Hey! So nice to speak with you! Can you tell our readers a little bit more about yourself? Where are you originally from and where do you live now?

My name is Leor Ram, and I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and Certified Group Psychotherapist. I wasn’t born in Los Angeles, but I was raised here, and it’s where I’ve built both my life and my practice. I’m the founder and president of Integrative Psychotherapy Group (IPG), a Beverly Hills–based private practice that provides psychotherapy and consulting services across California, New York, and Florida. My clinical work focuses on relationships, men’s mental health, and the LGBTQ+ community, with an emphasis on helping people create more authentic and connected lives. What I love most about my work is that it allows me to blend psychology, empathy, and leadership by supporting clients in meaningful growth while building a practice culture centered on collaboration, integrity, and innovation.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now?

What I love most about living in Los Angeles is the incredible sense of possibility that exists here. It’s a city that invites creativity and reinvention, where people come to build, express, and evolve. There’s an energy that feels both ambitious and deeply human, and I find that really inspiring. On a more personal note, I love that LA offers a little bit of everything: beautiful weather year-round, a mix of nature and city life, and a community of people who genuinely care about wellness, art, and growth. It’s the perfect place to do meaningful work and still feel connected to something bigger than yourself.

Tell us a little bit more about what your company does and how it started? How does it help your customers?

I founded Integrative Psychotherapy Group (IPG) to create a space where therapy feels both deeply personal and clinically sophisticated. We’re based in Beverly Hills and provide psychotherapy and consulting services across California, New York, and Florida, both in person and through telehealth. The idea for IPG came from my belief that people deserve care that goes beyond symptom reduction; they deserve therapy that’s relational, collaborative, and rooted in real human connection. Over time, the practice has grown into a team of highly trained clinicians who share that same philosophy. We specialize in areas such as relationship dynamics, men’s mental health, addiction, eating disorders, trauma, and LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy, as well as Relational Life Therapy (RLT) for couples and group therapy for interpersonal growth. What makes IPG unique is the level of depth and intention behind everything we do. We don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. Each client’s experience is tailored -- whether they’re an individual, couple, or group member -- so that the work feels meaningful, nuanced, and truly transformative. At its core, IPG helps people live more connected, authentic, and empowered lives. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness that kind of growth, not just in our clients, but in the communities we serve.

What was one feedback from a happy customer/client that you won’t forget about?

Years ago, a client said something that completely reframed how I understood my work. At the end of our time together, he said, “You never tried to make me feel better; you helped me see the truth, and somehow that’s what made me feel better.” I’ve never forgotten that. It challenged the idea that therapy -- or growth, really -- is about comfort. Sometimes the most healing experiences aren’t the ones that make us feel good in the moment, but the ones that invite us to see ourselves honestly. That feedback stayed with me because it captured something I believe deeply: the goal of therapy isn’t to make pain disappear; it’s to help people develop the capacity to face life as it is and still move toward meaning.

If someone wants to start a business, what's advice that will help them?

Start with why. It sounds simple, but clarity of purpose is everything. When you know exactly why you’re doing what you’re doing by focusing on what you believe in, what you want to build, and who you want to serve, every decision becomes easier to align with your values. From there, invest in your foundation. That means building systems, finding mentors, and surrounding yourself with people who challenge you to think bigger while staying grounded. Passion will get you started, but structure is what sustains you. Also, remember that growth takes time. It’s easy to compare yourself to others, especially in a culture that glorifies overnight success. But the truth is, meaningful, lasting businesses are built through patience, integrity, and consistent care, one thoughtful step at a time. Finally, don’t forget the human side of it all. Whether you’re building a therapy practice, a creative brand, or a tech company, your relationships with your clients, your team, and yourself will always be your greatest investment.

Where do you see your company in the future?

