Meet OUR Team: Brian

Brian is a talented clinician and a grad school professor of counseling courses, who is always learning and growing in his areas of expertise: LGBTQ+ population and people exploring non-traditional relationships. Here is what Brian shared with me:

What drew you to becoming a therapist?

I first became interested in psychotherapy back in high school while taking a psychology course. I was fascinated by how the mind works—how things like trauma or chemical imbalances can deeply affect our day-to-day lives. Although I spent about 20 years in a successful performance career, I found myself drawn back to mental health work during the pandemic. After doing some peer support, I realized I wanted to make a greater impact, so I made the decision to shift careers and use my life experiences to help others heal and grow.

What kind of clients do you work with best?

While I enjoy working with a wide range of people, I tend to connect best with clients from marginalized communities—especially those in the LGBTQ+ population or exploring non-traditional relationships. I also work well with individuals navigating substance use disorders through twelve-step facilitation, as well as those struggling with executive dysfunction and ADHD.

What’s one experience that shaped how you practice today?

A major influence on my practice is my experience with twelve-step facilitation. I appreciate how it uses active, practical techniques to help people make real changes in their lives. It aligns with a biopsychosocial-spiritual model, which I find powerful for understanding a person’s full experience—mind, body, spirit, and environment. It’s a very grounded and tangible approach to healing.

What do you hope clients take away from working with you?

I want my clients to leave each session with something useful—whether that’s a new way of thinking, a coping tool, or simply a sense of support. It’s important to me that they walk away with solutions, not just insights. I also emphasize that healing isn’t a straight path. Sometimes things get harder before they get better. But if we stick with the process, growth happens. It’s all about persistence.

What’s a book, show, or podcast you’re currently enjoying?

I’m a big podcast listener. One favorite is Sex & Psychology with Dr. Justin Lehmiller, where taboo topics are explored with research-backed insights and expert guests. It does a great job of normalizing conversations around sexuality. I also really enjoy Theories and Techniques of Counseling and Psychotherapy by Stephen Hall. It’s based on graduate-level content and dives into a wide range of counseling topics with depth and clarity.