We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Brian Wood . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Brian below.
Brian , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you get your first job in the field that you practice in today?
My heart was always open to help people. When I was an undergraduate in college I was looking for internships and was directed by one of my professors from college to look into working in a psychiatric hospital, because I would be exposed to many diagnoses , how patients were treated medically and what would be the best care of action for clients.
I stumbled upon a psychiatric hospital from the phone book and I interviewed and that internship lead me to being one of their valued employees over time.
I knew from the first day I walked into the doors, that it was where I was called to me. I felt God telling me this is the place for you.
I was not able to be hired full time as they were no fulltime positions available at the time, I was only hired as needed, but I was persistent and over the course of a year I landed a full time position and my journey started.
I experienced some of the best learning while I was there and I got multiple promotions over the years.
I ended up being employed for that psychiatric hospital for 14 years of my life . My goal was to be the best counselor/employee I could be and I was open to learn as much as I could to make it happen.
Brian , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I grew up in a Christian home. My dad and mom are a big reason I am where I am in my life. My dad was a pastor for 53 years and traveled around the world and both he and my mom helped teach people Gods truth and helped in the mission field. My sister is also in ministry and has her degree in divinity and does a lot of work to help communities.
I love business, and psychology, I am also creative so it has put me in a space where I can reach as many people to teach them to lead healthy lives.
I am married with a beautiful wife and daughter they bring balance to my life .
I started my private practice in 2011. My business partner and I who I met at the psychiatric hospital I interned at, wanted to do something special, something to help change the culture of how people saw counseling and art. We really wanted to do something different to help people, so we started Healing Art Therapeutic Services. Our business incorporates a directive that fuses counseling techniques and art. The session are put in place to help people reach their fullest potential. We work with businesses, mental health, substance abuse programs, schools, and individuals. Our goal is to help people reach their fullest potential, by utilizing both the right side and left side of their brain. To help people manage their emotions and feelings to reach their goals.
I was always good at art from a teen and over the years my art developed. I have my masters in mental health counseling and I took art in college and did extra classes. I wanted to be able to fuse both art and psychology together to provide people with an experience.
Our company services multiple areas of Florida with a staff of five therapist, ranging form occupational, social work, and mental health counselors, All counselors have a foundation in the arts.
We provide sessions in medical settings , we provide lunch and learns for companies and schools, school staff and others to help them with better productivity and also provide steps on how to live more fulfilling lives. We do this by helping them manage emotions such as anger, anxiety, and identifying barriers that hinder from moving forward.
We would like to make a world impact to provide preventive care to help people avoid the unmanageable life and help them see how certain behaviors could cause harm if not identified.
We also have worked with non for profit organizations to help trafficked teens and teens dealing with any mental health symptoms or behavioral problems to visualize themselves healing.
Along with all of this I am an accomplished artist and skateboarder. One of my major art accomplishments with creating a mural for the city of downtown West Palm Beach on a 2700 square foot building. The mural is called ‘Energy’ and its focus was about skateboarding. The mural stands on the alley way on Datura street between olive and dixie. I painted my friends, with myself included and focused it on the connection skaters have when they skate together. The mural also focuses on community and accountability which is important for growth.
The wall of the building was challenging but I was able to be creative in my process and from the mural it has all the skaters skating on the pipes that were on the building. The blue on the building represents the water being in Florida and the yellow the sun also signifies being in the state of Florida.
Skateboarding provides balance for me in my life. I like it because it works both the right and left side of my brain. It helps me with my creativity and helps me think logically. It teaches life lessons of taking risk and falling to get back up because its a part of life. Skateboard is a active part of my life.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Being kind to people was key. People will always remember how you make them feel. They won’t care how much money you make, how successful you are but if you are kind it can propel you towards greatness. Yes having good skills and talent are important but they can only take you so far.
Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?
No I would not change a thing.
It was for such a time as this I was created.
Contact Info:
- Website: [email protected] and bwoodart.com
- Instagram: [email protected] and art.bwood
- Linkedin: [email protected] and [email protected]
- Other: Art instagram: art.bwood Art website : bwoodart.com