Santa Barbara Clinical Psychologist

Jim Broderick, PhD, ABPP

Board Certified in Clinical Psychology

I cannot imagine being a part of a more valuable profession.

Introduction

As a therapist I see myself as a guide, assisting individuals, couples, and families in finding their strengths in the midst of the challenges of life. I see problems as opportunities for significant personal growth and development. I approach problems from a variety of perspectives, I believe that clients ultimately know what they need. Psychotherapy provides a place for clients to explore who they really are and to find their true self.

I try to create a safe environment that leads to self understanding, experimentation, and the ability to make changes in concrete ways that enhance the quality of the life for my clients. I feel that this occurs when there is a strong partnership that results in the belief that "we are in this together."

Board Certification in Clinical Psychology

Board certification attests to excellence in meeting the advanced education, training, and professional standards established by the clinical speciality in Clinical Psychology, as well as an examination by peers that demonstrated excellence in the practice of Clinical Psychology.

My Personal Background

Besides a rich professional background I have lived a full life beyond psychology and mental health. I have experienced life in both urban and rural environments. My parents were working class people who raised me to treat everyone with respect, no matter what their background.

My childhood friends and my familial neighborhood were multicultural. I enjoyed the richness and experiences of being close to people of many cultures.

My doctoral dissertation was on the changes in the Chinese family in mainland China after the revolution. I love travel and have visited China four times and many other countries throughout the world during my lifetime. Seeing other cultures has given me greater insight into my own culture and to American psychology.

My Educational Background

My undergraduate experience was in San Francisco in the sixties where I witnessed society in the midst of a "cultural revolution." Being in San Francisco during that time provided me with a deeper understanding of the complexity of the cultural changes that continue to occur in present times.

During my education as a psychology major at the University of San Francisco I volunteered at the Haight Free Clinic - Heroin Detoxification Unit. I observed how the "shadow" side of the sixties' call for a more humane society turned dark for many people. I was also a psychology student at adult and children day treatment programs in the city.

One of the most profound experiences was being selected in 1970 to be a Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education (WICHE) student at Mendocino State Hospital during deinstitutionalization. Witnessing the beginning of the closures of state mental hospitals throughout California in the early seventies left an indelible mark on my understanding of the needs of people who are mentally ill.

Work on my doctoral degree occurred in San Diego where I immersed myself in learning to become a competent clinical psychologist. I was fortunate to have been trained in a variety of high quality health and mental health facilities.

I was a clinical psychology student at a local community health facility, Linda Vista Health Care. I was also a psychology student at a releasee aid program for individuals leaving the San Diego jail, at a home health agency for homebound elderly, and at a family oriented adolescent day treatment program.

I did my Predoctoral internship in Clinical and Community Psychology at a Counseling Center with college students at the University of California - San Diego and with outpatient clients at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in San Diego. I also did my Postdoctoral Fellowship In Clinical Psychology at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in San Diego.

I feel so fortunate for the incredible training I received in San Francisco and San Diego. My graduate and undergraduate education provided varied and rich clinical experiences that prepared me for "the real world" of professional psychology.

My Professional Background - Director of Shasta County Mental Health

My first professional clinical position occurred in Redding, California at Shasta County Mental Health (SCMH). I was initially hired to treat adolescents and their families. After a couple of years I became the Chief Psychologist and Director of Training.

I developed a Predoctoral Internship in Clinical and Community Psychology that received accreditation by the American Psychological Association (APA). At that time SCMH was the only rural community mental health center in California to have APA accreditation.

After another few years I became the Program Chief and finally served as the Director of SCMH for thirteen years. During my years as Director many innovative services were developed for the community.

After the county hospital closed in 1987 a massive remodel of the old county hospital was completed which turned an old deteriorating building into a state-of-the-art mental health facility. The remodel integrated both inpatient and outpatient services, providing a more comprehensive community mental health system to the residents of Shasta County.

