Member Highlight — Sipan Nazaryan, Prelicensed Associate

Douglas Green

From Hollywood to Healing: A Psychotherapist’s Journey to Finding His Calling

Lights, Camera, Action

After two decades in the entertainment industry as a writer and director, this therapist’s career pivot was born out of frustration and introspection. Approaching 40, he found himself grappling with the unsustainability of his career, leading to a period marked by depression and disillusionment. Yet, during this challenging time, he experienced firsthand the transformative power of psychotherapy—a revelation that planted the seed for his next chapter.

While working as a substitute teacher in public schools, Doug discovered a love for connecting with children, though he found the rigid structure of the educational system stifling. It was Linda Buzzell, a therapist specializing in clients from the entertainment industry, who offered the pivotal insight: there was a significant need for male therapists to work with children. Drawn by the prospect of making a meaningful impact, he was inspired to pursue a path that would allow him to help others more directly. Enrolling at Phillips Graduate Institute, he found an unexpected sense of belonging: “I loved every teacher, I loved every class, I couldn’t believe something could be so right.”

Many therapists avoid working with younger populations—especially teenagers—because of the unique challenges they present. As a male therapist, he brings an important dynamic to his work, offering kids a positive male role model. A colleague, Robin Walker, once told him that there’s no such thing as a perfect, all-around therapist. Rather than striving for perfection in all areas, therapists should focus on what resonates most with them, and this insight continues to guide his practice.

Drama Therapy

Drama therapy became another key area of specialization, offering him a way to combine his past life in the entertainment industry with his work as a therapist. While he valued traditional talk therapy, he found it overly intellectual. “I loved therapy, but it was very cerebral for me. I could name my problems, but I wasn’t feeling the change.” He recalls taking an intensive acting class and suddenly experiencing a shift in his life. He became more assertive and more connected. It wasn’t just knowledge in his head; it became something he embodied. Drama therapy, which combines creative expression with therapeutic principles, became a perfect bridge between his two worlds. He eventually became a registered drama therapist and integrated this experiential approach into his practice. Doug emphasizes that the practice of drama therapy is often misunderstood. “It sounds like you’re telling your client to put on tights and lift up a skull and monologue, its not that.” Drama therapy falls under the broader category of creative action therapies, which use activities beyond traditional talk therapy to promote emotional expression and healing. This approach can include art therapy, music therapy, or acting out personal stories and traumas.

Doug’s journey in drama therapy has included involvement with the National Association of Drama Therapy andcompleting training through institutions like the Drama Therapy Institute of Los Angeles. He even traveled to Edinburgh for a drama therapy course, further solidifying his commitment to the practice. He encourages therapists curious about this modality to explore training opportunities and reach out to him for more information, noting that the field offers powerful tools for helping clients move through their emotional experiences in ways that go beyond words. For Doug drama therapy is “a way to put the two pages of my resume together.”

Golden retriever energy, resilience, and authoring two books

One of the biggest challenges Doug has faced in his career was failing his licensing exam—a setback that many therapists can relate to but few openly discuss. Rather than giving up, he took a position in Sacramento, working to improve the licensing exam itself by helping to rewrite and refine the questions. This experience gave him valuable insight into the testing process and strengthened his resilience.

Another challenge has been managing countertransference, particularly when working with clients in crisis. Doug describes himself as having strong “golden retriever” qualities—a term his supervisors used to highlight his warm, empathetic, and eager-to-help nature. While these traits make him a deeply compassionate therapist, he has learned to strike a balance between caring deeply and maintaining appropriate boundaries.

While Doug Green’s theater and film career has taken a backseat, his creativity remains alive through his writing. He’s authored two books about dogs: The Teachings of Shirelle: Life Lessons from a Divine Knucklehead, a philosophical and psychological reflection on the wisdom he gained from his beloved dog, and A Dog of Many Names, a young adult novel inspired by his rescue dog’s imagined past. One of his proudest moments of 2024 was recording the audiobook for The Teachings of Shirelle, a project that holds deep personal meaning.

