Meet Daniel Hochman, MD | Psychiatrist and Creator of Self Recovery

We had the good fortune of connecting with Daniel Hochman, MD and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daniel, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
Most people are led to believe that to have a full recovery from addiction, you need to go to rehab. What most people don’t know – even after getting treatment for years – is that the rehab industry has an average success rate of 3-5%. So they not only lack a valuable solution for patients, but they ask for your life savings and promise a life transformation. It’s incredibly disrespectful of that person’s time, money, and energy.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
How did you get into this industry?
I chose the field of mental health and addiction after realizing how fascinated I am with human behavior, particularly how we can knowingly do things that hurt ourselves even when we don’t want to. I actually started out with the intent of becoming an emergency room physician, but switched to psychiatry after I realized how meaningful the career could be. It has been rewarding the whole way, and my curiosity with how we work has only grown.

What sets you apart?
I stand out from my peers because I am not just a prescribing psychiatrist. While I do diagnose and prescribe medications, I have also received extensive training in various therapeutic approaches to gain a more profound appreciation of human behavior. My patients value the fact that their treatment is not compartmentalized into different fields and that we can address everything together.

What are you most proud of?
What I find most fulfilling about Self Recovery is that we’re able to offer treatment to people who may not have otherwise had access to it. Our reach spans across 35 countries, and it’s rewarding to know that we are able to provide assistance to a diverse group of individuals. From individuals residing in conflict zones, to executives who require complete privacy, to those living in secluded rural areas, and busy mothers who open up Self Recovery after putting their children to sleep. We’re proud to serve them all.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was in town I’d take them hiking at all the nicest spots in the area. Austin has a lot of awesome trails along creeks or the river. Then we’d fuel back up at a food truck for breakfast tacos – no matter what time of day. We’d also hang out on my back deck and have long conversations about the world.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would say Jonathan Shedler has been the biggest influence and mentor in my professional life. I went into Psychiatry residency with a very basic idea and experience of how to do therapy. He consistently pushed my understandings of human nature, our inner workings, and how to translate into improvement for a patient using words. I learned there is more science to this than I ever imagined. He would listen or watch me, word by word, when I was performing therapy, able to offer wisdom at every turn. Just when I’d begin to think I had things figured out, he would add another layer of complexity. This is actually a similar process to what we do collaboratively with patients, and I have him to thank.

Website: https://www.selfrecovery.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/selfrecoveryhealth/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielhochmanmd/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Selfrecoveryhealth

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/self-recovery-austin

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@selfrecovery