M .J. Hurley Brant, M.S., CGP

Most of us return to our early images. Most of us return to places that comfort. As a child I taught the little girls in my neighborhood how to be brave. As an adult I teach women how to be courageous; how to keep their self-esteem high and how to honor themselves.

My name is M.J. Hurley Brant and I am the founder of Changing Tides Counseling and Psychotherapy. www.MJHB.net My form of therapy is psychodynamic psychotherapy meaning together my client and I uncover unconscious impediments to their personal growth.

I work with individuals, couples and groups of both genders but the largest percentage of my clients has always been women. I adore working with women and I do it well. There is no issue that cannot be discussed. I laugh and sometimes cry with my clients and I give my promise that if you do your inner work you will reap the outer rewards: tons more energy, immediate rise in self-esteem and self-confidence, greatly improved relationships with others and more meaning and fun in your life.

As a Certified Group Psychotherapist I facilitate women's and men's groups and lead workshops on important life themes. I've been on TV and radio in Philadelphia, CT and New Jersey. I am also a Collaborating Consultant with Change Partners, Inc. an Executive Coaching Firm headed by Pamela H. Godwin, named by Governor Rendell this spring of 2007 as one of the top 50 business women in the state of Pennsylvania. www.changepartnersofpa.com

Education B.A. Psychology from Rutgers University. M.S. Counseling and Human Relations from Villanova University. Certification from American Group Psychotherapy Association and The National Registry of Group Psychotherapists.

Continuing Education U. of PA Depart. of Psychiatry, Thomas Jefferson U. Medical School, Kutztown U., Harvard Medical School, Institute of PA Hospital, Horsham Clinic, Northwestern Institute of Psychiatry, Yale University, Widener University, The Jung Institute Zurich, Switzerland, The C.G.Jung Foundation, NY, Jungian Extensive Study in Galway City, Ireland, C.G.Jung Center Philadelphia, PA, private tutorial in balanced living intention-minded feng shui.

Employment - Before entering into private practice in 1992, I was the Clinical Coordinator and Senior Psychotherapist for six years with a large psychiatric practice in the Philadelphia suburbs. Before that I worked five years in community mental health. In addition to my private practice and consulting I continue to work with religious communities in hospice.

What I want to Share Twenty years working with seriously ill and dying patients taught me the important lessons about living. This is where I want to confide my own loss and suffering with you, dear Sisters of Powerful You. In 1989 my daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Katie was 18 and had just completed her first year of college. Katie valiantly battled her cancer for ten years and I had the privilege of being her primary caregiver.

Katie was and is my personal hero. Until recently I rarely spoke about her death because honestly, it was just too painful. This became more complicated for me because recently I completed writing my memoir but I felt like I would burst into tears if someone asked me what my book was about. Here was something I spent thousands of hours writing, felt compassionate about but I didn't know how to both discuss the contents and hold onto myself.

Joining Powerful You! changed that for me for I knew a lovely forum had presented for me to "put it out there." Intuitively I felt the shift had come in my spirit. I feel so grateful for discovering this wonderful group and you.

My book is titled Dear Katie, A Mother Writes to Her Daughter in Heaven Part One. Those of my friends and colleagues, who have read the manuscript, tell me, "M.J. It is so powerful, I cannot put it down." "M.J., you will help so many women know they can go on after life, love and loss knock them down and scare them witless." "It's such a woman's book of triumph, M.J. Family issues, husband and wife, in-laws, depression, anxiety - every emotion, every thing we need to understand about psychology is courageously confided." "M.J. you and Katie show us how to live the authentic life and role model how to be true to ourselves."

In my soul I know women everywhere will identify and gain strength from my story. They will see their own face reflected back on every page. Believe me, this is a highly candid book. When the poet Muriel Rukeyser wrote in her poem about the powerful artist and sculptor Kathe Kollwitz, she inquired, "What would happen if one woman told the truth about her life? Her answer? "The world would split open." Be prepared Sisters of Powerful You! for the splitting open of the world.

Dear Katie, will be edited this September in New York City. I'm shooting for publication in early 2008. Please go to my website to read a sample. My profits will be shared with my precious daughter's foundation, Katie's Kids for the Cure www.katieskids.org

Thank you for taking the time to read my page.
Blessings to you,
M.J.

For more information or to contact M.J :
M.J. Hurley Brant
Changing Tides Counseling and Psychotherapy
mjhurleybrant@gmail.com
www.MJHB.net
610-504-8739