Her Story
About Brenda
Brenda Kennison is the founder of Day One of Sobriety Ministries, a mind renewal coaching and consulting practice she has led since 2022. Before stepping into this work, she spent 35 years building a career in education, including seven years as an assistant superintendent and additional years as director of curriculum and instruction, where she oversaw district-wide programming for more than a thousand students. Her path shifted when she took a step back from education to confront a struggle with alcohol addiction, a season that ultimately became the foundation for her recovery and renewed sense of purpose. Through rehabilitation and a deepening faith, she discovered the neuroscience-based teachings of Dr. Caroline Leaf, which she went on to study for four years and which continue to shape her ministry today.
Brenda now specializes in translating dense neuroscience concepts into everyday, actionable steps that help Christians move past mental stigmas, toxic thought patterns, and destructive cycles. This work comes to life through her weekly podcast, Day 1 of Sobriety, where she covers topics ranging from anger management to boundary-setting and breaking free from people-pleasing tendencies, as well as through her book, Trapped in Your Thoughts, and her group coaching programs. She holds a bachelor's degree in communications, a master's degree in early childhood education, and an advanced graduate certificate in educational administration, all earned at SUNY Brockport, and she is a certified neuropsych facilitator through her training under Dr. Caroline Leaf. She is also affiliated with organizations such as Glory of Zion International and Kingdom Harvest Alliance International.
What distinguishes Brenda most is the way she blends professional discipline with personal vulnerability. Having transitioned from a fast-paced, achievement-driven career into a faith-centered calling, she now teaches others, especially young women in her field, to release the pressure of perfection and extend themselves grace. She credits her Christian faith as the central force behind her transformation and her ongoing work, crediting mentors like Pastor Lucy Sebastian for reinforcing the importance of taking life one day at a time. As she enters year two of her ministry, Brenda continues to expand her offerings, including a new group co-coaching program and a forthcoming workbook, all aimed at helping others find freedom, compassion, and renewed minds.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Brenda
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my faith in Christ. I used to be very performance-driven, but now I focus on extending grace, both to myself and to others. I try to lead with kindness and compassion, to listen more than I speak, and to stay slow to react. Success, to me, is rooted in relationships and people, and I've found that leading with kindness never steers you wrong.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I ever received came from Pastor Lucy Sebastian, who taught me to take life one day at a time. I keep a plaque in my home that reads, "Let whatever you do today be enough," and it constantly reminds me to balance drive and ambition with self-care.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women entering this field to give themselves grace. It's unrealistic to expect perfection or to please everyone, so it's important to slow down and be okay with not knowing everything. Give yourself permission to not always have it together, whether that means having a messy house some days or ordering takeout instead of cooking. I've found that with each decade, you naturally learn to extend yourself more grace, and that's a lesson I encourage others not to wait to learn.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge I see is how quickly everything moves; it can feel like drinking from a fire hose with the sheer amount of information available, and reliable research can be hard to find. Despite being more digitally connected than ever, I also see people becoming more isolated and struggling with genuine face-to-face relationships. That said, I see real opportunity in the growing attention being given to mental health. Conversations are moving beyond medication alone toward more holistic approaches to stress and healing, and social media and the internet have opened the door to more honest conversations. When people are vulnerable publicly, it gives others the courage to come forward too.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that matter most to me are faith, grace, compassion, kindness, and building authentic community and connection with others.
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