Besides having an APA approved program, SCMH was the first facility in the United States to have its inpatient Psychiatric Health Facility (PHF) certified as a psychiatric hospital by the federal government. This resulted in saving millions of dollars that would have been lost after the county hospital closed.

My Professional Background - State Leadership

During my thirteen years as Director of SCMH I also became actively involved in mental health issues at the state level. I served as the last president of the state led California Conference of Local Mental Health Directors (CCLMHD). CCLMHD was replaced by the county directed California Mental Health Directors Association (CMHDA). I served two terms as President of the CMHDA.

During my involvement as the state level I was involved in significant legislative changes including the Realignment Act which decentralized community mental health services to the county and local level.

As president of CMHDA I assisted in the development of the California Institute of Mental Health (CIMH) which continues to provide training programs to county staffs and mental health advocates throughout California.

In my later years in county government I was actively involved with the California Mental Health Planning Council (CMHPC) for nearly ten years. CMHPC provides oversight of the State Department of Mental Health as well as oversight of all the county community mental health programs in California.

Through my involvement with CMHDA and CMHPC I worked on various statewide committees to support the passage of Proposition 63 - the California Mental Health Services Act (CMHSA) which continues to provide desperately needed financial resources to all county community mental health programs.

My Professional Background - Director of Alcohol/Drug/Mental Health Services - Santa Barbara County

In 2001 I became the Director of Alcohol/Drug and Mental Health Services (ADMHS) in Santa Barbara County. After resolving a significant budget crisis (that don't seem to ever go away) there were many other significant achievements.

In response to a community need for a more responsive crisis system for the mentally ill, Crisis and Recovery Emergency Services (CARES) was created during my administration in the downtown areas of both Santa Barbara and Santa Maria. CARES - Santa Maria also added a crisis residential component because there are no inpatient psychiatric services in north county.

Both programs integrate mental health and drug and alcohol crisis services, a long standing community problem.

To enhance children's services partnerships with Social Services and Probation were strengthened and a new Children's building was built on the Calle Real campus.

In order to provide support to the mentally ill who are homeless in downtown Santa Barbara a Restorative Policing Program was created with the Santa Barbara Police Department. In the Restorative Policing Program the police play an active role in providing treatment in collaboration with mental health staff and other related community providers.

Implementation of Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), began during my administration. Public feedback processes were developed for community input into what new programs were needed with the additional funding. Final recommendations were developed and new MHSA programs began in 2006.

As ADMHS Director I am proud of the relationships I built with the private nonprofit community based organizations (CBO's). Together with county staff, CBO services were expanded, especially in the area of housing; vital in assuring that individuals with mental illness have a quality living situation for their treatment to be effective.

My Professional Background - Alcohol and Drug Services

In both Shasta and Santa Barbara counties I was designated the Drug and Alcohol Administrator for the county. In both counties I was involved in major efforts to educate the public about the dangers of methamphetamine, a scourge that continues to threaten communities around the state and nation.

I believe that it is important that leaders in the mental health and drug and alcohol communities to continue to work together to develop a seamless system of care for their respective treatment populations.

The key for future mental health and drug collaboration is a deep understanding and appreciation of the challenges that each system faces, particularly in light of the fact that alcohol and drug treatment remains overly dependent on federal funding.

My Current Professional Activities - Pacifica Graduate Institute

After twenty nine years in county government I was ready for a change. Throughout my professional career I had taught in various institutions. I was ready to embrace academia and the mentoring and teaching of clinical psychology students. In 2007 I was hired as Core Faculty at Pacifica Graduate Institute in Carpinteria.

In late 2007 and for six years I served as the Chair of the Clinical Psychology Program. During this time I led the program through significant program changes in order to meet the standards of an increasingly complex and challenging accreditation environment.

A significant result of my leadership as Chair was the accreditation of a new Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree. As with the development of the medical MD degree many years ago, clinical psychology is moving toward this degree because the PsyD has a strong focus on treatment and on research that is oriented to answering specific clinical questions to improve the quality of psychological treatment.

