Valerie Bryan

I have been counseling in the mental health field for 37 years. I utilize my training as a registered art therapist to put creativity (both my own, and my client’s) to work in problem solving and gaining different perspectives on the unique difficulties he or she may be dealing with . Depression, anxiety, feeling unloved or unappreciated, feelings of anger, resentment, guilt, sorrow..,,,poor coping skills as a result of unacknowledged trauma…all these things and many more can be healed. I strive for my clients to gain hope and optimism during the first session. My approach is warm and humanistic; I use humor and compassion freely, and have come to believe that both of these qualities are essential for personal growth, healing and resilience. I am influenced by Jungian theory, as well as Native American spirituality. Both of these life outlooks consider balance, respect of differences, and gratitude as important to a happy life. In addition, neither of these traditions shy away from facing the darker sides of our personalities, recognizing that denial only keeps a person stuck, ……..while allowing the light of awareness to illuminate our dark sides can bring the reward of greater self-knowledge, personal growth and authentic living. I may ask you to have markers and paper nearby at times, to help symbolize a problem or relationship, express feelings, or create a ‘map’ of a situation or problem. Please embrace this idea with an open mind, as no talent whatsoever is required to make marks on paper. I look forward to assisting you on your path of loving yourself and others more, releasing pain, seeing more reasons for laughter and gratitude, and healing old wounds whose time has come to be healed.