Barrington H. Brennen

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Updated October 2024

           

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Barrington H. Brennen has been a marriage and family therapist and counseling psychologist since 1995 (almost 30 years). He is the provider for Marriage and Family Counseling Services, Nassau, The Bahamas [ Web page ].  He provides psychotherapy for individuals, couples, families, teens and young children. He conducts seminars for families, couples, singles, corporations, schools, churches, etc. He also provides trauma response for those who have experienced national disasters, personal trauma, etc.  He also has special training in critical incident/disaster response, anger management, intimate partner abuse, family violence, anger management, preparing for marriage.

Barrington is also the co-founder and co-president (along with his wife Annick) of Sounds of Encouragement (SOE), an organization dedicated to the restoration of life and helping people smile again through the mediums of seminars, workshops, publications, radio, television, and research.  Council for Family Research is a division of SOE.

He is a active member of:

• Bahamas Psychological Association (BPA)
• American Psychological Association (APA)
• International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors
• American Counseling Association (ACA)
• International Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA)
• Good Therapy

He is also a Nationally Certified Psychologist, Board Certified Clinical Psychotherapist, USA; a Certified Prepare/Enrich Trainer and Counselor; a musician and recording artist (bass baritone soloist), handy man (he loves carpentry), a retired ordained minister of the gospel and Justice of the Peace for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. He is also a published writer, having written more than 1000 articles on issues related to family life, social development and relationships and have published in various magazines around he world.   He is also the founder of National Friendship Day in The Bahamas and chair of The Bahamas Friendship Council.

He is also a director/trainer/facilitator for Prepare Enrich, an organization providing assessment tools for pre-married and married couples. [ Web page ]

He holds two graduate degrees from Andrews University, Michigan, one in Counseling Psychology with emphasis in marital therapy, and the other in Religion,  He also hold a certificate in Youth Work from the Commonwealth Secretariat.  He has extensive training and experience in counseling pre-married and married couples, families, and individuals with personal and social issues.  He also has special training and experience in dealing with intimate partner abuse, family violence, and anger management. 

He is a provider (counseling psychologist/clinician) for a few Employee Assistance Programs (EPA) around the world providing mental health care for 23 major institutions in The Bahamas.  [  Click here to see more details of qualifications, experience and training ]

 

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His Life

Interesting Firsts (In The Bahamas):

• The first Marriage and Family Therapist in The Bahamas
• The first Adventist pastor to have a radio program on public radio (ZNS)--Sounds of Encouragement (29.30 minutes long).  Currently produce the radio program/podcast, Your Daily Relationship Nugget being aired on Spotify Adventist World Radio, Cayman Island, Belize, and U.S. Virgin Island.
• Barrington (and his wife) was the first Adventist pastor or have a computer (PC Commodore 20)
• The first to have a Panasonic Digital Word Processor
• The first to have a fax machine.  That is also before the Conference office had one.  The leaders came to their home to fax documents to the Division office
• Barrington was the first Director of Social Development at WIC/NCU
• Barrington was the first pastor to implement praise time during worship services
• Barrington was the first pastor to have a website
• The first Bahamian to sing on 3ABN
• The first Bahamian to have a short series on 3ABN
• The first Bahamian to sing at the General Conference Session (five times)
• The first Bahamian Adventist pastor to have regular, weekly office hours
• One of the few pastors to begin  the ministry as a married person.
• Etc . . . .

Rich Bass-Baritone
Barrington is a lover of music.  At age 68 he still plays the organ and piano, and sing solos.  He enjoys listening to easy listening music, inspirational classical music, opera soloists, southern gospel music, negro spirituals, hymns, select Black gospel music, light jazz, some light reggae and calypso. 

