David C. Brillhart, PsyD, is a licensed psychologist specializing in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), with certifications in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Brainspotting (BSP) therapies. His success using ACT in conjunction with EMDR and BSP has provided emotional and physical healing of chronic pain, trauma, and anger, with various individuals, couples, and groups in diverse clinical settings. Dr. Brillhart has considerable forensic/correctional clinical experience using ACT with high-risk, special needs, and serious, persistent mental illness offenders in maximum-security settings. His research in this area was presented at several national and international conferences; he is also internationally recognized for his expertise and workshop training on ACT. In 2017, Dr. Brillhart authored a book chapter on ACT in Individual Psychological Therapies in Forensic Settings (Davies & Nagi, Eds., 2017). And most recently, his full-day training, Mad as Hell: Gaining Control of Life Over Anger with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), was filmed and is available for DVD distribution through PESI (2018). Working with difficult-to-treat forensic and correctional offenders and non-forensic clients with chronic trauma and emotional and physical pain has allowed Dr. Brillhart to hone his ACT, EMDR, and BSP therapeutic skills. Dr. Brillhart earned his Master's and Doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology with Forensic Specialization from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Besides helping you take actionable pain to take your life back from chronic pain, Dr. Brillhart's interests include photography and gardening.

Melissa believes in lifestyle therapy. She advocates for the healing modalities of natural food nutrition and mindful yoga. She grew up in Salem, Oregon, and graduated from Western Oregon University with her Master's Degree in Health Education. Melissa supports each person individually with the care and guidance they deserve to activate their mind and body's innate capacity to heal. She believes each of her patients has the power to change how they feel and to change their lives for the better. Her goal is to have her patients actively participate in their health and healing. She loves how the Beyond Pain team is a loving staff that has the dream to help you get better. Melissa's interests include CrossFit, meditation, yoga, and her dogs.

Scott Kobold is one of our clinic's Associate Therapists who grew up in Montana's capital, Helena, before proudly serving in the United States Navy. After earning his Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Montana, he worked as a marketing consultant for over a decade. For Scott, however, this career path was an unfulfilling grind that felt regrettably like work. Profoundly helping others is not work to him but rather his true passion, so he ultimately gravitated toward the mental health field. After graduating with his Master of Arts in Psychology degree from the University of Massachusetts, becoming a therapist at the Beyond Pain Clinic was far and away his primary goal. He and co-owner Shelly Carlson had been colleagues for the better part of a decade, and he knew the culture of her clinic was one of compassion where both he and the patients he would serve would receive the highest levels of support and care. The clinic's holistic approach to helping patients improve their quality of life was especially appealing; he recognized that their methods are legitimately life-changing because they address the root causes of physical and emotional pain rather than mask their symptoms. Now, after serving patients at Beyond Pain for over a year, Scott couldn't be happier with his career path, and he gets to fulfill his passion every day he comes to work. He also paints, shoots photography, and plays the drums, and to say he is a music aficionado is an understatement for the ages. Scott and his wife Amanda have a baby girl, and traveling with them and his family is when he's happiest. Fun facts: Scott became the first person in his family to work a security detail for a US President, to earn bachelor's and master's degrees, and to be broadcast around the globe via the world wide web as a college radio deejay.

Shelly is the Co-Owner and Director of Business Operations at Beyond Pain. Shelly holds a BA in Psychology from Pacific Lutheran University and Masters of Adult Education and Training from the University of Phoenix. Additionally, she is trained in Performance and Mastery Coaching. She has a growing interest in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She hopes every patient will attend Beyond Pain's Introduction Session, where they can learn more about chronic pain – emotional and physical. Not only does Shelly enjoy living a life that provides value for others, but she also loves to live her life to the fullest. She loves to stay active by running and participating in half marathons. She also enjoys spending quality time with her wife, Marni, and their two little dogs, Pinky, and Dot.

Brianna grew up in Portland, Oregon, and is one of Shelly Carlson's (our business director of operations) daughters. She received her BA at Simpson University in Music Ministry Leadership. After her college experience, she fell in love with serving in the health field in leadership positions. With over ten years of administrative leadership experience, Brianna can facilitate our partnering providers and their patients into our programs in an efficient and supportive way. She is passionate about seeing people live out their full potential in health and happiness. Brianna loves how the Beyond Pain team genuinely cares about helping patients and putting their hearts into all they do. She loves writing and playing worship music with her husband, drinking coffee, public speaking, investing time in people, attending church, and playing Skipbo. A fun fact about her is that she associates words and sounds with colors and shapes!

Giorgianna is Beyond Pain's New Patient Onboarding Coordinator. Having grown up in Portland, Oregon, Giorgianna had access to various fun and unique food venues that she got to try; this facilitated a love for trying new restaurants and food that she had never experienced before. Along with that, she also enjoys running, baking, and traveling. Giorgianna graduated from Azusa Pacific University with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater and continues to pursue her love for acting and storytelling in her spare time. One of Giorgianna’s favorite aspects of Beyond Pain's "Pain2Purpose" Program is the community that the patients build during the program and the hope that they walk away with when they finish. Giorgianna’s goal for each patient who works with Beyond Pain is to feel supported, encouraged, and set up for success as they participate in the "Pain2Purpose" Program.

Alexa grew up in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon. She has her BA in English from the University of Washington and will soon graduate with her MS in Human Resources from the University of Massachusetts Global. Her goals in life have often centered around helping people experience a better life despite the challenges they may face. Alexa has experienced chronic pain, and witnessed family members suffer from it, so she understands what many chronic pain sufferers go through. This has created a strong passion for her to be involved with Beyond Pain to help those suffering from chronic pain gain control of their life again and enjoy it to the fullest. The outcomes that patients experience from the Pain2Purpose program within Beyond Pain excite her as she gets to be a part of an incredible mission equipping patients with tools to change their lives and feel more like themselves again. Besides helping people experience joy in their life, Alexa also loves cooking, hosting friends and family, exploring the culinary scene in Portland, film photography, and thrifting/vintage fashion. In her other spare time, she enjoys taking care of her fur babies, Otter & Birdie, who are Chihuahua-mix dogs. She also loves journaling and has been journaling daily for ten years.

Don grew up in the midwest and graduated with his MBA from California Coast University. He also attended Universal Life Seminary, receiving his Doctorate in Ministry. With a strong passion for ministry, Don loves to help people become well and stay well. He has seen many results with patients getting better within the "Pain2Purpose program," which fuels his passion for dedicated teamwork and helping you in any way he can receive the care you need. Some of his interests include long drives around the country and horses.