Who We Are

Dr. Small received his medical degree at the University of Hawaii. He completed his medical residency in Psychiatry and Family Medicine at University of California San Diego. He is triple board certified in Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine, and Family Medicine. Dr. Small is passionate about bringing quality care to patients suffering with addiction. Since he is an addiction specialist and a psychiatrist as well as a medical doctor, he has all bases covered when it comes to mental health and the many manifestations of addiction. Prior to developing his private practice, Dr. Small worked for the Veterans Administration in La Jolla, CA as an addiction psychiatrist. He also worked for the University of California San Diego as a resident physician in family medicine and psychiatry. During that time, he served as the Chief Resident Physician for the Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program in Addiction Psychiatry. Dr. Small is a powerful member of Throttle & Thrive’s team.

Dr. Shane has been a psychotherapist for almost 40 years and developed a system of therapy based on the somatic treatment of trauma. He has been a Behavioral Sleep Therapist for over 25 years. Through extensive research and exploration, Dr. Shane gained an understanding of the physiological process of how the mind and body actually fall asleep. With that knowledge, additional years of research and clinical experience, he created the SleepEasy method, an advanced form of cognitive-behavioral therapy different from all other sleep methods. Dr. Shane is passionate about bringing good sleep to the clients of Throttle & Thrive, as good sleep will support them in succeeding with all aspects of the program and having a deep quality of life. For first responders, good sleep is not just a matter of health—it is sometimes a matter of life-and-death safety. 

Ari practices from strengths-based approach, while using a humanistic experience to allow the client to feel safe and grow. Ari has an extensive background working with individuals, couples, and families. He treats each person as an individual, assessing his or her difficulties, and focusing on his or her positives. A focus of Ari’s profession surrounds the drug and alcohol treatment field. He has extensive experience and knowledge surrounding recovery. Another focus of Ari’s practice is couples and relationships. He has worked for a number of years with many individuals and couples experiencing difficulties in relationships.

Steve Walker is an associate clinical counselor, Marine Corps Veteran, and he is currently working on his doctoral degree in Marriage & Family Therapy at Loma Linda University. Steve earned his Master’s Degree in Counseling at Loyola Marymount University and he currently works as a therapist in private practice. He enjoys helping his clients with anxiety, depression, and relationships. His passion for being a therapist and counselor was born from wanting to support and help heal veterans returning home with traumatic brain injury (TBI), PTS and other mental health issues.

Amanda grew up in Manhattan Beach and now lives in Torrance with her family. Her journey in the mental health field has been fueled by a passion for understanding human behavior and a deep desire to make a real difference in people’s lives. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Currently, she is pursuing her Doctorate, focusing on trauma. Amanda has extensive experience and passion for working with first responders and in the field of addiction. Amanda is well versed in Internal Family Systems (IFS), somatic therapy and Brainspotting. Her goal is to help clients move beyond persistent ruminations and also empower them to recognize their patterns as parts of a broader system.

Marilyn specializes in treating complex trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Through her extensive practice, she has developed a profound understanding of the nuanced challenges associated with these conditions. Her therapeutic approach is grounded in evidence-based practices, and adeptly employs Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Trauma Focused-CBT (TF-CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology from the University of La Verne and earned a Master’s degree in Social Work from California State University, Dominguez Hills. She is committed to breaking down barriers and destigmatizing mental health services, ensuring that individuals from diverse backgrounds feel empowered to seek the support they deserve.

Matthew “Matty” Fiorenza is a retired Firefighter/Paramedic with 22 years of service. After ten years on the job, he began having issues with anxiety, stress, and depression and was later diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  Today Matty is a sober mentor to men and woman in the First Responder community. He proactively reaches out to brothers and sisters who may be struggling. His experience includes working as an instructor with Santa Ana College to facilitate mental health blocks with new recruits so they have healthier coping skills. He has also worked as a Shepard for the Save A Warrior suicide prevention program and co-created a successful First Responder Treatment facility. His passion is to provide other First Responders with education, resources, hope, and a path towards healing.

Laurent grew up in Redondo Beach, California. Since adolescence he suffered with substance abuse issues that consumed him until he recognized his need to change. Laurent went to treatment to regain control of his life. He wanted to be part of the solution and not the problem. In sobriety, Laurent’s passion for his family has come to life and today he is an incredible father to his three children and loving husband to his wife. As a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor, Laurent understands firsthand the journey of recovery. Laurent has since continued to maintain his sobriety, rebuild his family and work hard to build a life he can appreciate and enjoy. As the Program Director at Throttle & Thrive, Laurent is determined to provide the best care, compassion and understanding for our clients.