The Pointe Malibu understands that healing from trauma, addiction, and or chronic pain is a deeply personal journey. Our polyvagal-informed approach emphasizes safety, connection, and empowerment, creating a nurturing environment where residents can explore and embrace their path to recovery.

While our foundation is rooted in comprehensive addiction treatment, we’ve recognized that many residents also grapple with trauma and chronic pain, both physical and emotional. These interconnected experiences often manifest in diverse ways, sometimes overtly, other times subtly. By integrating approaches like Pain Reprocessing Therapy, we aim to address these underlying issues, helping residents reframe their pain perceptions and alleviate suffering. Our holistic approach ensures that each individual’s unique journey is met with understanding and tailored support.

We’re excited to highlight some of the team and leadership, share about enhanced therapeutic offerings, and insights into our integrative practices, all designed to support the well-being of our residents and their families.

Empowering Residents Through Comprehensive Psychological Support

We’re pleased to announce that Dr. Les Aria has joined us full-time as Senior Psychological Consultant. His expanded role supports healing through:

Individual and Group Therapy

Dr. Aria facilitates both one-on-one and group sessions that explore the interconnected nature of trauma, addiction, and chronic pain. These sessions support deeper emotional insight, self-regulation, and engagement in the healing process.

Psychodiagnostic Evaluations

These comprehensive assessments provide detailed insight into cognitive, emotional, and behavioral patterns. The findings foster self-understanding, support self-compassion, and inform tailored treatment plans, enhancing collaboration among residents, families, and clinicians.

Multifamily Education Group

Co-led with Dr. Mel Pohl, this monthly group explores how trauma, addiction, and pain impact the broader family system. Through open dialogue, Dr. Aria and Dr. Pohl foster trust, deepen understanding, and offer families tools for ongoing support beyond treatment.

Dr. Aria’s presence enriches our integrative care model, offering meaningful tools for recovery and growth.

Our Integrated Focus: Trauma, Addiction, and Chronic Pain

We treat trauma, addiction, and chronic pain as interconnected conditions. Our team addresses them holistically, without requiring co-occurring diagnoses, through modalities such as EMDR, ACT, DBT, and Pain Reprocessing Therapy.

Guided by Dr. Mel Pohl and Dr. Les Aria, we provide care for a wide range of conditions, including:

Pain-Related Syndromes

Chronic Back Pain • Neck Pain • Joint Pain (e.g., shoulders, knees, hips) without clear structural pathology • Repetitive Strain Injuries (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome) • Fibromyalgia • Chronic Myofascial Pain • Tension Headaches • Migraines • Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ) • Pelvic Pain Syndromes (e.g., vulvodynia, prostatitis) • Interstitial Cystitis • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) • Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) • Lyme Disease • Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS)

Neurological-Like Syndromes

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (myalgic encephalomyelitis) • Non-Epileptic Seizures • Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder (conversion disorder) • Dizziness or balance problems (without a clear vestibular cause) • Paresthesias or Numbness

Autonomic and Gastrointestinal Syndromes

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) • Non-Cardiac Chest Pain • Functional Dyspepsia (indigestion) • Functional Abdominal Pain • Tachycardia and Palpitations (POTS or anxiety-related).

Highlighting Dr. Mel Pohl: Senior Medical Consultant

Dr. Mel Pohl continues to serve as our Senior Medical Consultant, providing active engagement in resident care and 24/7 on-call support for staff. His mentorship and clinical leadership are invaluable assets to our team and residents alike. With 43 years of experience in addiction medicine and a 20-year focus on co-occurring chronic pain, Dr. Pohl brings unparalleled clarity and direction to every treatment plan.