My name is Jonathan Brady, but you can call me Brady. My story of becoming a therapist started in the 6th grade at Westfield Elementary School when I, with childish abandon, told my class that I wanted to become a shrink, to prove that our teacher really was crazy. She really wasn’t; our class was a handful. However, the fledgling idea to pursue a study of psychology began there, as a lighthearted joke, and it is one that I look back on and I consistently laugh about it.
I left my small hometown of Porterville, California to attend college in New York City, only to finish my studies in San Francisco. I approached my studies with intensity that, fortunately, many of my teachers helped calm down. I learned a difficult lesson: in order for me to be compassionate and helpful to others I needed to be gentler, to others and to myself.
To see people grow, to see relationships deepen, to see a person make choices they didn’t know they had, to see a person be kinder to their loved ones, to see someone realize in the moment that they do love their life, is such an honor. That I love that feeling, and that I recognize it, is the most important thing to know about me, and it is something that I strive to share.
While learning that lesson, I devoured a great many books, reread countless poems, spent too many sleepless nights engaged in philosophical discourse, struggled to meditate, wrote about popularity, chanted for a few days, was completely silent for a few other days, and learned to love dancing. I gathered those experiences while I studied Sigmund Freud, Carl Rogers, Martin Buber, Virginia Satir, James Hillman, and Rollo May, who have helped me carve out a language on how to be with others. However, it was in being with others, in being a therapist and in practicing, that I found myself growing unexpectedly and becoming deeply committed to the lives and wellbeing of others.
However fumbling, I continuously try to share more of myself and be as transparent as possible about what I’ve learned along the way. To that end, you can see where my thoughts are currently dwelling on my Twitter, join in public conversation on my Facebook and Google+ pages, see some art and poetry that inspires me on myTumblr, see some of my own photography that I’ll likely use for my blog on Instagram, and every once in a while see me attempt to not simply write my words, but speak them, on my YouTube channel.
If there is a place to end this section about me, then it is this: I want others to know that they are not alone in their struggles.
References
My fellow colleagues, clinicians, and scholars have their own perspective on my work, and how I am with others. Their words, and their perspectives of me, are my most prized credentials.
Philosophy
Through my collegiate career, I have studied embodied philosophy, discourses on social justice, and feminist theory; in addition to researching humanistic, cognitive behavioral, transpersonal, and empirical and esoteric schools of psychology. My studies have given me a depth as well as a breadth of knowledge for gaining insight and clarity regarding life experiences and how to help others. As a clinician, I utilize my philosophical approach as the ground for my psychological work. Clinically, I have a humanistic approach to therapy that stresses the inherent value and worth of every person. How we come to understand our sense of self worth can be elaborated with sociological, anthropological, and various academic lenses, but at the end of the day, your experience of your life is what I am interested in. I do not believe that people have single or isolated problems. There are often many factors at work in any problem, and it is my job, as a psychologist and as a practicing psychotherapist, to use my understanding of psychology and theory to best address your psychological and personal needs. My studies and training have given me the ability to be with you and support you in all of your complexity, and to help you live the life you want.
2006 Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. Concentration: Marriage and Family Therapy.
2004 Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA. Concentration: Psychology. Minor: Women’s and Gender Studies
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Private Practice, 5855 East Naples Plaza, #213, Long Beach, CA, 90803; January 2014-Present
- Successfully organized, designed, and opened a private practice serving prior clinical relationships while beginning new relationships.
- Migrated and rebuilt professional website (bradyesque.com) utilizing WordPress® CSS coding.
- Implemented a HIPAA compliant digital practice procedures moving towards a paperless business model.
Psychotherapist, Long Beach Center for Psychotherapy
600 East Ocean Blvd, 400B, Long Beach, CA, 90802; 562-987-3535; November 2011-2013
- Sustained ongoing psychotherapeutic relationships with individuals and couples. Clinical areas of focus include sexual expression, hardened core beliefs, teens who are stressed, women who feel under-appreciated, men who have a hard time understanding their feelings, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender persons, and couples with intimacy issues.
- Advertised to clientele through a web-based marketing campaign. Designed and built a website (bradyesque.com) utilizing Joomla® CSS coding and integrated a public Facebook® page (facebook.com/bradyesque), Twitter® feed (@Bradyesque), and Instagram® photo sharing into a regularly updated blog about therapy and psychology/philosophy related topics.
Child Therapist, Bayview Hunters Point Foundation for Mental Health, School Based Partnership AB3632 Unit
5815 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA, 94124; 415-822-7500; September 2007-June 2010; Supervisor: Dr. Betty Crowder
- Offered school based mental health services with the San Francisco Unified School District and Department of Mental Health School-Based Partnership Program. Services were provided to the Special Day Class for students with AB3632 in their Individualized Educational Plan, and to other special education students with medical necessity; classrooms were at A.P. Gianni Middle School, Balboa High School, and Phillip & Sala Burton High School.
- Services included individual psychotherapy, family therapy, behavioral plan development, group therapy (topics: social skills, aggression, bullying, gender, sexuality, coming out, spirituality, substance abuse), and case management. Documentation of all services was according to HIPAA and MediCal standards.
