I’ve been where you are.
Steve Kobashigawa, MA, LMFT
My name is Steve Kobashigawa. I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Pasadena, California — and I've been in recovery from gambling, drug, and alcohol addiction for over twenty-five years. That's not a detail I tuck into a footnote. It's the most important thing I can tell you about who I am and how I work.
I know what it feels like to be trapped in the cycle — the shame, the secrecy, the promises you make to yourself that you can't keep. I also know what it feels like to find a way out. That experience doesn't make me your sponsor. It makes me a therapist who understands addiction from the inside, not just from a textbook.
Education and Training
I hold a Master of Arts degree from Pacific Oaks College and a degree in Alcohol and Drug Studies. I've been licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in California for over ten years, with a practice primarily focused on addiction recovery and its impact on individuals and families.
I draw on several evidence-based approaches depending on what each client needs:
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) — the most widely used evidence-based approach in addiction treatment. CBT helps identify the thoughts, beliefs, and patterns that drive addictive behavior and replaces them with healthier ways of thinking and responding.
AF-EMDR (Attachment-Focused EMDR) — a trauma-informed approach that helps process the underlying experiences that often drive addictive behavior. EMDR works at a neurological level to reduce the emotional charge of painful memories and beliefs that keep people stuck.
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) — helps clients develop psychological flexibility, clarify their values, and build a life aligned with what truly matters to them — rather than organizing their life around avoiding discomfort.
Motivational Interviewing — a collaborative, client-centered approach that strengthens a person's own motivation and commitment to change. Particularly effective in early recovery when ambivalence is high.
I don't apply these mechanically. Every client is different, and the work adapts to where you are and what you need.
Therapy that’s collaborative
I don't see you as a diagnosis or a case file. I see you as a full person — someone with a family, a history, and a future worth fighting for. My job isn't to tell you what to do. It's to work alongside you, help you understand what's driving your behavior, and build the practical tools and self-awareness to change it.
We may only meet once a week, but I'm thinking about your progress between sessions. I hold space for you to be completely honest — even about the things you've never said out loud.
I work with individuals and families affected by gambling addiction, sports betting, stock market and trading addiction, cryptocurrency addiction, and alcohol and drug dependency. I also work with clients in sustained recovery who are ready to move beyond sobriety and build a life that's genuinely worth showing up for.
Serving clients in Los Angeles, Pasadena, the San Gabriel Valley, and throughout California via telehealth.
Ready to connect?
The first call is free — no commitment, no pressure.
Call or text (323) 645-0050