Dr Bren Coaching

Brendan “Bren” O’Rourke, Ph.D.

Professional Vitae

Licensed Psychologist from 1983-2020, Retired

Private practice in Houston, Texas, 1983-2011

Clinical Psychologist for U.S. Army, Dept. of Defense, 2011-2017, serving at Fort
Bliss, TX, Warrior Resilience Center (2011-2015) and at Fort Knox, KY, (2015-2017) Recruiting and
Retention College, Supervisor of Adaptive Leader Program

*Adjunct Professor at University of Houston Clear Lake, 1986, graduate
Psychology Dept.

*Adjunct Professor at Houston Baptist University, 2002-2006, Dept of Behavioral
Health, graduate and undergraduate courses as well as practicum supervision

Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas, 1989-90. Interim Chief of Pain Management Clinic.

VAMC consultant to psychology interns on Borderline Personality Disorders

Cancer Counseling Inc., Houston, TX, 1986-2010, provided individual and family
therapy for cancer patients at reduced fee as part of private practice

Presentations, workshops, and retreats for

  • American Psychological Assn.
  •  International Imago Relationship Therapy Conference, Toronto, Canada
  • M.D. Anderson Hospital, Houston, TX
  • Veterans Affairs Medical Center hospital in Houston, TX,
  • The Meadows Treatment Center for Addictions lecture series, Houston, TX
  • Optimist Clubs
  • Rotary Clubs
  • Disabilities 101, Houston,TX
  • Churches in the Houston area and El Paso, TX

Areas of specialization:

  •  Performance Psychology
  • Trauma recovery
  • Anxiety and depressive disorders
  • Imago Relationship Therapy
  • Relationship skills and education
  • Communication skills training
  • Acute Critical Incident Stress Management and Debriefing
  • Grief counseling and recovery
  • Attachment issues
  • Mindfulness practice
  • Insomnia
  • EMDR – Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing

Publications:

  • Co-author of book – The Hope of a Homecoming: Entrusting Your
    Prodigal to a Sovereign God, publisher –NavPress, 2003
  • Article- “Coping with Infant Cancer,” in the Mother’s Book, publisherHarper,1983
  • Article – “Non-Verbal Communication” in Baker’s Encyclopedia of
    Psychology,1981

Awards:

  • Commander’s Award for Civilian Service, US Army Recruiting and
    Retention College, Fort Knox, KY, December, 2017.
  • Commendation by Surgeon General of the United States for serving on a Congressional investigation team to re-evaluate medically retired Soldiers’
    diagnoses of PTSD, Joint Base Lewis McCord, Tacoma Washington,
    2012.
  • Distinguished Service Award from Cancer Counseling, Inc., 2010

Degrees:

  • Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station,
    TX
  • M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX
  • B.S in Education, University of Houston, Houston, TX

Certifications:

  • Health Coach, Health Coach Institute, 2021
  • Life Coach, Health Coach Institute, 2021