DR. ANGEL BRUTUS, LPCC, ACS, BC-TMH, CMPC
Photo Credit: InForm Magazine's Ryan O'Neal
In addition to managing a private practice with active contracts with organizations and individuals, I also believe in community engagement. I currently serve as contributor to programming for the Saving Our Daughters organization leveraging young women of color in the entertainment industry's stories amplifying the importance of mental health and wellbeing.
As former Volunteer Executive Director for the Grant D Knowledge Foundation (GDK) founded by colleague and friend, Mr. Deon Grant, Super Bowl Champion and philanthropist, I developed and fostered new relationships with various community partners.
Developing and implementing community-based programs specific to the needs of youth, adolescents, and emerging adult populations were the core initiatives of GDK. As ED, I successfully secured 501c3 status for the organization to support attainment of financial support to effect change in the lives of targeted youth. Over the years, the organization awarded a number of financial scholarships to college-bound youth, funded community-based grants to support partner initiatives, hosted community events for youth in several states, and provided motivational speaking services for schools and other host organizations.
I previously served on the Playmakers board to support the initiatives of Playworks Georgia chapter to empower children with play while improving school climate, reducing bullying, increasing social-emotional learning, and increasing time for learning.
My role of ambassador of the organization was fulfilled through fundraising, events, networking, volunteering and general advocacy of the Playworks organizational mission.
Philanthropy
I am a longstanding member of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) where over the course of my career, I have served in various leadership roles. Currently, I have the honor and privilege of being elected as Professional Standards Division Head overseeing the organization's Ethics Committee, Webinars/Virtual Conference Committee, Continuing Education Committee and Ex-Officio for the Certification Council and am one of the newest members of the prestigious honor as being appointed as an AASP Fellow.
In the past, I've also served in AASP leadership roles to include: student delegate (Mentorship Match Program Chair; Performance Excellence Movement), Co-Chair for the Association's Nominations Leadership & Development Committee, as well as previous member of the Ethics Committee. I have humbly served as an IGNITE Mentor for students pursuing the field of Sport Psychology and am also a member of multiple Special Interest Groups (SIGs) to include: Former Coordinator for the Race, Ethnicity & Sport, Adaptive Sport & Physical Activity, Anger & Violence in Sport and Women in Sport.
I have also facilitated numerous presentations and workshops involving Suicidality in Athletes, Women in Sport, Disability and Sport, Ethical Concerns, Social Justice and Advocacy in Sport, and Racial/Ethnic Intersectional Identities in the Culture of Sport.
I currently serve as this year's elected Secretary/Treasurer on the Executive Committee for Division 47 - Exercise & Sport Psychology of the American Psychological Association (and member of Division 35 - Psychology of Women & Division 45 - Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race) and former member of it's state-subsidiary the Georgia Psychological Association where I served on a number of committees (Early Career Psychologists, Public Education Committee and the Diversity Directorate).
I am also an active member of the California Association for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (CALPCC) where I currently serve as a Board Member and Fellows Mentor.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
I earned my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology with a minor in African & African-American Studies from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville while subsequently earning my Master of Science Degree in Counseling with a concentration in Rehabilitation Counseling. Since then, I have earned my Doctorate in Psychology Degree with a concentration in Sport & Performance Psychology from the University of the Rockies where I was a member of the National Honor Society and a recipient of the University President's Diversity Scholarship Award where I successfully defended my dissertation entitled- "Minority, Student and Athlete: Understanding the Multiracial Division I Intercollegiate Athlete's Ascribed Meanings of the Experience of Stereotype Threat."
CERTIFICATIONS & CONTINUED TRAINING
I serve as a clinically Licensed Professional Counselor in multiple jurisdictions; Certified Mental Performance Consultant as recognized by AASP; Board Certified TeleMental Health Counselor with the Center for Credentialing & Education; Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist with The Anxiety & Stress Management Institute; Level V Yoga Instructor with YogaFit Training Systems; Addiction Recovery Group Facilitator with SMART Recovery; certified trainer for Positive Coaching Alliance to provide coach certification workshops nationally.; and certified training facilitator for Mental Health First Aid for Adults with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
I received CMPC mentorship from leaders in the field of Sport Psychology, Dr. Kensa Gunter and the late Dr. Kate Hays.
In recent years, I have had the privilege of serving as contributing and at times lead chapter author for a number of general and academic textbooks within the field of sport and performance psychology.
*Currently, several projects are in development that specifically address service-provision for Women of African Descent navigating various High Performance Industries.* ~ Stay tuned for more
