About Dr. Brand

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I became fascinated with psychology as a freshman in high school upon seeing a human brain in a glass jar. I was overcome with questions:

  • How do our brains take in information, remember it, and use it?

  • How do personality and emotional patterns develop?

  • What happens if our brain has trouble understanding the world?

  • What if we develop a mental health condition, like depression or anxiety?

These questions set me on a path to become a clinical psychologist: a provider who is rooted in science and who tailors assessment and treatment to each individual patient. In short, I provide evidence-based assessments and psychotherapy interventions to help individuals learn more about themselves and move towards their goals and values. Care at Hawthorn Psychological Health is provided in an affirming manner to all individuals.

Licensure
Psychologist, PY60479789 (WA state)

Education
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Clinical Psychology, University of Pittsburgh
Master of Science (MS), Clinical Psychology, University of Pittsburgh
Bachelor of Arts (BA), Psychology, Washington University in St. Louis

Advanced Specialty Training
Dialectical Behavior Therapy training program, University of Washington/Harborview Hospital
Social Skills Training certification, Veterans Health Administration
Cognitive-Processing Therapy for PTSD certification, Veterans Health Administration
Behavioral Medicine Postdoctoral Fellowship, VA Puget Sound Healthcare System-Seattle
Clinical Psychology Internship, Portland VA Medical Center

Research Experience
Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinics (UPMC)
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH/NIH)
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University School of Medicine

Why ‘Hawthorn’?

Hawthorns are a diverse group of trees commonly found in the Pacific Northwest that are distinguished by their sharp woody thorns. Because of these thorns, hawthorns are often considered to be less than ideal for gardens and yards by humans, yet the thickets created by the thorny branches provide cover and nesting sites for wildlife, protecting young and vulnerable birds and mammals from predators. The flowers and fruits of the hawthorn have also been used by many cultures for culinary and medicinal purposes, in addition to being a rich source of food for wildlife.

In many ways, hawthorns are like humans. We are complex beings with both strengths and challenges. Sometimes, we even have thorny edges, especially in our relationships. Yet, even with these “thorns,” humans are capable of learning, striving, creating change, and nurturing one another.

A focus on each individual’s strengths, not their “weaknesses,” is the philosophy of care at Hawthorn Psychological Health.