Brandon Stogsdill, MA, LMHC, CMHS
Olsen Institute Pre-Doctoral Fellow
Brandon strives to create a safe and accepting environment using gentle humor and empathy that promotes a platform for clients to not only achieve therapeutic goals, but also to reach their ultimate potential. Having been raised in a diverse region of Tacoma, living in Los Angeles, and studying in Paris, France, he has developed a process to connect with people from varying cultures, ethnicities, and religions. As a writer, he sees the client as the author of their story and the therapist as an editor. The best authors need editors. He believes growth starts with humility and discomfort; therefore, the counseling process can be painful, however, the more effort one puts forth the more constructive results they’ll see. Being a therapist allows him to maximize his training, experience, and knowledge to be present with the client to connect the dots of their challenges while working along with the client to put the pieces of the puzzles of their life together.
Treatment Focus
Brandon’s clinical focus is in the areas of addiction, problematic and compulsive sexual behavior, anxiety, depression, and trauma. He helps clients understand what may be fueling their behaviors and how to address these forces in a way that empowers people to live a rewarding values-oriented life. He provides tools to embrace one’s true self in a manner that provides joy to themselves and others.
He has extensive experience working with adults and adolescents from diverse ethnic backgrounds, faiths, and socioeconomic backgrounds who have struggled with a vast array of psychological disorders, addictions, and behavioral challenges. He draws on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma-focused CBT, motivational interviewing, and the FAST approach.
Brandon created and often utilizes functional action sports therapy (FAST) which uses action sports such as snowboarding, surfing, etc. to channel reckless behavior into a constructive outlet. His work in this area recently earned an innovative program award from the Department of Social Health Services. He hypothesizes that FAST channels self-defeating behavior into a controlled constructive outlet, ameliorates cardiovascular endurance, strengthens the therapeutic alliance, and increases confidence and self-worth. Moreover, clients can quench their physiological predisposition to risk taking behavior by getting an adrenaline high on organic endorphins—in a prosocial manner—all the while benefiting their physical health. He is currently working on his dissertation to determine whether action sports can decrease mental health symptoms. FAST has been featured on KCPQ television, KPLU, EDGE, and KLICK radio, and in the Redmond and Renton Reporter.
Brandon is the author of a critically acclaimed memoir, The Boy w/The Gun | From Incarceration to Higher Education. He has given presentations about his story for hundreds of events across Washington State, Los Angeles, and Alaska. These events range from a course lecture at the University of Washington to giving commencement speeches for graduating inmates. His story has been featured on the front page of the newspaper the Tacoma News Tribune, Komo news radio, and on King 5 morning news. He has been a guest on Dr. Drew’s nationally syndicated radio show Loveline and podcast that reaches listeners from coast to coast. Dr. Drew Pinsky acclaimed, "You have written a truly important book... I am still emotionally rocked by the story... I hope your book will inspire others as it has me.”
Brandon enjoys writing. He spends most of his free time with his wife and family where he can be found partaking in physical activities, such as BMX, snowboarding, hiking, longboarding, stand-up paddling, wakeboarding, surfing, and simply enjoying the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Education & Credentials
Advance Doctoral Candidate in Clinical Psychology
Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Psychology
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
Washington State certified Substance Use Disorder Professional
Child Mental Health Counselor (CMHC)
Brandon is happy to speak with you to see what he can offer based on your needs and goals.
Please contact us today to learn more about working with him.