Mary Scully

I learned my craft as a Psychiatric Nurse Clinician working as a nurse doing inpatient care at the Institute of Living and St Francis Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut. I had the honor of completing a residency at the Gallup Indian Medical Center, where I worked with individuals from several tribes, accompanying them during their transition from hospital to home. In 1980, I was part of the lead team that opened the Chonburi Refugee Camp in Thailand, where I first cared for survivors of war, torture and genocide from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. My graduate degree was in Cross-Cultural Family Therapy, and my mentors were Dr. Ivan Borzormenyi-Nagy and the Venerable Mahaghossanda, the former prelate of the Cambodian Buddhist Association. I also had the privilege of working with researchers from the University of Connecticut, exploring the link between trauma, heart disease and diabetes as the Clinical Director for Khmer Health Advocates.

Over the many years that I have cared for those who suffered terrible trauma, I’ve come to appreciate the strength of survivors and their ability to heal. My perspective comes as a nurse and having the experience of being with people during the days and nights of their struggle with their physical, mental, and spiritual symptoms. My work with families tells me that unless trauma is healed, it passes down to the next generation. Anxiety, depression, and other conditions most often have a root in trauma and take a toll on the mind and body. Healing is a complex process that is the work of the survivor, and my role as a therapist is to help remove obstacles and build resources to get to that goal.

During our sessions, I hope to create a space where a client feels safe and understood. My goal is to help a person regain their balance and build resilience. Resilience is synonymous with flexibility. The ability to make choices is the foundation of healing.