Pat Collinsworth Huish, Ph.D

Pat Collinsworth Huish, Ph.D. Dr. Huish has been in clinical private practice since 1982. She began her academic graduate work at Brigham Young University where she received a Master’s Degree in marriage and family therapy. She later earned a doctorate in Lifespan Developmental Psychology at Arizona State University. Dr. Huish holds a license in Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy in California and is licensed as a clinical psychologist in the State of Arizona.

Pat treats a wide range of adult populations, as well as young children and adolescents. Her formal education, post-graduate training, as well as her 20 years of experience have equipped her to assist clients in healing from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, dissociative disorder, and adjustments to life’s stressors.

Pat’s academic and clinical interests led her to undertake extensive research in intergenerational and multicultural family relationships. She has authored and coauthored numerous articles in professional journals. In addition, she has designed curricula for the study of child therapy and for treatment of victims of abuse. Coupled with her research and writing, Pat taught graduate and undergraduate classes at Brigham Young University, University of Utah, Northern Arizona University, and University of Phoenix.

Dr. Huish’s clinical orientation is client-centered, holding the belief that all people, when given the appropriate environment and skills, have the inherent ability to move in the direction of health and well-being. All individuals have the potential to discover and to live within their own set of defined values and to seek happiness.

Dysfunction is identified as inappropriate thoughts, beliefs, or behaviors that stem from an inaccurate negative view of oneself and the world. This misperception usually can be traced to specific life experiences when information was stored in the brain in a maladaptive manner, especially during childhood. For example, in some cases children lack the cognitive development required to interpret a situation accurately. Sometimes, mistaken information is acquired and stored simply because a child believes what he or she is told. This results in false or dysfunctional beliefs. When these dysfunctional beliefs are erased and then replaced with healthy, accurate beliefs the brain is thus allowed to heal itself from psychological distress.

Successful therapy occurs when individuals are able to see the world and themselves accurately. One’s perspective on life and relationships improves when one feels free to express himself or herself and act upon inner desires to achieve goals and interact with others in healthy ways.

Pat and her husband, Gary, have two daughters, a son-in-law, and a granddaughter. The Huishes are both involved in community service and church activities.