My philosophy
A good therapy experience requires a safe, emphatic environment that promotes self-exploration and growth.
I am a very interactive therapist and help client’s explore their issues on a deeper level to develop the self-regulation and life management skills necessary to create the healthiest and most connected version of themselves.
In counseling the therapeutic process helps clients resolve past and present challenges. Issues that result in unhealthy or unproductive behaviors and patterns cannot be significantly changed until the underlying causes, are identified and a conscious change process initiates. These issues frequently interfere with an individual’s ability to experience a sense of well-being. What many individuals do not initially understand is that their patterns of behavior usually result from ingrained and negative belief systems. In therapy we systematically challenge these negative beliefs and help the individual create and embrace positive self-regard and empowerment.
Using cognitive-behavioral therapy, I teach my clients specific skills to gain more control over their thoughts, decrease vulnerability to emotions, and be less reactive In their responses.
I teach techniques to assist in effective communication, boundary setting, stress management and conflict resolution. Therapy will help you navigate Through stressful times to create more balance, harmony and fulfillment in your life.
California Social Work Hall of Distinction
L. Georgi Distefano, Pioneer in social work practice in the field of addiction
Inducted 2014
Dr. Melinda Hohman (Presenter); (26:26) L. Georgi DiStefano, LCSW (Inductee): Pioneer in social work practice in the field of addiction.
Therapist – Author – Trainer
L. Georgi DiStefano is a licensed clinical social worker with extensive experience in the clinical management of substance abuse/chemical dependency treatment programs and employee assistance services.
She is a popular speaker on the Paradigm Developmental Model of Treatment and workplace conflict resolution and has written extensively on both topics.
She retired, after 14 years, as the Executive/Clinical Director of the San Diego State University Center for Alcohol and Drug Studies and Services, Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Program, where she managed a multi-million-dollar program with over 3,000 active weekly clients.
She previously managed the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for Kaiser Permanente Hospital System in San Diego, California.
In the 1980s and 1990s, she was the Director of the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program at Mesa Vista Hospital and the Founder and Executive Director of the Counseling and Recovery Institute in San Diego, California.
Ms. DiStefano has been an adjunct assistant professor at San Diego State University in the School of Social Work, College of Health and Human Services for over 15 years.
Ms. DiStefano has authored the book Paradigm Change: The Collective Wisdom of Recovery, which was honored as an Award Winning Finalist in the “Health: Addiction and Recovery” category of the 2018 International Book Awards. This book was also the winner of Best Book in the category of “Recovery” for the National Association of Book Entrepreneurs (NABE), Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards for Summer 2018. She is the lead author of the book and method, Paradigm Developmental Model of Treatment: A Clinical Guide for Counselors Working with Substance Abusers and the Chemically Dependent, which has been translated into several languages.
She also wrote The Paradigm Developmental Model of Treatment: Group Topics, which has been utilized widely in substance abuse treatment and DUI programs.
She is co-author of the 2015 Axiom award-winning book, It’s All Your Fault at Work with William Eddy, LCSW, Esq. They also wrote, New Ways for Work, a manual and workbook for interpersonal skill development.
Ms. DiStefano has spoken nationally and internationally on both the Paradigm Treatment Model and Managing High Conflict Personalities, giving frequent seminars in locations such as New York, Chicago, Albuquerque, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Cleveland, Japan, Canada, Greece, Paraguay, and Buenos Aires.
She also provides management consultation and executive coaching, in addition to her private practice and seminar work.
Ms. DiStefano was awarded the Clinical Social Worker of the Year from the Clinical Society of Social Work and National Association of Social Workers (NASW), California Chapter. In 2011, she received the National Association of Social Workers Lifetime Achievement Award, California Chapter. Additionally, she was recognized for her significant contributions to the social work profession by being inducted into the California Social Work Hall of Distinction in 2014.
