ABOUT
About Me
I believe…
That strong, satisfying relationships take care, attention, and attunement.
That we are always in relationship—with ourselves, with others, and with the world around us.
That we all long for these relationships to be healthy, fulfilling, and alive—capable of growing and flourishing.
That a shift in one relationship can ripple outward, impacting every other connection we hold.
That we each hold the power—and the inner resources—needed to change and heal our relationships, often beginning with the one we have with ourselves.
Change begins with awareness. With curiosity. With understanding the patterns and dynamics at play—and recognizing where there’s room for movement.
This is where I come in.
As a purveyor of relationships, a collaborator, a resource, and a relationship navigator.
— Amy Greenleaf Brassert MSW RSW RLT Therapist
Together, we will discover and chart your unique course
Bio
Bio
As a kid, whenever someone asked me, “What do you want to do?” I always answered, “I want to help people.”
I began my helping journey as a candy-striper in high school—wheeling patients to surgery (something I wouldn’t be allowed to do now!) and chatting with them in the elevator. I was pretty shy back then, but I found it easy to talk with people in those moments.
Over the years, I’ve learned that help comes in many forms. Sometimes, when we think we’re helping, we’re not. Sometimes, when we feel helpless, we’re not. And sometimes, when we think we’ve done nothing at all, we may have helped beyond measure.
The power of a kind word or gesture still overwhelms me.
I’m an explorer, an adventurer, a risk-taker, a list-maker, an organizer, a hopeful creator, a skier, a sometimes-runner, a photographer and artist, a lover of nature, and an observer of relationships.
At one point, I thought I might describe myself as a “Relationship Re-combobulator.”
You know that place in the airport—the little bench after security—where you reassemble yourself after being discombobulated by the process? That’s how I think of my work. My role is to help people reassemble their relationships in new, creative, and grounded ways that support growth, healing, and connection.
After earning my Psychology degree in 1985, I worked “in the field” for two years before returning to graduate school. In 1989, I completed my Master of Social Work at Simmons School of Social Work in Boston.
Since then, I’ve lived and worked in Boston, Seattle, Toronto, and now on Vancouver Island. Along the way, I’ve pursued extensive additional training—including a Certificate in Project Management from the University of Washington Extension Program.
In Seattle, I began exploring the world of coaching through MentorCoach, a yearlong program designed for mental health professionals. That curiosity led me to further training with the Coaches Training Institute (now Co-Active Training Institute) and the Center for Right Relationship, as well as a ten-month Leadership Program.
All of these experiences have brought me to two connected and evolving paths: therapy and relationship coaching.
My work is grounded in Relational Life Therapy (RLT) and informed by Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB). These models help me blend the science of connection with the art of relational repair and growth.
I believe that change happens in relation to others.
And I hope our paths cross—whether for a short while or a longer journey—wherever you are on your relationship path.
~ Amy Greenleaf Brassert
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did,
but people never forget how you made them feel.”
– Maya Angelou
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