Banyan Therapy Group is a professional group of highly trained therapists specializing in the treatment of sexual addictions and partner betrayal trauma. We offer numerous treatment modalities including individual, couples, family, and group therapy to treat sexual and inter-relational problems. Our practice is comprised of clinicians who offer individualized treatment for clients seeking religious and/or spiritual counseling, LGBT friendly counseling, and sex-positive counseling.
The banyan is a sprawling tree whose roots grow down towards the ground and become new trunks to support the tree. We chose the banyan tree as a symbol for the work that we do, as it represents a place of safety, of healing, of community, and of transformation. And with its above-ground root structure the banyan tree brings to light what is so often hidden underground. We are committed to offering you a safe place to explore hidden parts in your life.
Call (818) 435-7847 today.
Dan Drake
Eric Anderson
Monifa Ellis-Addie
More about Dan
Founder & Clinical Director
Dan Drake, LMFT, LPCC, CCPS-C, CSAT-S
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT #49986
• Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, LPCC #327
• Certified Clinical Partner Specialist Supervisor
• Certified Sex Addiction Therapist Supervisor
• EMDR Trained
• M.S. in Marital and Family Therapy: Fuller Theological Seminary
• M.A. in Theology: Fuller Theological Seminary
Welcome! We hope you will find support, recovery, and healing in our website and through our practice.
A little bit about some of my certifications and specialties: I’m a Certified Clinical Partner Specialist Supervisor, a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist Supervisor, and I’m EMDR trained. I also have a Masters Degree in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary, and I’m a Christian raised in the church. Because of this, I can appreciate both the positive and negative impact faith can have on us. I respect if you do not want to include faith, religion, or spirituality in therapy, but we can always talk about faith if you’re up for it.
I really enjoy collaborating with other professionals, and I’ve co-authored several books: Letters from a Sex Addict: My Life Exposed, Full Disclosure: How to Share the Truth After Sexual Betrayal, Full Disclosure: Seeking Truth After Sexual Betrayal, and Surviving the Holidays: A Holiday Guide for Couples in Recovery after Sexual Betrayal.
In my free time, I enjoy getting out in nature and exploring. But more than anything, I live for the simple moments of everyday life: Spending quality time with my wife, hanging out with good friends, and playing with my dogs Ripley (a sensitive Corgi) and Edi (a tenacious dachshund).
My passion is to help my clients restore relational, mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual wholeness to their lives. I understand that it can be overwhelming to begin this process, so my goal is to provide a safe environment where you can grow and heal.
More about Eric
Intensives Director & Therapist
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT #90189
• Certified Sex Addiction Therapist
• EMDR Trained
• M.S. in Marital and Family Therapy: Fuller Theological Seminary
Hi there. I’m Eric Anderson and I’ve been working in the field of sex and pornography addiction for over 8 years now and and happy to be part of the Banyan team.
I’ve been on board with Banyan for a few years now as the intensives director and I really enjoy helping clients get into the right levels of care for them. I help develop and run several of our intensives including our Foundations of Recovery Intensive and our 6-week customized Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP).
I focus specifically on work with addicts to help them face and confront some of the most challenging realities that come with addiction. I make sure to help client’s feel as comfortable as possible in session while also empowering them to address consequences of their addiction directly. As a Christian I enjoy helping clients work through issues in their faith and how it integrates into their recovery. I have my Master’s degree from Fuller Seminary and am comfortable working thorough issues of theology and spirituality when important to my clients.
I enjoy hiking and exploring with family, playing, watching, and breaking down/analyzing sports with friends, and traveling to new places
More about Monifa
Therapist
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, AAMFT #99650
Certified Clinical Partner Specialist – Candidate
M.A. Clinical Psychology: The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Congratulations on your path to wellness and the search for peace within yourself.
I would like to utilize my experience to help you be successful in that search. In addition to being a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Associate, I have worked as a part of the sex and wellness education team for A Touch of Romance. I continue to sharpen my skills in sexual issues treatment through training at the Center of Healthy Sex, running my own sexual health coaching business, and teaching human sexuality workshops at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP) in the subjects of sex addiction, partner betrayal trauma, and male and female sexual disorders. I will become a permanent staff member and continue to teach the human sexuality course at TCSPP in 2020.
Through all this experience, I have come to specialize in the anxiety and intimacy issues that spawn from incongruences in sexuality. There are continuous mixed messages between sex in media, family, social experiences and what is actually happening in real time. This can make life unnecessarily uneasy in dealing with the self and in relationships. I assist individuals and couples in overcoming these difficulties to discovering their true sexual self.
When I am not conducting workshops or seeing clients, I enjoy relaxing and taking in the day. I do this through eating delicious food from my husband who happens to be a chef or playing with our adorable Jack-a-Poo, Fred.
I appreciate the difficulty that comes with exploring sexual issues. My desire is to help you find your way to enjoy life as you never have before.
