2022 PhD DP Somatic Studies

Daniel Ballin, Ph.D., LCSW, is the Clinical Director of Covenant House California, Hollywood.  Daniel supervises a team of therapists and provides individual therapy to transitional-age youth who experience homelessness.  Daniel works with the entire Covenant House program and other community agencies to deliver comprehensive and trauma-informed services to youth experiencing homelessness.  Before his work at Covenant House, Daniel managed programs at the San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Services, Inc. for youth in the justice system experiencing mental health issues.  At the Weingart Center Association (WCA) on Skid Row, Daniel oversaw a residential treatment program for parolees experiencing homelessness upon their release from incarceration.  

Daniel obtained his doctorate in Depth Psychology with an Emphasis on Somatic Studies from Pacifica Graduate Institute in 2022.  His dissertation, entitled Wounding the Healer: Suicide’s Quest for Voice, explores the experience of clinician suicide loss survivors.  Daniel received his Master of Social Work (MSW) and Master of Public Administration (MPA) degrees from the University of Southern California in 1989.  He served on the National Advisory Board of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Technical Training and Assistance Center (RHYTTAC).  In addition, Daniel taught at the California State University, Northridge School of Social Work as a part-time faculty member.