I have been attending Gateway for almost 2 years now and I feel very fulfilled by my experience there and time spent with my therapist Karen Alonso. I highly recommend her, weve been working together and I cant give her enough credit for all of my progress made. I appreciate her patience, expertise, and understanding. Gateway makes sure that the therapist the pair you with is compatible to your needs and I truly feel like Karen was the perfect match. Not only is she caring, empathetic she makes you feel comfortable in a setting which can be a vulnerable experience. Thank you Karen! Thank you Gateway!

The Gateway Institute was an answer to our prayers. As parents, we did not want to label our child as having OCD and struggled with the decision to seek help. But the symptoms grew to the point where we were dealing with suicidal thoughts and it began affecting our entire family and our relationships. We finally sought professional help and were referred by a therapist to Gateways intensive program. It was an amazing experience and we saw our child begin to break free of the intrusive thoughts with the help of his therapist Brad, who was not only gentle and encouraging, but was also firm and persistent. Our ten year old child said even though Brad was an adult, he could relate to his therapist like a friend, and he helped tremendously because he gave him tools to use to help him overcome OCD. Even before the end of the three week therapy period, our child was already the boy we knew before the OCD started. Brad also explained to us as parents the basis behind ERP (Exposure & Response Prevention) therapy that was used to help our child. It was not easy at first, and can even cause more anxiety initially because you have to be exposed to what you may fear, but if you do the work and hang in there, you will be on freedom road, sooner than later. We also really appreciated Brads soothing demeanor, and he was fun as well and helped us as a family understand each other better. Everyone in the office was incredibly pleasant and kind, from Juhree who did the initial intake to Selena at the front desk, and also the director Jim, who went above and beyond to help us work out insurance coverage details--which helped us get the entire treatment covered by Kaiser. We highly recommend Gateway.

The experience I had at the Gateway Institute was amazing. Before the intensive treatment program, I could not really function on a day-to-day basis because of my OCD. My life was consumed by it and it was extremely distressing. I had not felt like myself in years and I had honestly forgotten what it was like to live without the interference of OCD. The guidance and support they give you during the program is excellent and because of this I no longer battle with OCD on a daily basis. The employees have a deep understanding of OCD and never made me feel out of place no matter what my compulsions or thoughts were. My therapist, Chris was fantastic. While the therapy may seem intimidating at first, I can assure you it is beyond liberating to free yourself from the grip of OCD. I completed the program over 6 months ago and I am better than ever. The tools they give you during the program are useful for overcoming more than just OCD and can be applied after therapy as well. I cannot imagine having done any other therapy program.

This place gave me a lot of tools to use when I’m struggling with my OCD. While I still have a long way to go with my OCD, I can see progression that I wouldn’t have seen without this institute. There are fears that have left because of the tools they gave me, and I am learning to accept my feelings rather than push them away and refuse to feel them. I definitely recommend this place if you struggle with OCD. The tools that will give you and the support and understanding they provide is amazing. It’s nice to know that what you’re feeling is common and natural, and to not be judged while talking about your experiences and feelings is wonderful. The help they provide is amazing, and I hope you consider this place if you struggle with OCD.

Choosing to go through therapy at Gateway is probably the best decision I have made for my mental health. I was dealing with severe symptoms of OCD and had reached the point where I was not really leaving the house. I worked with Matt in the intensive outpatient program. I was hesitant on what progress I could make when going into the program. He explained the mindset I would need to succeed, the background on how the treatment would proceed, and the methods we would be using extremely well. Matt was honest yet encouraging through the whole process. It was not easy during the three weeks of treatment, but seeing changes in my life throughout the process kept me going and made it well worth it.It’s been 2 months since I finished treatment, and I continue to see how much the therapy worked and continues to work. The tools that Matt equipped me with remain in the back of my head when I run into moments of high anxiety and want to perform compulsions, and I am able to handle those moments way better than I did before. I feel more free, laidback, and calm than I ever have in my life. I am able to live in a way that I couldn’t before treatment. I have just moved in with a new roommate, which four months ago I would have thought to be impossible as someone dealing with contamination.I can’t imagine where I’d be mentally if I hadn’t gone through this treatment. I now feel equipped to live life without constantly worrying about how anxiety and OCD will play into what I’m doing.