He prefers to sing traditional religious songs, spirituals, anthems, great religious works, and light opera.  He has sung all the bass solos for Handel's Messiah,  Elijah, and Seven Last Words of Christ.  While a student at West Indies College (Now Northern Caribbean University), he entered the Jamaica Music Festival each year for five years and won five gold, five silver and four bronze medals.  He was choose by the Jamaica Music Festival as the Most Outstanding Male Singer in Jamaica for two consecutive years.  He also won a small music scholarship to receive vocal training by one of Jamaica world-class opera singer, Joyce Britton who studied at Juilliard School of Music, New York. He said the training got received from Joyce Britton was very helpful to his singing career.    [  Listen to a sample of him singing ]

Barrington also was one of the founding members of the Meistersingers in West Indies College/Northern Caribbean University, Jamaica.  He sang bass in the group.  He was usually the key bass soloist each year for the Feast of Light Christmas Concert.  He sang the bass solos for the cantatas or master pieces.

While at college in Jamaica, Barrington was asked to sing every year at the services for ordination of pastors all over Jamaica. He estimated that over the five years it was at least forty pastors that were ordained.  Over the years the ordinations were held in May Pen, Montego Bay, Kingston, and Mandeville, Jamaica.   He was also asked to be the official organist for each ordination service.

Barrington was also a member of the National Choir for the Bahamas Independence Inauguration on July 9, 1973, held at Fort Charlotte.  Between 1968 and 1973, he also participate in The Bahamas Music Festival and won certificates and trophies each year.

The Piano and Organ: From age nine he started learning to play the piano at George Moxey Studio on Montrose Ave.  Then he spent the remaining years of piano lessons with Eric Russell on King Street.  By age ten and eleven he was a leading pianist and organist at the Grant's Town Seventh-day Adventist Church, Nassau, The Bahamas.   When he left for college in 1973 he resigned from nine music positions in the church.

He would spend three to four hours a day practice on the piano at home and six to eight hour practicing on the church organ on Sundays.  He taught himself to play the organ by first observing Haynes Dorsett and Bernita Deveaux, organists at the church and then other professional organists.   Almost every Sunday he would go to the church just before midday, and sometimes earlier, to practice on the organ until church time in the evening (six to eight hours).  He would go to the church dressed for the evening service and his mother would bring him food to eat before the service or he would take a sandwich to eat for lunch.  One of the ways he practiced was to focus for hours on developing accuracy in fingering by playing all of the scales and sight reading.  He would sit for hours to play all of the songs in the hymn book and the entire Handel's Messiah.

While a student in college, he became one of the première musicians on campus.  He was the official church/chapel organist and was the key pianist for the opening session for every Week of Spiritual Emphasis twice a year.  He also enjoyed playing the piano at each of the Friday evening Vespers for the entire time he was in college.  He music treat was to Vespers one hour early to play the piano before the meeting started.  He provided soft, meditative improvisations of hymns and gospel songs.  Students would come early to listen to the relaxing music before the meeting started.  That was the time the budding couples would sit and talk with each other.

He had a great pleasure of playing the organ while Mrs. Olive Fletcher was at the pianist.  This was almost every Sabbath (Saturday) for five years.  During the first two years the old harmony organ was three semi tones lower than the normal pitch.  Mrs. Fletcher would prepare the score for each school three semitones lower for me to play.  Soon, he was able to raise the pitch to match the piano pitch while site reading.  When the college got a new Allen Organ, he really blossomed.  There was no more raising of the pitch three semitones.  On Sundays morning sometimes he would go to practice the organ and often needed to play it loudly that it could be hear echoing across the campus valley

The Flesh Trumpet [ Click on the photo to listen to a sample of the Human Trumpet ] :  Around the age of twelve or thirteen, Barrington discovered a unique talent he had.  It was using his lips and vocal cords to play the the sound of the trumpet.  He became very popular playing the "Flesh Horn" as he called it.  He played for churches, concerts, and secular occasions.  He remembers being inspired to do this from a very inspirational man called "Uncle Fred."   Uncle Fred, or Fred Scavella, the father of Pastor Neville Scavella, was very good in playing the trumpet with is mouth.  As a little child, Barrington remembers him coming to their home  bringing fresh produce from his farm.  He could heard from a distance coming down the street blowing his trumpet.  It was beautiful, loud and clear.  [ MP3  WAVE ]

Barrington became very versatile with his "trumpet".  While a student at WIC/NCU Jamaica, he became very popular around the island.  People came from far just to hear him play the "flesh morn" in concerts on campus.  Thus, when he created in only music album. "City Called Heaven" in 1996 while living in Michigan, USA, he played his signature trumpet song, "Rise Again."

