Brian Spielmann, Founder & CEO, Academy of Therapy Wisdom
Dedicated to amplifying the wisdom of the mental health field and empowering practitioners to build resilient, impactful lives.
Who is Brian Spielmann?
Brian Spielmann is the Founder and CEO of Academy of Therapy Wisdom, a global platform providing premier continuing education for mental health professionals. He and his team created Therapy Wisdom Circle, a first-of-its-kind membership cohort focused on therapist community and collaborative learning. He specializes in curating world-renowned training by experts across the fields of trauma therapy, somatic psychology, IFS, and attachment, supporting the professional development of clinicians in over 100 countries. He is also the founder of Authentic Presence and WisePractice.io.
Elevating the Role of the Therapist
Brian’s mission is to elevate the role of mental health practitioners in society by amplifying the wisdom of the field and supporting professionals dedicated to healing individuals and communities. He believes the future of the healing professions depends on bridging deep wisdom traditions with modern technology, and empowering practitioners to build resilient professional lives while sharing their knowledge with a global audience.
The 50 Million Campaign
Brian believes therapists are the modern elders our culture needs to stay grounded. His mission includes making sure these people who support deep healing have the support they need to thrive and keep going.
This belief drives his 50 Million Campaign. The goal is straightforward. When Academy of Therapy Wisdom has helped 100,000 therapists improve their clinical skills and therapeutic presence, those therapists will reach 50 million people, causing a lasting ripple effect across the world.
"Wisdom lives in the body, in the therapy room, and in the real moments of connection and repair… If we educate 100,000 therapists... That’s at least 50 million lives touched by healing, presence, and wisdom. That’s not a dream. That’s a strategy for global healing."
- Brian Spielman, Founder & CEO, Academy of Therapy Wisdom
Collaboration for Systemic Change
The growth of Academy of Therapy Wisdom reflects a global shift in clinical education. Brian has collaborated with over 50 world-renowned experts in the mental health training field to develop more than 80 comprehensive continuing education programs, including three in-depth certifications. These courses are not quick CE offers, they are high quality online immersions that move beyond theory into deep, soulful practice with the goal of supporting lasting systemic change for families and communities.
Among the experts Brian has worked with and brought into the faculty and training spaces of Academy of Therapy Wisdom are Janina Fisher PhD, Frank Anderson MD, Linda Thai, Bayo Akomolafe, Deirdre Fay, Akilah Riley-Richardson Bessel van der Kolk, Staci K. Haines, Diane Poole Heller, Gabor Matè, Arielle Schwartz, Juliane Taylor Shore, Ruth Cohn, Jan Winhall, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, and more.
These often moving and insightful one-on-one dialogues explore trauma healing through the lenses of embodiment, social justice, spirituality, and internal systems awareness.
Dr. Fisher presents internationally with leading trauma and training organizations such as Trauma Research Foundation, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute, and the Polyvagal Institute. In addition to live online trauma certification and courses with Academy of Therapy Wisdom, you can find a variety of recorded trainings featuring Fisher at PESI and NICABM (compare online therapy course providers for more detail on the quality and CE values for these and other trainings).
Reach and Results
The reach of Academy of Therapy Wisdom shows the growing need for specialized clinical skills. Brian has strived to make the most effective methods in mental health accessible to everyone, regardless of geography.
By serving tens of thousands of practitioners in over 100 countries, Brian and his team, including Academy of Therapy Wisdom co-founder and CMO, Ian McPherson, has helped establish a new standard for how therapists learn and connect. This reach ensures that master-level wisdom in trauma, addiction, and somatic psychology is accessible to the entire global healing community.
100
Countries
85,000
Community Members
15,000
Course Participants
80
Specialized Courses
75
Free Training Resources
40
Expert Faculty Members
3
Professional Certifications
20
Team Members
The Therapy Wisdom Circle
Brian and his team lead vision and development of theTherapy Wisdom Circle, a membership cohort was built to change how therapists learn together. Instead of passive courses, it provides a space for ongoing discussion and community building. It is a first-of-its-kind model where practitioners gather to study deep clinical themes and support one another in the work of healing. By moving beyond traditional education, the Academy of Therapy Wisdom team ensures that clinicians have a home where they can stay grounded and connected to the heart of their profession.
The Therapy Wisdom Podcast
Brian is the creator and host of the Therapy Wisdom Podcast. He uses this platform to talk with leading voices in psychotherapy, somatic practice, and personal transformation. These interviews go beyond professional theories to look at the personal experiences that shaped the work of today’s master teachers. By hosting these conversations, Brian helps clinicians and students see the human heart behind the healing field.
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Supporting Professional Longevity and Practice Integrity
Brian is committed to helping clinicians build professional lives that are both meaningful and viable. He founded Authentic Presence, a digital strategy and marketing company that helps mental health experts and educators reach a wider audience through online programs and community building.
Recognizing the pressures of corporate consolidation in the field, he also co-founded WisePractice.io. This HIPAA-compliant platform provides therapists with an all-in-one system for scheduling, billing, and marketing. By simplifying administrative work, the platform allows clinicians to reclaim their time and protect the integrity of their private practices.
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The Bridge Between Strategy and Soul
Brian spent nearly a decade in leadership at Shambhala Mountain Center. During that time, he directed marketing and business development for one of the premier retreat centers in the world. This experience taught him how to use modern systems to support deep, human-centered work. He holds an MBA in Venture Management from the University of St. Thomas and a BS in Environmental Engineering from the University of Maryland. This background in technical precision and business strategy allows him to hold the vision for the digital infrastructure that the modern healing arts require.
Letters to the Community:
Perspective and Practice
Brian writes regularly about the evolving state of psychotherapy and the personal journey of the clinician. His articles look at the intersection of clinical wisdom, technology, and social change. These pieces provide a space for reflection and a grounded voice for therapists navigating a complex professional world.
Not Walking Alone
When Life Asks Us To Become Elders
The Grief No One Talks About in Therapy
The Business Model of Therapy is Questioned
The Everyday Practice of Love
The Practice of Allyship
Therapist Burnout and the Rise of Private Equity
Protecting the Integrity of Clinical Practice
An Invitation to the Therapist Support Community
Connect with Brian
Brian is active on LinkedIn, where he shares updates on new clinical training, podcast episodes, and his letters to the therapy community also found on the blog at Academy of Therapy Wisdom.