Founder's Story
A Personal Journey Toward a Whole Mind
Bryan Butler didn’t set out to launch a nonprofit. His early life pointed him toward ministry rather than mental health. But his personal experience navigating trauma, misdiagnosis, and the limitations of traditional therapy ultimately led him to pioneer a new path—one that focuses on the brain first and the whole person always.
Professional Credentials
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Board Certified Neurofeedback Technician
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MA, Marriage & Family Therapy/Counseling
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BA, Theology/Theological Studies
Growing Up with Unanswered Questions
“I grew up in a conservative religious environment, where we didn’t really talk about mental health. If you were struggling, it meant you didn’t have enough faith—or there was something spiritually wrong with you.”
Bryan’s childhood included significant trauma, including sexual abuse that went unspoken for decades. He developed coping mechanisms that masked the pain and began pursuing an academic pathway into theology and ministry. But trauma doesn’t disappear through willpower or faith.
As he got older, Bryan experienced increasing anxiety, chronic depression, and emotional volatility. It was difficult to keep a job and impossible to form healthy relationships. Diagnosed at one point with bipolar disorder, he was prescribed seven different medications and cycled through therapists, counselors, and religious advisors, all offering only partial answers and no real solutions.
The Breaking Point
In graduate school, while studying counseling, Bryan hit his lowest point. The combination of unresolved trauma, intense emotional strain, and academic pressure became too much.
“I put a gun in my mouth. I didn’t want to be here anymore. But the thought of my nephews finding me—that stopped me. That moment changed everything.”
Afraid that disclosing suicidal ideation would end his educational opportunities, he kept the depth of his struggle to himself. But internally, he knew something had to shift. A professor, sensing the pain beneath the surface, suggested he visit a local neurofeedback clinic.
Discovering a New Approach
At the clinic, Bryan underwent brain mapping, known as a quantitative EEG. For the first time, he saw concrete data about his brain function. “There was an actual explanation for how I felt. It wasn’t a character flaw. It was brain dysregulation. It was an incredible relief to know there was a real answer, and a treatment to help me.”
He began neurofeedback treatment and his journey to a recalibrated and healthy brain. Over the course of treatment, Bryan tapered off seven medications, lost 60 pounds, and gained clarity he hadn’t felt in years. His misdiagnosis with bipolar was cleared up, and he began finding answers about his true underlying conditions including ASD, developmental trauma, and ADHD.
“It was like my brain finally exhaled. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t just surviving—I was actually living. It felt like my real self was coming online.”
From Healing to Helping
“I know what it’s like to sit across from a clinician and feel like they don’t get it. I wanted to be the person I needed when I was struggling.”
With his mental fog lifting, Bryan returned to his studies with a renewed sense of purpose. He became a licensed professional counselor supervisor and certified neurofeedback clinician. More importantly, he brought hard-earned empathy to his work.
Neurofeedback was just the start of Bryan’s brain training journey. Over time, he explored every form of neuromodulation therapy available in the United States. These more modern technologies and therapies proved to deliver faster, highly effective results with much less effort, opening up the possibility of successful treatment for more conditions and more patients.
Bryan began working with individuals dealing with trauma, addiction, and treatment-resistant mental health conditions. He became known for taking on complex cases, especially children in foster care and adults with unresolved childhood trauma.
“Some of my best clinical tools came from my own experiences. I’ve had to learn the hard way that mental illness isn’t a moral failure—it’s a brain function issue.”
Founding Foster the Mind
As Bryan’s practice grew, so did his frustration with the mental health system. The more he saw, the more he realized the traditional model—talk therapy plus medication—wasn’t working for many clients. Waitlists were long, and trauma-informed, brain-based care was almost nonexistent in underserved communities.
That realization sparked a new vision. Together with his wife Amanda, he founded Foster the Mind, a nonprofit dedicated to providing data-driven, brain-first mental health care to children and families affected by trauma, especially those involved in the foster system.
“My life turned around because the generosity of a close friend’s mother gave me access to treatment most people have never even heard of. My goal is to pay that gift forward to as many people as possible.”
Foster the Mind offers brain mapping, neuromodulation, neurofeedback, counseling, and adjunctive therapies. Each treatment plan is customized to address the root cause of symptoms.
“We don’t guess. We look at the brain and build a plan around what it needs. That’s why we see results with even the most challenging cases where other modalities have failed.”
Transformation in Action
“One of my clients was a young girl who couldn’t go five minutes without a meltdown. After treatment, she was attending school and making friends. Her mom called it a miracle.”
The outcomes speak for themselves.
Bryan has worked with patients to resolve persistent anxiety and depression, helped children with severe tics become asymptomatic, supported patients in addiction recovery, and seen formerly nonverbal kids begin to communicate.
One notable case involved working with a trafficking survivor who had cycled through multiple programs with no success. “We treated her brain like it had been injured—which it had. She began sleeping, processing emotions, and even planning for college.”
Bryan’s dedication to seeing treatment no matter what obstacles appear has given his clinic an outstanding reputation for successful outcomes that transform lives.
Vision for the Future
For now, the Foster the Mind clinic treats patients at a relatively small scale in Fort Worth, but plans for the future are expansive. Bryan’s long-term goal is to create a residential treatment campus for trauma-impacted children—a safe, nurturing space that blends science and compassion.
“These kids need healing environments where they can recalibrate and thrive.”
He is also developing the next generation of neuromodulation hardware and software. This includes devices that can be remotely programmed, so families in rural or underserved areas can access treatment at home. It also involves refining the software used to interpret qEEG scans to standardize diagnostics and care recommendations across the emerging discipline of neuromodulation.
Why It Matters
Bryan’s journey—from trauma and suicidality to healing and leadership—is the foundation of Foster the Mind’s mission. His story resonates with families who’ve been let down by traditional care and are looking for real, evidence-based solutions.
“I’ve walked the darkest roads. I know what it means to feel like there’s no way out. That’s why I built Foster the Mind—to be the kind of place I wish I’d found sooner.”
With every recalibrated brain, Foster the Mind proves that healing isn’t just possible—it’s within reach.
Get in Touch
1307 8th Ave, Suite 310
Fort Worth, TX 76104
Restoring Hope, Healing Minds. Neuromodulation isn’t just treatment—it’s transformation. Real change is possible and we’re here to help.