Incredible service, staff & attention to detail! Chris & Jim helped our family so much and we are forever grateful! We would not be the same without their help & expertise!

The Gateway Institute and Chris T were amazing to work with. They gave me some great tools to deal with the some of the issues I was going through. I highly recommend their services, you won’t be disappointed.

I will forever be thankful for the Gateway Institute and the team of people that helped my daughter get relief from her OCD. My 13-year-old daughter was diagnosed with OCD and within months OCD had taken over her life. We were referred to Gateway when we could not get adequate help in Washington. By the time we arrived at Gateway she was performing 9 hours of rituals a day and barely sleeping. Gateway was the first hope we had in months. My daughter did the IOP, within 3 weeks she had the skills to better handle her OCD and our family now knows go to properly support her. She worked with Chris but all the therapist there are fabulous. When you get to a point that you or somebody you love needs treatment it is hard to jump in. I will hands down say going to Gateway was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Gateway makes it so easy to get treatment.

A wonderful treatment centre that allows people living with OCD to learn and grow, giving them the tools to succeed and live a healthy life!

I have had OCD since I was 10 years old. It got much worse with the start of the pandemic and has spiraled out of control. I have tried a lot of different programs and therapies, but Gateways was the best. My therapist, Brad Wilson, helped me get my life back through ERP therapy. My OCD severity score started at a 33/40 (extreme OCD) and I finished my Intensive Outpatient Program with a 4/40 (subclinical). I recommend this program to anyone struggling with OCD. Brad and Gateway gave me the tools I needed to live my life without OCD interference.

I am beyond thankful for The Gateway Institute and the life-changing support that they have provided me. If you put in the work, they will help you defeat the debilitating condition OCD can be. Your therapist will give their all, and as long as you stay the course, you will see results. Because of The Gateway Institute I feel like I got a piece of my life back. They helped me through one of the toughest times in my life and gave me the skillset to move forward and live again.Thank you to Karen and Gateway for all that they have done for me!

Extremely insightful and life changing experience. I was fortunate enough to receive a referral from Kaiser and take part in the three week intensive program. I worked with the therapist Bradley. After coming out of the program, I rarely struggle with intrusive thoughts and have regained control over my life. I have been the happiest Ive ever been. Brad was the first therapist to truly help me challenge my anxieties and overcome them. Most people will be initially uncomfortable with exposure therapy since youll be facing your fears directly. What you get out of here will entirely depend on the work and effort you choose to put into the program. For the first time in my life, I feel like I can face anything no matter what comes my way

The Gateway Institute is the genuine article for OCD treatment and related issues. They have worked out the ideal treatment and they implement it with exceptional professional skill and attention to the needs of the sufferer. My son worked with Brad Wilson, who truly knows whereof he speaks. I cannot be more pleased with my sons immediate progress in utilizing the toolbox of skills given to him for vanquishing his OCD. His growth in cementing these skills throughout the three-weeks of daily sessions was exceptional and I expect the follow-up will be important and well worth paying for. Indeed, I have no regrets whatsoever paying for this life-changing treatment. Worth every dollar spent.

We researched several places to find help for our adult son who struggled with severe OCD, so much so, that it affected his daily life. The Gateway institute was the perfect fit. Matt Codde was a very authentic and intentional therapist that was able to relate to our son and meet his needs. He made it very clear that the effort put forth would be work, because obviously hard work leads to success, and in this case it did. He reminded us that our son is, The Hero of his own story. Thank you so much for your dedication and for not giving up on our son, we are confident that he will be able to accomplish anything he sets his mind to.

Gateway institute did wonders for my ocd, specifically therapist Matt Codde was an amazing help throughout the therapy process.