Juan Carlos Quinteros
Katie Sanford
Natalie Nazaryan
David Boyajian
More about Juan
Therapist
Juan Carlos Quinteros, LMFT, CSAT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT #105350
Certified Sex Addiction Therapist
M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy, specialization in Latina/no Family Studies: Pacific Oaks College
M.A. in Psychology: University of California, Los Angeles
The decision to seek help can be difficult or scary. However, there are times in life when the guidance of a therapist that makes you feel heard and understood can be one of the more powerful experiences.
I develop strong connections with my clients, provide tools, in order to help in their journey to healing, recovery, and repairing relationships with themselves and others. I strongly believe in having authentic difficult genuine conversations in which I will get real and challenge you in a supportive way.
My clinical background and experience include working for more than five years with individuals, partners, couples, and family members from different populations and cultures, including the LGBTTQQIAAP community. I’m a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist and treat issues related to sex, sexual compulsions, sex/pornography addiction, betrayal trauma, healing and recovery. My clients include both Christians and non-Christians. I understand and help Christian clients that are experiencing the positive and negative impact faith has in them. I have extensive training in Structural and Bowenian Family Systems and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approaches.
I also focus in treating trauma in a non-profit agency working with children, adolescents, and families dealing with multiple layers of symptoms and impairments. As well as, mentoring other clinicians there. In addition, I am an adjunct faculty professor currently teaching future therapists in a master’s degree program.
I am a bilingual therapist that provide therapy in English, Spanish or both depending on the need of the client or family.
I enjoy traveling and enriching myself with new places and cultures. As a family guy, I love to spend time with family and loved ones creating new experiences together.
One of my biggest passions is to be part of and to be witness to my clients’ transformation and evolution. I know that making the decision to start therapy is not an easy one. My goal is to work with you from a strength base approach in a non-judgmental safe environment where you can be your authentic self in your journey to restoring and healing.
More about Katie
Therapist
Katie Sanford, LPCC, CCPS
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, LPCC #3627
Certified Clinical Partner Specialist
EMDR Trained
M.A. in Professional Counseling: Central Michigan University
I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and Certified Clinical Partner Trauma Specialist-Candidate (CCPS-C). The majority of my clinical experience has been with clients who have gone through trauma. In my work with Banyan Therapy Group, my primary focus is on partners and children hurt by sex addiction and the related betrayal trauma.
I also work with several clients who are Christians because my own Christian faith helps me to understand and support clients wanting to incorporate their faith into the therapeutic process. Additionally, I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocess (EMDR). EMDR is a form of therapy that helps clients heal from trauma and other distressing life events.
In my free time, I like to spend time with my family, go camping, and swim.
More about Natalie
Therapist
Natalie Nazaryan, LMFT, CCPS-C
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT122266
Certified Clinical Partner Specialist – Candidate
M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy: Phillips Graduate University
It takes a great deal of courage to be willing and vulnerable to seek help and embark on the journey of self-discovery. I hope to have the opportunity in helping you navigate that process. Here is a little bit about my experience and background:
I am a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist with a history of working with children, adolescents, adults, and families struggling with extreme trauma, relational issues, suicidality, and self-harming behaviors. I also focus my efforts on providing therapy for couples and individuals struggling with an array of relationship issues including communication problems, feelings of being misunderstood, sexual concerns, and unresolved feelings resulting from betrayal.
I understand that the decision to seek help can be difficult and possibly uncomfortable. Through therapy, I strive to provide honest, patient, and compassionate healing and invite my clients to safely explore and empower themselves so that they can lead their lives authentically.
I was born and raised in Los Angeles and I am bilingual in Armenian. My ethnic background has made me aware of the impact that culture can have on one’s mentality and outlook toward mental health. In my spare time, I enjoy playing video games with my husband, reading books, attending yoga classes, and biking outdoors. I spend quite a bit of time engrossed in documentaries about criminology, though I am also known to be glued to the screen for Big Brother and live soccer matches when the occasion calls.
More about David
Therapist
David Boyajian, AMFT
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, AMFT #118069
Associate Professional Clinical Counselor, APCC #7559
Basic trained in EMDR
M.S. in Counseling: California State University Fullerton
I believe one of the best steps toward healing is through the process of therapy and counseling and I commend anyone brave enough to take that journey of self-discovery and enter into the process of healing alongside of another.
As an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor, I have a passion to be conduit of healing for people on an emotional, mental, relational, and spiritual level. My goal is to provide a space of compassion, safety, and rest for those who are suffering, particularly with issues related to sexual addiction.
I have an extensive background in social work informing my treatment of mental health concerns and have worked with highly diverse populations. The majority of my clinical experience has been working with children, adolescents, teens, adults, and families, and my treatments have focused on anxiety, depression, self-harm, post-traumatic stress, parent-child relational conflicts, ADHD, gender dysphoric concerns, and various types of traumas.
When I have spare time, I dabble in one of my many hobbies, including doing almost anything physically active from skateboarding to ultimate frisbee. I also love long-from interview podcasts, singing, searching Spotify for the best music, buying recycled fashion, adventuring to hidden gyms in LA and OC, grabbing drinks or dinner with friends, and simply enjoying the gift of life.