I find fulfillment in aiding individuals on their healing journey post-hardship. Life brings unexpected moments—both positive and painful. The accumulation of hardship and disappointment can leave us uncertain and unfulfilled. Amidst these challenges, our sense of stability falters. My experience includes themes of death, trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, illness, low self-esteem, and a general sense that something is not right. I find it rewarding to help folks move through the hardships of the past while finding a new way to thrive and flow with openness and passion. I love the process of discovering our inherent potential.
My journey began while studying psychology and African-American studies at the University at Buffalo (SUNY). Working at a residential facility for traumatized children, I witnessed how the environment shapes perceptions and beliefs about oneself. After receiving my bachelor's in psychology, I worked as a case manager for adults with severe mental illness transitioning from state hospitals and prisons back to the community. I learned what could be controlled by spirit and determination and how nature can complicate our wants, wishes, and desires.
A Clinical Psychology doctorate from Antioch University enhanced my understanding. My education invited me to dive deep into the philosophy and research behind professional psychology. Through several practicum and internship experiences, I started to hone my craft and develop an interpersonal, existential, and psychodynamic approach to therapy. Everyone makes sense if I can get to know them deeply, authentically, and personally.
During graduate school, I was the Director of Mental Health Services at an AIDS Service Organization. This role increased my empathy and understanding of the effects of anti-gay discrimination on overall well-being. These experiences also deepened my understanding of the distinctive challenges associated with death and dying. I've seen the moments of existential crisis as an opportunity for healing within ourselves. I am deeply humbled when individuals entrust me to guide them toward finding peace with mortality. I completed my post-doctoral training at The University at Buffalo's Counseling Center. This experience exposed me to working with groups and supervising professional counselors and therapists.
I worked eight years as a staff psychologist at a college counseling center. I worked with a diverse student body and became an advocate for underserved and disadvantaged populations. This work included clients who experienced deep shame and identity complications after being reared by extreme religiosity and abusive family systems. The pressure from one's rearing can become deeply embedded in our sense of self. Disentangling internal feelings from distorted messages can be more than a logical process. Such imbalances disorient our ability to feel happy and secure.
While working at the University of West Florida, part of my work involved violence prevention education. I created a program to intervene with men on campus as allies against rape and sexual assaults. I found that helping men empathize with victims of violence made them more likely to intervene to stop the violence. This work helped me better understand how we internalize cultural messaging about gender, power, and identity. It has helped me be a louder and more compassionate ally against violence.
From 2011 to 2023, I successfully operated a private practice in Pensacola, FL. Although I consider myself a generalist, I gained a reputation for trauma-informed treatment partly due to the professional training and CEUs I provided for fellow counselors and therapists.
I practice meditation and yoga as tools for managing anxiety and stress. Meditation is a balm for the restless mind, shedding light on our behavioral patterns. The essence of my approach lies in recognizing our attachments.
My move to Fort Collins, Colorado, was driven by a passion for its culture and a yearning for fresh professional horizons. I'm eager to explore the frontiers of modern psychedelic medicine and its potential to accelerate the healing process. I opened a practice in Fort Collins in 2023. I am currently accepting clients in person or virtually.
Copyright © 2024 Patrick Preston PsyD - All Rights Reserved.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.