I cant thank the Gateway Institute enough for helping me through a tough time. The techniques and tools taught to me by Matt Codde were very effective. He has created a program that walks you through a better understanding of OCD and then lays out the steps to stop your compulsions.I have seen numerous therapists in the last 20 years and this is the first time a therapist has given me actual techniques to battle intrusive thoughts and take control of my anxiety. I highly recommend it.Never will you be free of OCD entirely, but these techniques will make the OCD less of a controlling part of your life. Thank you, Gateway!

The psychological state that has put my brother in because of this place is concerning. Small case of OCD to SI behavior. My brother was fun, social, and outgoing. Now I cant get my brother to even come out of the room. I want my brother back and i dont know what this place did to change

I was fortunate to connect with The Gateway Institute for treatment of OCD and Anxiety that I had struggled with for decades. I went through the intensive 3 week program with therapist Matt Codde, who taught me invaluable CBT based tools to get me through a particularly paralyzed and anxious state. He was very knowledgeable and passionate, drawing on a breadth of personal experience. I would recommend this program to anyone struggling with OCD and/or Anxiety. The focus here is on building tools, facing fears, putting in the hard work, and essentially becoming your own therapist. I feel more equipped than ever before to navigate lifes challenges, and I want to thank Matt and The Gateway Institute for that new found confidence.

For the past couple weeks, I have been coming to The Gateway Institute in order to get my life back from OCD/anxiety. Matt has been my therapist here, and I must say that he was great. I was a little intimidated at first, but that’s how I usually am with people. I managed to open up about my mental problems and figure out what exactly was ruining my quality of life. I must admit that confronting my fears was a very difficult process, but ultimately worth it. I’m finally starting to look forward to putting myself out there in the world!

When I first came to Gateway Institute, I was very sick with my OCD. I couldnt go out in public, school, and do things I loved to do because of my compulsions. When I really thought there was no solution, I found the Gateway Institute. I did their three week intensives program and it has been life changing for me. During the intensives, I did something called Exposure and Response Prevention where I got exposed to things that triggered my compulsions. Matt was my therapist and he did a fantabulous job guiding me and walking me throughout the treatment. He did everything in a very organized manner and structure and made it really easy for me to understand and follow. Though it wasnt easy attacking my fears and OCD, I can confidently say that I dont regret coming here and that I love my life now so much more than before coming to TGI. I highly recommend you come and try the intensive program if you or your loved one is suffering from OCD or anxiety!

I found The Gateway Institute about a year and a half ago when I hit rock bottom. Ive had a lot of experience with other therapist but none of them compare to my therapist Chris Tronsden at Gateway. When I first walked into The Gateway Institute I was extremely depressed, scared and had no direction in my life. When first meeting Chris he was very friendly and professional. My therapist Chris is very unique in the way that he has been through it too and knows what its like. He really wants to see his clients succeed and get their lives back on track. After three months of seeing Chris I was a completely changed person. To be honest I dont know if I would be alive today if it werent for The Gateway Institute and Chris. The Gateway Institute also have support groups that meet each week. I have been attending the younger adult support group for a year now and have seen so many younger kids and adults turn their lives around. I highly recommend The Gateway Institute! Treatment isnt easy but Gateway has the tools you need in order to get healthy again!

Do NOT send your loved ones here! They will mess them up psychologically! This place will take your life away!

The Gateway Institute significantly changed my life for the better. Before going to Gateway, I had been to a lot of talk therapists, who were very nice people and with whom I enjoyed interacting, but talk therapy does not help (and may even hurt!) OCD patients. Ive been going to Gateway for over a year, and my friends and family have noticed so much improvement on my behalf, and I really feel like a new person because of it. Yes, their recommended technique (exposure and response prevention; ERP) takes work and patience; it will be super frustrating and it will make you feel like you want to give in to the obsessions and compulsions. However, if you make a concentrated effort, use your support systems, and adhere to what the therapists recommend, then you will see results. I highly, HIGHLY recommend The Gateway Institute. They basically saved my life. :)