Involvement in SFV-CAMFT

Doug Green has been a member of SFV CAMFT for nearly two decades, joining back when he was a student at Phillips Graduate Institute in 2004. He credits the organization as being pivotal to his career development. “I would say that on a number of levels, being a member of CAMFT has been the key to my career.” Pre-pandemic, Doug was a regular at both San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles chapter meetings, attending twice a month. It was through these meetings that he connected with influential colleagues, including Robin Walker, who helped shape his career path.

Doug served on the SFV CAMFT board as the Unlicensed Representative, a role he held during his pre-licensure years. For seven years, he conducted interviews with members—a job he found rewarding because of the personal connections it fostered. For the past seven years, he’s served as the chapter’s Volunteer Coordinator, a position that allows him to pair volunteers with opportunities to support the chapter’s work. While the role requires less of a time commitment, it keeps him connected to the chapter’s ongoing efforts. Though his involvement has waned since the pandemic, Doug is eager to get more active again, especially with in-person groups. “I love the in-person meetings,” he shares.

Doug also highlights the vital role that professional networking and involvement in organizations like CAMFT have played in his success as a therapist. Reflecting on his time as a student transitioning out of his entertainment career, he recalls feeling a deep anxiety about how he would find clients. “I was scared from day one,” he admits. “Okay, I’m doing my studying, but how do I get my clients?” Networking through CAMFT provided the answer. By consistently showing up and building relationships, Doug was able to establish a solid private practice within two to three years after graduation. His connections became a vital resource not only for referrals but also for mentorship and support. “People would call and ask me how I built my practice so quickly,” he recalls, “and my answer was always the same: networking.”

Common misconceptions about therapy

A common misconception that Doug encounters—especially when working with kids—is the belief that therapists have a superhuman ability to read minds. Unfortunately, I’m very bad at that, he says with a smile. But the more universal misunderstanding is that therapy involves the therapist telling clients what to do. People either come in scared that I’m going to give them orders or, just as often, hoping I’ll give them a set of instructions for their life. Doug takes a different approach, working collaboratively with clients to help them discover their own insights and solutions, rather than handing them prescriptive advice.

Doug’s approach to therapy also stands out for his high level of transparency—a practice he acknowledges is not universally embraced within the field. “During the first session, I let clients know that I’m different from many other therapists,” he explains. He frequently shares personal stories from his life and makes comparisons to his clients’ experiences. “If there’s anything you want to know about me, don’t hesitate to ask. There may be times I can’t answer, but I want to create an open space.” This transparency is a response to his own dissatisfaction when he was a client in therapy, feeling vulnerable while receiving little personal feedback from the therapist. “It’s certainly the opposite of the Freudian model,” he admits, “but I believe it relieves a lot of anxiety. That said, I recognize this approach isn’t for everyone."

Self-care and support

Self-care is essential to Doug’s well-being, and he makes it a priority in his life. He exercises regularly, eats well, and values time spent with friends. I’m a huge dog lover, he adds. He still finds joy in theater, film, and books, and he prioritizes creative outlets that keep him grounded and inspired.

Recently, however, his self-care practices have taken on a more emotional dimension. His home is currently in a fire zone in Los Angeles, and this week he has been anxiously watching reports to find out if his house is still standing. He’s been deeply moved by the outpouring of support from people around him. People have been so wonderful, he says, expressing hope that the fires will soon be under control.

Douglas Green, MA, MFT: Helping Kids and Teens build lives they can be proud of. Contact: www.DouglasGreenMFT.com / (818) 624-3637. Office locations in West Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.

Sipan Nazaryan is an associate therapist at Avedian Counseling Center, with locations in Sherman Oaks and Glendale, holding a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. Specializing in both child and adult therapy, he has extensive experience working with diverse clients on issues ranging from ADHD and behavioral challenges in children to couples counseling and anger management for adults. Sipan employs a mix of Psychodynamic therapy and evidence-based techniques, offering a culturally sensitive, down-to-earth approach in both English and Armenian. For consultations, Sipan can be reached at 818.399.1961 or sipan@counseling-centers.com.