About Brian

A Healing Container

Brian Kimmel is an artist, author, and guide who teaches that our unique stories are the essential threads that weave our world together. As a second-generation multi-heritage Indonesian American and the grandson of a storyteller, Brian inherited a legacy of music and narrative. This lineage led him on a journey to co-author his grandmother's WWII memoir, a profound experience that revealed how sharing one personal story can create a bridge for collective healing.

A poet, musician, and Buddhist teacher ordained by Thích Nhất Hạnh, Brian's work is dedicated to this art of connection. His signature approach, "Embodying Narratives," guides people to explore their "Invisible Batik"—the social and cultural patterns they wear—to find a state of supportive ease and transform their lives. As a mental health counselor and supervisor, his insights are grounded in both ancient wisdom and real-world clinical practice. Brian is a contributing author to numerous publications, including The Lion’s Roar and Transcending: Trans Buddhist Voices, and shares his teachings internationally

Licenses & Affiliations

Mental Health Counselor License, WA - DOH, LH60993754

Master of Arts in Somatic Counseling Psychology, Naropa University

Mental Health Professional, WA - DSHS DBHR

Registered Dance Movement Therapist - R-DMT 2587

Dharmācārya, Ordained Buddhist Teacher by Thich Nhat Hanh

Member of the American Counseling Association, Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, and the Independent Book Publishers Association

For Brian's public writing, workshops, and speaking engagements, please visit briankimmel.com