Ara Darakjian
Personalized Psychiatric CareServing the Pasadena Community
“I aim to help people connect with core feelings, which results in not just a reduction of symptoms, but a life full of freedom and joy”
My Story
Dr. Ara Darakjian is a psychiatrist currently practicing in Pasadena. A southern California native, Dr. Darakjian is a graduate of La Canada High School. From there, he developed an interest in the brain at UCLA, where he graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s of Science in Neuroscience.
Dr. Darakjian continued his studies at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine in Florida. There he cultivated a passion for understanding and treating mental disorders, building a strong understanding of where psychiatry currently stands, as well as its trajectory for the future.
Dr. Darakjian came back to southern California and completed his residency at Los Angeles County + University of Southern California (LAC+USC) Medical Center, where he served as chief resident of the outpatient clinic.
During his residency, he spearheaded multiple projects, including an “insomnia initiative” to make Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) available to the entire LAC+USC campus.
He developed other psychotherapy skills by immersing himself in the study of Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP), which incorporates a cutting edge model of anxiety and therapeutic interventions.
While exploring the psychological aspects of mental illness, Dr. Darakjian did not neglect the biological aspect, conducting research on the effects of a ketogenic diet on cognition and mood in the general population.
Dr. Darakjian is passionate about his work and the psychiatric field’s potential to help people and make the world a better place.
My Approach
Dr. Darakjian completed medical school at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He completed his psychiatric residency at Los Angeles County + University of Southern California medical center. He has a medical license in the state of California and is Board Certified.
Dr. Darakjian specializes in combining psychotherapy and medication to produce the best outcomes in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and interpersonal difficulties.
My Values & Beliefs
Robust Change
For sustainable and robust change, most people need a new way in which to process their emotions, and the anxiety generated by them
Committment
I am committed to seeing all of my patients weekly, with a heavy emphasis on psychotherapy
Helping People
I aim to help people connect with core feelings, which results in not just a reduction of symptoms, but a life full of freedom and joy