Birant Akbay
Doctoral Practicum
Birant joins Grinnell as a graduate assistant and forth year counseling psychology doctoral student from the University of Iowa. His professional journey began in 2011 when he graduated with a bachelor's degree in nursing from Binghamton University, New York. After working as a registered nurse in critical care for 9 years, Birant completed a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from the University of Iowa in 2020. He hopes to pursue a career in sport psychology, preferably within the university setting. While working with his clients, Birant relies heavily on Person-Centered and Humanistic principles, where he focuses on providing unconditional positive regard and empathetic understanding during session. He seeks to create a safe space for his clients to share and explore their deeply rooted emotions and concerns collaboratively.
In his free time, Birant enjoys running, cooking, watching soccer and traveling. He is excited to be a member of the Grinnell College community!