Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda Stewart.
Hi Brenda, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My work really began long before I ever became a therapist. It started with my own journey of healing from an eating disorder, perfectionism, and trauma—a season that taught me firsthand what it means to face pain, find hope, and rebuild from the inside out. Along the way, I was met with compassion and guidance from people who believed healing was possible for me, even when I doubted. That experience sparked something deep within me—a desire to walk alongside others in their own healing journey.
Eventually, that calling led me back to graduate school to become a licensed mental health counselor. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working in both residential and outpatient settings, supporting adolescent and adult women who are navigating anxiety, chronic illness, eating disorders, and/or trauma. Today, as a certified EMDR therapist, I’m continually inspired by the courage and resilience I witness in my clients. There’s nothing more meaningful than seeing someone begin to reclaim their voice, their confidence, and their life.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Starting and growing a business is rarely a straight path, and mine has certainly been full of unexpected twists. I launched my own practice just after the height of the COVID pandemic, stepping into uncharted territory. Graduate counseling programs don’t typically teach you how to run a business, so there was a learning curve—but I was fortunate to have amazing coaches guiding me along the way. In those early years,
About two years in, just as I was expanding—hiring therapists and building a group wellness center—I faced one of my biggest challenges. I was diagnosed with a chronic biotoxin illness caused by mold in the building I had been renting space in. My body couldn’t detox, and the illness affected multiple systems, forcing me to confront limits I hadn’t anticipated. It was a pivotal moment for both my business and my life. I made the difficult decision to leave the office space, scale back to private practice, continue working with my amazing clients and focus on healing.
While it was a challenging season, it became one of my greatest teachers. It strengthened my resilience, deepened my faith, and clarified my purpose in ways I could never have anticipated. Even now, as I continue to heal, I move forward with intention and hope—and with plans to expand my practice again in the near future..
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Wellspring Therapy Associates?
Wellspring Therapy Associates is a holistic counseling practice that is designed to create a space where women can feel truly seen, supported, and empowered in their healing journeys. As a Christian counselor, my faith shapes the compassion and values I bring to therapy, but clients of all backgrounds are welcome—I honor where they are and do not impose my beliefs unless they want it incorporated into sessions. As I mentioned previously, I specialize in EMDR therapy, DBT, Somatic practices, and nervous system regulation. I offer both weekly therapy options as well as EMDR intensives which allows clients to have a focused extended time to accelerate their healing process.
Over time, I expanded my work to include BLS Coaching & Consulting, where I consult with therapists, doctors, and dietitians on the impact of chronic biotoxin illness (CIRS) in trauma recover, eating disorder recovery, anxiety, and depression. I also coach high-functioning, burned-out professionals in helping fields (such as doctors, nurses, veterinarians, and therapists) who are ready to feel alive, joyful, and fully engaged in their lives again.
What sets my work apart is the combination of deep empathy, evidence-based strategies, and practical guidance that clients can apply in daily life. Both Wellspring and BLS are cultures that iare welcoming, empowering, and centered on growth—where people can rebuild confidence, rediscover their voice, and move forward with clarity and purpose.
At the core of both my practice and coaching work is a single goal: to help people not just survive, but thrive—spiritually, emotionally, physically, relationally, and mentally—so they can live with resilience, joy, and meaning.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t really think in terms of “good” or “bad” luck. Instead, I see purpose woven through every experience—both the joyful and the painful. For example, as I was building my practice, my dog Samson suddenly went blind overnight and eventually had to have his eyes removed. His world was bright and fun one day and completely dark the next. I thought of how often clients stories feel similar. Watching him adapt with incredible resilience, navigate his world with courage, and continue living fully despite such a dramatic change was profoundly inspiring both for me and my clients. He became a great little therapy dog and clients love him.
My faith in God reminds me that there is a plan and a purpose, even in difficult seasons. That doesn’t mean challenges don’t feel hard, but it does give me an anchor to hold onto. It allows me to hold onto hope in the midst of obstacles and gratitude in the midst of successes, all while trusting that I don’t see the whole picture and that is okay. Samson’s example of courage and perseverance continues to guide me, both personally and professionally, and reminds me that resilience is key. (A book is in the works based on Samson’s story and therapeutic principles)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wellspringtherapyassociates.com and https://balancedlifestrategies.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brendastewartcoach and https://www.instragram.com/brendastewart_lmhc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellspringtherapyassociates
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendalstewart0530
Image Credits
Rebecca Rose Fine Portraits for the one of myself in the blue shirt and Samson my dog.
