"Competing at the college level taught me what it means to perform under stress, recover from setbacks, and seek purpose and identity beyond the scoreboard."
I am Brendan Holland, a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPCA) in Connecticut. I earned my BS in Health Promotion & Exercise Science from Western Connecticut State University and my MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Sacred Heart University.
Before becoming a therapist, I was a college student-athlete, experiencing firsthand the challenges of balancing athletic performance with academics. Competing at the college level taught me what it means to perform under stress, recover from setbacks, and seek purpose and identity beyond the scoreboard. Those years showed me the deep connection between mind and body, and how resilience develops through consistency, reflection, and support.
After college, I spent several years working in sales, but I felt disconnected from what truly mattered. That realization led me to pursue work that felt meaningful to me, helping people navigate change, rebuild confidence, and rediscover balance.
Today, I work with adolescents, young adults, and adults throughout Fairfield County, supporting clients through stress, performance pressure, life transitions, and relationship challenges. I also specialize in helping athletes strengthen focus, confidence, and identity beyond performance.
I am inspired by stories of perseverance, the underdogs who face setbacks, keep pushing, and emerge stronger. This perspective shapes my approach, which blends the discipline and structure of athletics with the empathy and clinical insight developed through counseling. I focus on small, consistent steps that build confidence, clarity, and momentum.
Outside of my work, I am a husband and father to identical twin boys, roles that continuously shape my perspective on identity, transitions, and family life. In my free time, I enjoy golf, exercise, cooking, and watching classic movies.