Dr. Rueben Brock is a modern day renaissance man. A trained musician, photographer, filmmaker, professor of psychology, author, and motivational speaker, Brock’s many varied interests and accomplishments make him a unique voice in today’s world. With hobbies like fly-fishing, flying (airplanes) and kung fu, Brock considers himself a life-long learner.

At age 7, Rueben Brock witnessed his father’s suicide.  This incident had a profound impact on Rueben’s emotional wellbeing.  By his teen years, Rueben was experiencing significant depression and PTSD symptoms.  At the height of his struggles, in his early 20s, Brock attempted to take his own life.  

 Unsuccessful in the attempt to take his life, Rueben searched for a way to build a life with more meaning.  He returned to college, which he had previously dropped out of, and set out to learn to help young people.  He studied music, literature, photography, psychology, and sociology, blending his interests into a program for helping young people express themselves. Brock dedicated his life to working in the mental health field and helping young people navigate the system that was so difficult for him. Brock went on to earn a Bachelors from the University of Pittsburgh, a Masters in counseling from California University of Pennsylvania, and eventually a PhD in counseling psychology from West Virginia University.  While in school, Brock earned a prestigious fellowship from the American Psychological Association’s Minority Fellowship Program. Upon completion, Dr. Brock earned a tenured position as an assistant professor of psychology at California University of Pennsylvania. 

 In 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Brock discovered that he is autistic.  

Rueben Brock’s life is a testament to resilience, determination, and recovery.  He overcame trauma, mental illness, and poverty, carving out a successful career as an educator, author, speaker, and clinician, all while managing the challenges that racism, poverty, trauma, and autism can bring.  Brock uses his story to inspire and instill hope in others.  The overarching message in Brock’s story is that anything can be overcome.  As Brock wrote in his 2011 memoir, “Life will break you if you let it. Don’t let it.”

In addition to his work in the mental health world, Brock is also an independent filmmaker. Building upon his roots as a musician and photographer, Brock launched a career in film with his directorial debut, Discovering Autism, which chronicled his autism diagnosis at age 45. The success of this film inspired Brock to continue this work. Brock now works to create meaningful work centered around advocacy and educational. His current project, Black Pittsburgh, explores the history, culture, and politics of Pittsburgh’s Black community.

Dr. Brock published a memoir about his childhood entitled A Young Man’s Wisdom which is available on amazon.com  and barnesandnoble.com.