Mr. Aras Van Bibber, M.S. (CMHC Intern)

Mr. Aras (Leon) Van Bibber, CMHC (intern)

Mr. Aras (Leon) Van Bibber is a retired military veteran completing a dual Master of Arts degree in Military Resilience (Dec. 2022) and Clinical Mental Health Counseling (December 2023) from Liberty University. He holds a BA in Human Services (2020) and a long-term goal of continuing his education by getting a PsyD at Nova University, APA. He is a dedicated professional with over 15 years of leadership and counseling experience. He uses his academic and interpersonal skills to serve clients by providing case assessment, guidance, and support services to create a sustainable transition.

“When individuals experience trauma or severe life dispositions, it is not uncommon for their lives to unravel. My great passion is bringing healing to individuals who have been through a traumatic and often stressful occurrence. I help my clients find healthy perceptions of themselves and strengthen their relationships so they know themselves as peaceful, complete, whole, and safe. Being a Licensed Mental Health Counselor has always been a passion of mine; it’s the giveback that is so gratifying for me. Helping another individual or veteran through a crisis (having been one myself) is extremely rewarding. Changing the stigma and culture of what vets often face is where I find myself hoping to change that narrative.

I know that no single approach is the right one for every individual, and so I have training in a range of modalities including Gestalt Therapy (Empty chair), CBT: Flooding, and Implosive Therapy including In-Vivo (Systematic Desensitization).”

Mr. Van Bibber began his military career in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1994 and retired from the Army in 2014 after serving in three branches of service: Marine Corps, Navy, and Army. During his career, he spent most of his time as an instructor at the Naval Warfare College. He has 67 combat missions and served in four tours: OIF II, OIF IV, OIF VII,  and Operation New Dawn.

Mr. Van Bibber enjoys spending time with his wife in his free time.