MEET THE THERAPISTS
BIO
DARRYL W. BRUNO, LCSW, ACSW C-SSWS
Darryl W. Bruno, LCSW, ACSW C-SSWS
Darryl received his Master’s in Social Work from Tulane School of Social Work in 1987. He Founded the Kids In Crisis Project, Inc. in 1989 which served the Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany and surrounding Parishes for over 20 years. Darryl served as Clinical Field Instructor for many graduate Social Work Interns for over 17 years including The University of Southern Mississippi School of Social Work (SSW), Tulane-SSW, LSU-SSW, SUNO-SSW, as well as several undergraduate schools. He served as Regional Chair for both the Greater New Orleans Region and Florida Parishes Region for over 9 years before being elected as President for the Louisiana National Association of Social Work from 2007-2010. Darryl was appointed as an Advisory Board Member to the Governor’s Juvenile Justice Advisory Board / Louisiana Juvenile Justice Planning and Coordination Board which helped create the bill that later became ACT 1225. He served on a local level as the President of the 22nd Judicial District’s Children and Youth Services Planning Board (ACT 555) for St. Tammany and Washington Parish, Louisiana. He worked 12 years for the St. Tammany Parish Public Schools as the Crisis/Mental Health Coordinator. He worked tirelessly with Mercy Corps in creating the “My Hurricane Story – A Guided Workbook for Children” to assist children coping with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Darryl has served on numerous Panels throughout his professional career such as ECSS, FINS, and ISC. Darryl has presented numerous trainings throughout the State of Louisiana on trauma, bullying, suicide, mental health and substance abuse related topics. Darryl worked with the Florida Parishes Human Services Authority as their Children and Adolescent Program Service Coordinator (Mental Health Program Director B) servicing 5 parishes - Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes. Recently, Darryl served as Executive Director for Bridgeway, a residential apartment community serving 12 male and 12 female adults with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities, in Picayune, Mississippi. Responding to the need, Darryl has opened a private practice, Bruno Counseling and Consulting Services, LLC located in Poplarville, Mississippi. Darryl’s clients can range in ages from 5 – 70 years old providing individual, couples, group and family therapy services covering a wide range of behavioral health issues.
BIO
F. DAVID SOUTHERN-BRUNO, LCSW
F. David Southern-Bruno, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker | Office Administrator | Executive Director, Kids In Crisis Project, Inc.
F. David Southern-Bruno, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Bruno Counseling and Consulting Services, LLC, where he provides compassionate, evidence-based psychotherapy while also serving in a vital leadership role within the organization. As one of the founding individuals instrumental in establishing Bruno Counseling and Consulting Services, David has played a critical role in building the practice from the ground up and ensuring its continued growth and success.
David earned his Master of Social Work from The University of Southern Mississippi in May 2020. Since entering clinical practice, he has been dedicated to helping individuals navigate life's challenges with compassion, clarity, and confidence while providing individualized, client-centered mental health care.
In addition to his clinical responsibilities, David has been the driving force behind much of the organization's operational infrastructure. He managed the extensive legal, regulatory, and administrative processes required to establish Bruno Counseling and Consulting Services, LLC, including business formation, state and federal regulatory compliance, credentialing, and contracting with commercial insurance providers, Medicaid, and Medicare to ensure accessible behavioral health services for the communities the practice serves.
David continues to oversee many of the practice's day-to-day administrative operations, including coordination with the Certified Public Accountant (CPA), financial reporting, insurance compliance, credentialing maintenance, and the annual legal and regulatory requirements necessary to keep the practice fully operational, compliant, and in good standing. His attention to detail and commitment to excellence allow the clinical team to focus on delivering exceptional care while maintaining the highest professional standards.
Beyond his work with Bruno Counseling, David serves as the Executive Director of Kids InCrisis Project, Inc., where he has been instrumental in revitalizing the organization after years of dormancy. His leadership has included re-establishing the organization's 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, assisting in the development of a strong and diverse Board of Directors, strengthening organizational governance, and helping position the agency for future growth, community partnerships, and expanded behavioral health services throughout the region.
As a therapist, David provides a welcoming, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel genuinely seen, heard, and respected. He works collaboratively with adolescents, adults, and families experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, life transitions, relationship concerns, grief, and other emotional or behavioral challenges. His therapeutic style integrates evidence-based interventions with empathy, authenticity, and practical problem-solving to help clients build resilience, strengthen relationships, and create meaningful, lasting change.
David believes that every individual possesses unique strengths and the capacity for growth. His goal is to empower clients to overcome obstacles, develop healthier coping strategies, and move toward lives characterized by greater confidence, emotional well-being, and personal fulfillment.
Whether serving clients in the therapy office, helping guide the strategic direction of Bruno Counseling, or leading nonprofit initiatives that strengthen the community, David is committed to advancing compassionate behavioral health care and improving the lives of those he serves.
BIO
LAURA L. GILLISSIE, LCSW
Laura L. Gillissie, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Laura L. Gillissie, LCSW, brings more than three decades of experience in social work and human services, providing compassionate, client-centered care to individuals and families across a variety of settings.
Laura earned her Bachelor of Social Work from Troy State University in August 1992 and her Master of Social Work from The University of Southern Mississippi in May 2010. Throughout her career, she has served in numerous clinical and social service roles that have equipped her with extensive experience working with children, adolescents, adults, older adults, couples, and families facing a wide range of life challenges.
Her professional background includes serving as a Social Worker at a residential Boys and Girls Ranch for troubled youth, Director of Social Services for seven years, Adult Protective Investigator specializing in elder abuse in Jacksonville, Florida, and Case Manager with the Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District, where she currently serves the elderly and individuals with disabilities. Laura also provides outpatient psychotherapy services with Bruno Counseling and Consulting Services, LLC, where she offers appointments on Saturdays to better accommodate clients with weekday scheduling needs.
Laura believes that healing begins with feeling heard, understood, and accepted. She strives to create a warm, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel safe exploring difficult emotions, overcoming life's challenges, and developing healthier ways of coping. Her therapeutic approach is collaborative, individualized, and grounded in evidence-based practices, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Strengths-Based Therapy, while recognizing and building upon each client's unique abilities and resilience.
Laura works with individuals, couples, and families experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, life transitions, caregiver challenges, and other emotional or behavioral difficulties. Her goal is to help every client develop greater confidence, emotional wellness, healthier relationships, and practical skills for managing life's demands.
Whether you are navigating a difficult season, seeking support for personal growth, or looking to strengthen your relationships, Laura is committed to helping you move forward with hope, confidence, and renewed purpose.
Saturday appointments are available.