Meet the Team: Richard Powell, MA, LPC
California native Richard Powell is new to Rochester Center for Behavioral Medicine, having joined our team in May 2019. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and professional experience that spans a wide gamut, ranging from mental health counseling to legal compliance, statistical data analysis, and dispute resolution.
Powell also lectures for graduate-level courses in counseling at Oakland University, where he’s pursuing a Ph.D. in counseling. He has worked as a counselor in private practice elsewhere for a large group practice, and is a member of the State Bar of Michigan.
“I became interested in therapy when in high school,” Powell says. “I fell in love with psychology and I could tell it had a strong potential to help people understand each other and heal emotional problems.”
Richard’s path to becoming a counselor wasn’t linear. After completing his undergraduate degree in psychology at Brigham Young University-Idaho in 2010, he followed his interests to law school at the University of San Diego, where he obtained a juris doctor degree, focusing on intellectual property law and alternative dispute resolution. From there, to bolster his credentials in mediation and alternative dispute resolution, he enrolled at Oakland University.
Along the way, Powell developed a passion for counseling outreach. He’s been working in private practice ever since he received his master’s degree in counseling, and is now finishing his dissertation as part of a Ph.D. in counseling at Oakland.
“The most rewarding part of being a counselor is meeting with a diverse clientele and hearing their stories,” Powell says. “I am honored and humbled to work as a counselor and help people in meaningful ways.”
At RCBM, Powell specializes in treating anxiety-related disorders, depression, ADHD, grief and relationship problems. Among his favorite approaches are solution-focused therapy, which incorporates setting a goal; narrative theory, which aims to separate patients from their problems; and structural family theory, which views problems through the lens of family dysfunctions.
“My primary way of understanding client issues and the solutions to those problems is through a cognitive-behavioral framework,” he explains. “The perspectives we take about ourselves, others and the world tend to drive our emotional experiences as well as our behavior.”
Powell says in order for people to meet their life goals and feel contented, they must prioritize their own wellbeing and be kind to themselves when they inevitably make mistakes or encounter struggles. By pursuing a Ph.D. and being a fan of different theoretical approaches to therapy, Powell believes he offers a broad range of ways to intervene and help clients develop new perspectives.
“I think it is a great sign of strength and responsibility to see a therapist,” he says. “Wanting to talk through and work out problems with a trained and caring professional should be encouraged and admired. It’s a sign that you are taking control of your life and are willing to do what it takes to be who you want to be.”
Interested in scheduling an appointment or visiting our office? Call today: (248) 608-8800 or fill out our New Patient Form here.
