Gillian Bruce

Who I Work With

If you know something in your life needs to change but aren't sure where to start, that's exactly where I'd like to meet you. I work with older adolescents through older adults who are feeling stuck: uncertain about their identity, values, or direction, or carrying the weight of anxiety, depression, or trauma. Together, we'll build a collaborative space to work through what's happening, notice the patterns that keep repeating, and find a new way forward.

As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I feel a particular connection to clients navigating questions of identity, community, and self-acceptance, along with the families and allies who want to learn how to better support them. I'm also drawn to working with survivors of abuse, PTSD, and complex trauma, including childhood trauma and parental abuse: people who know they've lived through something difficult but aren't yet sure how to process it or move forward.

That same care and attention extends to those working through grief and loss, neurodivergent clients navigating a world that wasn't built for them, and people untangling relationship patterns, whether that's communication breakdowns, recurring conflict, or noticing the habits that keep showing up in how they connect with others.

Meeting You Where You're At

I believe every person has a right to compassionate mental health care, and I try to show up in every session with authenticity, understanding, and a willingness to meet you exactly where you are. People are always capable of growth and change, and sometimes all it takes is a little support to work through a struggle or find a new path forward. No one is inherently "bad" or "broken;" acknowledging a challenge and asking for help is already the first step toward healing. That's ultimately why I do this work: I enjoy helping people, and I have a passion for supporting and advocating for those who often struggle to advocate for themselves.

My Approach to Therapy

In our sessions together, we'll explore the stories and narratives you've been told throughout your life, and work collaboratively to break these narratives down and rewrite your story in a way that honors your values, beliefs, and lived experience. We'll identify harmful patterns and behaviors that aren't serving you, and work to replace them with ones that build resilience, self-acceptance, and a positive identity and self-concept. When grief or loss is what you're carrying, I create space to move through that at your own pace. As it supports your journey, we may also explore life's bigger questions, like anxiety, personal freedom and responsibility, isolation, and death, and work together to find ways to cope effectively with the struggles of existence in today's world.

Outside the Office

Outside of work, I enjoy reading for pleasure; I'll read almost anything, but I especially love mystery, horror, and historical fiction. I also love hiking, camping, and spending time in nature. I consider myself an extraverted introvert: I value my alone time and the chance to recharge at home, but I also love spending time with friends through weekly or monthly social activities like trivia and book club.

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Education

• Bachelor of Science in Psychology (Neuroscience focus) — Penn State University, 2020
• Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling — University of Colorado Denver, 2026

Training

• Narrative Counseling — Supervised practicum training in narrative therapeutic techniques
• Grief and Loss Counseling — Clinical training completed through graduate coursework and supervised internship