Hello and Welcome
to Renew
Hello and welcome to Renew. As close friends and professional colleagues, we’ve had the privilege of working together for many years, treating patients with IV Ketamine. Our experience, both in the Emergency Departments and in daily practice, has shown us the limitations of traditional medicine when it comes to treating mental health and chronic pain. This is why we are so passionate about Ketamine – we’ve seen firsthand how it can transform lives in a profound, evidence-based way.
Our mission is simple: to make this life-changing treatment as accessible as possible for those who need it, while optimizing every part of the experience to ensure you receive the highest level of care. We believe in the incredible healing potential of Ketamine, and we know that its effects can be even more powerful when combined with a thoughtful, integrative psychotherapy program.
We’re here to help you Renew your outlook on life, and we can’t wait to be part of your journey.
Meet The Doctors
Seal Beach Medical Director
Dr. David Richter
Seal Beach Medical Director
Hi, my name is Dr. David Richter and I am a Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Since immigrating to the United Stated from the Czech Republic at the age of eighteen, I have had many varied interests and have always felt great compassion towards healing others.
During my medical training at UC Irvine and USC, along with my current practice in the
Emergency Department, I became more interested in integrative approaches to help my patients heal by addressing both the body and mind in uniform. Working in the ED has helped me to understand many of the pitfalls of our current care model which tends to focus on body systems rather than the body as a whole. I was mainly realizing the gaps in mental healthcare, which are increasingly reflected in growing ED visits for some of the most vulnerable patients, and our systemic inability to address them. Moreover, current psychotherapies are frequently not able to help patients that suffer from rebound depressive symptoms, generalized anxiety, PTSD, and other psychological disorders. With my growing passion to understand these processes better, I delved into research and further specialized training using Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). Ketamine is a medication that I have extensive experience using in the ED, and it is showing great results in augmenting mental health care. I have taken the formalized Fluence certificate program in KAP and continue to educate myself with Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) workshops and seminars. Learning alongside many of the leaders in this field, paired with personal experiences with patients, I have gained a new appreciation for this medication when used in harmony with proper therapeutic techniques. I am ever more hopeful to help people discover their own inner healing intelligence on their path to mending.
Meet the Therapists
Maria Lloyd, LMFT
Maria is passionate about providing the right attachment, support and resources to help a person heal themselves. She is holistic in her approach and addresses the mind, body and spirit to support health and healing.
Maria specializes in working with Highly Sensitive People (HSP’s) and empaths facing trauma, anxiety and/or depression. Her training in Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy offers a pathway for clients stuck in their patterns and trauma an avenue for profound breakthroughs. Maria is trained in neuropsychotherapy to utilize brain based science tools to help the whole person heal. She utilizes Internal Family Systems (IFS) so people can uncover the parts of themselves that are protecting them to live life firmly from the real self. Somatic approaches are utilized since trauma is stored in the body. Maria is also trained in Brainspotting (an attachment based form of EMDR) that utilizes eye movements to release trauma.
In addition to her private practice, Maria films a podcast with Dr. Yanuck and Dr. Richter called Catalyst for Healing. They are passionate about getting the right information out to the public to educate about having the best experience with ketamine treatments.
https://www.youtube.com/@CatalystforHealingPodcast
As I learned about the effectiveness of psychedelics in clinical trials and the need for psychedelic-informed and trained clinicians, I knew this was what I wanted to do. I completed a one-year psychedelic integration certificate program through Fluence in 2021, a six-month rater adherence training program from MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) and an intensive ketamine three-day training at a well-known ketamine clinic.
Today, I provide compassionate, trauma-informed, and neuroscience-based psychotherapy. In addition to my experience providing psychedelic preparation, integration and harm reduction, my clients benefit from my over 30 years of professional experience and advanced training in DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) and most recently training in CIMBS (Complex Integration of Multiple Brain Systems). I look forward to working together to assist in your healing and well-being.
Kai Lewis
My name is Kai Lewis (they/he) and I am a CA Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Since 2019, I have been combining evidence-based therapeutic interventions with real world applicability to provide therapy for individuals, relational units, and groups. I have a holistic and collaborative approach to mental health care that incorporates mind, body, and lifestyle as it relates to you- a unique individual.
After receiving my undergraduate degree in Psychology from the California Polytechnic University of Pomona, I attended the University of Southern California for my Master’s of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy. Throughout my education, I have been involved in research labs surrounding the mind body connection, including cognitive language processing, social-relational communication, and nutritional effects on mental health.
There is not a one-size-fits all approach to mental health; I value assisting patients in exploring all options available for their care, going beyond traditional talk therapy. After reading emerging research on ketamine’s high efficacy rate and ability to facilitate transformational results as part of treatment for certain mental health experiences, I knew this is something I wanted to offer as part of holistic mental health care.
In 2022, I completed Fluence’s Ketamine Assisted Therapy training and the 2022 Sana Symposium Conference focused on the intersectionality of ketamine and mental health care. I also regularly attend workshops, such as through MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies), and consume up-to-date literature around psychoactive substances in mental health care treatment. My approach focuses on harm reduction, preparation, integration, and patient collaboration in exploring mental health care options. I am also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, Somatic Experiencing Therapy, and I am an LGBTQ and Neurodivergent affirming provider.
Sabrina Owen
Hello, my name is Sabrina Owen. I have been licensed in California as Marriage and Family Therapist since 1999. After growing up watching a family member struggle to find effective mental health treatment, I pursued a career in psychology – receiving my BA in psychology and my MA in counseling psychology. To further my practice, I stay up to date on the recent developments in mental health care. One of the most exciting advancements is the use of psychedelic treatments.
As I learned about the effectiveness of psychedelics in clinical trials and the need for psychedelic-informed and trained clinicians, I knew this was what I wanted to do. I completed a one-year psychedelic integration certificate program through Fluence in 2021, a six-month rater adherence training program from MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) and an intensive ketamine three-day training at a well-known ketamine clinic.
Today, I provide compassionate, trauma-informed, and neuroscience-based psychotherapy. In addition to my experience providing psychedelic preparation, integration and harm reduction, my clients benefit from my over 30 years of professional experience and advanced training in DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy), and most recently training in CIMBS (Complex Integration of Multiple Brain Systems). I look forward to working together to assist in your healing and well-being.
Our Clinics
Welcome to our clinic, where you will discover a tranquil, quiet, calming environment to enhance your healing. Everything about our clinic is designed and chosen with a deep level of intention to optimize a true healing environment. Let our unique setting support your path to renewal.
