treatment and Intervention Program. I speak Spanish fluently (having studied at the University of Madrid) and love travel, history and culture.

Professional Associations and Certifications

American Psychological Association
San Diego Psychological Association
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)
San Diego Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis
International Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis
Imago Relationships International
Certified Bioenergetic Therapist
Certified Imago Relationship Therapist