BRENDA FRECHETTE, Ph.D.
bfriendly@themindfulcenter.org
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
· Adjunct faculty in both graduate and bachelor level psychology programs. Held training positions where developed and conducted counseling training programs for community mental health and chemical dependency staff. Chair of addiction/prevention task forces & state-wide conferences.
· Thirty-five years of experience in assessment, triage, and treatment of psychiatric crisis and addiction problems.
· Director of: a psychiatric emergency unit; a jail mental health unit; a forensic case management team; a crisis intervention department; outpatient detoxification department; residential chemical dependency unit; adolescent group home; a summer hostel; an outpatient counseling department for children and adults
· Program development including: an outpatient intensive addiction program (separate programs for both adults and adolescents, wellness programs, a residential chemical dependency unit, and a county mental health court.
· Clinical supervisor of therapists providing individual, family, and group therapy to adults & children presenting with mental health, alcohol, & drug problems.
· Solid skills as a therapist and case manager specializing in addiction, crisis management, severe mental illness, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, sexual abuse, and psychosomatic illness.
· Trained in brief therapy techniques, strategic and structural family therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, somatic therapy, and Ericksonian hypnosis.
EDUCATION/TRAINING
California Institute of Integral Studies 2005
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (CA PSY license #21930)
Northern Arizona University 1987
M.A. in Counseling (CA MFT license # 039039)
University of Michigan 1977
B.A. in Sociology
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Adjunct Faculty:
John F. Kennedy University, Pleasant Hill, Ca 2010-present
Contracted to teach Basic Addictions, Seminar on Mindfulness and Relapse Prevention,
and seminar on Treatment in Correctional System, MFT program
Argosy University San Francisco Bay Area, Alameda, CA 2005-present
Professor in counseling and forensic psychology master level program. Currently
teaching clinical assessment from a forensic perspective, group counseling, and law
and ethics. Past courses include substance abuse assessment and treatment, psychology of
victims, and abnormal psychology.
University of Phoenix, Sacramento Valley Area 2008-present
Teach master in counseling courses in psychopharmacology, clinical assessment
(abnormal psychology and treatment planning), human development and lifespan,
counseling skills, group counseling, substance abuse.
Marin County 2000-present
Provided ongoing training to staff in assessment and crisis intervention. Taught
a ten week crisis management course for PhD intern program including:
psychopathology, mental status assessment, suicide intervention, crisis stabilization,
brief therapy techniques, substance abuse, and managing assaultive behavior.
Developed a seminar entitled Demystifying Addiction Treatment for community
mental health agency staff (goal to develop skills in treating clients with dual diagnosis
issues.
Rio Salado Community College, Phoenix, AZ. 1988-1992
Phoenix Community College, Phoenix, AZ.
Prescott College, Prescott, AZ.
Taught courses in psychopharmacology for counselors, chemical dependency counseling, family
therapy and working with the terminally ill.
Public Speaker and Trainer: State wide trainer in Arizona on substance abuse 1978-1990
prevention and treatment.
- Trained first responder emergency personnel in recognition and treatment of drug
overdoses, as well as behavioral management interventions of psychiatric emergencies.
Conducted these trainings for paramedics, fire department, emergency room, and
police department personnel. Also trained others in critical incident stress debriefing.
- Conducted drug use prevention classes for preschool, intermediate, and high school classes,as well as parent groups. Conducted workshops for psychotherapists on substance abuse recognition, intervention,
and treatment, as well as stress management techniques.
Dissertation: Frechette, B. (2005) Altruistic intention: Opening to compassion or compassion fatigue?
Research interests: stress management, addiction, suicide and violent risk assessment, mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy.
WORK EXPERIENCE
California Medical Facility, Vacaville, CA. February 2008 to present
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Psychologist
Assessment and stabilization of inmates in acute psychiatric crisis. Site is a 50 bed crisis unit for
The state prison system serving individuals experiencing suicidal ideation or florid psychosis.
Marin County Community Mental Health, Greenbrae, CA. June 1996 to January 2008
· Mental Health Supervisor January 2001 to January 2008
Psychiatric Emergency Services Supervisor
Administrative/clinical management of a 24 hour assessment, triage,
and stabilization unit for voluntary and involuntary patients. This is Marin County’s
primary 5150 receiving center and crisis unit for patients that are a danger to self, others,
or are gravely disabled.
