“To think is easy. To act is difficult. To act as one thinks is the most difficult.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
I am not sure of the exact time when I decided to become a psychologist. In the neighborhood where I grew up, the “highly acceptable” occupational options were accountant, doctor or lawyer.
As a psychology graduate student, I had the opportunity to participate in biofeedback therapy and stress management, at a large mental health clinic. There they treated patients with a range of issues from children with depression and ADHD, to drug and alcohol addicted individuals, to people of various ages with chronic pain.
A major influence was also my father. He was a good businessman and I witnessed as he caringly listened to his clients’ stories and sometimes offered some sage advice or a kind word. Many of them came back year after year to buy another appliance or piece of furniture, often lingering just to talk with him.
Since then, my interest in all things psychological has grown. I have had the privilege over the years of working with young children, individuals struggling with alcohol or other addictions, married couples, gay couples, under served inner city residents, celebrities, executives and everyday working people.
I believe that it is never too late to “train your brain” and develop coping skills to navigate life’s challenges and struggles. My conviction as an experienced therapist:
WE ARE ALL A WORK IN PROGRESS!
Dr. Barry Aaronson, a licensed clinical psychologist, has designed and implemented 14 hospital and clinic interdisciplinary programs in the last 25 years. These programs helped patients suffering with problems of insomnia, anxiety, depression, stress management, cardiac and G.I. disorders, drug/alcohol dependency problems, and severe chronic pain.
In addition to conducting a clinical private practice in Irvine, California, he has supervised and trained over 300 psychology doctoral students, nurses, and substance abuse counselors at various clinics and hospitals, as well as at corporations where he set up Wellness Programs.
University of California, Irvine
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy
Majors: Clinical Psychology and Psychophysiology
California State University, Long Beach
Majors: Research/Clinical Psychology; physiological, social, psychometrics, and Clinical psychology
University of Maryland, College Park
Degree: Bachelor of Science
Majors: Psychology and Marketing
Minor: Economics
Raleigh Hills Hospital
Supervised/Training nurses, drug/alcohol counselors,
Ph.D. student/interns
Mooring Drug/Alcohol Program
Supervised Drug/Alcohol Counselors
Private Practice
Supervised PhD/MFT/MSW interns
West County Counseling Center
Supervised PhD, MFT, MSW Psychological /Interns
Conducted weekly clinical psychology training lectures and groups to over 200 PhD and MFT students and conducted individual supervision
Designed and implemented an ADHD evaluation and treatment program
Design & Implementation of programs at these locations:
Hoag Hospital, Newport Beach, CA
Mission Hospital, Mission Viejo, CA
Buena Park Doctors Hospital, Buena Park, CA
Bear Valley Hospital, Big Bear, CA
Advanced Health Systems Outpatient Program, Newport Beach
Sovereign Health Inc,Chronic outpatient Pain Program
Design and Implementation of these programs at:
Hoag Hospital, Newport Beach, CA
Program served patients from Physical Therapy, Neurology, Cardiac/GI depts., Psychiatry, Endocrinology, Oncology and OB-GYN
Placentia-Linda Hospital and Psychiatric Outpatient Clinics
Treated psychiatric adults/adolescents with Depression, Health, and Anxiety disorders
TRW, Redondo Beach, CA
Worked with engineers and managers involved in NASA Space Shuttle projects
Fountain Valley Hospital-Oncology Dept., Fountain Valley, CA
Provided Biofeedback/Individual/Family therapy for cancer patients
Oversaw and Managed programs at these locations:
National Council of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD)
Served as Board Member and submitted proposals for Prevention Programs for Adolescents and Adults
Moorings/Greatwest Health Systems, Orange, CA
Director of Psychological Services
Conducted weekly Life Skills seminars/workshops
Oversaw clinical services for over 450 patients
Raleigh Hills Hospital, Newport Beach, CA
Director of Psychological Services for a 36-bed hospital
Sinai Hospital, Baltimore, MD
Interviewed Morphine/Heroine patients
Reviewed drug literature and wrote reports summarizing treatment for the Psychiatric staff