Evolution Psychology's Brandi Gruninger to be Featured on Close-Up Talk Radio

Sherwood Park, Alberta – To recognize what an abusive relationship looks like requires that we understand abuse takes many forms. Abuse is about power and control; it doesn’t always mean physical violence.

According to psychologist Brandi Gruninger, if people can understand the nature of abuse, they may be able to extract themselves from these relationships earlier or even avoid them altogether.

Gruninger is the founder of Evolution Psychology, a cognitive behavioral therapy practice dedicated to improving the lives of women, children and families. With an unbridled passion for women’s issues, Gruninger spent eight years working with non-profit organizations offering support to women leaving abusive relationships.

“I’ve always been a strong proponent of women’s issues,” says Gruninger. “The YWCA was a fit from the first moment I walked in there. There were no perks, but it was a wonderful learning opportunity. Much of our clientele were women who had been in abusive relationships who could not afford to see a private practitioner. The YWCA offered access to services for people who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to.”

Good counselors were born to be good counselors. It’s a calling. With her warm and empathetic approach to therapy, Gruninger’s clientele have followed her from the YWCA to Evolution Psychology where she helps clients modify their self-defeating thoughts to adapt to stressful environments, childhood trauma and symptoms of anxiety and depression.

“We can’t explicitly change someone’s feelings or behavior by telling them to think differently or stop doing that,” says Gruninger. “What we can change and modify is the thoughts and beliefs, the instigators of our behavior. Why do you believe that about yourself? How do those beliefs manifest? Then we look at actively challenging those beliefs.”

The real work, however, is done between sessions, identifying when those negative thoughts are influencing our feelings and behavior. Gruninger encourages journaling, meditation and yoga as effective ways to supplement their treatment.

“It’s always been my dream to have my own practice and have it look and sound and feel like what I want it to be,” says Gruninger: “I’m most proud that I’ve been able to create a space where people immediately feel welcome, calm and supported.”

Close-Up Talk Radio will feature Brandi Gruninger in an interview with Doug Llewelyn on November 4th at 4pm and with Jim Masters on November 11th at 4pm.

Listen to the show www.blogtalkradio.com/closeuptalkradio. If you have a question for our guest, call (347) 996-3389.

For more information on Evolution Psychology, visit www.evolutionpsychology.ca