OCD is a difficult disorder to deal with and not a lot of doctors get it. Before finding The Gateway Institute, I was only diagnosed with anxiety. Doctors mainly focused on putting me on medications and giving me breathing exercises. However, when I had a consultation with The Gateway Institute, Brad was able to figure out that it was OCD right away. As I began the treatment, finally figuring out what I had was a life changer. The treatment made sense and I got a heck of a lot better.I am now able to go on trips to the lake where our family has a place. Before treatment, the house felt contaminated and I missed out on years of family vacations. I was able to go back to college and graduate and now I have a job that I love. Thank you for everything Brad, Chris, and Jim. Appreciate it.

They are terrible! They will make your psychological problems 10x worse!

The Gateway Institute has been an immensely positive and helpful place for someone very close to me. Therapist Chris and the program he involves his patients in really works and there are noticeable improvements. I would recommend The Gateway Institute to anyone who is personally struggling or knows someone who struggles with disorders like OCD. Thank you Gateway for all that you have done.

I was diagnosed with OCD in 2010 which is when I found The Gateway Institute. At the time, I had been housebound for a year and was doing an intensive but also needed the extra support from weekly groups. 6 years later, I still attend group on a regular basis and I have such an immense amount of gratitude for The Gateway Institute. Every single staff member has contributed in such a special way to my ongoing recovery and I truly owe this place everything for giving me the tools to claim my life back.Thank you Jim, Chris, Juhree, Mary, Tiffany and Brad for ALL that you do.

The Gateway Institute is a great place in southern California to seek treatment if you are struggling with OCD or other anxiety-related disorder(s). I struggle with OCD and depression, and have sought (Exposure and Response Prevention) treatment and counsel from them over the years, both of thich have helped me to have a much better quality of life and manage my struggle with OCD. The therapists at Gateway really get the treatment modalities! They genuinely care about you as an individual, and want to help you get better and succeed in treatment. I have worked with Chris Trondsen at Gateway, and highly recommend him. The support groups thay they facilitate are also very helpful and beneficial. Thank you, Gateway, for providing much-needed hope and help to people who struggle with mental health challenges!

My experience was awful The staff was incredibly unprofessional.The interns constantly talk about their clients behind there back specially one named Mary. Who literally told me personal details about a person and the person knows who she is. Chris, The therapist I was seeing was fabulous at first however, after being there for more than three weeks there duration of time allowed his skills to lack and he showed more friendship qualities nothing like a therapist Jim Sterner who supposedly is the one that looks over everything did nothing is never there and is trying to have Chris take over so Jim can leave. Leaving them with no psychologist. Just someone with a BA not even a masters. so go to Gateway if you want to waste your time. And wow the review below me is such a copy cat of situations I was not fond of and then tried to spin it in a possotive way. Wow, does this chick work there! DO NOT GO TO THIS FACILITY THEY LIE! Read my review and then read the bottom and compare. Doesn’t it sound a little strange oh Felicia! Oh and trust me this place will give up on you they did it to me. It’s taken me a year to feel like I don’t want to take my life due to this clinic and the horror they spread. Let’s put it this way my whole extended family hates gateway for the malpractice insued if that doesn’t say something about there ethics than I don’t know what does. If I could put zero stars I would. Also, I would like to add that Jim sterner called me personally to “change” my review. I wrote this about a month maybe a tad longer, I haven’t spoken to gateway in a year.

When my daughter was diagnosed with OCD and anxiety, my husband and I did not know what to do. We spent about three years taking her to different doctors and therapists who knew anxiety but did not really understand her OCD.The Gateway Institute came highly recommended and I am so thankful we took our daughter here. She received treatment about a year ago and is still doing really well. She also attended their support group and enjoyed them.My husband and I attended the family support group they have monthly and we found it useful to learn what we were doing that was not helping her.I cannot thank this place enough for how much they helped our family. They also set us up with a psychiatrist that my daughter still sees periodically for check-ups and he ended up being great. This place really helped our family!