In 2013 after nearly thirty four straight years in some form administration or management, I stepped down as Clinical Chair and have remained Core Faculty teaching courses in psychotherapy, public policy, community mental health, and the history of clinical psychology.

Pacifica is oriented toward depth psychology. The focus of depth psychology is to better understand the unconscious. This includes the study and practice of classical and current psychoanalytic thought. But what is most special about Pacifica for me is the focus on the study and practice of Jungian psychology.

Throughout my career Jungian psychology has enriched my life. Jung had a deep appreciation for the deeper aspects of the human experience. Through dreams, active imagination, the importance of ritual and symbol, and with a deep appreciation for the spiritual aspects of being human, Jung truly brought soul and spirit back into clinical psychology.

For many years I have studied and practiced Sand Tray therapy which was inspired by Jungian psychology (see Sand Tray Psychotherapy page). Sand Tray Psychotherapy allows a client to move beyond words to a visual expression of their experience of the world. It is like a "psychological x-ray".

Clients can take a picture of their sandtray to carry with them into their everyday life. Sand Tray Psychotherapy can be practiced as its own therapy or can enhance other psychotherapeutic practices noted on this website.

My Current Professional Activities - Private Practice

I have had a private practice periodically throughout my career. In 2007, after leaving ADMHS, I decided to dedicate more time to my private practice. Since that time I have had a private office in the downtown area of Santa Barbara. I feel "I have come home."

I cannot remember a time in my life that I didn't want to be a psychologist. Even in high school my friends told me "you should be a shrink." I love the work and being involved with people when they need support and understanding; when there is the realization that something needs to change in their lives.

Treatment Approaches

As you can see from my personal and professional history I bring a wide variety of experience to my psychotherapy practice. I try to meet an individual, a couple, or a family where they are. In this regard I try to adjust my treatment approach to the needs of my clients rather than fit my clients into a particular clinical theory or practice.

In this regard I typically integrate various clinical approaches in my practice of psychotherapy. However there are times when a person requests or has a personal "fit" for a particular treatment approach.

Throughout my 35 years in mental health I have been trained and learned a variety of clinical approaches.

I will list and briefly describe below the major clinical skills I utilize in my practice. These can be further explained during a consult and/or during the psychotherapy.

My overall approach is to work with a client to discover what works best for them. I like to find specific strategies to solve problems. I like to work with clients to see concrete results of therapy. I believe is important to set goals, but to also have flexibility to reassess goals as psychotherapy evolves.

I practice and integrate a variety of psychotherapeutic approaches, these include, what are not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic and Jungian Psychotherapy, Existential and Humanistic Psychotherapy, Gestalt Therapy and Person-Centered Therapy.

The focus of Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy (CBT) is to change thoughts and behavior with specific and concrete interventions. A key component of CBT is the attitude that we learn certain ways to function in the world and can therefore can learn new ways to approach our lives.

The focus of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy is the exploration of our unconscious dynamics and motivations, bringing consciousness to our thoughts and behaviors in order to make long lasting change in our lives.

The focus of Jungian Psychotherapy is on the exploration of the unconscious through the examination of dreams, active imagination, spirituality and other creative activities that engage our lives at a deeper level of existence. This includes the option of Sand Tray Psychotherapy.

The focus of Existential and Humanistic Psychotherapy is on the exploration of the meaning and purpose of our lives. Why are we here and what do we want to do with our lives? Also, what makes us healthy a person and how can we contribute something beyond ourselves to make the world a better place.

The focus of Gestalt Therapy is to make the psychotherapeutic experience current to what is happening right now in a clients life over talking about what happened in the past.

The focus of Person-Centered Therapy is on the expression of emotion and feelings. Often we feel "emotionally constipated", unable to honor and express how we feel. Learning to express feelings in a constructive and healthy way has so many health benefits and allow us to feel more alive.