I see Integrative Psychotherapy Group continuing to grow as both a clinical practice and a thought leader in the mental health field. The future isn’t just about expansion. It’s about depth. I want IPG to be known for setting the standard for what modern psychotherapy can look like: integrative, relational, and grounded in genuine human connection. In the coming years, we’re building toward offering more specialized therapy groups, advanced clinician training, and educational programs that bring psychological insight into everyday life, especially within high-stress industries like law, entertainment, and tech. My goal is for IPG to be the place where innovation meets integrity, where clients and clinicians alike feel deeply supported, challenged, and inspired to grow. Ultimately, I see IPG as more than a practice; it’s becoming a platform for impact. We look forward to developing a space where mental health care continues to evolve to meet the complexity of modern life with empathy, sophistication, and courage.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

One of the biggest misconceptions about the mental health field is that therapy is about helping people feel better. It’s not. It’s about helping people get better at feeling, which is a very different thing. Our culture is obsessed with quick relief, with erasing discomfort as fast as possible. But emotional pain isn’t a malfunction; it’s data. It tells us where something meaningful is happening, where something wants to be understood, not silenced. The real work of therapy isn’t to make those feelings disappear; it’s to help people develop the strength and curiosity to face them. Another misconception is that therapists are detached observers. The truth is, good therapy is alive. It’s relational, unpredictable, and deeply human. It’s less about advice and more about contact: two people sitting in a room, daring to be honest. That’s where change actually happens.

What has been one of your biggest struggle building your business and how did you deal with it?

One of the hardest parts of building my business was realizing that success can sometimes feel lonelier than struggle. When you’re fighting to get something off the ground, there’s a kind of clarity. You’re fueled by urgency, focus, and purpose. But when things start working, a different challenge emerges: how to stay connected to why you started in the first place. For me, the real work wasn’t just scaling systems or hiring the right people. It was learning how to tolerate growth without losing depth. In a field built on human connection, expansion can easily become impersonally efficient. I had to make a conscious choice to slow down, to build structure that still leaves room for presence, reflection, and meaning. I dealt with it by returning to what psychotherapy itself teaches: awareness before action. Instead of reacting to success like another emergency, I’ve tried to meet it with curiosity; to let the business evolve, but not at the expense of authenticity. That’s been the most humbling, and liberating, lesson so far.

What was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

I was drawn to the band Bush in the ’90s. Their music had this brooding, atmospheric quality that felt both gritty and emotional, loud but introspective at the same time. Gavin Rossdale’s voice carried a kind of restless honesty; it wasn’t about perfection, it was about feeling something real and not looking away from it. What struck me, even back then, was how their sound captured contradiction: melancholy and momentum, anger and tenderness coexisting in the same space. That paradox always stayed with me. In many ways, it mirrors the work I do now: helping people hold conflicting truths without needing to resolve them immediately. There’s something profoundly human in learning to live inside tension, and Bush, for me, made that sound beautiful.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

Definitely. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to learn from mentors who not only shaped how I practice but how I lead. Michael Frank was my first group therapy supervisor and remains one of the most influential figures in my professional life. He taught me that authenticity and courage are essential ingredients in real leadership. Paula Bruce has modeled what it looks like to lead with both clinical excellence and humanity; her insight and integrity have left a lasting mark on how I think about the work. And Katie Griffin, a gifted therapist and colleague in Austin, has been a source of ongoing inspiration and creative exchange. I also want to acknowledge the incredible clinicians at Integrative Psychotherapy Group. They bring depth, curiosity, and heart to everything they do. The practice wouldn’t be what it is without them. Building something meaningful is always a team effort, and I’m grateful every day for the people who choose to build it alongside me.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

The best place to learn more is through our website, www.ipgtherapy.com. It gives an inside look at our philosophy, services, and the incredible team behind Integrative Psychotherapy Group. We share information there about our specialties -- ranging from individual, couples, and group therapy to areas like men’s mental health, addiction, eating disorders, trauma, and LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy. Visitors can also read about our upcoming workshops, training programs, and the broader vision that guides our work.