Brian Clark transferred into our Amherst Class of 1994 having emerged from a childhood marked by instability and deep family pain. Today he serves as Director of Partnerships in Technology at the Spiritual Life Center in Hartford, where he helps others find healing through faith, psychology, and honest self-examination. Brian talks about growing up in a home dominated by an abusive father, the moment he chose to break free from the cult his dad started, and what it means to be both a healer and still healing. We also talk about post-traumatic growth, the “second half of life,” and the role Amherst and music have played in his journey toward wholeness.

In this episode, we discuss:

How Brian’s relationship with his controlling, abusive father shaped his understanding of faith and identity

The moment he chose to end generations of trauma and begin his own healing

What post-traumatic growth looks like and how pain can lead to purpose

Whom from the Class of '94 he wants me to interview next

To get in touch, email Brian at [email protected]. You can learn more about the Spiritual Life Center in Hartford at https://www.spiritlifectr.org/

Additional resources:

To learn more about spiritual companionship, click here. https://www.spiritlifectr.org/find-spiritual-support#IndividualSpiritualCompanioning

To hear some simple recordings of the chants that Brian sings: https://audio.com/brian-clark-4