Treatment Specialties

As you can see throughout my website I treat men and women with a variety of mental health issues. I specialize in the treatment of depression, post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, bipolar disorder, sexual dysfunction, workplace difficulties, men's issues, and individuals with serious mental illness.

I also believe psychotherapy can be transformative and I work with people who do not necessarily have a special "problem" but want to place to explore ways to become a more complete and fulfilled human being.

Treatment Populations

I provide treatment to adults, adolescents, and older adults.

Treatment Modalities

Individual, couples and family psychotherapeutic modalities are available to my clients.

Professional History

Education

PhD - California School of Professional Psychology - San Diego - 1976

MA - California School of Professional Psychology - San Diego - 1974

BA - University of San Francisco - 1972

Clinical License

Clinical Psychologist in California - PSY 5668

Professional Experience

Private Practice - 2007 - present

Pacifica Graduate Institute - Chair, Clinical Psychology Program - 2007 - 2013; Core Clinical Faculty 2007 - present

Santa Barbara County Alcohol/Drug/Mental Health Services - Director - 2001-2007

Shasta County Mental Health Department - Director Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Administrator- 1987- 2001; Program Chief - 1984 - 1987; Chief of Psychology/Director of Training - 1979 - 1984; staff psychologist - 1978 - 1979

Training Experiences

Mercy Hospital and Medical Center - San Diego - Predoctoral Intern and Postdoctoral Fellow in Clinical Psychology - 1975 - 1977

University of California Counseling Center - San Diego - Predoctoral Intern in Clinical Psychology - 1974 - 1975

Other professional training experiences: Western Institute of Human Resources - San Diego - 1974: Allied Home Health - San Diego - 1973 -1974; Release Aide Program - San Diego - 1973; Linda Vista Health Care Program- San Diego - 1972 - 1973.

Undergraduate mental health experiences: Alemany Day Treatment Center - San Francisco - 1971 - 1972; Haight Ashbury Free Clinic - San Francisco - 1970 - 1971: Mendocino State Hospital - Ukiah California - 1970; Fleishhaker Recreational Center - San Francisco - 1968 - 1969

Awards/Acknowledgements

2013 - Contributions as Chair of the Clinical Psychology Program - Acknowledgement by Chancellor and Provost of the Pacifica Graduate Institute, Santa Barbara California

2010 - Lifetime Community Achievement Award - Santa Barbara County Psychological Association

2007 - Recognition and Commendation - California State Assembly

2007 - Acknowledgement of the Contributions to the Development of Public Mental Health in California - California Mental Health Directors Association

2007 - Recognition of Service as ADMHS Director - Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors

2007 - Recognition of Dedicated Service as ADMHS Director - Santa Barbara County Executive Office

2007 - Appreciation for Dedicated Service for Therapeutic Justice - Santa Barbara Superior Court

2006 - Recognition of Support for the Santa Barbara Drug Court - Santa Barbara Superior Court

2006 - Recognition as Chair for the Santa Barbara County Campaign - United Way

2006 - Appreciation Award for Serving as President - Santa Barbara Executive Association

2002 - Community Service Award - Alcohol and Drug Community - Santa Barbara

2002 - Congressional Recognition for Outstanding Service

2001 - Appreciation Award - Rescue Mission - Redding, California

2001 - Recognition and Commendation - California State Senate

2001 - Outstanding Service Award - Shasta County Mental Health Advisory Board

2001 - Recognition of Service Award - Shasta County Board of Supervisors

2001 - Appreciation Award - The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill - Shasta County California Chapter

2000 - Dedicated Service Award - Manic-Depressive Association of Shasta County

1993 - Contribution to the Profession of Psychology - Shasta County Psychological Association

1985 - Appreciation Award - Shasta County Mental Health Advisory Board

1972 - Recognition Award - International Students, University of San Francisco