The King Voices Quartet and Radiant Singers:  Barrington's great love for singing pushed him to organize, with his friends, two singing groups.  First, The Kings Voices Quartet, then The Radiant Singers.   Around 1965, at age eleven the Kings Voices was born consisting of Anthony Roach, second tenor; Elliston Rahming, baritone; Perry Decosta, first tenor; and Barrington Brennen, bass.  In 1971, Elliston Rahming left for college and Anthony Curtis took his place.  The quartet became very popular on the island of New Providence.  The quartet specialized in singing songs from their mentor group, The Kings Heralds.  The had well attended annual concerts each year at the Guy Funkel Auditorium, Madeira Street, or the auditorium at Government High School, now the University of the Bahamas Performing Arts Center.  When Barrington left for college in September 1973, the quarter stopped singing.  Over the next many years, they would get together to sing at special occasions.

That was not enough.  His talent to sing was busting out of his heart.  His passion for four part mixed voices led him to form the Radiant Singers.  It was a mixed vocal group consisting of eight to ten male and female singers.   They became very poplar in churches and evangelistic meetings in Nassau.  They enjoyed singing the music of Cliff Burrow, Kurt Kaiser, and Andre Crouch, Edwin Hawkins Singers, the contemporary music at the time.

While at WIC/NCU (1973 to 1978), Barrington could not resist forming his own singing group.  At the end of 1973 he formed a group using the name Radiant Singers consisting of eight to ten singers.  They also became very popular singing beautiful music with tight harmony and gracefulness.  They were the first private group to be the main choir to sing on a Sabbath worship time during the holiday breaks at the college.  The group provided the introit, responses, and specials in the services.  They were wonderful years.

Calligraphy, Art and Painting:  Barrington enjoyed writing calligraphy.  For two graduations at the college he was hired to write the names students on the certificates.  That was almost 1000 certificates.  He got $1.50 Jamaica for each one. 

Barrington also enjoyed, even to this day, doing simple craft work and decorations with is hands.  He is gifted in putting colors and shaped together to create a beautiful message.   One of the treats he did at the college was to decorate the bulletin board each Friday for the weekend activities.  He was used his cursive or calligraphy skills, artistic imagination to a beautiful, inviting show piece each weekend.   Student would come early to chapel just to view and to read the news.

He also had, and still has today, a skill for painting large backdrops and signs.  When he first went to WIC/NCU, he noticed that the campus was missing proper signage for parking and building identification.   So he went to the president with a proposal to provide all signage for the campus.  The president was happy that he was able to do it.  Thus, he allowed him to get all the money and materials he needed to do the jog, and in addition, he was paid for the painting and erecting of each sign.  The president also arranged for him to use a storage building that had a little extra room to do the painting.  Believe it or not, Barrington said that on October 5, 1975, he met is wife-to-be for the first time while on his way to erect a parking lot sign.  He had the sign across his shoulder and the tools in his hands.

Barrington enjoyed painting the large backdrops/banners for all of the Week of Spiritual Emphasis at the college.  It was also another way of making money.

After graduating from college in 1978, and working at the South Bahamas Conference as a pastor, the creativity and artistic talents in Barrington continued.  For several years he painted (on large pieces of plywood) all of the giant signage for large evangelistic tent series in Nassau, The Bahamas.   When digital capabilities started, he designed many signs using the software Corel Photo Paint, for similar series.  [ Click on graphic on the right ]

Drama/Acting Club: One of Barrington's unique skill is that of acting. Truly he has not acted in decades, but it is still in him.  While in college he formed a group called "The Drama Circle" to give himself and other talented student the opportunity for perform on stage.  They Drama Circle did two major productions and several smaller ones.  The productions often drew large crowds and and much laughter.  These dramas were done without detailed scripts but with major themes, story lines and onstage creativity.  It called for intense creativity and memorization of the themes and story lines.  They would practice for hours at a time to rivet in the minds what was being done.

