Brayden Younghusband
Pinnacle Peak Recovery
Scottsdale, AZ USA
"Trust the process."
Career Roadmap
Brayden's work combines: Medicine, Science, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
When I first told my mom that I wanted to become a therapist, she didn't think it was a good idea. She thought I should do computer science or math instead. I felt very defeated but I decided to pursue this path anyway. Through the journey, my mom's mindset completely shifted. She saw that this was right for me. Follow your heart because at the end of the day you'll be doing what you love. The money will come eventually and it's not the most important thing. Loving what you do is more important.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Certification
Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling
Orange Coast College
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, and moved with my parents to Los Angeles, California, where I grew up.
2.
I struggled with my mental health throughout high school but worked my way out of those struggles through therapy and various programs.
3.
Through that experience and process, I developed a passion for helping others and decided to pursue an education in substance use.
4.
I earned my certification in substance abuse and addiction counseling from Orange Coast College and began working in client care for a Southern California treatment center.
5.
I started out thinking that I eventually wanted to become a therapist, but I ended up getting more operations roles instead, which I actually discovered I loved.
6.
After moving to Arizona, I worked as an operations manager and then center manager at treatment centers.
7.
I eventually joined Pinnacle Peak Recovery, starting in business development and then working up to my current position as the executive director of integrated care.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Parents:
You're not going to make enough money as a therapist. That's not a good career path.
How I responded:
When I first told my mom that I wanted to become a therapist, she didn't think it was a good idea. She thought I should do computer science or math instead. I felt very defeated but I decided to pursue this path anyway. Through the journey, my mom's mindset completely shifted. She saw that this was right for me. Follow your heart because at the end of the day you'll be doing what you love. The money will come eventually and it's not the most important thing. Loving what you do is more important.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I struggled with my mental health throughout high school. I was able to find help through therapy and programs. Through that process, I developed a passion for helping people, which set me out on the path to my job now.
When I first started in my field, I was so excited to work all the time and help people that I ended up not helping myself. I experienced burnout and compassion fatigue. It took time but I now put a lot of emphasis on self-care and work-life balance.