- Consulted with teachers, paraprofessionals, staff, and parents regarding the mental health needs and appropriate interventions for emotionally disturbed youth, both inside the classroom and within the general school population. Consultation included pertinent referrals for medication support, housing, employment, and substance abuse services. Collateral services for client’s also included home visits, linkage referrals, and attending IEP meetings to advocate for mental health needs.
Marriage and Family Therapist Registered Intern, Haight Ashbury Psychological Services
2166 Hayes St #308, San Francisco, CA, 94117; 415-221-4211; July 2006-July 2007; Supervisor: Dr. Lisa Frankfort
- Provided short-term and long-term psychotherapy and counseling for adult clients and couples (opposite sex and same sex) while utilizing a variety of behavioral, cognitive, depth-oriented, psychodynamic, relational, and emotionally focused interventions to promote growth and change.
- Participated in an ongoing case conference that formulated therapeutic cases across various theoretical orientations, while utilizing inclusive interventions. Supported fellow clinicians on their cases by providing case formulation, and proposing interventions and problem solving roadblocks in treatment. Trained entering therapists on clinic policies, procedures, referral resources, and clinic documentation.
Residential Counselor (Swing, Day, and Overnight) for San Jose Place, Baker Places
637 San Jose Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94110; 415-282-3789; June 2006-April 2007; Supervisor Gonti Newman
- Engaged in milieu residential counseling with homeless adults with mental health, substance abuse, and oftentimes HIV/AIDS related issues for the purpose of facilitating social rehabilitation and sobriety.
- Educated individual and group clients on mental health symptom management skills and relapse prevention tools through psycho-education and behavioral interventions. Coordinated and linked clients with therapists, case managers, psychiatrists, and primary care physicians.
Marriage and Family Therapist Practicum Trainee, Haight Ashbury Free Clinics Inc.
425 Divisadero St #201, San Francisco, CA, 94117; 415-487-5634; August 2005-May 2006; Supervisor Carolee Brady
- Provided therapy for individuals in need of professional assistance with substance abuse and dependence, as well as co-occurring sex addiction, depression, anxiety, and life transitions.
- Facilitated a weekly men’s group in early recovery, focusing on issues of relapse prevention, anger management, relationships, sober activities, and interpersonal and intrapersonal processing.
- Actively maintained clinical paperwork on clients, which includes documentation of all client services according to HIPAA and CFR 42 policies.
Assistant Hall Director, University of San Francisco
2130 Fulton Street, San Francisco, CA, 94117; 415-422-6824; July 2004-October 2005; Supervisor Lee Swain
- Co-Supervised a staff of 15 resident advisors in Gilson Hall for 350 first-year students, oversaw the development and implementation of community building programs, and enforced of community and university policies.
- Supervised a 24-hour front desk staff of 30 Desk Clerks and 1 Desk Manager for the purpose of maintaining the security of the building. Dutifully provided 24-hour emergency crisis response management on the Senior Staff level.
- Advised student organizations including Gilson Hall Council, Resident Hall Association, and the National Residence Hall Honorary.
Camp Counselor, Camp Lavender Hill,
PO Box 5164, Santa Rosa, CA 95817; 916-622-5793; June – July 2002, June – July 2003; Owner Vicki Vescio
- Actively maintained a summer camp for children of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender parents, in the summer of 2002 and 2003, through facilitating social and recreational activities.
- Oversaw the camp Olympic Games, relay races, arts and crafts activities, camp fire activities, and instructed yoga and Pilates classes. Created and implemented an energetic schedule of new activities each day for the campers, based on their own developmental needs.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
Guest Presenter, California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA
- Sex in a fishbowl: building healthy and responsible adult relationships while in community (2010)
- Behind closed doors (crisis management training) addressing parties, sexual assault, & violence (2010)
- The ground of fear: a Buddhist and psychoanalytic examination of attachment, scarcity, and phobias (2008)
- Getting to know yourself cosmologically: a discussion on astrology, temperament, and sexuality (2008)
- Boundaries and building community (training): learning to love your community and be popular (2008)
University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
- Taught a single 2 hour class on Personality Disorders in Individual and Family Psychopathology in a graduate level class during the spring 2005 semester.
- Taught a single 2 hour class on Transpersonal Psychology with an emphasis on Psychosynthesis in Theory and Practice of Counseling Psychology in a graduate level class during the fall 2004 semester.
Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA
- Abnormal Psychology Teaching Assistant for the spring 2004 semester. Provided individual and group study sessions and mentoring for abnormal psychology students. Graded papers and exams including case presentations.
- Leadership Co-Instructor for the spring 2004 semester. Co-created and co-instructed a university class on leadership. Originated a syllabus, lesson plans and worked with the students to help foster a new generation of leaders at Sonoma State University.
- Ballroom Instructor for the spring 2002, fall 2002, and spring 2003 semesters. Created a 15-week syllabus of beginning ballroom dance with American, International, and Latin techniques.
- Instructed as substitute ballet teacher and led class, which included elements of classical and contemporary ballet during spring 2003.