Adrian Downing-Espinal, LMSW-LP, CASAC Master

Staff Therapist

She/They

Adrian joins IHI after a decade-long career in behavioral health services, specializing in substance use counseling and case management. Their experience encompasses residential abstinence-based recovery, outpatient harm reduction, and intensive outpatient, serving clients from adolescents to retired seniors, homeless veterans, sex workers, individuals living with HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C, and professionals from a variety of industries.

Adrian’s approach, grounded in feminist, anti-oppressive, and anti-racist theory, sees therapy as a safe space to gain insight into the nature and origin of the issues causing distress and to collaboratively identify strategies and techniques- from concrete and practical cognitive-behavioral interventions, to using a meaning-centered approach to delve into deeper issues such as family of origin, childhood trauma, and existential challenges within the broader socio-political context.

Adrian establishes a therapeutic relationship built on trust, safety, and mutual respect and utilizes an active, collaborative, and holistic approach driven by each client's unique needs and goals. Common issues addressed include addiction (substances and behaviors), anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, guilt and shame, low self-esteem, chronic stress/burnout, communication, boundaries, body image, the coming out process, relationship issues, and isolation/disconnection from self and community.

Educational background:

Master of Social Work, Disaster and Collective Trauma focus, Tulane University

BA in Sociology, minors in Gender Studies and Leadership, University of San Diego

Certificate of Achievement, Alcohol and Other Drug Studies, San Diego City College