Jean Brunson
Therapist to the Stars

By Fred Januszkiewicz


Of the many ministries of Central Church, we are blessed to have a Counseling Department to which members can go to get a wealth of beneficial Christian counseling.

Among the staff members of the Counseling Department, Central is blessed to have the wisdom and devotion of Mrs. Jean Brunson.

In 1974 Jean graduated Arizona State University with a Bachelors Degree in social work and that was the start of a fascinating and devoted ministry for her. After her graduation, between 1974-1977 she worked in Maricopa County Hospital, Arizona, as a psychiatric social worker in the emergency room; Director of Social Services in Victor Valley Hospital; and Wayne County Department of Human Services emergency room in Goldsboro, NC as a social worker in the children's division.

From 1977-1984 Jean left the working field to become a devoted mom to her children, Kevin and Angela. Then in 1984, Jean entered the working field again serving in the Children's Learning Center in Central church working with 3 year olds.

Jean's love and caring for children influenced her decision to further her studies so in 1986 she went back to school and in 1989 she earned her masters degree in counseling at Memphis State University. After receiving her Master's degree Jean worked as a counselor for Central Learning Center. Jean noticed that the first ten children that she counseled were actually grieving.

At that time, the only program for grieving children being used was a program called Rainbows. Jean was interested in having a Christ centered curriculum for children. That inspired her to take on the task of creating one and she authored the Growing Seasons curriculum, a Christ centered program that ministers to grieving children from the ages of 4 to 12 years old. Jean said that Growing Seasons took her one month to write and 7 years to edit and publish. Growing Seasons is currently published through Living Free Ministries. Growing Seasons is a ten-week program currently used in Central Church twice a year, once in the fall semester and once in the spring semester and has ministered to many children, some of whom came to know Christ through Growing Seasons.

Jean is always looking for opportunities to learn more so that she can minister to others better. She currently is a member of the AACC (American Association of Christian Counselors), trained by the AACC for crisis counseling, and has advanced training in Theophostic Counseling, a discipline of counseling that brings Christ into the counseling session to reveal His truth to the counselee.

Jean has a tremendous passion for helping children and currently she has been asked by Living Free to adapt the Insight Group curriculum to help prevent addiction in children in America, South Africa, and other places in the world.

Jean also has a more famous side of her. In 1971 Jean worked as a dental assistant in Victor Valley and has had her hands in Roy Roger's mouth. She has kissed Henry Kissinger and has shaken the hands of John Wayne, Bob Hope, and Richard Nixon. Of course Cecil Brunson, Jean's husband, tells a slightly different story and says that Jean was in Nixon's bedroom then laughs and explains that as one of a group of Vietnam POWs he was given a special tour of the White House.

With Jean being involved in so much going on one might wonder if she actually has any time for herself and, if so, what she likes to do to rest and relax. Jean and Cecil make it a point to make time alone with each other and with their children. Jean loves to read and take peaceful walks and she also likes to go out to eat with friends and family.

I have known Jean for about ten years now and have the privilege of working with her in Growing Seasons for nearly those ten years. Jean is a very warm and caring person who has a genuine desire to help people and I personally have seen her go out of her way to help others in need no matter what the need may be. I've known Jean to get up at 5:00am to drive someone downtown to a doctor's appointment and wait there to bring the person back home. Personally I cannot count the times that Jean and her husband Cecil have come to my aid physically, spiritually, and mentally. I am blessed to have such good friends and Central Church is blessed to have such a treasure as Jean.



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