Frank O'Brien, BS

**Accepting new clients June 2023**

At times it can feel difficult or even overwhelming to face our life experiences.  I believe Steven Hayes, the co-founder of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), summed it up well by pointing out that it is “inherently difficult to be a human being.”  Beyond that, dealing with dysregulated emotions, high levels of anxiety, and other factors such as a history of trauma can turn everyday life into a highly distressing experience. 

My goals as a therapist are to help each client align with their core values, gain insight into the internal processes that contribute to their emotional experiences, and develop skills to navigate the unique challenges of their everyday life.  No matter the circumstances which have led to your current distress, my goal is to help you develop hope, confidence, and a strong sense of purpose in your story.  The aim is not to learn to handle life “perfectly,” but to learn make peace with how things are, while continuing to work toward bettering ourselves. 

I utilize cognitive-behavioral modalities with a focus on dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).  I am excited to work with individuals of all ages, stages and walks of life, and am especially interested in working with parents, families, and teens. 

I am a graduate of Arizona State University and am currently completing my master’s degree in clinical psychology through Western Carolina University.  My research interests are focused on the relationships between personality, adverse childhood experiences and adult mental health.  When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with family, coaching my sons’ sports teams, cooking, writing poetry, fishing, and playing the occasional video game.