Founding Director & Lead Clinician

With over 30 years of experience in trauma recovery and clinical leadership, Mary Sullivan has dedicated her career to building resilient systems for those who serve. As the first Director of Psychological Health for the Minnesota National Guard and a former Mental Health Program Manager for the Wounded Warrior Project, Mary has a firsthand understanding of the unique pressures faced by military members, first responders, and their families.

Mary’s career has been defined by pioneering innovation in the clinical space. In 1989, she developed and led one of the nation’s first inpatient residential addictions treatment programs where women could remain with their children for six weeks of intensive care. This groundbreaking model recognized the essential bond between mother and child as a catalyst for sustainable recovery—a principle of holistic healing that continues to guide her work today.

Her expertise in military mental health earned her national recognition for her work with Operation Tohidu®, an award-winning program designed to help veterans and active-duty service members overcome the invisible wounds of war. Mary has successfully authored and managed over $20 million in federal and private grants, ensuring that complex trauma services reach the communities that remain most underserved.

As the founder of the Bridle and Bonds Initiative, Mary leads a collaborative care model designed to provide high-touch, five-day intensive retreats. By integrating evidence-based modalities—including the Gottman Method, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and CBT—into experiential, adventure-based settings, she continues to push the boundaries of traditional therapy. While she serves as the primary clinical architect, the initiative is supported by a vetted network of licensed 1099 clinical specialists who provide specialized crisis and emergency coverage at every site.

When she isn't developing new models for trauma healing, Mary is an avid landscape painter and gardener. She lives in Missouri, where she enjoys the quiet company of her large dogs and the steady rhythm of the natural world that inspires her work.