Colt Gordon, MSW

Colt is a Clinical Case Manager and Primary Therapist at Roots.  Growing up, Colt’s family battled with addiction and mental illness.  After high school, Colt quickly joined the Marine Corps.  And he served on three deployments (Iraq, Korea, and Southeast Asia). Throughout his service, Colt secretly struggled with a debilitating eating disorder, depression, and suicidal thoughts.  After being honorably discharged, his symptoms became so debilitating that he experienced homelessness. But everything changed for Colt when he resolved to receive professional help through the VA. Here he dedicated himself to do whatever it took to fully recover.  And while in treatment, Colt was given the opportunity to lead a group therapy session; at that moment, he found his calling.  He has since been awarded Student Employee of the Year as a Mental Health Peer Educator, received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from UCLA, and his master’s degree in social work from USC. 

Colt focuses on valuing clients as credible sources of their own experiences, to support what is working and to challenge what is not; and ultimately, to allow the client to teach him how he can be most effective with them. A client’s diagnosis and a clinician’s treatment modality does matter; however, it needs to be rooted in the most essential therapeutic factor. That is, the creation and maintenance of a genuine relationship.  

Colt specializes in eating disorders, veterans, and substance abuse.