Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda Graff.
Hi Brenda, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
In 2020 we were hit with the pandemic that brought everything to a halt, including my passion to serve in the community with autoimmune issues that completely took over my physical well-being and ability to walk. I had contracted Covid despite my efforts to stay isolated…3x. Originally that year, I was working as an All Lines Claims Adjuster and Insurance agent with a desire to help people by protecting their assets. The field became challenging as my health had started declining and I could no longer serve that form of work. I returned to school in 2020 to complete my Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology while working as an Insurance Agent as much as possible. However, my battle was just beginning like a bullet train heading straight for me with no brakes! I found myself suffering severe chronic pain unlike I had ever experienced. My ability to walk began to deteriorate faster by the minute. It was during that time that I like most began to deal with triggers that needed remedy, so I developed one. I began painting utilizing paint-by-numbers. The inability to purchase more of them happened and I would begin to transform the PBN into my work. It was then my husband decided to surprise me with my first original art painting set since I was a teen. It had been over 40 years since I had free-styled painted. I found the act of painting to be completely soothing and unbelievably renewing to my soul and that is when I found how art worked to rehabilitate and remediate much that I was experiencing during the shutdown. That is when I decided to educate myself on the benefits of art therapy to help others experience what I have found to be such a lifesaver! As the evidence of mental health, addictions, and domestic disorder issues increased internationally I became consumed with gaining as much knowledge as I could on managing stress and anxiety to work in the arena of mental health and rehabilitation. I enrolled in more education. I could not wait to get out there and save the world! I wanted to make a lasting impact somehow. However, I was battling with issues that severely needed attention and I had to save myself first. I had already been fully working on my spiritual, and mental health, but my physical health was deteriorating with bad habits that had severely formed during the shutdown with Covid as many others had, and ignoring the warning flags. I felt I would not live another year. It took desperation to seek help and keep searching and asking to get better. After seeing eight specialists, wrong diagnosis, and more I found myself in a tailspin of frustration, disappointment, and hopelessness! I faced judgement, criticism, prescriptions thrown at me, and countless hours in waiting rooms! It wasn’t until I saw my Cardiologist that my physical life began to change. It wasn’t devastating news of the condition of my heart, but more about the condition of my doctor’s heart. He had true empathy. His words penetrated through my pain and gave me a reason to keep trying. He treated me with a lens of compassion. This catapulted me into doing whatever it took to get my life back but better. This meant resetting my entire body through counseling, spiritual direction, ongoing transformational sessions, nutrition, and surgery!
2023 began my journey through surgeries. The first one was a total hip replacement on September 6, 2023. The second was right hand and right elbow on January 15th, 2024, and the third one most recently on the left hand, left elbow, and muscular area on May 31, 2024. I recently went through right hip total replacement November 12, 2025. I can understand deeply what others suffer in sickness, depression, anxiety, addiction, and the challenges that go along with feeling hopeless. I am in that arena still recovering surgery! Every day brings new challenges to get through. However, that hasn’t stopped me from currently coaching others through their process of healing. I believe that healing cannot happen unless all four core areas are challenged and changed. You cannot heal what is going on externally until you deal with the internal areas such as emotional, mental, spiritual, and then body. You can simultaneously work on them, but one without the other is futile.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has been excruciating at times. It has been a very unpopular road to take. When you are going through transformation it is a very isolating, cold, lonely path. Those closest to you cannot comprehend your need for change, or perhaps the consistency and discipline it takes. It means making unpopular choices. You may have to skip a night, cut off ties to toxic people, environments, and time-consuming projects that no longer serve a healthy purpose. When you change the dance, you step on toes. It’s painful! You often have to become your own coach.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am a licensed and certified Behavior Change Specialist and Wellness Coach through The National Academy of Sports Medicine. I also am a certified Naturopathy Practitioner, Nutrition Coach Certified, Art Therapist Practitioner, NLP Practitioner. I am actively working as a Specialist with church organizations, private, and public individuals and groups. I hold in group sessions, and online ZOOM. I offer the following:
Wellness Coaching, Nutrition & Naturopathy, Holistic Approach to Health and Therapeutic Art Groups and Individual. I am known for bringing a safe environment where others are able to be fully authentic and share their experiences, their struggles without fear of judgement, they know that I am authentic. I am known for my boldness. I speak the truth, even when it hurts. I am known for being discerning and on point with working on areas that need attention to change, improve, or treat. Brand wise…I would say that due to my years in experience as a transformational student it has brought more relevance and difference then the average. I am not all textbooks. I am about the human, and each is unique with different needs, desires, roles, and purpose. I want the readers to know that when they hire me as their personal coach, I am in for the long haul. I am reachable, and not in it for the monumental gain, but to see a life transformed is my greatest joy! To see someone begin to thrive and fully live a life on purpose while managing their stuff, whether it is medical, clinical, or physical or career oriented….I am right there in the arena with them…I have taken the punches too and fought hard, been knocked down too many times to count, and I am still standing! I am here to help others do the same! I thrive to see others come alive with hope! I offer affordability like no other! I take payment plans based on income and offer many discounts. I have also been working as a volunteer for many years alongside my practice bringing help to those who cannot afford help. My services also include Chronic pain management, meditation, cancer, gut, digestive disorders, thyroid, ED, diabetes, obesity, ADD, ADHD, depression, anxiety, stress management, time management, employee morale, leadership training, church organization, family crisis, betrayal trauma, etc…
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Yes, I would like to say to anyone who is struggling with chronic illness, or hopelessness. Ask for what you need. Seek answers. Look at facts….do not accept a diagnosis always as truth. If indeed you are hit with an illness or circumstance that is without a doubt incurable, and unchanging…it is then you have to shift your focus on managing the situation to the best of your ability. Coaches do not just serve to transform a body or wallet size…they also help to discover ways to manage pain that lies deeper than physical well-being. I am one of those. I am going for the jugular of reason behind the illness, the pain, the addictions, and the negative behavior.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.therapyatthewell.com
