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Bryan Hinman has built a career around helping people change their lives. At Chestnut Health Systems™, his work blends compassion, structure, and second chances, both in the community and in the classroom.  

His dedication recently earned him the Illinois State University (ISU) Psychology Impact Award, which recognizes friends of the university’s Psychology Department who make a significant contribution to the student experience. For Hinman, it was an acknowledgement of years spent mentoring future clinicians, expanding practicum placements, or supervised, hands-on work experience within the student’s field of study, and creating internship opportunities that bridge the gap between classroom and real-world impact. 

In collaboration with ISU, Hinman assisted in creating new Clinical-Counseling Psychology practicum placements, as well as a new internship opportunity for undergraduate psychology students. “It’s one of those things where we get lost in our own world, and it’s a reminder that the work is being noticed,” said Hinman. “This award is the acknowledgement that what I’m doing has a continuing impact. Not only for students, but for the university.” 

Finding Purpose Through Compassion

The ability to make an impact has guided Hinman from the beginning. “Compassion has always been a centerpiece for me. Especially in my first year at Chestnut, I found that a lot of clients don’t have any advocates — they don’t have a voice,” said Hinman. “Being an agent of change, to give them new and positive experiences of the court system and treatment, to make them feel heard, is a big piece of why I do what I do.” 

Now serving as Associate Director of Court Treatment Programs at Chestnut, Hinman oversees Chestnut’s involvement with the McLean County Drug Court and Recovery Court Programs. The courts are multi-disciplinary programs that bring together members from law enforcement, the state’s attorney’s and public defender’s office, judiciary, probation, jail staff, and others. Chestnut serves as a behavioral health treatment provider within the team, offering counseling and substance use treatment services. 

These programs, known as problem-solving courts, take a restorative approach to justice. Rather than focusing on punishment, problem-solving courts address the root causes of criminal behavior, such as substance use or mental health challenges, combining accountability with treatment and support. 

“No two days are the same,” he said. “It’s often chaos, and it keeps you on your toes. But at the end of the day, it’s about helping people change their behavior to move into a recovery-oriented lifestyle.” 

Bringing Humanity into the Classroom

In the classroom, Hinman uses his experiences to motivate students. Hinman has been invited by ISU faculty to speak to psychology and social work students about the realities of the court system. To make the lessons more tangible, he often brings along a current client in phase five of a problem-solving court program.  

In these programs, participants progress through five phases that support recovery and accountability. In phase one, participants complete the necessary assessments and begin treatment. As they advance, they begin to strengthen coping skills, build relationships, and establish plans to prevent future use and remain abstinent from substances. By phase five, participants are nearing graduation from the program and preparing for reintegration into their community. 

“Phase five clients are ambassadors for the court,” Hinman explained. “They’ve been through the process, they’ve grown, and they want to share their story.” While participants are not required to share their experiences, Hinman has found that many want to share their stories and what they’ve been through. Seeing that transformation firsthand makes a powerful impression on students, inspiring some to pursue a career in behavioral health and the court system. 

A Story That Stays with You

One of Hinman’s most memorable experiences involved a participant who entered the program with a negative reputation for having an attitude and a violent past. “In court, he wouldn’t make eye contact or speak,” Hinman said. “But once we looked closer, it wasn’t attitude, it was fear. It was trauma.” 

After months of therapy, that client not only found his voice, but used it to inspire others. He began presenting with Hinman at ISU, and eventually, within six months of being in the program, gave a presentation at the courthouse about his experiences. “It’s a reminder of the power of the problem-solving courts and advocating for the client.” 

Building Teams and Boundaries

Within Chestnut, Hinman is known for fostering growth and collaboration. Being a certified trainer through the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, he focuses on helping staff build confidence in their skills to create a supportive environment where everyone can learn and thrive as a team. 

The work can be challenging, though, so to stay grounded, Hinman maintains healthy work boundaries, volunteers in the community, and by spending time with friends over “copious amounts of board games.” 

Additionally, Hinman is a board member of the Prairie Pride Coalition in Bloomington, IL, an organization dedicated to equality for the LGBTQIA+ community. “I use that platform to create safe spaces, advocate, and educate about the needs of the LGBTQ+ community.” At Chestnut, Hinman serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee and the Peer Recovery Advisory Board through Heartland Community College to contribute to positive change within the community. 

Continuing the Impact

For Hinman, receiving the Psychology Impact Award was more than recognition, but as an extension of everything he strives for — connection, compassion, and growth. A reminder that his efforts in mentoring and fostering growth and recovery matter. 

When asked what advice he’d give to someone beginning a career in behavioral health, Hinman says, “Stumble in a healthy way and be open to new experiences. Even if something doesn’t work out, you’ve learned something valuable, and that’s how you grow.”