A conversation with psychotherapist, Laura Bruno
What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘therapist’?
I tend to imagine someone who is well composed, who is naturally calming and possesses an almost stoic energy. Someone who I could easily reveal my deepest insecurities and darkest memories to after briefly exchanging pleasantries about our days.
It's safe to say that Laura Bruno, practicing psychotherapist and somatic breathwork facilitator fits the bill. Despite meeting with her on a stormy Sunday morning, her easy smile and warm laugh immediately made me feel comfortable, heard and safe – three feelings that are hard to come by when first meeting with a stranger.
However, despite the very put together presence of the young mom of two, Laura assures me that even she took quite a long time to find her way in this life.
“My path wasn’t always straight and narrow; I went into university as a bio chem major.” Her face lights up when she talks about science, and she admits that a big part of her work is translating complex neuroscience terms into easily digestible concepts for her patients.
“It wasn’t until I took an elective course in Abnormal Psychology that the clouds parted, the light shone through, and I knew this was my calling in life.”
Her education had her bouncing around from West Virginia, to Buffalo, to a brief, yet transformative stint in Korea.
“I went initially to teach English, but ended up staying at a monk temple, learning and meditating alongside other monks. It was the most incredible experience of my life. ”
So, how does one go from biochemistry, to meditating in Korea, to practicing psychotherapy?
It's not uncommon for mental health practitioners to be drawn to their field because of a personal, close to home experience with mental illness. For Laura Bruno, it was her mom's battle with depression that had her acknowledging the meaningful, transformative work that is psychotherapy.
“She saw one therapist, and just like that I had my mom back. People don’t often think of the positive ripple effect that someone receiving treatment has on their loved ones, but for my family it was so significant.”
Laura went on to work as a crisis support worker for ten years before opening up her own practice, Laura Bruno Psychotherapy - which has now expanded to a team of seven diverse practitioners – based in Niagara Falls.
She specializes in trauma and nervous system regulation – which is how she found her way into introducing somatic breathwork to her practice.
“A lot of people come to me initially for psychotherapy, which is considered a much more legitimized and safer route of treatment than breathwork. They’re often shocked to find out that I recommend something so woo-woo as one of my main modalities.”
Most people don’t ever think to combine conventional Western medicine with methodologies from the Eastern world. It was Laura’s time in Korea that convinced her of the interconnectivity of everything; science, spirituality, the mind and body – and the belief that only once we begin to treat ourselves from a more holistic approach can we truly, fully heal.
“I am a trauma therapist, and I can tell you that just talking about your trauma isn’t going to resolve it. It will help you to understand it, but it’s only 50% of the battle.”
After trialing breathwork on herself and reaping the benefits of the practice, she knew she had to integrate it into the work she was doing with her regular patients.
“Once after our very first breathwork session, a patient I had been seeing for a year told me that that one session was more impactful for her than our entire last year of talk therapy.”
And the feedback continues to speak for itself. When Laura asked recent attendees of a beginner workshop to identify feelings that had come up during the session, a few of the words she heard were: ‘joy.. balance.. calm.. transcendence.. grateful.’
Laura facilitating a Somatic Breathwork Journey at Bridgewater Yoga.
For those totally new to the concept, I can imagine the skepticism that might arise around paying to engage in something that we all do naturally already. So, what is it that makes intentional, manipulated breathing so significant?
“Before you let in new clear energy, you first have to make room for it by clearing out some old, residual energy - similar to the way you would clear out old photos on your phone to make space for new ones.” Laura tells me. “Our breath is one of the very few things that we have control over in our lives, and I find that so empowering. It’s such an under utilized tool.”
Many of us who struggle with anxiety, panic or trauma can relate to the feeling of holding our breath for the majority of our busy days, or never making time to breathe in a deep and nourishing way. One of my favourite aspects of my personal meditation practice is the time it allows me to just breathe and actually prioritize this basic human need, similar to how we always manage to make time to eat or shower.
Having spent the first five years of my twenties in psychotherapy (thank the Heavens), I was curious to know if Laura has noticed any commonalities among her mostly millennial aged patients.
“Most young people think that there is this one path to success, and there is a timeline that is associated with it. They believe that if they don’t do step A, step B and step C, they’re a failure.”
“Millennials, we’re in this weird spot in between Gen X and Gen Z, two polar opposite generations... as we are growing up and entering the world, we get in this bad place where we are making choices that are not for us, that are not moving us towards the life we want to live, but rather just to go along with what we think we should do.”
As a somewhat recent grad - I said somewhat! - beginning to navigate my way in this world, it’s very hard not to compare the path I am walking to the paths being walked by my peers, or to have faith in the following of my own desires.
“We’re hardwired to compare ourselves. Our brain is programmed for survival; we are desperate to fit into a tribe. Back in the old days that was fine because our tribe was so small, but now with social media, our tribe is the world, and it’s much harder to fit in with the entire world’s highlight reel.”
It’s easy to compare yourself to anyone and everyone, even sometimes your therapist, a fact that Laura acknowledges with a laugh.
“People think that therapists..we’re all put together. I am a human just like my patients are! I struggle, I feel, I go through all of the things. I am a therapist, but I am also just a normal human being.”
On a similar note, she believes that every good therapist should have their own therapist.
“If I am holding space for others energetically and emotionally, I need to make sure that, like... I’m good. You can only take others as far as you’ve taken yourself.”
As for her professional practice, she has diversified her team members as much as possible to ensure every struggle that arises from her patients can be given attention to.
The seven team members treat a range of mental health and wellbeing concerns, a few of which include trauma, neurodivergence, couples, and addictions.
Passionate about making therapy accessible for all, she even offers different cost options to accommodate those with financial barriers.
“Anyone that walks in our door I feel confident that I will find a space for them. Even if it’s not in my practice, I will find a space for them. I believe that everyone deserves to access treatment, and if you come to me I won’t stop until I find a good fit for you. ”
Talking to Laura left me with one overarching message, that was right on time for me to hear: I can and should make time to take care of myself. To seek out new and non traditional ways of healing, to literally just breathe, and to maybe, finally, book that session that I’ve been putting off with my own therapist.
If you want to soak in the healing energy of Laura’s presence, be sure to catch her at her upcoming events:
MAY 3 - Somatic Healing Journey
MAY 18 - Somatic Breathwork Journey
~ SPECIAL FREE COLLABORATION WITH LAURA BRUNO & KASAMA WELLNESS ~
MAY 25 - Sound, Breathe, and Flow
Other YETNiagara happenings you don’t want to miss:
MAY 10 - Promoting Your Passion: A program to help you gain clients & market your business…AUTHENTICALLY.
MAY 15 - Vibrations & Vinyasa: Sound Bath Yoga with Kasama Wellness