Disaster Mental Health Response Coordinator
Coordinator of the mental health response for Marin County’s Emergency Operation Center (critical incident stress debriefings and disaster response.)
Forensic Team Supervisor
Supervised the Marin County Jail Mental Health Unit, the STAR case management team
( a multidisciplinary team working with severely mentally ill clients involved in the criminal
justice system), and first coordinator of Marin County’s Mental Health Court.
· Social worker: Interfaced with Marin County homeless shelters and psychiatric 1998-2000
services to provide outreach and case management to individuals with severe
persistent mental illness with a dual diagnosis focus. Utilized harm reduction approach.
· PES staff/ Intern: Extra hire staff on psychiatric emergency unit. 1996-1997
PhD intern on Child and Adolescent unit providing
therapy to children and families..
V.A. Hospital/U.C.S.F., San Francisco, CA. 1993-1998
· Therapist: Conducted assessment, therapy treatment (individual and group), and casemanagement within NIDA funded addiction research projects. Populations served
included veterans and non-veterans. Projects studied crack cocaine, heroin, and
cigarette smoking addiction. Developed treatment protocol manual for two studies.
Research topics included: efficacy of cognitive behavioral treatment vs twelve step
approach (crack addiction); efficacy of long term methadone maintenance with low
therapy intervention vs six month methadone detox with high therapy intervention;
buprenorphine FDA approval study.
Biofeedback Institute of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. August 1994-October 1995
· PhD Practicum placement: Therapist conducting assessments and brief therapy,
hypnosis, and biofeedback with individuals with psychosomatic illness (for example, migraines, high blood pressure, insomnia, chronic pain.
West Yavapai Guidance Clinic, Prescott, AZ. 1987-1993
· .Outpatient/Residential Manager
Management of services at three sites-two outpatient mental health treatment centers
and an adult chemical dependency residential unit; implemented managed care system;
Strategic planning, quality assurance & utilization review. Clinical supervision for
therapists working with adults and children.
· Substance Abuse Director 1/88-9/92
Developed outpatient intensive addiction programs, a 17 bed chemical dependency
residential unit, and aftercare programs. Clinical supervision of therapists in these
programs. Also responsible for budget management, marketing, and day to day
operations. Chaired planning committees for state-wide alcohol & drug treatment
and prevention conferences.
· Therapist 1/87-12/92
Responsible for therapy with both children & adults presenting with a wide variation
of presenting problems-addiction, family dysfunction, personality disorders, conduct
disorders, etc. Conducted three levels of DUI and court-ordered substance abuse
related offense education and treatment groups as well as an outpatient intensive
addiction program. Developed an outpatient dual diagnosis group for the chronic
mentally ill/addicted and an adolescent intensive day treatment program for juvenile
probation. Therapist for HIV positive support group.
Terros, Inc.Phoenix, AZ. 1977-1987
· Director Crisis & Detoxification Departments 1984-1987
Managed county-wide crisis response unit and a outpatient detox program; supervised
staff of 30; fundraising, budget, personnel, operations, licensing responsibilities.
· Supervisor/Trainer 1978-1984
Supervised and trained crisis staff and volunteers in all phases of crisis management.
State-wide trainer in street drug trends, interventions, and prevention. Trained
paramedics in crisis management & overdose treatment. Developed training manual
for the University of Arizona. Therapist for outpatient intensive addiction program.
· Crisis Counselor/Paramedic 1977-1983
Telephone hotline, crisis walk-in, and first response behavioral ambulance for drug
related emergencies, suicide, and psychiatric problems.
Consultant Work
· Program development and training consultant to start up a state wide Teen Peer Hotline.
· Expert witness in personnel hearings involving substance abuse/dependence issues.
· Substance abuse program development consultant for the Navajo Nation.
· Worked with Spirit Rock Meditation center to develop protocols to respond to both disruptive behaviors from visitors as well as distressing psychiatric symptoms that can arise secondary to spiritual emergence in retreat participants. Trained Spirit Rock teacher collective in managing behavioral emergencies. Consulted with retreat managers as needed.
PRE-1977
Youth Service Bureau in Harrisville, Michigan (1975-1976): therapist to adolescents (pre-adjudicated youth referred through Juvenile Probation) and their families, developing a job placement program, and community liaison. Ozone House In Ann Arbor, Michigan (1971-1975): crisis hotline and walk-in counseling as well as family therapy to runaways and their families. Supervised a summer hostel, free food program, and an adolescent group home.
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