College Chauffeur:  While a college student, Barrington develop the unique ability of being a chauffeur for most of the college faculty.  Although there was no pay for this (except hot delicious meals), it was an exiting opportunity because he was able to visit parts of Jamaica most students were not able to visit.  This is how it worked.  When a faculty family was going on a long day trip or over night trip, the family would ask Barrington to drive for them.  That was when he developed the skills for managing the finger-tip gears, floor gears, touch button, left and right hand drives for standard shift and automatic cars.  In 1976, when many faculty member traveled for a world convention, he had five cars to drive.  Barrington says those opportunities provided him the ability to develop more personal discipline. Wow!

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OVERVIEW OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND POSITIONS

Social

• Born November 1954, Nassau, The Bahamas, to the late Mary and Alfred Brennen
• The second child of four children.
• The only son in the family
• Married to Annick Valleray of Martinique on Thursday, July 21, 1977 in Fort-de-France, Martinique
• One son-in-law from St Marteen--Leslie Samuel
• One daughter-in-law from Nebraska, USA
• Four grandchildren--three grandsons and one granddaughter--Malachi, Noah, Zane, Odeliah

Mental Health Positions/Membership in Professional Associations/Qualifications:

• Bahamas Psychological Association (BPA)
• International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (iAMFC)
• American Psychological Association (APA)
• American Counseling Association (ACA)
• International Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA)
• GoodTherapy
• Member of Bahamas Institute of Behavioral Health (2013 to present)
• Member of National Child Protection Council (1997 to present)
• Director of Social Development (Student Handout) at Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville Jamaica (1990 to 1992)  Responsible for planning and conducting wholesome social and recreational activities for the student body and faculty.  Also responsible for providing counseling for students. 
• Director of Psychoeducation (A treatment program for abusive individuals) at Safe Shelter Inc, Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA. (1993-1996).  Coordinated and facilitated five group therapy groups weekly with total clientele of over 600 men and 50 women.  Domestic Violence Consultant for a leading law firm in Benton Harbor.  Assisted in training police officers in domestic violence
• School Counselor for Bahamas Academy (1996 to 2001)
• Certificate in Youth Work from the Commonwealth Secretariat (1981)
• Director of Adventist Counseling Services (Bahamas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists).  Providing professional psychotherapy for individuals, couples and families in the Adventist Church in The Bahamas (2000 to 2009)
• Chairperson for the Ministry of Education Health and Family Life Advisory Council (2004-2007)
• Consultant and Board Member for Polly’s Place International (Headquarters in Washington, USA).  A ministry providing safe shelter, counseling, and education for victims of abuse and abusers.
• Consultant in Marriage and Family Therapy (1995 to present)
• Nationally Certified Psychologist (NCP) in the United States.  National Association Masters in Psychology
• Board Certified Clinical Psychotherapist (BCCP) in the United States.
• MA in Counseling Psychology from Andrews University, Michigan and MA in Religion.

He is also served as a member of the national committee: 

• Bahamas Behavioral Science Institute
• Chairperson for The Bahamas Friendship Council
• The National Child Protection Council (Bahamas)
• Suicide Commission Bahamas

 

 

CONTINUING EDUCATION
Some of the Professional Workshops and/or Seminars I have Attended
For my continual growth and professional certification

"Diagnosing and Treating Narcissistic Personality Disorder"  GoodTherapy seminar, August 7, 2024

Cognitive Therapy for Personality Disorders"  GoodTherapy seminar, July 18, 2024

"I’m Open To It: Queering Intimate & Sexual Partnerships" Seminar by International Associate of Marriage Counselors March 2023

International Associate of Marriage Counselors 2023 World Conference Continuing Education Certification--19 CREDITS  February 2 - 4, 2023, St Petersburg, Florida, USA, Hilton Hotel.  The sessions were:  Happiest Time of our Lives, Infidelity, Grey Divorce, Gottman Seven Principles, Helping Empty Nesters, The Role of Social Media, Domestic Violence, Sexual Shame and Intimacy, Embracing the broken Road, Self Injury, Narcissistic Personality Pathology, Spiritual and Religious . . .

