Brian Dearnley

I have over a decade of experience working with people as they navigate life transitions. I understand struggling and feeling overwhelmed, and I believe that adding support and guidance can help alleviate life's stressors.

I've worked multiple years as a therapist in a community mental health center, a partial hospitalization program, and a nursing home. I try to understand where you are starting and where you are trying to go. I believe that there is value in humor, storytelling, and understanding different perspectives.

Therapy shouldn't be about my goals for you; it should be about your goals for yourself and what I can do to get you closer to these goals. I believe in using strengths to overcome problems caused by shortcomings. I will note inconsistencies and try to ensure that your actions and reactions are consistent with your stated goals.

I want to see how well we connect. People who like their therapist get the best clinical results most quickly, so I want to make sure that I'm respecting your time and efforts. If we don't get along in a short meeting, the odds are that magic won't occur two months down the line. This is an opportunity for you to interview me and make sure that I make sense for you.

Additionally, in the first "clinical" session, I'm going to need to do a lot of the paperwork side of my job, collecting information about you, your background, family, routines, supports, etc. I want to know what's making your life feel unstable and what adds stability. I will also be asking about your goals for treatment, what you'd like to look or feel different in your life, and how close or far those goals feel.