Brandon Brawner

In person & Virtual

CA Licensed Psychologist PSY 28143

I have been working with children, teens and families for 30 years, and adults, couples and seniors for 20. In the 1990s, I was a houseparent and counselor in group homes for delinquent teens, a teacher’s aide in a special education school and a counselor in a residential treatment center for emotionally disturbed children. I was also a teacher in junior high and high schools and a rehabilitation therapist in psychiatric hospitals. In the last 15 years, in addition to facilitating group therapy and seeing individuals, couples and families in private practice, I have continued my work with teens and adults in day treatment programs and clinics. I obtained my Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies in 1993 (with a concentration in drama therapy) and a PhD in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute in 2013

In my practice, brief therapy coping skills are often folded into depth psychological approaches so we can address immediate specific issues along with longer-term needs. For adults, these needs include:

Deepening the capacity for intimacy

Improving relationships (including couple’s counseling)

Enhancing self esteem

Regulating emotions and anxiety

Dealing with Mental Health issues

Trauma care (including PTSD)

Addiction and Recovery

Bereavement/Grief counseling

Career and Life Coaching

Improving Interpersonal Communication Skills

Working through Creative and Professional blocks

Conflict Resolution

Challenges of Aging

Senior Support

Attentive listening, open dialogue, compassionate inquiry and a strong sense of adventure are my therapeutic guidelines.

My approach to psychotherapy depends on many factors. Each individual is different in personality and background and brings with him or her a number of specific challenges, opportunities and intentions. In our first sessions we’ll work together to identify your priorities, formulate plans and look at practical matters, including whether brief therapy or longer-term depth approaches are best for your situation. It’s likely I’ll ask you to read up on some of these options (if you’d like, I’ll give you reading material or suggest links to explore). Our initial discussions about the many methods (or combination of methods) from which we can choose opens up the creative space we’ll need to effectively address your needs.