The Millennium Counseling Center Podcast Millennium Counseling Center

Ever dream of playing professional sports? The reality is, for most college athletes, that dream fades after graduation. So how do athletes translate their grit, leadership, and teamwork skills into a successful career off the field?

In this episode of the Millennium Counseling podcast, taken from the Athletes to Entrepreneurs podcast hosted by Rob Finkelstein, Derek is interviewed about his time as a former professional soccer player, transitioning from sports to a traditional career, and much more!

Topics discussed:



* The transferable skills athletes possess and how to use them in any job.

* Networking secrets from the locker room that can build your professional circle.

* Why companies love hiring athletes

* The real story of transitioning from pro athlete to “real world” employee.

* How to support athletes’ mental health and build the resources they need.



If you have any questions about any of the topics discussed in this episode, please click here to send us a message.

Thank you for listening to this episode: “Life After Sports with Derek Bylsma”

Related content to Life After Sports with Derek Bylsma:



* Athlete Mindset Podcast: Bringing Lived Experience to Clinical Work with Derek Bylsma

* Sarah Meister | From Division 1 Volleyball to Sports Performance Therapist

* Millennium Sports and Performance Wellness Division



Connect with us:



* Millennium Counseling Center: Website

* Derek Bylsma: LinkedIn

* Athletes to Entrepreneurs, Rob Finkelstein: LinkedIn | Podcast | Website



More about Derek Bylsma:

Derek is the Executive Director of Millennium Counseling Center and heads their 3A and Sports divisions. He is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and a nationally board-certified counselor. He is also fully trained in EMDR Therapy.

In addition to having wo bachelor’s degrees from Kalamazoo College and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Derek also holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Roosevelt University. After a successful career in business and with strong family ties in the helping professions, it became apparent that Derek’s true calling was to help those struggling with life’s many challenges.

Derek specializes in recovery-related work, mood disorders, co-occurring disorders, and issues unique to athletic performance. He is particularly enthusiastic about leading the sports division at Millennium Counseling Center as it marries two of his lifelong passions; helping others and athletics. As a soccer player, Derek was a two-time college All-American and All-Big Ten player and after graduating, went on to play professional soccer in the United State. More recently, Derek’s ties to athletics shifted from player to coach and he has been recognized as one of the top High School soccer coaches in Illinois. His experience as a high-performing athlete and coach, as well as his extensive experience in the mental health field,

In this episode, we feature a guest appearance by Derek Bylsma on the podcast, Athlete Mindset. This conversation is about bringing lived experience to clinical work, suicide prevention and awareness, and addressing the mental health stigma that still exists today.

In this Athlete Mindset podcast, Derek also discusses mental health in young athletes, his background as a clinician, and his leadership style as a coach of a girls’ high school soccer team.

Topics discussed in “Athlete Mindset: Bringing Lived Experience to Clinical Work with Derek Bylsma”:



* Derek shares his story of becoming a mental health professional

* How to spot athletes struggling with mental health

* Staying approachable for those who may need help

* How Derek blends being a clinician with being a coach

* Helping young female athletes build confidence and speak up for themselves

* How social media has changed the way young people see the world

* The importance of learning how to adapt your coaching style



Derek is joined by podcast host and founder of AthMindset, Lisa Bonta Sumii. 

If you have any questions about any of the topics discussed in this episode, please click here to send us a message.

Thank you for listening to this episode: “Athlete Mindset: Bringing Lived Experience to Clinical Work with Derek Bylsma”

Related content:



* Digital Age Mental Health

* Therapist Shortage, Instant Access to Bad News, and Athlete Mental Health

* Time To Shine Today Podcast with Derek Bylsma



Connect with us:



* Millennium Counseling Center: Website

* Derek Bylsma: LinkedIn

* Athlete Mindset host, Lisa Bonta Sumii: LinkedIn | Book | Website

In this Millennium Hope podcast episode, Derek Bylsma takes on mental health topics including:



* therapist shortage in our country

* instant access to bad news

* Roe v Wade conversation

* awareness around athlete mental health



Derek is joined by podcast host and the founder of KazSource, Eric Kasimov. 

If you have any questions about any of the topics discussed in this episode, please click here to send us a message.

Thank you for listening to this episode: “Therapist Shortage, Instant Access to Bad News, and Athlete Mental Health”

Connect with us: 



* Millennium Counseling Center: Website

* Derek Bylsma: LinkedIn

* Eric Kasimov: LinkedIn | Twitter | KazSource Website

Derek Bylsma was a featured guest on the Time To Shine Today Podcast Podcast to share his journey into being a therapist with support from his family. The host of the Time To Shine Today podcast is Scott Ferguson. 

About the Time to Shine Today with Scott Ferguson: Our motto, creed etc is ‘We do not want ANYONE to feel like they have NOONE’. We are all about getting fired up and leveling up our life! Are you tired of the everyday humdrum life that you are living?! Don’t fret! We have been there. Time To Shine Today is a mastermind of people who are always on the lookout to pick up our next step to add to our success arsenal and then paying it forward! Just get ready to get out of your comfort zone as we at TTST are all about action and Leveling UP every day! We are stoked you are here and we look forward to connecting with you! Welcome to the Time to Shine Squad!

