Brandi Sharkey is a family and child therapist specializing in supporting parents prenatally through the preschool years.  Brandi has worked with hundreds of families in various settings, including counseling centers, schools and homes.  She began her career as a counselor in schools, working with students facing anxiety, depression, and academic stress.  While her work in schools was fulfilling, Brandi recognized a desire to work with the whole family system.  She went on to practice in clinics and private practice seeing clients individually for a wide variety of issues.  In her clinical work, Brandi developed and began teaching a court accepted parenting class.

 

A short while later, she became pregnant with her first child.  After experiencing pregnancy, childbirth and becoming a mother, Brandi knew she would make parent support her focus in her career.  She would go on to train in the Mindful Parenting program at Well Baby Center, and develop a Prenatal Parent Prep curriculum, which she taught in private practice for expecting parents. Brandi co-founded a family yoga and wellness studio in El Segundo, serving the seaside community with prenatal, postnatal and preschool enrichment offerings.  After having her second child and becoming licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist, Brandi decided to leave the business to focus more time on her growing family and career.  From 2017 to 2021, Brandi supported hundreds of families at a private preschool in West LA, where she led parent groups of children ranging from two months to two years.  Brandi learned the Reggio Emilia approach here and even had the opportunity to go to Italy and train under Tiziana Fillippini.

 

Brandi and her family decided that it was time to say goodbye to Los Angeles in early 2021 and moved to Austin, TX.  Currently, she is practicing psychotherapy with individual clients online and in-person.  She also facilitates groups for PIP (Partners in Parenting), an Austin based non-profit dedicated to connecting parents and families. Her newest venture is the opening of the Parent & Toddler Program at Little Hive Montessori in South Austin.

 

Brandi’s approach to her work with families has been inspired by neuroscience and mindfulness, family systems theory, RIE Parenting Philosophy, Attachment Theory and her own experience as mother of two.  She stays up to date with the latest research in child development and parenting strategies.  She has also completed additional training with Perinatal Support International, Parenting with Love & Logic, Reggio Emilia approach to education, as well as training in trauma and attachment.  Brandi completed her Masters Degree of Clinical Psychology at Phillips Graduate Institute (now Phillips Graduate University).  You can learn more about her clinical work at www.brandisharkeytherapy.com.