About the Author

About the Author

Dr. Bart P. Billings has been working in the fields of Mental Health, Human Services, and Management for over 55 years. He has possessed licenses in Clinical Psychology, Marriage, and Family Therapy, Pupil Personnel,  Certified Rehabilitation Counseling (Received the Elkins Award, 1972, from The National Rehabilitation Counseling Association, Counselor of the Year for the State of California) and has an extensive background in management and program development. In Feb.2014, he received the International Human Rights Award from the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR). On June 3, 2016, the University of Scranton (where Dr. Billings received his BS and MS degrees), presented him the Jesuit University’s highest award, the Frank O’Hara Award, given for living the Jesuit values of Serving Others over his career.

Dr. Billings holds a PhD in Research and Program Development, as well as a PhD in Psychology, from Saybrook University. In 1974, his text, The Development of a Transitional Rehabilitation Program for Mentally Ill Offenders, was published by Free Person Press/San Francisco, CA. As Chief of Professional Services/Assistant Director in the Teaching Hospital’s Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Department (PM&R) at the University of California, Davis (UCD) Teaching Hospital, Dr. Billings was initially hired as chief psychologist in PM&R to oversee the Psycho-Social-Vocational section, and after 9 months was promoted to oversee all sections (PT, OT, Speech, Psycho-Social Vocational, Orthotics-Prosthetics, Out-Patient nursing, etc.) in the PM&R hospital department.

He also founded the Institute for Occupational Services (IOS) and was the Commanding Officer for an Army Reserve General Hospital Section. With thirty-six years of service in the US Army as enlisted and as an officer, his highest military rank was Colonel (SCNG-SC Medical Directorate). Dr. Billings founded and directed: The Annual International Military and Civilian Combat Stress Conferences (24 yrs.), Prisoner of War Conferences, and the Human Assistance Rapid Response Team (HARRT), which was accepted at the Pentagon in 1997 as a readiness protocol to be implemented military wide.

National and international documentaries, TV news shows, and extensive radio shows, including HBO’s Vice News (previously ABC’s Night Line) and US News and World Report, have featured Dr. Billings as a guest discussing Combat Stress. Congressional and State Legislative Hearings have heard testimony from Dr. Billings on the need for better Mental Health Treatment Programs for military personnel and their families. Some of these hearings resulted in the awarding of a multi-million-dollar Department of Defense grants for national research on how to improve treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injuries. Congressional Hearings held on Feb. 24, 2010, were initiated by Dr. Billings, who provided testimony on the relationship between psychiatric medication and increased suicides in the military (available on the Congressional Record). In September 2012, he lectured to the psychology faculty at West Point Army Military Academy.

On June 5, 2003, he was named as a member of the Governor’s Advisory Board to Patton State Hospital, California, and has worked overseeing all psychological services for the San Diego District of the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR). Also, while at DOR he functioned as a Rehabilitation Counselor Supervisor and Staff Development Coordinator for Northern California Region. He has developed residential treatment programs in substance abuse and alcoholism, as well as human assistance programs for the civilian and military community. Recently, Dr. Billings wrote a chapter in a book for attorneys called Attorneys Guide to Defending Veterans in Criminal Court. He is a member of the National Center for Youth Law Medical and Scientific Advisory Board.

Dr. Billings had been senior faculty at the William Glasser, MD, Institute for over thirty years and has thought classes at the University of San Francisco, University of California Davis, United States International University, and others, as well as workshops on counseling and management throughout the United States. He speaks on Health and Nutrition with the focus on The Psychology of Eating, How We Choose to Eat–Alternative Thinking/Healthy Cooking. As prior owner and operator of a restaurant for 4 years, he practiced his teachings.

He was the founder and president of a manufacturing company called TBH Productions that produced Omni Sonic professional audio omnidirectional loudspeakers. His work with sound and his vast experience in the medical field has resulted in him writing an article in the Navy Medicine Journal titled, “The Sound You Feel Can Be Dangerous to Your Health” (Jan–Feb 2002, p.22-26), which deals with Vibroacoustic Disease. He also was published in The Hearing Journal (August 2019, Volume 72, Number 8), “Vibroacoustic Disease: More Than a Hearing Problem”. He was awarded an Honorary Chaplain Certificate from the Georgia State Defense Force.

For over thirty years, in his spare time, Dr. Billings  has volunteered for charities as a performing art—special events director, producer, and writer. One of the shows he is most proud of writing and producing was, Good Grief It’s Lucy, (for the International Missing Children’s Foundation), collaborating with the producers of the TV Peanuts series producers ,who contributed seven original songs for the show. He has directed The All-American Festival, which raised funds for Veterans Scholarships. From April 2008 until November 17, 2012, he personally owned a very popular restaurant/bar in La Costa California, drawing many retired and active-duty veterans, who often spoke to Dr. Billings about their own personal issues with combat stress problems. The restaurant catered for hundreds of events  in the local community as well as at the Camp Pendleton Marine Base. One event there was for the Department of Defense Secretary’s visit, with 500 guests being personally served by the restaurant staff. Even before covid, Dr. Billings had a strict policy that at all catering events, he had his staff serve every single guest personally. An article in the military section of the North Coast Times (9-17-10) described his work with veterans and their visits to his restaurant, including Officers Staff Meetings and Marine Family Dining. In the 2018 winter issue of The Marine Corps League’s Semper Fi Magazine, he was interviewed on Combat Stress Issues. He was also asked to be a Commissioner for the CCHR International organization. His book titled Invisible Scars: Treating Combat Stress, PTSD Without Medication (#1 Best-Seller), covers over 40 years of his work with Combat Stress’ residual effects on our veterans and their families, with the Marine Corps League distributing over 1000 copies to its members for use in peer groups.

Bart P. Billings, Ph.D.
COL SCNG-SC (Ret), Military Medical Directorate
Licensed Clinical Psychologist PSY 7656
Licensed Marriage, Family Therapist MG 4888
-Director/Founder International Military & Civilian Combat Stress Conference
-Initial Enlisted Ranks and Retired as Medical Service Corps Officer with a total of 34 years in US Army.
-Recipient of the 2014 Human Rights Award from Citizens Commission on Human Rights International —The University Of Scranton “Frank O’Hara Award” in 2016. 

bartbillings@yahoo.com