Andrew Goldberg, PsyD

Growing up, I had a great childhood except for when I was in school.

 

That felt like a prison.

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I was not okay sitting still at a desk and being talked at all day.

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The phrases I heard most were “sit still” and “be quiet.” Because I couldn’t do either, they were usually followed by, “get out!”

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For most kids, that third line would have been embarrassing.

 

For me, it was freedom.

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Once I was out the door, I was back where I wanted to be because I was far more interested in what was going on inside my head than anything happening around me. My thoughts felt alive. I could disappear into them for hours.

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Then puberty hit, and everything changed.

My mind became an unbearable place to be.

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That’s when I found cannabis.

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At first, it was awesome. It quieted my mind and made me feel good. But it didn’t last. So I kept doing more. Trying other drugs. Pushing further. Eventually, heroin.

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Then the consequences started piling up. At school. At home. With the legal system.

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By the time I was twenty, my body had shut down and I went to rehab.

After 17 days, I got out. Not because I was ready, but because my insurance ran out.

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I wasn’t okay. I was just out.

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Thankfully, I wasn’t alone.

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I had a friend who got sober a year before me, and he helped me start building a community. My family helped me find a therapist.

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At first, therapy and community were lifelines. I leaned on them hard.

Early sobriety wasn’t easy. Some friends died. Others went to prison. A few turned their lives around.

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Slowly, things began to change.

I started getting my life back. I showed up for things I used to care about. I played in bands. I worked an honest job. I learned yoga.

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Eventually, I went back to school.

This time, I stayed.

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I earned two master’s degrees and a doctorate in clinical psychology.

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Today, I’ve dedicated my career to helping people better understand their minds, emotions, habits, and suffering. I also create tools that make mental and emotional wellness more accessible and affordable.