Betrayal in Marriage & Couples Counseling: Holding a Comprehensive Trauma-Focused Lens in Treatment.  by International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, November 18, 2022 PDF   Cer

Three Techniques for the First Session of Couples Therapy by International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, October 28, 2022 PDF  Cer

Opioid Addiction as an Attachment Disorder by American Psychological Association, June 24, 2022

Supporting Clients with Survivor’s Guilt Seminar by Professional Development Institute of Work Place Options.  June 9, 2022

Evaluating Capacity and Undue Influence: An Expanding Role for Mental Health Professionals
08/27/2021 by David Liebert, EdD, LMHC - Good Therapy.org

Loss and Grief: Modern Theory and Tools for Intervention
07/30/2021 by Tami Micsky, DSW, LSW - Good Therapy.org

Social Justice as a Counseling Concern
07/23/2021 by Lisa Xochitl Vallejos, PhD, LPC - Good Therapy.org

ADHD Treatment and Symptom Management
05/28/2021 by Leo D. DeBroeck, MS, LMHC, CMHS, MHP - Good Therapy.org

Testing Basics: How Neuropsychological Assessment Can Help Therapy Clients
04/09/2021 by Jeremy Sharp, PhD - Good Therapy.org

CBT Assessment, Conceptualization, and Treatment of DSM-5 Personality Disorders
09/29/2020 by Jon Sperry, PhD, LMHC, LCSW, NCC - Good Therapy.org

Sociocultural Identities, Intersectionality, and The Therapeutic Relationship - Webinar by Workplace Options Professional Development Institute, March 10, 2021

Understanding Emotional Challenges of a Transgender Client -- Professional Development Institute by WorkPlace Options, Oct 14, 2020

 

The Cost of Caring: Vicarious Trauma and Mental Health Professionals presented by Rebecca Kase, LCSW, RYT. Good Therapy.  September 10, 2020

 

Working Through Toxic Relationships With a Parent  Conducted by Brooke McMillan for  Workplace Options Professional Development Institute on September 10, 2020

 

"How PTSD Takes Hold of the Brain: The Neuroscience Behind Cause and Treatment",
Presented by Dr. Janene M. Donarski. April 3, 2020

 

"Clinical Intervention for Shame and Abandonment Trauma"
Presented by Susan Anderson, LCSW on January 24, 2020
 

Helping Therapy Clients in Difficult Relationships Find Peace
January 17, 2020, by Keith Wilson, LMHC

 

Understanding and Treating Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs)
Dec 6 2019 by Megan MacCutcheon, LPC, PMH-C

 

Therapies for Suicidal Ideation and Behavior
October 7, 2019, by Lisa Firestone, PhD

 

Helping Clients in Recovery Achieve Emotional Sobriety
July 12, 2019, by Allen Berger, PhD

 

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Women’s Sexual Health Concerns
June 21, 2019 by Lori A. Brotto, PhD, R Psych

 

Ethical Decision Making Strategies for Conflicting Values in Therapy
October 15, 2010 by Stephanie F. Dailey, EdD

 

Helping Challenging Trauma Clients Open Up in Therapy
October 11, 2019 by Robert T. Muller, PhD, CPsych

 

Suicide Prevention in Clinical Practice: Saving Lives and Bringing Hope
September 20, 2019, by Jill M. Harkavy-Friedman, PhD

 

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Children and Families
September 7, 2018 by Judith Cohen, MD

 

Positive Psychotherapy: The Application of Positive Psychology in Clinical Settings

June 20, 2014, Tayyab Rashid, PhD, CPsych

 

Core Competencies in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: Becoming an Effective and Competent Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist

May 16, 2014 Cory F. Newman, PhD

 

Resolving Conflict and Repairing Relationships 
December 6, 2013 by Cedar Barstow, MEd, CHT

 

Treating Mood Disorders, Anxiety, and ADD without Medication: Is It Possible? Treating Mood Disorders, Anxiety, and ADD without Medication: Is It Possible? 
October 25, 2013 by Robert J. Hedaya, MD, ABPN, DFAPA

 

Best Practices for Successful Legal and Ethical Online Counseling and Coaching 
September 14, 2012 by Marlene M. Maheu, PhD

 

How to Maintain a Responsible and Ethical Online Presence as a Mental Health Practitioner
August 3, 2012 by DeeAnna Merz Nagel, LPC, DCC

 

Emotionally Focused Therapy: Recognizing and Healing Attachment Distress in Couples Work
July 20, 2012 by Rebecca Jorgensen, PhD

 

Working with Transgender Clients: A Person-Centered and Narrative Therapy Model
April 6, 2012 by Damon M. Constantinides, PhD, LSW

 

Digital Ethics and Social Networking in Psychotherapy and Counseling 
March 11th, 2011 by Ofer Zur, Ph.D. 

