Chad Cryder

After an 18-year career in the beer industry, I charted a different course in helping people work with the challenges they faced in life. I earned my Master's and PhD in Clinical Psychology at Saybrook University, and I have been an adjunct faculty member in the Master's in Counseling program since 2018. You could say Saybrook is in my blood.

After earning my PhD, I became a licensed clinical psychologist in California working in both community and correctional settings. Within the California and Washington state prison systems, I have held various roles including Clinical Psychologist, Senior Psychologist, and Chief of Mental Health. I also have a private practice where I work with individuals, couples, and complete psychological evaluations.

My clinical passion has been focused on the Gender and Sexual Minority (GSM) community, relationships, trauma, and self-violence (mindfulness/meditation studies). My dissertation explored how gay men fostered marital success, and I have proposed a study on understanding the impact of Traumatic Brain Injuries with incarcerated individuals and using meditation programs to improve distress tolerance and attention.

While my educational background is rooted in Humanistic psychology, I take an integrative approach with my clients and patients by also incorporating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Buddhist psychology, and compassion-focused therapy. From a teaching perspective, I encourage students to develop and hone an approach that supports their passions and self-care.

I split my time between California and Washington. When I am home in California, my husband and our Golden Retriever enjoy relaxing, cooking, and tennis ball retrieval outings. Self-care and recharging are the pursuits we seek