About Us

Directions to the River Studio …

Rental Information …

Patty Cumler-Bryant, owner and proprietor of The River Studio and Professional Offices, developed her interest in holistic health by watching her parents: her mother worked as a coronary care nurse, and her father was a Methodist minister as well as the owner of the Run for Your Life Fitness Center and Physical Therapy in Manchester, Maine. Patty grew up seeing how people’s spirits, minds, and physical wellness are deeply interconnected. She has been practicing multiple strains of psychotherapy in Hallowell since 1992—treating adults, children, teens, couples, and families—and in April of 2009 bought the lovely old foursquare house at 332 Water Street to be the site of a new group venture. Patty, together with her husband and their two children, began renovations right away, adding on a large new studio for yoga and other spiritual pursuits, with bamboo flooring, radiant heat, plus a breathtaking nine-foot oval window overlooking meditative gardens and the Kennebec River. The original part of the house, which contains the therapists’ offices, now has refurbished hardwood floors and fixtures, exposed brickwork, period furniture and lighting, and stained-glass windows. For everyone at The River Studio, environment matters. “It’s hard to make self-care a priority—hard for anyone,” says Patty. “When I bought the building, I wasn’t entirely joking when I thought, Well, if I build it, I will come. I’m dedicated to being healthy and being fully in my body rather than living only from the neck up. My personal practice and my professional practice are both about bringing first attention to the mind/body/spirit and then extending the vitality and compassion that result into the larger world.” Patty grew up in Manchester, Maine, and now lives in Mount Vernon with her family. For more about Patty’s professional background, therapeutic style, and areas of expertise, click here.