Jennifer Bryan, Ph.D.

Dr. Bryan earned her BA in Creative Writing at Princeton, her masters and doctorate in Counseling Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University and studied for a year at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She began her career teaching English and coaching at The Hotchkiss School, taught briefly at Northfield Mount Hermon School and was a graduate level instructor in Group Theory, Dynamics and Practice in the Counseling Psychology department at Teachers College, Columbia University and at the Smith College School for Social Work in Northampton, MA. She is currently enrolled in a low-residency MFA program in Creative Nonfiction at Lesley University.

Jennifer did her graduate clinical internship in Psychology at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a post-doctoral fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, MA. She worked in the Counseling Center at the University of Connecticut in Storrs before opening a private psychotherapy practice in Northampton, MA in 1994. In addition to providing therapy for adults, adolescents, couples, and groups, she offered clinical and organizational consultation to individual schools, local school districts and social service agencies.

In 2000, Jennifer founded Team Finch Consultants, offering specialized Gender and Sexuality Diversity consulting to PreK-12 schools. As these issues became increasingly relevant in social, political, religious and educational contexts, Jennifer expanded and refined her programs for schools and other organizations. Her conceptual and pedagogical models related to gender and sexuality continue to evolve, as she tries to keep pace with the profound and rapid change in this field.

As Covid-19 emerged in the Spring of 2020, Jennifer founded Re-Set School with a group of colleagues who wanted to help school leaders make their communities stronger, more equitable, and more adaptive during the pandemic. As the long-term, disruptive impact of this global pandemic became clear, Jennifer made a strategic decision to re-set her own professional goals. Team Finch Consultants shifted to Re-Set School. While Jennifer continues to work with schools needing gender and sexuality consultation, the focus of Re-Set School is on helping school communities center well-being in all that they do..

Jennifer has two young adult children, two fairly well-behaved dogs, and lives in Northampton, MA. She can be found on the pickleball court, hiking in the woods, riding her bike, visiting Maine, shooting pool or reading the newspaper (hard copy only).

Newsletter - Spring 2020
Newsletter - Fall 2018

“Jennifer Bryan is a long-time thought-partner, valuable collaborator and presenter with the New State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) and its professional learning programs. Most recently, she led a workshop for Heads of School – ‘Centering Well-Being at School: A Strategy for Our Time’ which was well-received.

Participants commented:

‘Excellent combination of big idea-thinking and tactical advice.’

‘Gave me a lot to consider as we address issues of well-being for employees and students.’

‘I’ve head Dr. Bryan speak previously, and she is always excellent. It was wonderful to follow her suggestions to recenter and focus on gratitude. I hope to be able to use the strategies she presented frequently.’

NYSAIS is grateful to Jennifer, her ongoing and evolving work, as well as her tireless focus on schools, particularly the students.”

“I am so grateful that Jennifer Bryan has expanded her professional development offerings beyond the realm of Gender & Sexuality Diversity. Make no mistake, if you seek a presenter to move the needle of understanding, inclusion, and belonging around gender and sexuality diversity in your schools, Jennifer is the gold standard. AND, her affirming, authentic and engaging presentation style creates the necessary space and conditions for personal connection and professional growth – no matter the topic, no matter the audience. Jennifer is as comfortable and effective with faculty and staff as she is with administrators and trustees. Her recent sessions for counselors, wellness professionals and academic leaders – in the midst of the COVID pandemic – provided vital opportunities for connection and reflection. She is a master facilitator using empathy and humor to create a welcoming environment for participants to explore and share their emotions and reactions to the complexity, uncertainty, and upheaval of our times.”

“The Northwest Association of Independent Schools has been honored to work with Jennifer Bryan as a featured speaker at our largest conferences and as a workshop facilitator in more intimate learning spaces. She has helped NWAIS schools wrestle with the complexity of gender and sexuality diversity and how we can best serve all of our students.

In her more recent work centering well-being, Jennifer has issued a call to action that is simple and complex. Putting student wellbeing at the center of all we do for students, is a simple concept that requires rethinking every aspect of our practice, systems and organizational framework. Jennifer has issued the imperative, that this is our work in the coming years, and has offered strategies to move communities forward.

Jennifer Bryan is masterful in recognizing that each school’s approach will be rooted in their own unique mission, and she provides frameworks to support growth, regardless of their starting place. Through her straight talk and humor, Jennifer can deliver tough messages with candor. Her approach is honest, thoughtful and thought-provoking. I recommend her without reservation, and hope that you have the opportunity to work with her. We look forward to engaging her services and expertise again in the future. Her work will continue to impact the work of the Association for many years to come.”

“It’s been a really challenging year for faculty and staff alike in our schools. At our March 2021 Inservice Day, Jennifer Bryan joined us for a 2-hour workshop to lead us through an incredibly insightful framework and exercises to reflect on both the losses and joys of this year that have affected us in so many ways. The opportunity to connect authentically with ourselves and with colleagues was profound in its power to strengthen and refresh our community.

Dr. Bryan joined us with a warm and inviting spirit, humor and encouragement. Her understanding of school communities and skill in creating a meaningful, lasting experience was a gift to us, helping to repair the strained fabric of our community, and connecting us with renewed appreciation and connection among faculty, staff and administrators alike. Two hours of time incredibly well spent.”