I have suffered from OCD since I was a young child, and since going to Gateway for treatment this past year, I have finally found the Hope, Solutions, and Support I have sought for so long. Although I was able to be quite successful in business, I constantly dealt with the hidden shame of my OCD contamination and safety fears, and ultimately, as a result of my OCD lost my marriage and fell into a deep depression. I came to Gateway, as a last attempt; but in less than 6 months I have gained over 90% control of my symptoms. Jim Sterner, and his staff have been exceptionally kind, and extremely professional. Through the intense treatment program, ERP approach, and psycho education about OCD; I now have the tools I need to live my live fully, despite the occasional OCD challenges I encounter. Likewise, the ongoing support through Gateway as I steadily progress has given me the foundation I need to regain and rebuild my life and family. If you are looking for solutions and support for yourself or family, I would strongly recommend reaching out to Jim and his team. Through Gateway, their is truly hope for those with OCD.

I simply cannot speak highly enough about the Gateway Institute. It is (literally) a life saver. As a one time sufferer of severe and debilitating obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), it is difficult to find therapists who truly specialize in cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure-response prevention therapy. That is what makes Gateway so unique. The therapists here specialize in the treatment of OCD, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and other specialized forms of anxiety disorder. They really know their stuff, and they are very active with the International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation (IOCDF), which gives me the extra bit of confidence that Im getting the latest and most cutting edge therapy.I came to Gateway from an outpatient hospital program in 2010 after I suffered a severe onset of OCD symptoms. Ive had OCD my entire life, sought treatment during my teens and twenties, and thought I had it kicked. I spent most of my 30s without treatment of any kind. Then, when I hit 36, a confluence of life events brought it back - HARD. After contacting the IOCDF, they referred me to Gateway. When I met with the director (Jim Sterner), I instantly knew I found my therapeutic home. At the time a 36-year old professional, it was difficult opening up about such awful intrusive thoughts. Yet Jim has a way of putting people at ease. He confirmed my OCD diagnosis and reviewed what I could expect from treatment. This is not talk therapy. Therapy here requires exposure to the very things we fear in order to conquer them. He assured me that - though itd be tough - wed get through it together. (He even worked with me to get my HMO to agree to cover a year of treatment!!!)Needless to say, it is 2018 and I am healthy, strong, and confident. I no longer have/need regular appointments with therapists at Gateway. I am on below-clinical levels of medication, and I attend the weekly OCD support group that Gateway offers for maintenance, and to help others at the beginning of their recovery. Honestly - how many therapists provide support groups for their clients who share similar diagnoses?If you want the best treatment for OCD and anxiety disorders around, look no further than Gateway. But be prepared to work toward recovery. Like other treatment programs (physicial therapy, AA), cognitive therapy and exposure response is tough. But the reward is a better you!

From suffering with OCD since I was in elementary school, all the way until after high school graduation, I truly believe this place saved my life. I had tried therapy other places but my OCD was so bad that I really needed someone to hold me accountable. I did the 3 week intensive program with Chris Trondsen but had interaction with everyone in the office including the founder Jim Sterner. Brad was of great help as well. Everyone here is really specialized in the treatment of OCD and thanks to their tools and commitment, I have my life back. Group therapy once a week was a really helpful tool as well and allowed me to connect with others and get support in that way as well. The best thing about this place is they wont give up on you. If they see you want to get better they will be there until you are. And if it seems you dont, they will remind you of all the reasons you should.Location is also beautiful. I was at the Costa Mesa location. Very convienent with lots of great hotels nearby if you are coming from out of town (which I did) and lots of great food and shopping nearby. (Ask the staff for recommendations too, I got some great ones from them)Whether you come here for their intensive program or for weekly sessions or whatever it may be, you are going to be getting some of the most specialized and personalized treatment. I highly recommend them and will be forever greatful of the impact this place has made on my entire life.

Very nice people and great service.