Photo of Panayiotis Frangos, LMFT, Marriage & Family Therapist
Panayiotis Frangos
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified Verified
San Mateo, CA 94402
I am licensed from the Board of Behavioral Sciences as a Marriage Family Therapist.  I graduated from Notre Dame de Namur with a Master's in Science Clinical Psychology MFT.  I was born in Greece and moved to the United States as a child, and have been a California Bay Area native ever since.  Growing up in a Greek household, I am able to speak Greek fluently and I am proficient in Spanish.  In my spare time, I am also learning Mandarin Chinese as languages are a passion of mine.
I am licensed from the Board of Behavioral Sciences as a Marriage Family Therapist.  I graduated from Notre Dame de Namur with a Master's in Science Clinical Psychology MFT.  I was born in Greece and moved to the United States as a child, and have been a California Bay Area native ever since.  Growing up in a Greek household, I am able to speak Greek fluently and I am proficient in Spanish.  In my spare time, I am also learning Mandarin Chinese as languages are a passion of mine.
(650) 525-2494 View (650) 525-2494
Photo of Leslie I Nieves, MA, LMFT, Marriage & Family Therapist
Leslie I Nieves
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
San Mateo, CA 94402
I'm passionate about partnering with clients in their healing journey. I work collaboratively with my clients on embracing a new life narrative. I have experience working with couples, families that are in crisis, parenting difficulties, at-risk teens, survivors of domestic violence, individuals experiencing life transitions, as well as clients experiencing depression, anxiety, fears, anger management difficulties, and crisis. I believe you can write a new life narrative as you heal from trauma. Lastly, as you embark on this journey, I believe you can emerge whole, enlightened, and empowered on the other side.
I'm passionate about partnering with clients in their healing journey. I work collaboratively with my clients on embracing a new life narrative. I have experience working with couples, families that are in crisis, parenting difficulties, at-risk teens, survivors of domestic violence, individuals experiencing life transitions, as well as clients experiencing depression, anxiety, fears, anger management difficulties, and crisis. I believe you can write a new life narrative as you heal from trauma. Lastly, as you embark on this journey, I believe you can emerge whole, enlightened, and empowered on the other side.
(650) 517-7974 View (650) 517-7974
Drug Abuse Therapists

How do substance and drug recovery or rehabilitation programs work?

In inpatient programs, individuals live in a facility with other clients in recovery; in outpatient programs, individuals reside at home. These facilities are staffed with healthcare professionals including physicians, nurses, psychologists, counselors, and psychotherapists. Staff often also includes people who have recovered themselves, serving as mentors and guides. These programs may use abstinence, harm reduction, detoxification, psychotherapy, and other methods.

How do 12-step programs combined with psychotherapy work?

Members of 12-step programs help each other reach abstinence and work to maintain it. These programs promote complete change in the individual’s emotional, mental, physical, and even spiritual perspectives. Some programs require that new members attend 90 meetings in 90 days. Many people do attend these programs in conjunction with their work in psychotherapy; the combination of therapy along with 12-step can be extremely effective.

How does harm reduction combined with psychotherapy work?

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, harm reduction prevents death, injury, disease, overdose, and substance misuse. People who choose harm reduction for substance use reduce the amount of drugs they consume. It is not abstinence-based like a 12-step program, but combining harm reduction with psychotherapy proves to be effective for many people.

Are there specific medications for substance and drug use?

There are medications approved to treat substance use disorder—such as buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone, and acamprosate. These medications do help people cope with substance use as well as avoid the problem of relapse. Naltrexone can help reduce cravings, methadone is an opioid medication used to treat severe pain, and acamprosate may help ease symptoms like poor sleep and anxious feelings.