About

I'm Josué Cardona. I help people figure things out.

I’m an engineer turned mental health therapist turned design researcher.
​I use technology and media to create content and experiences that increase understanding.

Why I Do What I Do

I believe that the science and tools exist to help everyone live a better life. Most people just haven’t figured out how to do it yet.

So whether it’s through podcasts, videos, writing, lectures, coaching, or design research, my goal is to help people figure things out, see things more clearly, and find solutions for overcoming obstacles and achieving goals. Then I help them remember how to tap into those solutions for when they need them most.

My Story

I’ve done a variety of things throughout my career and they have all involved helping people figure things out.

In high school, a psychology class really changed the way I saw the world and although I wanted to pursue it, I was really good at math and science and was encouraged to study engineering. I was inspired by the Human Genome Project so I studied mechanical engineering, then electronics, and eventually held the title of Biomedical Engineer. During my time working in medical technology, my job depended on clearly explaining how to do things, why an operating room needed that new equipment, or why one device was better than another.

I had the opportunity to work with many clinicians and nurses and I realized that many of the reasons why we seek medical attention, definitely not all but many, can be avoided through behavioral change. I wanted to do something about that so I went back to school.  I decided to rekindle my old love of psychology and studied Mental Health Counseling. After lots of training and practice in a variety of settings, including training at the Albert Ellis Institute in NYC, I ran my own psychotherapy and coaching practice for two years. 

While working in mental health I had a very hard time with the feedback loop involved. The problem I found was that people were rarely coming to me or following up when it was most beneficial to them. I realized that if I saw my clients as students and became a better teacher, we could solve problems more effectively. I believed the key was in education. 

My research into education led to a belief that advances in educational technology could make a difference in my work by allowing people to improve in a more affordable, timely, and effective way. I decided that instead of jumping right into another degree right away I would get some experience working in education. I’ve since taught middle/high school, college, and professionals in some capacity, always integrating what I’ve learned from my research in education and educational technology.

Today, I integrate the behavioral sciences with education and technology to develop ways to help people figure things out and increase understanding as a design researcher.

I use my background in engineering, design research, education, psychology, and fandoms to reach new insights. I believe that the best way to understand people, and ourselves, is through the things they care about.

My experience includes working in medical technology, education, mental health, multimedia, data analysis, and research in both the public and private sectors.

My career started in QA and R&D in the medical devices sector and I later provided technology and process improvement for the U.S. Army Medical Command, where he analyzed the clinical requirements of medical treatment facilities (MTFs) and developed integration strategies for new medical technology and cost-saving measures.

After years of supporting clinicians, I decided to enter direct care as a provider through the world of clinical mental health. As a therapist I developed the Geek Therapy model of affinity-based counseling and I founded the Geek Therapy nonprofit organization where we advocate for the effective and meaningful use of popular media in therapeutic, educational, and community practice. One of our programs is the Geek Therapy Network, where we publish content based on the Geek Therapy mindset to educate and build community.

I am a design researcher with engineering, mental health, edtech, and data analysis experience.

I help people understand each other through media and data. I help organizations understand their clients, challenges, opportunities, and themselves, through collaborative design research.

I am the founder of Geek Therapy, a modality of behavior modification that uses interests and affinity to reach new insights in the fields of mental health, education, coaching, and more. Geek Therapy is part of the wonderful world of geeky helping professionals combining their interests with their professional work. 

I am currently the president of the nonprofit organization Geek Therapy, home of the Geek Therapy Network, a growing collaborative of psychology and helping professionals using Geek culture to teach about important topics through podcasts, videos, online courses, and more.