Neuroplasticity and Brain Based Interventions in Therapy: Calming The Caveman To Manage The Thinker
August 5th, 2011 by Lynne Kenney, Psy.D.

Relational Systems, Boundaries, Emotional Space, and Empathy 
July 29th, 2011 by Daniel A. Bochner, Ph.D

Change the Metaphor, Change the Self: An Introduction to Clean Language, Symbolic Modeling, and MetaphorTherapy
July 15th, 2011 by Gina Campbell, M.Ed., CAPF, CCF 

Understanding and Treating Distorted Body Image 
April 29th, 2011 by Scott M. Granet, LCSW 

The New Rules of Marriage 
March 18th, 2011 by Terry Real, LICSW 

Authentic, Empathy-Based Marketing for Therapists: Methods for Growing and Communicating about Your Practice
February 18th, 2011 by Noah Rubinstein, LMFT, Founder and CEO

Mindsight in Action: How to Create a Healthy Mind 
February 4th, 2011 by Daniel J. Siegel, MD 

An Overview of Attachment Wounds: Defining and Addressing Secure, Avoidant, Ambivalent and Disorganized Styles
October 29th, 2010 by Diane Poole Heller, Ph.D. 

A Thriving Practice in Any Economy: Enjoy a Fee-For-Service Psychotherapy Practice Outside Managed Care
July 9th, 2010 by Ofer Zur, Ph.D. 

The Dangers of Psychotherapy: Hope, Hopelessness and Healing
April 9th, 2010 by Daniel Gottlieb, Ph.D. 

Bad to the Bone: Can Our Genes Make Us Act Badly?
August 21st, 2009 by Barbara Oakley, Ph.D. 

Compassionate Nonviolent Communication 
August 7th, 2009 by Rachelle Lamb 

Addictions, Compulsions, & Self-Sabotage: A Multi-level Approach to Trauma's Legacy
November 7th, 2008 by Dusty Miller, Ed.D. 

Psychological Resources Personal Experience and Social Relationships
May 16th, 2008 by Stephen R. Lankton, LCSW, DAHB, 

An Introduction to Internal Family Systems Therapy 
January 18th, 2008 by Richard Schwartz, Ph.D., LMFT

 

Music Positions/Events

• Grant's Town Seventh-day Adventist Church Pianist and Organist 1965 to 1973
• Founder and director of the "Radiant Singers", a mixed singing youth group 1968 to 1978 (Nassau and Jamaica)
• A member of the young male quartet, "The Kings Voices" 1965 to 1973
• Northern Caribbean University Church Organist 1973 to 1978
• Founder and Member of Radiant Singers (Musical Group) 1969 to 1973, 1975 to 1977
• Co-leader and member of Kings Voices Quartet 1965 to 1973
• Member of The Meistersingers (NCU) 1973 to 1978
• Most Out Standing Bass Singer in Jamaica 1974 and 1976
• Boys Trophy in Bahamas Music Festival 1970 and 1972
• Five gold medals, 5 silver medals, four bronze medals in Jamaica Music Festival 1973 to 1978
• Choir Director for the Cassopolis Methodist Church, Cassopolis, Michigan, USA 1994 to 1996
• Chair Person for the Music Standards Committee for the Bahamas Conference 2004 to 2008
• Music Director for the South Bahamas Conference
• Have had concerts in The Bahamas, Jamaica, Michigan, New York, France, and St Martin
• Music Director for the South Bahamas Conference 1986-1990, 1998-2008

 

