Kathryn de Bruin Family Therapy and Training

06/15/2026

There was something striking about seeing these armoured knights.

Their armour is extraordinary — powerful, formidable, designed to protect. In the right environment, it's exactly what's needed.

But in relationships, the very defences that help us survive can also keep us apart. The armour that protects us from being hurt can make it harder to be seen, known, and connected.

This is the work that fuels my purpose: helping people lower the armour, just enough to let each other in.

06/12/2026

If I'm honest, I arrived carrying the pace of the year in my body. But little by little, I'm remembering what it feels like to slow down, laugh more easily, and be fully present with the people I love most.

06/11/2026

One of my favourite ways to unwind is watching Wimbledon. There’s something about the rhythm of it all — the tradition, the precision, the quiet intensity. And with the tournament only a few weeks away, getting to tour the grounds today felt pretty special.

Centre Court was surprisingly intimate. Cosy chairs, a sense of history, and an atmosphere that somehow manages to feel both grand and understated. I learned that the grounds team literally measures the wear on the grass between matches, counting blades within a square metre to monitor its condition. They even have a hawk fly overhead each day to keep the pigeons away.

It struck me that excellence rarely happens by accident. It's found in the small, consistent things no one sees — the care, preparation, and attention to detail behind the scenes.

It left me wondering: in the areas of life and work that matter most to me, what am I doing consistently to create an experience that reflects the standards I aspire to?

Food for thought from a very happy Wimbledon fan.

06/10/2026

Here's a little shout-out to the family behind the scenes.

They're the ones who cheer me on, keep me grounded, and remind me why this work matters. I've learned so much from these precious humans over the years. They've made me a better therapist, a better supervisor, and, without a doubt, a better person.

So this summer, we're stealing back some precious moments together — slowing down, reconnecting, making memories, and enjoying the simple gift of being in the same place at the same time.

During our time in Oxford, we visited Worcester College, where my maternal grandfather was a Rhodes Scholar in 1935/36. As a young man from South Africa, he travelled all the way to England after being awarded this extraordinary opportunity. Walking through those same halls and courtyards, imagining the life he stepped into nearly 90 years ago, felt incredibly special.

We came to walk in his footsteps.

06/09/2026

The work we do is important. It's meaningful. And sometimes, it's also heavy.

We often remind the families we work with that connection matters — that rest, play, and presence aren't luxuries. They're essential. This summer, I'm trying to take some of that advice myself.

I'm taking a little time to disconnect from the doing and reconnect with the people I love most.

First stop: England. 🇬🇧 We spent a few days playing tourist in Oxford, and I completely fell in love with it. The history, the culture, the beautiful old buildings and winding streets — I found it all deeply inspiring.

06/03/2026

Speaking in 4 hours. Beside myself …..butterflies

06/03/2026

My other…

05/21/2026

I recently had the privilege of joining Michelle Puster alongside Ronda Evans for a really meaningful conversation about children, attachment, and what’s happening underneath those big emotional moments that can feel so overwhelming as parents.

When children melt down, shut down, push us away, or seem “difficult,” they’re often communicating something much deeper than behaviour alone. In this conversation, we explore how Emotionally Focused Family Therapy helps us understand those moments differently — and how parents can stay connected even when emotions are running high.

We also spoke about play as a powerful healing tool, the impact of our own upbringing on the way we respond to our children, and what resilient, connected families actually look like in everyday life.

If you’re parenting through big feelings, exhaustion, or moments where you’re not sure what your child needs, I think this conversation will really resonate with you.

You can watch the podcast, right here

Emotionally Focused Family Therapy: What Your Child Is Really Asking For When They Fall Apart with guests Kathryn de Bruin and Ronda EvansWhen your child com...

05/20/2026

What I appreciate about play therapy is that it doesn’t ask children to meet us where we are — it asks us to meet them where they are.

At the 2026 Play Therapy Conference, some of the leading voices in the field will be sharing practical, immediately usable approaches to support children with:

⚪ Big emotional regulation challenges
⚪ Attachment and relational difficulties
⚪ Trauma and anxiety
⚪ The impact of technology on connection

I'm honored to be one of the speakers. Join us in this space for learning that is both deeply grounded and highly practical. It's the kind you can take straight back into your work.

Click to register: https://www.pesi.com/sales/bh_s_002343_2026playtherapy_global_partner_affiliate-1903655?utm_source=Kathryn+de+Bruin&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=SUM002343&_ef_transaction_id=d429ee3926a845d58e7d9f8bdcaa8f6f

05/11/2026

Working with children isn’t always straightforward.

There’s dysregulation, behaviours that don’t make immediate sense, resistance, and the added complexity of working with parents and family systems.

And yet… beneath all of that is a child trying to communicate something that hasn’t yet found words.

That’s why I’m excited about the 2026 Play Therapy Conference — it’s focused on giving therapists practical, in-the-room tools to navigate these exact moments with more clarity and confidence.

This is the kind of learning that shifts what happens in your sessions. Don't miss out, register here: https://www.pesi.com/sales/bh_s_002343_2026playtherapy_global_partner_affiliate-1903655?utm_source=Kathryn+de+Bruin&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=SUM002343&_ef_transaction_id=d429ee3926a845d58e7d9f8bdcaa8f6f