He obtained a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Louisiana College and then completed a Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Georgia, followed by a Ph. D. in counseling psychology from the University of Missouri at Columbia in 1983. Dr. Bryan worked in private practice at the Christian Center for Psychological Services from 1975-1978 and was licensed in Missouri as a Psychologist and worked in private practice from 1978-1983.