Brian Young, MFT

Spanish Speaking
(805) 882-2400 x 104
byoung@ftisb.org
(currently on leave of absence)

Treatment Philosophy
Healing is possible. This is Brian’s core belief. While his clinical approach is rooted in family systems, the instillation of hope and movement away from isolation helps open the door. This is the beginning that  allows the possibility of a life lived more fully. To that end, Brian is both supportive guide, educator and ,at times, the person challenging “old ideas” ( however beloved! ) To be clear: Change can be intimidating and coping strategies exhausting. Brian, in a place of safety, provides a climate that fosters both healing and hope. He believes the generational transmission of family dysfunction can be interrupted and redirected. Like the old saying goes, “it’s never too late to have a happy childhood!” But GETTING there can be pretty tough without a connecting path forward. He strives to provide both solace and direction and feels we really do have choices as to how we live our lives. We need NOT live out family scripts that often spring from a place of shame and fear.

Specific Areas of Clinical Interest
Treatment of those experiencing loss, abandonment, addiction, depression.

Teens/Young adults and their parents struggling with life transitions.

Particular and specific experience working with adult children from alcoholic or dysfunctional families.

Treatment of child abuse survivor clients including trauma-based symptomatology presented by adults abused as children.

Child abuse prevention/parent educator in both English and Spanish.

Education/Licenses/Credentials
BA University of California at Santa Cruz Bi-lingual Ed and Spanish Literature

MA  Antioch University at Santa Barbara Clinical Psychology

Licensed Family Therapist in California, Arizona and Wyoming

USPTA Elite Certified Coach

Multiple family therapy trainings specific to dissociative responses to abuse

Personally trained with Dr. Peter Steinglass, Couples Alcoholism Project, UCSB

Personal Life
Brian loves to both fly fish and hike to distant places where trout might reside. Walking in the woods with his Basset Hound Lola is a huge joy. And, while doubles tennis play has mostly taken the place of singles, Brian still gets out on the court once a week.  He also has for several decades enjoyed volunteering at multiple public school settings as tennis coach. A life-long love of gardening persists though he’s become more of a devotee of “square foot gardening” as the years have passed.