Terry Beckett, D.A.

Terry Beckett is a Mental Health Counselor and author with over 35 years of experience in the behavioral health field. Based in Salem, Oregon, he has dedicated his career to supporting individuals through some of their most challenging psychological and emotional experiences. His professional work has focused primarily on depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), areas in which he brings extensive clinical insight and long-standing expertise.

Beckett began his career in 1987 while working in a private inpatient psychiatric unit during his graduate studies. Over the decades, he has served in a variety of clinical settings, including the Ryles Center, Polk County Mental Health, Good Samaritan Hospital, and Linn County Mental Health. His extensive experience in both hospital and community mental health systems has shaped a deep understanding of crisis intervention, long-term care, and patient stabilization across diverse populations.

Throughout his career, Beckett has worked extensively in crisis and emergency mental health care, including high-risk intervention situations. His experience includes supporting individuals in severe psychological distress and responding to life-threatening crises requiring immediate clinical intervention. These experiences have strengthened his commitment to providing compassionate, steady, and effective care during moments of acute need.

After decades in community mental health, Beckett transitioned in 2025 to private practice, where he now works part-time while continuing to serve clients in a more flexible and focused capacity. This transition has allowed him to dedicate more time to his personal interests while maintaining his clinical work. In his private practice, he continues to draw on decades of experience to provide grounded, supportive therapy tailored to each client’s needs.

Outside of his clinical work, Beckett is an active author and creative individual. He writes science fiction, with multiple novels completed and additional works in progress, and he is also involved in barbershop singing and quartet performance. He enjoys skydiving and values the balance between professional fulfillment and personal passion. His career reflects a lifelong commitment to helping others while maintaining a rich and active personal life.

• New Mexico State University - B.S. in Psychology, 1989
• New Mexico State University - M.S. in Counseling Psychology, 1992
• California Coast University - Ph.D. in Psychology, 2012

• Doctor of Arts (D.A.), Psychology

Lost Then Found (T-H-E-N)
Searching for Direction
Forgiving Hands of Time (forthcoming publication)
Independent novelist with ongoing creative writing practice focused on long-form science fiction storytelling
Maintains a consistent daily writing practice and continues to develop additional works within the series
Writing style reflects themes of exploration, identity, and human experience, blending narrative storytelling with reflective depth