brian’s story

Hi! I’m Brian (he/him). Originally from north Idaho, I have been in the Portland area since 2017. I worked in multiple secure residential facilities, before moving onto helping people look for employment while navigating barriers related to mental health. I originally set out to become a therapist to assist people struggling with anxiety related to climate change. Quickly, I learned that anxiety can stem from any number of places and show up in various ways. Throughout grad school, training, and internships, I strived to learn skills to bring to the therapeutic space to assist people who are working through any number of issues. I hope to continue supporting those who are experiencing ecoanixety as well.

As a therapist, I believe that every person can find something beneficial in the therapeutic space. I hope to work with people collaboratively to identify skills that can enrich their lives and ways to positively transform relationships with themselves and others. 

In my free time, I enjoy watching movies both at home and in the theater. I love spending time with friends and family in any capacity as well as my dog, Lily. I try to find ways to find quiet, alone time in my life as well, as I find it to be very beneficial for resetting and finding moments to be mindful in my day-to-day life. 

Now for the professional stuff:

I completed my Master of Social Work degree at Portland State University. Prior to this, I completed undergraduate degrees in Anthropology and Psychology from the University of Idaho. I am an associate clinician working under the supervision of Brianna Yadon, LCSW. 

I completed an internship at William Temple House, which provides low- and no-cost mental health services for people who do not have health insurance. I worked with a variety of people who were mostly looking to gain skills to work with symptoms of depression and anxiety. Before this, I completed an internship at Bridge City Recovery, a facility run by New Narrative. The facility served people who have been given diagnoses related to substance use as well as mental health. I ran a weekly group aimed at increasing awareness and insight into mental health diagnoses and how to build a plan that works best for each individual to best reach their goals.

My approach is client-centered and operates from a constructivist perspective. I view individuals as holding potential to add things to their lives, rather than “being damaged” and in need of fixing. I work with people to try to find what is already working for them in their lives and try to find ways to increase this. I utilize critical theories to examine how systems are wielding power over individuals. I try to deconstruct this in therapy to consider how they relate to the individual. Depending on the situation, and the individual’s needs/strengths, I also utilize a blend of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and motivational interviewing. 

I have completed Tier 1 training in Collaborative Problem Solving as well.

See our fees and insurance page to determine if Brian is in network with your insurance plan.

You can reach Brian directly at
brian@sprouttherapypdx.com