Today we’d like to introduce you to Brad Spickard.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Brad. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My undergraduate degree is in Exercise Physiology and I began my career working in physical rehabilitation as an aquatic therapies. During that time I worked with a variety of physical conditions, from post-stroke and amputations to various levels of spinal-cord injuries. I felt like the work I was doing was important, but part of me always felt that there was a component of their rehabilitation that was missing……the psycho-social aspect of the initial trauma and now living with (sometimes) a chronic condition. I had an opportunity in the early 2000s to go make a career change and I went back to school for a doctorate in health psychology. After working in a primary-care medical center in New Hampshire for several years, I decided to open my own practice in Boston. This enabled me to eliminate the long commute and spend more time with my young daughters and wife.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No! Entering a doctoral program at 31 years old was particularly difficult. It was a grueling process during which my wife and I had our two children. We had to move from DC to Ohio for the program and then to Nova Scotia for a 1 year internship, before settling down in Boston (with very young children in tow).
Endeavor Psychology – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a clinical psychologist specializing in health psychology. I provide therapy for a wide range of presentations (e.g., depression, anxiety, relationship issues, adjustment to injury or illness, chronic pain management). I am proud that my wife and I were able to take the leap and start a private practice that is now thriving. I believe what I offer that might be different than other therapists is the practical experience I gained working in physical rehabilitation and its influence on my approach and work as a psychologist.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success for me is based on life balance and satisfaction in those areas that I am balancing. I love my work as a psychologist, but if I was not very much aware of healthy boundaries my home life could suffer for it. I don’t want that to happen. I have terrific relationships with my wife and 10yo and 7yo daughters. They’d let me know directly or indirectly if my work was affecting our time together. Also, I try to be mindful of self-care (i.e., doing the things that relieve stress and help me feel both mentally and physically healthy) and there are markers in that area that provide me feedback on my success in regard to balance.
Contact Info:
- Address: 29 Commonwealth Ave., Suite 901
Boston, MA 02116 - Website: bostonpsychologycenter.com
- Phone: 617.207.4124
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