Frank M. Bruno
After three decades of working as a high-tech executive, I decided to change careers and devote my life to helping others find happiness and fulfillment in their lives.
I have been married for 30 years and I have raised two children, so I bring a wealth of real life experience to each of my clients.
I majored in Philosophy at USC, earned an MBA from Pepperdine University, and a Masters degree in Marital and Family Therapy from Antioch University. I am licensed to practice in the State of Washington by the Department of Health (Lic. # 1234567)
Working with Children & Families
"Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them." — James Baldwin
Our childhoods inform and influence so much of our adult lives. As a therapist, I must be able to meet children where they are, and not try to impose an adult construct that they have yet to grasp. This requires nuanced communication, a sensitive ear, and the willingness to see their world through their eyes.
At a certain point, their caregivers also must actively engage in the process so that we can open new ways to communicate and understand each other.
Working with Couples
“In insecure relationships, we disguise our vulnerabilities so our partner never really sees us.” ― Sue Johnson
Relationships represent one of the most profound and challenging parts of the human experience. If you are unhappy or uncertain in your partner relationship, seeking help is a difficult, but necessary first step.
There are as many causes of relationship discord as there are people on the planet. Discovering and healing these rifts help to move us to more rewarding, loving and supportive experiences. Again, I welcome all types of human relationships.
Remember that your relationship is unique, so there are no set "formulas" for couples' therapy. However, I have found that this general progression gives an idea of what you can expect when you work with me.
Phase 1: De-escalation of negative interaction cycles
Phase 2: Changing the way you interact with each other
Phase 3: Consolidation and integration of the changes that take place in therapy for lasting affect
Working with Individuals
“The problem is the problem, the person is not the problem.” – Michael White and David Epson
Emotions both push us and pull us. Mostly, we feel the push.
And, understandably, we want to know the reasons why we feel the way we feel. But, it is equally important for us to discover the purpose, or pull of our emotions.
They pull us toward our future, our goals, our desires. Realizing the importance of that push-pull balance helps us respond to new possibilities, to bring them out of our imagination and into new behaviors, new actions, and new ways of being in the world. In individual therapy, we seek to restore that balance by understanding, not only in terms of your past, but as we uncover the future purpose of your deepest feelings.
Existential or Spiritual Challenges
“The great lesson is that the sacred is in the ordinary, that it is to be found in one's daily life, in one's neighbors, friends, and family, in one's backyard.” ― Abraham H. Maslow
Despite living full and busy lives, successful careers, happy relationships with family and partners, many of us feel that “something is missing.”
It’s typically not described as depression or sadness, and the reasons for it are hard to pin down. Many express it in some variation of “I have a good life …I shouldn’t feel this way.” Their very intangible nature means these feelings are not answered or calmed by religion or science.
So, we try to ignore them, while at the same time ignoring what they are trying to tell us. And this is where therapy can help. I think of it as a voyage of discovery to find the unique purpose and meaning of each life.