.

Barry Bruder has always felt a special connection with children in need of a little extra support or light in their lives. Having grown up in a volatile household himself, where feeling unsafe was a daily part of existence, helped shape Barry into an adult who was open to pursuing and being active in organizations that helped children in need. He always hoped to be able to do something meaningful that might add value to some child's life, and in addition to TSP, Barry has been involved in other non-profit organizations oriented to children and healing, such as the Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation and the Clear Path Workshops. The Andre Sobel River of Life (ASRL) Foundation grants financial assistance to single mothers of terminally ill children, thereby supporting the mother in supporting her child until the time of the child's passing. In this way, the ASRL Foundation seeks to create a safe container for the extraordinary needs of mothers and children in these circumstances. Barry currently serves as an Officer and Director on the ASRL Board. Clear Path functions as a vehicle to give adults a safe place in which to heal traumas and wounds often associated with childhood. During these residential workshops, people come together from all walks of life, without judgment, forming a close group in order to do the 'work' of expressing deep feelings. Clear Path is dedicated to healing from incest, sexual/physical abuse, grief, and loss issues, among other things. They offer "Healing Trauma and Loss" residential workshops, which provide the rare opportunity to express and share emotions in a safe, supportive group environment. Thus far, Barry has facilitated these workshops in Virginia, Maine and Los Angeles several times a year. Barry's work with children as a counselor at Dream Street, an L.A. based summer camp for critically ill children, caught the attention of Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, a world- renowned psychiatrist and author, during her visit to Los Angeles in 1993. Touched by his work, Dr. Kubler-Ross personally invited Barry to study with her. From 1993 to 1995, Barry traveled back and forth from L.A. to her teaching and healing center in Virginia, learning and immersing himself in the grieving and healing process. As a culmination of studying the healing arts for over 30 years, Barry has integrated his knowledge with bodywork to create his own unique approach to healing called Bodywurx. Bodywurx is a synthesis of deep-tissue bodywork, emotional release, energy medicine and a deeper look into unhelpful patterns of holding in the physical, emotional, mental and psychic bodies. This body-mind approach helps individuals to give themselves permission to bring about resolution to some of their unresolved issues and unfinished business. Barry has a private practice on the west side of Los Angeles, where he uses Bodywurx to benefit people afflicted with critical and chronic illnesses, and utilizes his training in externalization to enable people to release the deep emotional scars created by trauma, severe pain and anger. Barry also teaches "crisis management communication skills" or empathic listening. Barry's current project is a meditation CD series designed to support individuals in continuing their healing process. In between his many commitments, Barry enjoys singing -- especially to his wife Laura, his daughter Ruby, and their dog Inca.