Dr. Brendan Guarino is a licensed psychologist dedicated to advancing clinical training and mental health care for the populations he services. He currently serves as Director of Clinical Training (DCT) for the PsyD program, where he also holds a faculty appointment as Assistant Professor of Psychology, teaching courses in clinical theories, psychopathology, ethics, and doctoral practicum, and mentoring students through dissertation research.
In clinical practice, Dr. Guarino is Director of Guardians for Guardians at Baker Street Behavioral Health in Paramus, New Jersey, a program dedicated to supporting the mental health of first responders through interagency collaboration and community-focused care. He provides psychotherapy to individuals experiencing anxiety, mood, and trauma-related disorders, with particular focus on first responders, adolescents navigating life transitions, as well as athletes seeking to enhance performance and address mental health challenges.
Dr. Guarino earned his Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Counseling Psychology from Felician University, an APA-accredited program, following his Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from the same institution and his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Rhode Island College in Providence Rhode Island. His clinical training includes pre-doctoral and post-doctoral work at the Center for Anxiety in New York, where he provided trauma-informed care to first responders referred for 9/11-related mental health concerns, as well as experience in pediatric neuropsychology at Hackensack University Medical Center’s Tomorrow’s Children’s Institute.
A frequent speaker and published author, Dr. Guarino has presented at conferences including the FMBA Convention and EMS Conferences and has been featured on podcasts such as Street Cop Podcast and Beneath the Helmet . His writing has appeared in NJ Psychologist and Crackyl, and he is co-author of forthcoming work with COR Publishing on the psychology of fire service and policing. He is licensed in both New York and New Jersey, holds PSYPACT authorization for interjurisdictional telepsychology, and is a member of the American Psychological Association and the International OCD Foundation.