Chanda Beardall, Student Intern
Chanda is currently enrolled in her final year of her master's program in Marriage and Family Therapy at National University, specializing in LGBTQ+ mental health and neurodiversities. She is a clinical intern in Marriage and Family Therapy. Chanda has her Bachelor's degree in Science of Psychology and an Associate in Science in Humanities and Social Sciences.
Chanda spent the last year working in a day treatment program with high-risk adolescents as a Behavior Manager, focusing on ACT skills while using Motivational Interviewing and emotion coaching, supporting clients in creating boundaries, finding helpful coping techniques, improving their communication skills, learning conflict resolution, and building self-esteem. Before that, Chanda worked for 7 years as a Registered Behavioral Therapist providing Applied Behavior Analysis services to children with autism. In the 15 years prior to that, Chanda focused on being a caregiver working in different positions within the mental health field, mostly with autism, Down syndrome, and traumatic brain injury, from group homes to job coaching, to day facilities, to respite. She has spent many years working with both adults, children, and teens.
Chanda is also serving on the board of Rock Camp SLC, Utah, volunteering in the Rock Steady mental health part of this all-inclusive Rock and Roll camp. A safe space for kids to play rock and roll as their authentic selves!
Chanda is a compassionate advocate for human rights and is driven in her work. She is a proud biracial queer woman married to a biracial masc lesbian wife raising 2 children. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, she understands religious shame, self-acceptance, community rejection and personal identity development as a sexual and racial minority. Raised in Utah, Chanda has experienced firsthand what mixed race and queer people go through here in this state.
Chanda works with individuals and families using a trauma-informed lens with Solution-Focused Therapy techniques, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-based techniques, Motivational Interviewing, Experiential Therapy techniques, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques. She is always learning and growing to be the most up-to-date and helpful she can be in utilizing these skills.
Chanda believes that each individual has the right to respect and love, and that we all deserve to live our lives as our most authentic and beautiful selves.
She loves spending time with her family, exploring nature, traveling, music, and experiencing the joys of life.
*Accepting New Clients*
Locations: Telehealth
Areas of Interest:
Adolescents
Adults
Couples and families
Trauma
PTSD
LGBTQ+ issues
Domestic violence
Women’s issues.