Growing up in Canada in a small farming community, where family, friends and community were emphasized, I was taught the value of building community by caring for others. As a result, my earliest ambition was to serve. Following that instinct, I pursued a career in Human Resources, earning a BA from Calvin College with a double major in Business and English, and an MBA from Tulane University. The first 20 years of my career were in Human Resources at Ford Motor Company, Sun Microsystems, and Microsoft, years that were challenging, enriching, sometimes maddening, though always growth-oriented.
Along the way, we were blessed with twins, a boy and a girl. Being a parent is one of life’s most rewarding experiences, and one of the most challenging. As parents, we are tested to the core, and in that process find out what we truly believe about our values, what it means to be family, what it means to be in relationship, where and when to draw boundaries, and what love and forgiveness are all about.
My family gave me incredible support as I was diagnosed with and fought cancer in 2005 – 2006. Diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, I was treated with chemo and a stem cell transplant from my brother and cared for daily by my husband and children, as well as an amazing circle of friends and family. In 2008 I was considered cured and in 2009 my brother and I hiked the Grand Canyon together with Team in Training to raise funds for research and cap off this incredible ordeal. During that time, my faith in God, my reliance on family and friends, and my sense of self were clarified.
As our twins prepared for university, and I took some time from work to tend to my family, I felt a calling into the work of counseling. Having benefited from therapy personally, and having grown as a cancer survivor, providing that same therapeutic care to others became my sense of purpose. In 2017 I earned a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Northwest University and opened a private practice.
I believe we are all created for connection and that relationships have the potential to bring both joy and pain. I believe that the therapeutic relationship and addressing the concerns that bring you to therapy can produce healing, transformation, learning, and growth. In our time together, we will explore your current and past relational patterns to gain insight into the origins of your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. We will address traumatic experiences through Lifespan Integration therapy. We will practice new ways of relating that are healthy, affirming and more easily accessed in your day-to-day life.
My hope for you is to consider, practice, and adopt new ways of being and living that are healing and revitalizing for you.
(201) 416-9389
brenda@thrivecounselingservicesllc.com