Graduate Spotlight: Corbeil draws upon personal journey to help others

Kim Chaudoin | 05/08/2023

When Michael Corbeil graduated with a master’s degree from Lipscomb this spring, it was the culmination of a life’s journey that had been refining him and shaping him for this moment. 

As he walked across the Allen Arena stage May 6 to receive his Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in addiction it signified more than the completion of more than two years of coursework, projects and studying. It signified a life transformation — and a new start as a counselor. 

After working in the financial sector for several years, Corbeil found himself unhappy in his career and knew he wanted to make a change. He decided to return to college to pursue a graduate degree to become an addictions counselor inspired by his own struggle with chronic addition. During his treatment, Corbeil found his passion and purpose in life — to give back by walking with others through their own journey of recovery. This degree will launch him into a new chapter in life as he begins his career as a psychotherapist at Cumberland Heights.

“Truth be told, growing up I would have never even considered this as a plausible career for me,” says Corbeil. “Being a male, I always felt I had to live up to a standard of what being a man should be like.  I felt like I needed to be ‘tough, suck it up and let nothing get to me.’ Of course, being a human being, I experienced a myriad of emotions and feelings growing up. However, I felt that this vulnerability meant weakness.” 

“During my growing years, from the outside looking in, it appeared that I was happy, successful and had everything going for me,” he continues. “I played college sports at the highest level and when I graduated with an MBA in 2015, I was accepted into one of the premier banking programs in the country. On paper, I should have been perfectly happy.”  

But, the material happiness soon unfolded into a “nightmare” for Corbeil that had its beginnings in his adolescence. At the age of 12, he began experiencing periods of uncontrollable obsessions and compulsions. He would count obsessively, touch things and feel like he needed to complete tasks” in order for something awful not to happen.”  

“Of course at this age, I thought I was crazy, and no one could know about what was going on in my head. Luckily for me, I was a good athlete, was successful in school, and had plenty of friends — which provided the perfect cover for my internal suffering,” explains Corbeil. “This was all to change when I discovered alcohol for the first time in high school.” 

He soon discovered that it provided him with a “magic elixir” to relieve his obsessive compulsive disorder symptoms. Corbeil soon fell into chronic addiction, which lasted until he was 29.  

“At this point in my life I hit rock bottom and entered into addiction treatment,” he recalls. “It was during this time I found my purpose in life — to help walk other people who are suffering into the light of freedom.  And, after two-and-a-half years of studying and years of sobriety, I finally get to give back and help others through their own journey of recovery.” 

Corbeil credits DeAndrea N. Witherspoon Nash, director of Lipscomb’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program and assistant professor and lead faculty for addiction specialization, and Kathi Johnson, executive director of graduate enrollment for psychology, counseling and family science, with his decision to attend Lipscomb to continue his education. 
 
“I remember Dr. Nash taking the time to talk to me when I was early on in recovery and interested in the program. She has remained a mentor and now friend as my time in the program is ending,” says Corbeil. “Kathi Johnson was also a main contributor in me making the final decision. Her warmth and passion about the program made it an easy choice. It also does not hurt that Lipscomb has an outstanding partnership with Cumberland Heights---where I did my clinical rounds.”

Lipscomb’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling equips students with the knowledge and expertise that make a difference on the front-lines of treating those with a substance use disorder. Learning about treating addiction through an addiction lens and a mental health lens creates a unique perspective. Lipscomb is the only faith-based, CACREP accredited university in the south that offers this unique program.

Being involved at Lipscomb has been important to Corbeil during his graduate studies. He served as a Recovery Ally, was involved in Metro Nashville Public Schools programs, participated in student panel discussions for new students interested in the program and was a graduate assistant for the psychology department. 

Achieving this milestone and being on the precipice of a new beginning feels surreal, Corbeil says.

“To finally have a career I am passionate about is beyond exciting,” he says. “It is important to note that I in no way could have accomplished this on my own.  My beautiful wife, Christy, has been a huge contributor through her support and love and my children, Silas, Riley, and Addy have kept me laughing through it all.  Along these lines, my brothers John and Mark, my parents, and sisters-in-law Ashley and Su have also been major areas of support that I needed during this stressful period.” 

He says he views his time in graduate school at Lipscomb “as a transformation to who I am as a person.”  

“When I came into the program, I was single and only had a dog to look after. I was unsure if I had made the right decision and was afraid that I would not be an effective therapist,” admits Corbeil. “Fast-forward two-and-half years later, I have a family, feel confident in my abilities as a young therapist, and never have been happier in my life.  With that said, graduate school is hard. There are the tests, the impostor syndrome, the supervision, the clinical rounds, and other unplanned factors that have made times stressful.  Without the faculty and the friends I have made in the program I would not be where I am today.”