Brianne (Brie) Schinkel, BSW, RSW

About Brie

“A difficult life is not less worth living than a gentle one. Joy is simply easier to carry than sorrow.” This quote from poet Andrea Gibson perfectly captures my approach to working with other humans. I am a firm believer that therapists are not experts, but people trained and devoted to safely sharing the burden of bearing sorrow, grief, and emotional wounds. It may seem impossible to find meaning in the context of the experiences you have lived, but together we can breathe through it all and find a way to continue moving through life.

My goal as a therapist is to create an environment where people can safely experience the full spectrum of their emotions without judgment or invalidation. I help people to resist societal forces that reinforce internalized shame and stigma, and to establish boundaries that will help them to protect their basic needs and well-being. Throughout the course of therapy, I balance compassionate validation with strategies for empowerment and change.

I offer free 15-minute phone consultations for anyone wanting to know more about the work we might undertake together. Please feel free to reach out in whatever manner is most accessible to you; I would love to discuss how I might accommodate you throughout the therapy process. If you’re ready to book a session, you can do so using the links on this page—I am excited to get to know you!

Therapy with Brie

My primary responsibility is to create an environment where you can safely experience the full spectrum of your emotions. We will spend some time going through your story and your expectations for therapy, as you become accustomed to my presence and my approach. Once some trust has been established (usually after a session or two, but sometimes longer), we will begin to explore the things causing you pain, and identify what may need to change in order for you to feel safer and more at peace.

Brie’s Story

I grew up with undiagnosed disabilities that impacted me in ways I could not understand at the time. As a result, my relationship with my body and with my mental health has been fraught with difficulties. For a long time, I was able to “power through” and continue functioning, until my mother died suddenly in her sleep when I was in my twenties. At that point, it felt as though the universe shifted and I was in a whole new world – one without the only person who loved me unconditionally. And I was at a loss for how to continue living.

I have endured many hardships since this time, and I have learned that the growth which follows grief is uncomfortable and also powerful. I decided to leave my former career in food service management to pursue something that felt more meaningful and fulfilling, something that would represent the values my mother taught me: creativity, curiosity, and empathy.