At Comprehensive Wellness, we enjoy working with a diverse team of clinicians to bring our patients the most comprehensive care in the area. Over the course of the next few months, we will be introducing you to each member of our clinical staff to share with you, our patients, more of what makes us love what we do.
Meet Dr. Alan Brast, CCHT, CSA, NLP
What is your current role at Comprehensive Wellness and how long have you held it?
I am an emotional trauma specialist, one of the clinicians at Comprehensive Wellness.
What do you like best about your role?
I love being able to make a difference in the lives of my patients who suffer from a variety of emotional traumas which include severe anxiety/phobia issues, suicidal ideation, emotional and physical abuse as well as other emotional trauma issues.
What drew you to your current role?
I had been a “one-man show” running a solo practice for a long time when I was invited to join Comprehensive Wellness. One of many frustrations in operating alone is the lack of collaboration with other clinicians when referrals to a different specialty are required for a patient. As such, it required looking to outside professionals to refer to, ask opinions of, etc. In addition, I had to manage all of the moving parts of scheduling, having an assistant to do billing, make reminder calls and all of the myriad duties required when operating alone.
What about Comprehensive Wellness drew you to join our practice? What do you feel makes Comprehensive Wellness special?
Comprehensive Wellness is just plain AWESOME! I can now work in collaboration with a group of like-minded clinicians where all of us have first and foremost, the best interests of our patients. Every one of my CW partners is an expert in their fields of practice allowing us as a group, to take the time we need to give our patients the very best possible care anyone could ask for. I cannot think of another medical practice that offers the multi-disciplinary care along with the quality and dedication that Comprehensive Wellness offers. I LOVE being a part of this team and I look forward to each and every hour I spend working there.
Tell us a bit about yourself—something we might not know.
I grew up in Chicago and after a record snowstorm accompanied by -10˚F temperatures, my wife and I decided there had to be a more temperate place to raise our children. We have been so very fortunate that our three daughters, sons-in-law, and six grandchildren all live within 20 minutes of us. My wife and I love the outdoors, she into gardening and myself into hiking, bike riding, pickle ball and being dressed in as little clothing as possible in our glorious warm weather. Even our beloved miniature schnauzer Zoe, is a born and bred fan of our beautiful Northern California environment.
I have been a musician since childhood and still play my guitars and trumpet on a regular basis. Sitting in our yard on a beautiful day singing and playing my guitar is to me, the personification of paradise!
I spent many years running a financial services firm here in the bay area with a partner and volunteering time in mental health as an avocation rather than as my primary occupation. This dual occupational existence ended seven years ago when I sold my firm and decided to practice in my area of mental health expertise on a full-time basis. It has been a wonderful and refreshing change to be able to spend all of my working time taking care of people which is my passion.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our followers/patients?
Comprehensive Wellness is not only special but totally unique in every aspect of the word. Every member of our team is a totally dedicated, caring, and talented professional whose primary desire is to offer our patients the gold standard in care, expertise, and concern. This dedication includes every member of our staff, our support people as well as our clinicians. I am proud and honored to be a member of this outstanding team of professionals.
