Primary therapist (LCSW)
Your weekly one-on-one clinician — the relationship at the center of your care.
Our founder's story
Built from loss. Built for you.
I created Dixon Behavioral Health in honor of my best friend. We met when we were 11 years old. We were friends for our entire lives.
She died from an overdose. It was preventable. There was no accessible, affordable, right-level-of-care option for her when she needed it most. Not inpatient. Not another weekly therapy appointment. Something in between — that would have given her real tools, real support, and real time to heal.
Dixon is that program. It is the one that should have existed.
My grief became purpose. That purpose became a Joint Commission–accredited virtual IOP serving teens and adults across California.
— Lauren Dean, LCSW
Clinical philosophy
Trauma-informed. Evidence-based. Human first.
We believe healing happens in relationship. We believe people are the experts on their own lives. We believe care should fit your life — not the other way around. And we believe trauma deserves real treatment, not just talk.
Our values
Warmth First
Credentials matter. Connection matters more.
Trauma-Informed
Choice, predictability, and safety in every interaction.
Evidence-Based
We use what works: EMDR, CBT, DBT, ACT.
Family-Inclusive
Especially for teens, families are part of the team.
Accountable
Joint Commission accredited. Independently held to a higher bar.
Why accreditation matters.
The Joint Commission Gold Seal is the same accreditation held by leading hospitals. It means our care, safety, and outcomes are independently reviewed. It's not a marketing badge — it's a promise that what we do behind the scenes matches what we say up front.
What we use, in plain English.
- EMDR
- Helps your brain finish processing memories that got stuck.
- CBT
- Helps you notice the thought spirals and step out of them.
- DBT
- Skills for big emotions: when you feel like you might break.
- ACT
- Helps you live by your values, even when life is hard.
Your care team
How your care team works
At Dixon, you're never working with a single provider in isolation. Every client is supported by a coordinated clinical team — your primary therapist (a Licensed Clinical Social Worker), a Medical Director providing psychiatric oversight, and a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner for medication evaluation and monitoring. It's an intentional boutique model: precision staffing over volume. This integrated structure is what allows us to deliver IOP-level care safely and effectively.
Medical Director
A physician providing psychiatric oversight across the program for safety and clinical quality.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Medication evaluation, prescribing, and monitoring — coordinated directly with your therapist.
Currently accepting new clients
Dixon is currently accepting new clients for both IOP and individual therapy tracks. Waitlist availability varies — contact us to check current openings.