About · Laguna Beach
Exist Centersin Laguna Beach
Therapist-founded PHP, IOP, and 1:1 therapy for mental health and substance use.
Call (949) 670-9345- Founder
- Dr. Courtney Tracy
- Clinic
- Joint Commission PHP / IOP
- Address
- 580 Broadway St Ste 301
Therapist-Founded and Expert-Led
Dr. Courtney Tracy, founder and chief clinical officer
Dr. Courtney built Exist for people living with trauma, borderline personality disorder, substance use, and other mental health conditions, including more than one at once. In her words, “I solved the problem I had when struggling with my mental health, BPD, and addiction: no one knew how to help me.”
Expert-led means our PHP and IOP follow the three-part model Dr. Courtney built from more than a decade of clinical work with co-occurring disorders. We will see you, and show up for you, as humans first, before any and all diagnoses.
- Our view
- Humans before diagnoses
- We treat
- Mental health and substance use
- The program
- Therapy, informed by the 12 Steps
A Full Day, a Half Day, or Weekly 1:1
You go home each evening, or to the Truth House in Laguna Canyon if you're in PHP or IOP and staying with us. Insurance doesn't cover the Truth House.
PHP
Full Day, Monday to Friday
Four group sessions a day, plus your own therapist, a case manager, and a doctor for medication if you want one.
PHPIOP
Half Day, Three to Five Days
Two groups a day on a morning or afternoon schedule, with room for work, school, or family. Virtual IOP is also available.
IOPOutpatient
Weekly 1:1
One-on-one sessions with a licensed clinician, in person or virtual, starting with a free consultation.
Outpatient
Accredited and Licensed in California
Exist Centers is accredited by the Joint Commission and licensed by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).
- Joint Commission
- Accredited
- California DHCS
- Licensed
- Group size
- Eight people or fewer
Founder
Dr. Courtney Tracy
Chief Clinical Officer
USC-trained licensed psychotherapist and certified trauma and personality-disorder expert.
Dr. Courtney is known as “The Truth Doctor,” and she has been featured in The New York Times, the LA Times, and Good Morning America.
- LCSW
- PsyD
- RPA
- C-DBT
- C-PD
- CCTP
- Alias
- The Truth Doctor
- Training
- USC MSW, then PsyD
- Certifications
- C-DBT · C-PD · CCTP
Our Three-Part Clinical Model
Dr. Courtney's model works with three parts of you: your body through somatic care, your mind through cognitive analysis, and your brain through psychoanalytical work.
- Somatic care
Learn to exist in your body again.
- Cognitive analysis
Notice the automatic thoughts that drive you.
- Psychoanalytical
Understand why you feel and act the way you do.
- See the clinical model
The People You'll Work With
Our team includes therapists, a case manager, a somatic practitioner, group facilitators, and medical directors for psychiatry and medication.
Mikaela Karpinski
LCSW · trauma and substance use
Executive Director
Maggie Scotto
RADT · RYT-500 · somatic therapy
Somatic practitioner
Dr. Randall Turner
DO · psychiatry and addiction medicine
Medical director
Dr. Nathan Ngo
Psychiatry · mood, anxiety, and trauma
Medical director
- Meet the team
What you can hold us to
Three of Our Nine Truths
Human
We will treat you like a human first, before any diagnostic labels. We will be human with you. You should expect honesty and transparency.
Sense
We will not judge you for existing the way you currently do. This life is hard, and so are emotions and pain. You make sense to us.
Exist
We are glad you exist. We will remind you of this each day. You deserve to be here.
Give Us a Call
Call or text us at (949) 670-9345 and tell us what's going on. We'll tell you honestly whether PHP, IOP, Outpatient 1:1, or a referral would serve you best.
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Courtney Tracy, LCSW, PsyD · Reviewed September 2026