Brendan is a Marriage and Family Therapist trainee completing his degree in October 2026. With a diverse academic background from USC, UC San Diego, and Naropa Institute, his style is a blend of relational, trauma-informed, and mindfulness-based care. Before transitioning to therapy, Brendan’s career as an award-winning educator for at-risk youth honed his ability to create calm, safe spaces for exploring difficult life transitions.

Clinical Specializations

Brendan works with individuals, couples, and families, with a deep specialization in neurodiversity (Autism and ADHD). As a neurodivergent clinician himself, he offers a lived perspective that fosters clear communication and collaborative, strengths-based growth. He is particularly passionate about supporting:

• Late-identified neurodivergent adults and mixed-neurotype couples.
• LGBTQIA+ clients, with a commitment to supporting transgender youth and their families.
• Ecotherapy, integrating the healing power of the natural world into the therapeutic process.

Therapeutic Style

His work is primarily relational and psychodynamic, exploring how early attachment shapes current life. He integrates IFS, CBT, and DBT skills for individuals, while drawing from Gottman and Imago methods to help couples repair conflict and strengthen connection.

Brendan provides therapy in-person and via telehealth through Shine a Light Counseling Center. Outside the office, he is a published poet, woodworker, and musician.