Education: Master’s Degree in Social Work from California State University, Long Beach; Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Illinois State University. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and is a certified EMDR therapist.
Client Base: Ms. Brunk has worked in a variety of public and private settings within the social services field. She currently works with clients throughout the developmental lifespan, with a focus on adults experiencing various transitions within their lives. She works with individuals, couples and families, including adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities; neurodiverse populations (including ADHD, OCD and Autism); anxiety and depression; grief, loss, and trauma; and those clients looking to change patterns and routines that have previously caused them distress.
Therapeutic Approach: Ms. Brunk takes an ecological approach, incorporating systems theory throughout her practice. She believes people are affected by myriad systems in their lives (family, community, society). With effective treatment, clients can acknowledge and address mental, emotional and behavioral issues that impact their everyday routines, and regain function and control, with a goal to find joy in their lives. Taking a strength-based approach, Ms. Brunk seeks to provide a calm, friendly, and safe environment where clients can feel empowered to enhance those parts of their lives that are going well, and recognize those areas that require change. Ms. Brunk incorporates a variety of methods in her practice, including cognitive, behavioral, insight oriented and other traditional talk therapy methods. She also utilizes EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) in her treatment approach.