Brian Antrobius
Biography
The road of my life has taken me in numerous directions, and here I am following the call of God to help others on their paths. After a brief career in education, I returned to a passion I had earlier in my academic journey – counseling. After graduate school, I found myself looking for a place for my passion and new skills. I prayed and meditated, and the path began to be revealed.
Helping is part of who I am. As I alluded to, I had planned to be a teacher, but found it was not what I had hoped it to be. I shifted career paths, and my work since then has included an inpatient substance use facility, family reunification, and outpatient counseling with couples, families, teens, children, and groups. These experiences provided a foundation for seeing people for who they are, and to hear the stories that make up their lives. In order to help, it is necessary to see and be with someone in a way that honors the person.
The entire time I have been following my faith to help guide me where I needed to go, and to help those reaching out. My work at Calvin is fueled by my mission to help those searching out support and assistance with living, and building, the lives called to live. I serve this population of Calvin University equipped with knowledge, tools, strategies, experience, and faith.
About me, I like to read – lots of books about lots of topics. I enjoy exercising, and I do enjoy traveling when I can, though Michigan holds a special place for me. While I don’t play sports anymore, I do enjoy following sports when I can, especially college basketball in the spring! I daily read my Bible and pray and meditate to help with centering and connecting with the Lord, which I find calming and restorative.
Education
BS, Wayne State University, Education, 2006
MA, Eastern Michigan University, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, 2013
Professional Experience
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and a Nationally Certified Counselor. I have worked in detox and residential substance use where helping individuals transition to clean, sober living was the primary goal, as well as working to process trauma, build healthy routines and skills for recovery, and learning to live a satisfying life. Working home-based, family services to help individuals develop skills, strategies, and learning to make use of both personal and community resources provided me with an opportunity to see how families can engage with one another in a more real-world setting. This helped with considering a person’s story and context with which they live, and not just symptoms to be treated, but that a holistic approach helps with sustained change.
After moving to a community mental health provider for adults, I was able to better connect with psychiatric staff and to be able to learn more about the biology side of mental health, which can also offer life-changing results. Moving on to contractual work, I met with teens, adults, couples, and families. I was able to get more experience with relationships and couples/marriages, as well as work and school stress, coping with losses, and existential and identity issues. Returning to community mental health, I found myself working with individuals and families again, working to find ways to cope with disabilities, difficult family interactions, or ways to get connected to resources that could help with meeting their needs.
In my time working as a counselor, I have worked in a variety of environments with diverse individuals. Whether working in a group or individually my knowledge, experiences, and faith have helped me to serve those seeking assistance.
Academic Interests
- Addiction
- Attachment
- Family Systems
- Guilt
- Relationships
- Shame/Resiliency
- Trauma