Seminars Conducted 

Have conducted and continue to conduct the following seminars and more

• Anger Management Seminars

• Child Abuse Prevention Seminars

• Cooking and Nutrition Seminars

• Domestic Violence and Intimate Partner Abuse Seminar

• Effective Communication Seminars

• Effective Retirement Seminars

• Ending Gender Violence Against Women

• Engagement or Preparing for Marriage Seminars

• Family Finance Seminars

• Homosexual Recovery Seminars

• Marriage Seminars

• Men Making a Difference

• Music Seminars

• Parenting Seminars

• Roles in Marriage Seminars

• Sexual Abstinence Seminars

• Sexual Fidelity Seminars

• Sexual Purity Seminars

• Single Adults Seminars

• Stress Management Seminars

• Teenager Seminars

• The Boy Child

Overview

Barrington Brennen is currently a full-time marriage and family therapist.  He has been practicing as a mental health professional since 1995.  Since November 2019 has been full-time.  

Barrington Brennen has conducted seminars for many different denominations and business (including Adventist, Catholic, Baptist, Church of God, Anglican, Methodist, Church of God of Prophecy, Assemblies of God) and many leading corporations, private firms, and businesses, such as  The  Bahamas Electricity Corporation, Princes Margaret Hospital, Scotia Bank, etc.    He has conducted seminars overseas in Puerto Rico, St Martin, Jamaica, Michigan, Florida, England, and locally in The Bahamas.

At the end of November 2019 Barrington Brennen transitioned from full-time pastoral work with the Adventist Church to full-time clinician--marriage and family therapist and counseling psychologist--full private practice. 

He has been serving as pastor since June 12, 1978 and has served in New Providence, Exuma & Long Island, San Salvador, and Crooked Island (Bahamas). In 1990-1992 he and his wife were called to serve at Northern Caribbean University where he served as the first Director of Social Development and the Associate Pastor of the College Church. Annick (his wife) served as executive secretary to the president and then a teacher in the Office Administration Department. . In 1993-1996 he worked as the Director of Psycho-Education, a treatment program for abusive Individuals at Safe Shelter Inc., in Benton Harbor Michigan. He helped more than 600 men and women with control and anger issues. Barrington also served as the Bahamas Academy School Guidance Counselor for four years (1996-2000).  See more

 

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Family Update November 24, 2019  Click on photos to enlarge.

The Parents			The Grand Children
Mom and Dad Annick and Barrington Residents of Nassau, Bahamas	Daughter and Husband Marguerite and Leslie Samuel Residents of Brandon, Florida, USA	Son and Wife Dana and Gerard Residents of Portland, Oregon	Grandson Malachi Gerard & Dana	Grandson Alexander Barrington "Zane" Gerard & Dana	Grandson Noah Gabriel Marguerite & Leslie	Granddaughter Odelia Joy Samuel Marguerite & Leslie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barrington is happily married to Annick M. Valleray of Martinique.   Barrington and Annick Brennen have been since Thursday, July 21, 1977, at 5:30 P.M. in Fort de France, Martinique and honeymoon in Haiti and have two wonderful adult children and three grandchildren.

Annick earned a MA in Educational Administration and Supervision (AU), and a BSc in Business and Administration (NCU).  She is a gender equality advocate.     She is a native of Martinique.  Annick is a retired educational administrator, an education and research consultant.

Marguerite Samuel is a fulltime domestic engineer and co-founder of Journey musical group.  She is currently residing in Brandon, Florida, USA, with her husband and son.  She has a MA in Choral Conducting and Andrews University and Bachelor in Music Education, with secondary certification, from Andrews University, Michigan. 

Leslie Samuel is the self-employed professional blogger, podcaster, coach and video graphics designer and developer of Interactive Biology website.  He served as assistant professor of physical therapy  and the Foundation Science Coordinator in the Physical Therapy Department of Andrews University (July 2011 to July 2014).

Gerard Brennen is a professional trainer in Portland, Oregon, USA.  He also served of Physical Education Teacher at Lyford Cay International School, Lyford Cay, New Providence, The Bahamas for five years.  (Bachelor in Health and Human Performance with Emphasis in Business Sport, and a Certified Strength Conditioning Specialist.  A 2007 graduate of Union College, Nebraska.) 

