Meet Our Team - Angela Swan

Angela Swan, LMHCA

Position at the Hallowell Todaro ADHD Center:

Therapist

How long have you been working at Hallowell Todaro ADHD?

Since October 2023

Where did you grow up?

I was born/raised in San Diego, CA. I moved to the PNW for the first time to finish my doctoral training in 2019 and decided to stay because I love it here!

What are your favorite books / TV shows / movies?

Books: Grad school made it difficult to enjoy reading, so please send me recommendations! I like thrillers/mystery novels and honestly any book that people find hard to put down.
TV shows: Star Trek (TNG is my favorite), anything true crime, stand-up comedy specials, nature/science documentaries, and food competition shows (e.g., Iron Chef). I prefer YouTube videos related to my special interests.
Movies: I don't tend to watch any movies on my own, but I am open to watching action, adventure, comedy, cult classics, and suspense if others are watching.
Music: I am going to add this section because music is the most important form of media that I consume. My favorite genres of music are: Death metal, jazz, classical music, progressive rock, hip hop, R&B, soul/funk from the 70's, shoegaze, and punk rock. I enjoy live music a lot and tend to go to metal shows in my free time.

What’s your favorite sport and/or sports team?

Favorite sport to play: Pinball (if that counts), rock climbing, wrestling.
Favorite sports to watch: extreme sports, football, and pro-wrestling.

Complete the following sentences:

When I’m not at work, you can find me...

either doing a 1000 piece puzzle and listening to a true crime podcast or exploring nature.

When I want to de-stress, I...

go on a hike or spend quality time with people I care about.

My favorite time of year is...

summer when the weather is perfect for camping and river-tubing.
fall when the leaves change
spring when the Cherry blossoms are blooming
winter when it's the first snowfall

My favorite thing to cook is...

chicken soup from scratch with lots of veggies.

If I could travel anywhere in the world, I’d go to...

Iceland or Croatia.

The best gift I ever received was…

the lessons I have learned in life.

What led you to pursue a career in helping others?

A genuine curiosity for others' experiences.

Collectivist values instilled within me from my culture and upbringing.

Compassion and empathy for suffering.

Values related to social justice and making a positive impact on the world during my short time here.

What education, skills and expertise do you bring to your role?

Education: Graduated from Alliant International University in San Diego with my PsyD (licensure in progress).

Skills: Approaching neurodiversity from a non-ablest lens, group therapy, outreach, case management, leading workshops and trainings, cultural humility, crisis management, and mindfulness. Outside of neurodiversity, I also specialize in working with culturally diverse, LGBTQIA+, and underserved populations

Expertise: personal experience with being neurodiverse (ADHD and TBI) and wrote my doctoral dissertation on ADHD, motivation, and hyperfocus. I also worked in a college counseling setting as their primary referral source for neurodiverse and culturally diverse young adults, where I created a neurodiversity support group, a strength-based skills workshop, and piloted their very first "Neurodiversity and Assessment Specialist" position.

Who/what inspires you?

Who: My clients, previous mentors and supervisors, my loved ones, and people who can live by their core values regardless of circumstance.

What: My core values (authenticity, integrity, social justice, humor, balance, community).

What’s your personal philosophy/approach toward the work you do?

Phenomenology first (the client is the expert of their own experience).

The client and their presenting concerns exist within a specific socio-cultural context. It is important to understand the intersect of all these factors before jumping into problem-solving.

Compassion and unconditional regard for the client is foundational for a good therapeutic alliance.

As a therapist, the only thing I can control is the way I conduct therapy and attune to my clients. The client is ultimately in charge of the decisions they make.

"Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional," and concepts like Mindfulness and Acceptance are helpful ways to reduce suffering.

Mental wellness should be accessible to all who seek it.

Part of the work of mental health professionals is to dismantle systems of oppression and injustice that continue to exist within our field.