Alex Ballan (Dr. B) was born and raised in Southern California. Dr. B pursued his passion of helping others and attended California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and in 1996, he received a Bachelor’s in Arts (BA) degree in Behavioral Science and minored in Criminal Justice Science. Dr. B continued with his professional training and was accepted to California State University, Long Beach; in 1999, he attained a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, with a concentration in “Adults and Aging.” In 2007, Dr. B was granted a professional license, by the State of California (Board of Behavioral Science), as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) (LCS#23768). Later, in 2015, he achieved his dream of earning a Doctorate in Education and Leadership (Ed.D.) from California State University, Long Beach.
Dr. B’s professional resume illustrates 20+ years of experience, working with a variety of populations: adolescent, teens, adults, older adults, couples and families. Also, his professional background, as a therapist to a program administrator, covers a wide-range of clinical settings:
- Medical/mental health (hospital, home health, hospice, and dialysis).
- Foster care/group home/mental health (Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services and Department of Mental Health, and State of California Victim of Crime funding).
- Justice involved/veterans/homeless/mental health (men’s issues) (State of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, state contracted program).
- Mental health/Full Service Partnership (FSP) (Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, county contracted program).
- Mental health/ FSP (Orange County Behavioral Health Services, county contracted program).
In 2007, Dr. B was recruited as a full-time lecturer, in the School of Social Work Master’s Degree Program at both California State University, Los Angeles (’07 – ’12) and later, California State University, Fullerton (’12 – ’14). He has been a graduate-level field instructor since 2002, supervising 50+ pre-graduate MSW student practicums and has been a clinical supervisor to numerous post-graduate Associate Clinical Social Workers (ASW). Dr. B’s passion for establishing Ballan Counseling derived from his own life-recovery story, and it is his sincere hope, to “pay-it-forward” and help others in his community. It’s ok to say, “I’m in pain,” and in sharing your pain, you may find that you are not alone.
For a FREE brief over-the-phone consultation or schedule an appointment:
Email: aballan@ballancounseling.com
Office: 562-384-4080