Staff Salute: Brandon Cooper
As a clinical counselor at Joseph House, Brandon Cooper helps veterans overcome their biggest challenges dealing with life and addiction. He is a fierce advocate for his clients and is a constant support to the Joseph House team, looking for ways to innovate to always provide excellent service.
Get to know Brandon.
Tell us about yourself.
I live in Loveland, Ohio, and have three beautiful kids—one boy and two girls—who keep me busy with their many weekly activities. In my free time, I enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, camping, four-wheeling, horseback riding and playing sports. I also like to travel, attend sporting events and go to concerts.
I joined the Joseph House team in April 2017. I have a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Xavier University and my Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant certification (CDCA).
Describe your role at Joseph House.
I am a clinical counselor, which allows me to work with veterans individually as well as in group settings on addiction, personal or family issues, employment issues and day-to-day life stresses.
What inspired you to work at a rehabilitation facility as a career?
I have been working with children, adults and families struggling with at-risk behaviors, mental health, addiction and loss since I was 18 years old. It’s a part of who I am and what I can offer. Being able to work in this industry to help veterans is very meaningful to me.
What drew you to Joseph House, as opposed to another facility, as a place to work?
What drew me to Joseph House was an opportunity to work with a population that I think often gets overlooked. It’s rewarding to be able to help them get back on their feet.
In my master’s program, I worked with adults experiencing homelessness, addiction, loss or mental health or employment difficulties. After completing my program, I wanted to continue that kind of work with those who served our country. Joseph House’s holistic approach is a perfect fit.
What has been your favorite memory so far working at JH?
I can’t pinpoint just one favorite memory, but I will share how meaningful it is to me to see the veterans we serve make progress in their lives, achieve goals they once thought were unachievable and find happiness as they start to enjoy life all over again. Living that experience over and over again creates memories that I will always carry with me.
What makes Joseph House successful?
Joseph House offers a range of treatment options, many of which cannot be found at other agencies, such as equitherapy, bronzing, yoga and meditation. But, ultimately the success comes from the staff that we have at Joseph House. We work as one to make sure that veterans get the best services possible.
What is your favorite part about working with Veterans?
That veterans include me on updates in their personal lives and share their life journeys with me. I am fortunate to be able to stay in contact with veterans as they carry on with their lives after their time with Joseph House.