Dr. Geffner started to study psychology intensively during high school and knew he wanted to work in the area of mental health from the age of 17.  He volunteered at County USC psychiatric hospital and worked with homeless people and children with autism.  

He started his formal education as an undergraduate psychology major at San Diego State University in 1983, and graduated from UCLA with B.A. Psychology in 1988.  He was president of the UCLA chapter of the Psychology Honor Society for three years.

Dr. Geffner graduated from Northwestern University in Chicago in 1995 with a doctoral degree in clinical psychology and specialized in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction as well as working with severely medically ill patients who had psychological distress.

Dr. Geffner has lectured on chemical dependency at Northwestern University and on Compulsive gambling at a number of locations in conjunction with the California Council on Problem Gambling.

Dr. Geffner holds two certifications as a counselor for problems gamblers: in California and Nationally.

Dr. Geffner has appeared on TV news features and popular press such as Fox Sports West and Dear Abby.

Dr. Geffner has worked with more than 100 gamblers and their families.

Publications:

Geffner, E. S.  (1995).  The effect of a role-induction intervention on patient dropout and session attendance in chemical dependency treatment.  Doctoral Dissertation.

Pavkov, T. W., McGovern, M. P., and Geffner, E. S.  (1993).  Problem severity and symptomology among substance misusers:  The International Journal of the Addictions, 28(9), 909-922.

Affiliations:

Board Member of the California Council on Problem Gambling

Member of the National Council on Problem Gambling.

Member of the American Psychological Association.