Dana Brennen, is the wife of Gerard.  She is a trained marketing specialist and has training in early childhood specialist and a   She has a BA in Early Childhood Education and MA in Marketing.  She is self employed in digital marketing in Portland, Oregon, USA

Barrington and his wife Annick are cofounders of Sounds of Encouragement Association. It is an association providing seminars, workshops, and counseling for families today. It also includes a radio ministry.

 

MUSICIAN OVERVIEW  Barrington Brennen is known as an accomplished bass soloist.  He began singing and playing the piano from the age of eleven. His first piano instructors were Mr. George Moxey and Mr. Eric Russell.   During his early years of singing, Barrington formed a quartet known as the King's Voices that became very popular all over the island of New Providence

The quartet consisted of Anthony Roach, Elliston Rahming, Perry Decosta, and Barrington Brennen.  Later, when Elliston went away to school, Anthony Curtis joined the group.  In 1973, Barrington went to Northern Caribbean University, Jamaica, to study for to become a minister of the gospel.  While there he joined the Meistersingers (premiere singing group in Jamaica) and performed all over the island of Jamaica.  He won numerous gold and silver medals in the Jamaica Music Festival and was chosen as the Most Outstanding Male Singer in Jamaica for two consecutive years.  He received extensive vocal coaching and training from outstanding musicians, including Jamaican famous opera singer Joyce Britton. Barrington Brennen has performed in The Bahamas, Jamaica, Martinique, France, and the United States.  He also plays the piano and organ.  He was the church organist at the Grant's Town Church, Nassau, from the age of twelve until he went to college at age eighteen.  

Barrington's hobbies are making and maintaining web pages, cooking, baking bread, singing, playing the organ and piano, surfing the internet, making new friends, and just having lots of fun.

 

Pastoral/Ministerial Positions

• Ministerial Intern at the Englerston Seventh-day Adventist Church (1978 to 1980)
• District Pastor for Exuma and Longs, Crooked Island (1980 to 1985)
• Director of Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries for Bahamas Conference 1984 to 1990 & 2006 to 2009
• Pastor of Berea, Philadelphia, Maranatha, Seventh-day Adventist Churches (consecutively 1985 to 1990)
• Associate Pastor Northern Caribbean University Church, Mandeville, Jamaica (1990 to 1992)
• Director of Social Development at Northern Caribbean University 1990 to 1992
• Pastor of Johnson Park Seventh-day Adventist Church 1996 to 2000
• Associate Director of Family Ministries Bahamas Conference 2001 to 2003
• Director of Family Ministries 2003 to 2008
• Director of Communication 2005
• Pastor of Englerston Seventh-day Adventist Church 2003 to 2006
• Pastoral Supervisor for Haitian District of Churches (three churches) 2007
• Pastor of Message of Hope Seventh-day Adventist Church January 2011 to December 2011
• Pastor of the Philadelphia Seventh-day Adventist Church January 1, 2009 to Dec 2010
• Pastor of Living Faith Seventh-day Adventist Church Jan 26, 2008 to January 19, 2012
• Pastor of the Grant's Town Seventh-day Adventist Church January 24, 2015 to present
• Associate Director of Communication Responsible for Internet Ministries 2001 to 2008
• Member of Conference Committee 2005 to 2008
• Chair Person for the Marriage Standards Committee (Formally Called Marriage and Divorce Committee)  2004 to 2008
• Pastor of Centreville Seventh-day Adventist Church January 26, 2013 to January 24, 2015
• Pastor of the Grant's Town Seventh-day Adventist Church January 31, 2015 to February 27, 2016
• Assistant to the President of the South Bahamas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists with direct responsibilities for Communication Department. February 28, 2016 to 2018.
• Staff in the Communication Department of the South Bahamas Conference.  Webmaster and other . . . 2018 to November 2019
• Retired from full-time ministry on November 29, 2019 (42 Years)
• Remains a full-time marriage and family therapist.

 

Barrington Brennen can be contacted at: 242-327 1980 home, P.O. Box CB-11045, Nassau, Bahamas, info@soencouragement.org  or barringtonbrennen@gmail.com  or 242-327 1980 / 242-477-4002