Knowledge Nuggets and Take-Aways:



* Treat people as individuals. Notice their gifts and remember people attach different meanings according to their beliefs

* A great therapist will work as hard as you do. They are passionate and compassionate.

* Trust your therapist in the short run and you will see the results in the long run.

* Ask your therapist point-blank how they are going to help you

* Find your passion and be great at it



About Derek Byslma as mentioned on the Time To Shine Today Podcast

Derek is a former high-level athlete and business owner who has dedicated all of his attention to helping people get mentally well. Derek is a therapist and group practice owner specializing in substance abuse, trauma, and mental health. Derek also oversees both their athlete wellness program and intensive recovery program. Derek’s goal is to advocate for mental health support for all and provide a platform for everyone to get the support they need. 

I would rather be the guy that life is an 8 when it’s really a 3, versus a guy who thinks life is a 7 when it’s really a 9 – Derek Bylsma

This episode first appeared on the Time to Shine Today Podcast under the heading:

294-Rise Above Shame and Pain to Reach Heights You Never Thought Possible – TTST Interview with Executive Director of Millennium Counseling Centers Derek Bylsma

(links to the Time to Shine Today Podcast are below!)

________

Connect with us: 



* Millennium Counseling Center Website

* Derek Bylsma: LinkedIn



Time To Shine Today:



* Podcast

* Twitter

* Facebook

* Instagram

* LinkedIn

* YouTube

As heard recently on the Gametime Guru Podcast!

From the Gametime Guru:

What a story we have for you today! Sarah Meister played volleyball at the Division 1 level for Missouri, and she has quite a few stories to tell.

While there were some people who may look at an athlete or a team at that level, and believe they all “have it made,” what the general public isn’t seeing is what’s going on behind the scenes.

Today, Sarah will talk about the impact one simple person made on her and the rest of their program while in College, and how having a sports psychologist as part of the program truly helped them reach their fullest potential. Not only that, it was a major influence on her career path which she has taken since college ended!

Along with our discussion about Volleyball and the amazing memories she has from competing at the D1 level, we will also be talking in-depth about her journey as a therapist helping in the Sports & Performance Division at Millennium Counseling in Chicago.

She works with elite athletes with their mental health and sports performance. What people continue to fail to realize is, although athletes are having fun with what they do, they are still HUMAN BEINGS who have emotions and have to battle with the additional stresses that come through life! This is why it’s so important to work on your mental health the same way you would work on your physical health!

Sarah is a fantastic guest on today’s show and we’re grateful to have her!! Please share this story with more people so they can become more aware of the resources that are out there to help people stay on the right track!

Learn more about Sarah

Connect with us: 



* Millennium Counseling Center Website

* Sarah Meister: LinkedIn



Relevant Links and Content:



* Millennium Sports & Performance Wellness Division

* SportsEpreneur Podcast Appearance | Montee Ball, Transfer Portal, NIL, Antonio Brown

* Episode 228: Sarah Meister on the Gametime Guru Podcast | From Division 1 Volleyball to Sports Performance Therapist

Wisconsin Badger Superstar Running Back Montee Ball and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and nationally board-certified counselor Derek Bylsma are the featured guests of this SportsEpreneur podcast — hosted by Eric Kasimov, founder of SportsEpreneur.

They talk about the complexities surrounding Antonio Brown, the college football transfer portal, and NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness).

Montee and Derek bring insight, experience, compassion, and much-needed dialogue to these important sports topics related to athletes’ mental health. Eric Kasimov is the host of the SportsEpreneur podcast — the podcast where sports, entrepreneurship, and now mental health collide.

About | Montee Ball





Montee Ball played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers and was then drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 2nd round of the 2013 NFL Draft. His NFL career came to an end after two seasons due to issues stemming from his alcoholism, anxiety, and depression.









Montee now sits on committee boards for recovery organizations in the state of Wisconsin and also nationally. He aims to tear down the stigma that surrounds substance use disorder with a strong focus on peer support. His goal is to continue enhancing engagement within the recovery community and also to teach the importance of strengthening the foundation. He is now a certified recovery coach, recovery coach trainer, public speaker, author, the co-host of his sobriety podcast Untapped Keg, and provides peer support for those who are struggling with what he faced.

Connect with Montee Ball on Twitter





Useful web pages from this episode:



* Montee Ball | website | book: Nowhere to Run | podcast: Untapped Keg

* Millennium Counseling Center | Sports & Performance Wellness Division

* SportsEpreneur



Connect with SportsEpreneur:



* SportsEpreneur: Twitter, Instagram

* Eric Kasimov: Twitter, LinkedIn

* Check out more from our content platform: SportsEpreneur. The platform where sports, entrepreneurship, and now mental health collide!



Intro Music, “escape” was provided by Pluto Tracks.