Megan Bruneau, M.A.
Therapist
Megan Bruneau, M.A., is a therapist, executive coach, and wellness writer based in New York City. She received her bachelor of arts in psychology and family studies from the University of British Columbia and a masters of arts in counselling psychology from Simon Fraser University. She is a registered clinical counselor (RCC) in British Columbia, but now works with clients in New York and globally via remote work. Drawing inspiration from her own experiences, Bruneau has contributed to The Huffington Post, Forbes, and Thrillist and has appears on Good Morning America and New York 1 Morning News. She is also the host of the podcast Better Because of It.
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Q&A
What is your wellness philosophy?
Do what serves you in that moment with intention, and trust that a move that serves you in one moment likely won't in another context, and that's okay. Wellness isn't just about nutrition and movement. It includes love and connection; spirituality, awareness and contemplation; creativity, meaning and purpose; play, nature, sex, rest, teaching, learning, and so on. I think at times what we envision to be "wellness" is a reductionist, oppressive portrayal that can actually create shame and isolation in unknowing consumers, and thus it's important to flush out the many facets of wellness that don't look like Warrior II's and green juice.
What brought you into wellness?
I was drawn to psychology long before I was aware it fell under the "wellness" umbrella. Struggling with anxiety, depression, and eating disorders for most of my life, I thought studying the mind would liberate me from my own suffering and addictions. However, before I was able to connect it all back to shame and perfectionism, I thought the answer to my problems was to lose weight. So while in graduate school for psychology, I also become a personal trainer and studied nutrition. I hit rock-bottom with my eating disorder at that time and found yoga after my physical therapist forbade me from "the gym." My close experience with so many limbs of wellness led me to practice therapy from a holistic, spiritual framework and inspired me to challenge dominant, pharmaceutical industry-led perspectives.
What does You. We. All. mean to you?
We're all on this messy, scriptless journey we call "life" together. Competition and comparison may have served us at one point in evolution, but today I'd argue it's at the root of most destruction – interpersonally, intrapersonally, and environmentally. If we instead take a "we're all in this together" approach - one in which we have compassion for all (including ourselves) and se no separation, we realize in harming others we're harming ourselves; in helping others we're helping ourselves.
What empowers you?
Feeling loved unconditionally and knowing I love myself unconditionally - it reminds me I can go after my dreams and know I'm a worthy human regardless of outcome; regardless of the lies shame tells me.
