Psychotherapy & Psychodiagnostic Assessment
With more than 20 years of clinical experience, Dr. Anthony DiNardo provides psychotherapy and psychodiagnostic assessment primarily for adults from a wide range of cultural, social, professional and personal backgrounds.
Care is grounded in an understanding of the whole person — not only symptoms, but personal history, relationships, coping patterns, strengths, cultural background and the circumstances shaping current difficulties.
Whether you are seeking relief from distressing symptoms, support during a difficult period, greater understanding of recurring patterns or diagnostic clarity, the goal is thoughtful, individualised and clinically meaningful care.
Finding the Right Support
Whether you’re looking for ongoing therapeutic support or greater clarity through psychological assessment, care begins with understanding your individual needs and what you hope to achieve.
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Psychotherapy
Individualized psychological treatment for adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, ADHD and executive-functioning difficulties, relationship concerns, chronic stress, grief, substance use concerns and other emotional or behavioural difficulties.
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Psychodiagnostic Assessment
Comprehensive psychological assessment designed to clarify complex symptoms, explore possible diagnoses and provide meaningful recommendations for treatment and support.
Psychotherapy
Effective psychotherapy involves more than addressing symptoms in isolation. It begins with developing a careful understanding of what you are experiencing, how those difficulties developed, the ways you have learned to cope and what may be preventing meaningful improvement.
Dr. DiNardo’s style is active, collaborative and engaged. Treatment is tailored to your individual needs and may incorporate elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, interpersonal therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, trauma-informed treatment, Dialectical Behavior Therapy-informed strategies and other evidence-based interventions.
The aim is to combine practical strategies with deeper psychological understanding — addressing immediate symptoms and stressors while also exploring the emotional, relational or behavioural patterns that may contribute to them.
Areas of Clinical Focus
Anxiety & Mood
Anxiety, excessive worry, panic, depression and other mood-related difficulties.
Trauma & Stress
Trauma, posttraumatic stress, chronic stress, occupational strain and burnout.
ADHD & Executive Functioning
Difficulties with attention, organisation, planning, time management, procrastination and follow-through.
Relationships & Identity
Relationship, intimacy, identity, communication and interpersonal concerns.
Emotional Regulation
Impulsivity, anger, self-criticism, perfectionism and difficulty managing emotional reactions.
Substance Use
Concerns involving alcohol or other substances and their relationship with psychological well-being.
Life Changes & Loss
Grief, loneliness, major life transitions, chronic illness, pain and adjustment to medical conditions.
Daily Functioning
Difficulties affecting work, school, relationships, motivation or everyday functioning.
An Individualised Approach
Therapy begins with a thoughtful assessment of your current concerns, personal history, symptoms, relationships, coping style, strengths and goals. This allows treatment to be tailored to your particular needs rather than organised around a predetermined or one-size-fits-all approach.
A productive therapeutic relationship should feel professional, respectful and genuinely human. Dr. DiNardo strives to create an environment in which clients feel understood, taken seriously and able to speak openly without feeling judged or reduced to a diagnosis.
Depending on your needs, psychotherapy may help you reduce distressing symptoms, develop more effective coping strategies, process difficult experiences, improve emotional regulation, strengthen relationships and gain greater insight into recurring patterns.
Psychological & Psychodiagnostic Assessment
Psychodiagnostic assessment provides a comprehensive understanding of psychological functioning and the factors that may be contributing to current difficulties. It can be particularly helpful when symptoms are complex, a diagnosis is uncertain, several explanations need to be considered, or previous treatment has not produced the expected improvement.
Assessment can provide greater clarity around concerns involving mood, anxiety, trauma, ADHD and executive functioning, substance use, emotional regulation and interpersonal difficulties. Rather than simply assigning a diagnosis, the aim is to understand how different findings fit together, how they may be affecting everyday life, and identify the most appropriate treatment, support or next steps.
An assessment may be helpful when:
✓ Symptoms or diagnoses remain unclear
✓ ADHD or executive-functioning concerns need clarification
✓ Several possible diagnoses need to be considered
✓ Previous treatment has not been as effective as expected
✓ A treating professional has requested diagnostic clarification
✓ More focused treatment recommendations or support are needed
What Does an Assessment Involve?
Each assessment is tailored to the individual and the questions being explored.
01 — Clinical Interview
A detailed discussion of your history, current concerns and day-to-day functioning.
02 — Assessment
Relevant records and appropriate psychological, personality, symptom or ADHD measures may be used.
03 — Clinical Integration
Findings are considered together to develop diagnostic clarity and a meaningful understanding of your needs.
04 — Feedback & Recommendations
Results are explained clearly, with an opportunity to ask questions and discuss appropriate next steps.
When appropriate, a written report can provide an integrated summary of findings, diagnostic impressions and individualised treatment recommendations.
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Assessment That Informs Treatment
The value of psychological assessment lies in its ability to improve understanding and guide effective care. Test findings should never be interpreted in isolation, but considered alongside a person’s history, current circumstances, cultural background, symptoms, strengths and treatment goals.
Dr. DiNardo’s assessment approach is evidence-based, objective, culturally responsive and tailored to the specific clinical question, with particular emphasis on translating complex findings into conclusions that are understandable, clinically useful and relevant to treatment planning.
Psychodiagnostic assessments are separate from Dr. DiNardo’s immigration psychological evaluation services.
Background
Clinical Expertise Grounded in Assessment Experience
Dr. Anthony DiNardo is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years of experience in psychological assessment, diagnostic interviewing, and clinical documentation. His advanced clinical training includes UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. His current practice focuses on immigration-related psychological evaluations and clear, evidence-based reporting for legal proceedings.
Bullets:
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
UCLA and Harbor-UCLA trained
Beginning the Process
Beginning psychotherapy or pursuing psychological assessment can feel like a significant step, particularly when concerns have persisted for a long time or previous efforts have not provided sufficient relief or clarity.
The process begins with an initial consultation to discuss what you are experiencing, what you hope to better understand or change and whether psychotherapy, psychodiagnostic assessment or another service would be the most appropriate next step.
Psychotherapy is available in person in Los Angeles and through secure telehealth for clients located in jurisdictions where Dr. DiNardo is authorised to practise.
Request a Consultation
To ask a question or discuss whether psychotherapy or psychodiagnostic assessment may be appropriate for your needs, please complete the contact form.