“Helping clinicians easily access high quality research-based information by bridging the practice-research gap in mental health.”
Our Mission
Welcome! bridge dissemination is a community of clinicians and researchers working together to help therapists and other mental health professionals easily access research-based information and therapist resources, so therapists and professionals can save time and more effectively help others help themselves.
We fulfill our mission by basing all our information and therapist resources on the highest quality empirical research studies possible. Contributing authors have earned advanced graduate degrees. They are also rigorously trained to use our high quality standards for information and to write in our specific formulated style for digestible content.
There is so much mental health information out there, so bridge wants to make sure you are getting the best information possible. This will help therapists and mental health professionals provide highly informed and effective care to those we serve.
bridge’s mission therefore works to meet two primary goals:
- To use easily-accessible web-based tools and news to provide therapist resources and digestible information about high-quality research to therapists and professionals working in mental health.
- To make dissemination an established and functioning industrial wing of the mental health field. That is, to make dissemination “a thing” in psychology and mental health treatment to increase therapist resources and help elevate the effectiveness of our work overall.
As therapists and mental health professionals, we all work hard to help our clients learn ways to help themselves. Let’s grab the most rigorously uncovered information that’s out there to make us the most helpful we can be!
Our History
bridge dissemination was originally conceived by Matthew Boland (a.k.a. “Dr. Matt B”) in 2018 while in a postdoctoral research position at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.
Dr. Matt B noticed so many exciting and important research studies being conducted in that setting. Many of those researchers designing and conducting mental health studies are some of the smartest and hardest working individuals in our society. They often use hard-won grant funding and sacrifice much “richer” careers to dedicate their lives to help humanity.
Many of these studies would be incredibly helpful for clinicians to help make treatment decisions or give informative background information on important difficulties encountered with clients.
But as both a researcher and an experienced clinician, Dr. Matt B realized most of these and other studies in mental health usually will not be seen by clinicians who could use them for client benefit. Mental health professionals usually do not hear about information learned from these studies for periods of decades, if ever.
Dr. Matt B passionately resolved to create methods to bridge this gap between mental health research and practice. The goal became to provide the highest quality research-based information and therapist resources from institutions of learning in order to help clinicians help their clients. bridge dissemination was created in 2019 to do just that.
So many great clinicians and researchers have joined our efforts. We’re excited to continue to build a great community! Join in!
Our Team
Matthew Boland, PhD. Founder and CEO
Dr. Matthew Boland is a university lecturer and licensed clinical psychologist. He completed a PhD at the University of Nevada and a clinical research fellowship at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. Dr. Boland also conducts structured assessment and psychotherapy with medical patients and mental health consumers. He teaches university courses and supervises psychiatric residents conducting psychotherapy in a medical school setting.
Dr. Boland is a published researcher in the areas of posttraumatic stress and emotional regulation in clinical disorders. He provides peer journal review and medical review for Healthline.com network sites, and is featured in informational videos on topics in mental health as “Dr. Matt B.” In his spare time, he can be found skiing and hiking around the Sierras, sailing and trying to become a better surfer, or traveling to favorite destinations.
Sienna Kuehnis. Content Creation Manager
Sienna Kuehnis is an AMFT at a residential treatment facility in California. She completed her undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno and obtained her Master’s degree from Pepperdine University. Her main therapeutic interests focus on personality disorders and adolescents. Sienna’s hobbies include reading fantasy and watching adventure and comedy movies.
Isabel Diaz-Christians. Marketing & Web Design Manager
Isabel Diaz-Christians is a current grad student pursuing her MBA in Strategic Media & Digital Marketing at Liberty University in Virginia. In 2024 she completed her bachelor’s degree in Marketing at San Diego State University.
In the realm of business, her main interests consist of digital marketing, social media content creation, and content management. In her free time, Isabel loves to read, cook, travel, and thrift.
Kathryn Boland, MA. Social Media Manager
Kathryn Boland, MA (Lesley University 2015), is a Registered Dance/Movement Therapist, arts writer, and social media professional. She is interested in how the best research in holistic approaches and traditional psychology can support the well-being of various individuals and communities — and how we can expand accessibility and equity with respect to those best practices.
Outside of work, she enjoys taking dance classes, practicing yoga, reading, music, visual art, and chatting over coffee with a good friend.
Arianna Jones. SEO, AI, and Content Analyst
Arianna Jones (she/her) is currently a senior majoring in Psychology and minoring in Gender Studies and Africana Studies at the University of San Diego. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in clinical psychology, aiming to bridge her passion for clinical practice and social work by fostering inclusive mental health frameworks that integrate social justice.
Arianna is passionate about helping adolescents unpack familial and interpersonal issues and develop their self-esteem, self-efficacy, and emotional regulation skills. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with loved ones, going to concerts, and traveling.
Garrett Putnam. Scientific Content Analyst
Garrett Putnam is currently a senior majoring in Psychology at the University of San Diego. He plans to pursue a graduate degree in clinical psychology, focusing on psychotherapy and counseling psychology for adults.
In his free time, he often finds himself reading, watching football, or spending time with friends and family.
