Organizational Consultation in Santa Barbara

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.
- John Quincy Adams

Why Organizational Consultation?

It is important for an organization to have an occasional objective Analysis

After Analysis, it's important for your organization to receive meaningful feedback

Organizational Consultation can help organizations improve their overall effectiveness and performance.

It is important for an organization to have an occasional objective analysis of how their organization is functioning. This includes working with leadership to develop strategies to deal more effectively with current organizational challenges.

These strategies include, but aren't limited to, assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the organization, program development, review of current policies and procedures, assessment of morale at all levels, current conflict management processes, and financial viability and stability.

Before you are a leader success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader it's about growing others.
- Jack Welch

Executive/Management Mentorship

A strong Mentor can increase job satisfaction and administrative effectiveness

Organizational Consultation can also include Executive and Management level mentorship. Because of the nature of management positions, many executives and managers function in a very isolated and lonely world.

Having someone to provide support and perspective can reduce the stress and isolation many executives experience on a daily basis. Executive and Management level mentorship can increase job satisfaction and administrative effectiveness.

Organizational Background:

I was in some form of management for thirty four consecutive years. This includes administration and management in county government and academia.

My areas of expertise are in the areas of management of mental health and substance abuse systems. However, there are basic management skills that apply to all types of systems.

Besides a broad interest in organizational consultation with a variety of systems, I am particularly interested in the development of better treatment and health care systems.

I served as Mental Health Director and Drug and Alcohol Administrator for over eighteen years in two California counties, Shasta and Santa Barbara. During that time I was actively involved in major changes in the public mental health system at both the state and local levels (see Dr. Jim Broderick for more details).

I have also been involved in a number of community health issues beyond mental health. Examples include serving on the Shasta and Santa Barbara First Five Commission leading Santa Barbara County's United Way Campaign and serving on various committees to end homelessness.

I also have management experience in academia. I recently served as Chair of the Clinical Psychology Program for six years. As Chair I was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the clinical program including hiring of faculty, curriculum, student services, budget, and accreditation activities.

I have extensive experience in program development in two very diverse organizational systems. In Santa Barbara county during my tenure as Alcohol/Drug and Mental Health services Director, programs were developed to meet the requirements and standards of Proposition 63
- Mental Health Services Act.

During my tenure as Chair of the Clinical Psychology Program, a new clinical degree was developed, Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Organizational Effectiveness Results from the successful Implementation of Policy

I am also very interested in the importance of understanding and developing policy. I recently taught a course on policy and depth psychology.

The depth psychology perspective assesses the unconscious motivations and issues that are often neglected in organizational assessment.

I have been connected to a national accreditation organization, the American Psychological Association. Since 1995 I have been a site visitor for Predoctoral Internships in Clinical Psychology and Postdoctoral Residencies in Clinical Psychology.

Although I experienced considerable satisfaction and success during my thirty four years in administration and management, I understand how stresses and challenges of organizational leadership.

At an Executive Level, it's all about Vision and Sticking to It

I have also experienced failure and made my share of mistakes. But I always held true to a vision that kept me motivated and focused. I learned that perserverance is one of the best indicators of success.

Next Steps

If interested organizational consultation and/or Executive/Management Mentorship please contact me at (805) 708-3020 for further discussion.