My Story
“The opposite of addiction is not sobriety, the opposite of addiction is connection.”
If you had to decide between becoming a therapist, working as an investment banker on Wall Street or joining the CIA, which would you choose? At one time, I had all three options before me. I ended up choosing the field of addiction and mental health treatment.
My interest in psychology reaches back to my college days at Georgetown University, but when it came time to choose a career, I initially chose Wall Street, a path that promised financial stability and challenge: a Wall Street investment banker. Like so many others, I was lured into the “work hard, play hard” lifestyle. Somehow, I knew when to call it quits and head home, but I noticed some friends develop addictions that resulted in lost careers and lives. I wanted to understand why.
Then 9/11 came. From my Wall Street office, I saw the horror of the day unfold before my eyes. Afterward, massive layoffs took place on Wall Street and, after voluntarily choosing to accept a severance package, I used the opportunity to do some soul searching. I applied to the CIA and, halfway through that process, applied to Pepperdine University to pursue my interest in psychology. My offer letter from Pepperdine arrived the week before an offer from the CIA. I chose to earn a masters and a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology and become a licensed clinical psychologist.
I have had the privilege of working for the last 15 years as Clinical Director and Chief Psychologist at some of the world’s most renowned mental health and addiction treatment centers, including: Bridges to Recovery in Beverly Hills; The Kusnacht Practice in Zurich, Switzerland; Passages Malibu, and Promises Malibu--treating some of the most famous, successful and powerful people in the world.
I am passionate about researching and exploring consciousness, the power of the mind-body relationship, and how to tune into and activate our self-healing potential. I have spent the last 20 years researching the healing potentials of psychedelics and plant medicines, and have been fortunate to participate in many indigenous healing ceremonies with master healers/shamans from around the world.
I specialize in working with dual-diagnosis individuals who struggle with some combination of anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, relationship issues, and addiction.
Using a combination of trauma-informed cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, as well as humanistic-existential based insight-oriented therapy, I compassionately help clients understand who they are, why they do what they do, and how past traumas have contributed to negative core beliefs and dysfunctional thoughts, which fuel addictive and destructive behavioral patterns in their lives. You can be addicted to almost anything in life – drugs, alcohol, food, sex, work, fitness, gambling, emotional states and ways of being, etc., – and even if the problem isn’t the same, the underlying issues often are. As a therapist, the key is being a great listener and having empathy for whatever my clients are facing—creating a safe space and container where you are able to be completely open and honest—without any fear of judgment.
Having worked closely with countless individuals over the years, I have personally witnessed what does and does not work for people trying to recover from mental health and addiction challenges.
An avid world traveler, I’ve visited more than 105 countries and territories to date. My travels not only enrich me personally, but they also make me a better psychologist. I love exploring different cultures, their belief systems, traditions, and ways of being. One of my primary goals is to travel to every country in the world before my time is up!
"I've been seeing Dr. Bacher for a few weeks now and the improvements I've seen in my mental health are amazing. Dr. Bacher doesn't just ask you to talk about your day; he asks thought-provoking questions to drive a conversation forward. I appreciate everything he's done for me and look forward to continuing to work with him."
- Tyler, 29
“Dr. Bacher's open-minded and holistic approach to mental health and wellness has not only provided me with the skills to tackle the challenges I face day-to-day, his approach has also given me new perspectives on how to create meaning and purpose in my life. His coaching has helped me begin to understand how I can show up authentically myself and move through the world in a way that brings a high degree of comfort and fulfillment. His willingness to meet me where I am, judgement-free and teach me the skills and techniques to manage stress and anxiety, work through personal matters and optimize my own performance have drastically improved my ability to cope with my own fears and the unknown. I have enjoyed my time with Dr. Bacher and intend to continue working with him to better myself, navigate challenges as they arise and find deeper meaning in my own life.”
- KH, 28