Hi, I’m Billy Deegan.
I was born in Plainville, Connecticut in a very large Irish, Catholic family. After graduating high school, I did not attend college for three years. I went to a Community College not confident that I’d do well in college. Fortunately, I did extremely well as a psychology major, and transferred after my AA degree to a 4 year University for a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. I received an award graduating as the student that changed the direction and improvement of the Psychology Department; a decision made by the faculty. Following my BA, I went to work in the field of psychology for 3 years and was accepted in University of Connecticut School of Social Work.
CT State Community College
“Get your education one day at a time, and you’re done.”
I graduated with an MSW in Group Work and Woman's Studies, and was blessed with submitting a Federal Grant that was co-written by Charlotte Kinlock and I with a tiny chance of being awarded, and got it! Diane Goldsmith and I trained detoxes, rehabs, and half way houses how to understand the needs of gay’s and lesbian’s entering treatment and created a conference for all providers in Connecticut.
After that, I moved to Manhattan, NYC and was offered a position in Mental Health counseling at BRC (formerly, Bowery Residence Committee). In time, I was promoted to Assistant Director on Out Patient Treatment for mostly homeless substance users in the Bowery. Two years later, I was promoted to Director of Substance Abuse.
In addition to my work at BRC, I started a private practice in NYC, and pursued my practice. During that time, I also accepted the position of Executive Director of Hypospadias Epispadias Association, and worked with the company for ten years. I organized a yearly conference both Nationwide and Internationally, leading up to bringing the community together to meet others with same issues — often for the first time. This allowed me to go all over the globe to speak at conferences and urology conventions.
In 2011, I resigned as Executive Director for HEA, and I closed my private practice, and moved to Florida 2011. I accepted a position as a Clinical Social Worker, and eventually Supervisor for the LCSW staff at AZA Health.
I love seeing individual clients the most; and as long as my mind works well, I would be so happy to see patients from Psychology Today to offer what I can provide, and we both should benefit.