Home / Our Therapists | Dr. Laird & Dr. Shari Bridgman, Lake Forest
Our Therapists | Dr. Laird & Dr. Shari Bridgman, Lake Forest
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Meet Dr. Laird and Dr. Shari Bridgman
We opened Bridgman Psychological Services in Lake Forest to help people the best we can: with grief, loss, depression, anxiety, relationships, addiction, personal growth, and the challenges children and teens face.
Rev. Dr. Laird Bridgman, Psy.D., CEAP
Dr. Bridgman has an extensive background in addiction and recovery and special expertise in recovery from compulsive behaviors. His clinical specialties include depression and anxiety, personal growth work, relationship issues, executive consultation and coaching, addictions, and helping those in a significant relationship with someone struggling with addiction.
He earned his doctorate in psychology at the Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University and completed a year-long extramural fellowship at the Beck Institute, where he trained in cognitive and behavioral therapy with Dr. Aaron Beck and Dr. Judy Beck. He is a Fellow and Diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies.
Ministry & recovery
An ordained minister, Dr. Bridgman founded Renewed Hope/Renewal from Sexual Addiction Ministries (RSA) in 1992, the world's first Christ-centered self-help program for individuals and families affected by sexual addiction. He was the consulting psychologist for Celebrate Recovery at Saddleback Church for over twenty years and co-developed the program materials.
Teaching
He has taught graduate psychology courses for over 25 years and has served as a full professor and core faculty member at The Chicago School in Anaheim since 2019. He is also a published author, public speaker and publisher.
Employee assistance
For 9 years he served as Director of Provider Services, Director of Employee Assistance Programming and Senior Care Manager for Integrated Behavioral Health, serving Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 employers and unions including Apple, Mack Trucks, Johnson & Johnson, Binney & Smith, UAW and IBEW.
Credentials
- Licensed Psychologist (PSY14510)
- Certified Employee Assistance Professional (EAPA)
- Fellow and Diplomate, Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies
- Ordained Minister (Evangelical Church Alliance)
- Faculty, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and Vanguard University Graduate Studies in Psychology
Who he sees & when
Ages: Adolescents 13 and up, adults and senior adults.
Office hours: Tuesday 7 am to 7 pm. Telehealth for existing patients, variable openings.
Follow along: his YouTube channel Psychology4EveryDay, and @docbridgman on Instagram, X and Pinterest.
Dr. Shari Bridgman, Ph.D.
Dr. Shari Bridgman is a licensed marriage and family therapist with many years of experience in mental health. After her undergraduate degree at Wheaton College in Illinois, she earned both her master's and doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology from Biola University in La Mirada, California.
She works with grief and loss, depression, anxiety, parenting and relationship issues. She speaks on a variety of women's issues and has been a featured guest on local radio and television programs.
In Heavenly Arms
In 1993 Dr. Bridgman founded the Empty Arms support group ministry at Saddleback Valley Community Church. Out of her personal and professional experience she carries a special burden for parents who have lost a baby through miscarriage. Her book, In Heavenly Arms: Grieving the Loss and Healing the Wounds of Miscarriage, now in its second edition, has helped thousands of women and their families.
Credentials, ages & hours
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFC28928)
- Clinical Member, California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
- Author, In Heavenly Arms
Ages: Children 5 and older, adolescents, adults and senior adults.
Office hours: Monday 8 am to 8 pm, Friday 8 am to 8 pm, Saturday 8 am to noon.
How To Check Us
You should be able to check a therapist before you share your story. Both of our licenses are public, and you can look them up yourself in a minute.
- Dr. Laird Bridgman, Licensed Psychologist, California license PSY14510, issued by the Board of Psychology
- Dr. Shari Bridgman, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, California license MFC28928, issued by the Board of Behavioral Sciences
Go to the California DCA License Search, type in the license number, and you will see the name, the license type and whether it is current. You can also call either of us and ask anything before you book.
How do I check your licenses?
Go to the California DCA License Search and enter PSY14510 for Dr. Laird or MFC28928 for Dr. Shari. It shows the name, the license type and whether the license is current.
Who issues your licenses?
Dr. Laird is licensed as a psychologist by the California Board of Psychology. Dr. Shari is licensed as a marriage and family therapist by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Where is your office?
Our office is at 22792 Centre Drive, Suite 103, Lake Forest, CA 92630. Call us before you come, since we see clients by appointment.
Invite us to speak to your group
Both doctors offer seminars for churches, schools, workplaces and community groups on grief and loss, anxiety, depression, addiction, men's and women's issues, parenting and healthy communication.
Speaking topics & booking“Vulnerability is not a weakness, and that myth is profoundly dangerous.”Brené Brown