The warmth of the sun is upon your face. The temperature begins to fall. The air is crisp! The landscape is rich with a dramatic display of: green, yellow, red, and orange color. These are all signs in nature that change is coming. I love the beauty of autumn! Like the seasons of the year, we go through changes in our life too. What season of life are you in? What challenges are in front of you? What opportunities await? I am listening! I will be that soft and gentle voice in your ear, reminding you from time to time that if you have come this far are you willing to go a little bit further. Imagine what we can accomplish together. Are you “stuck” and having difficulty “moving forward” in your life? If so, you have come to the right counselor and coach. Someone once said that: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.” Are you ready to take your “first step” today? I feel confident in saying that we can work together toward a good outcome if you are as motivated to bring about change in your life as I think you are. I will partner with you in reaching your goals. “The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way that you have always done them and expecting the results to come out differently.” Hello! My name is Mark Green. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, (LPC), in the great State of Texas. Can someone say yeehaw? I am also a: National Certified Counselor, (NCC); Board Certified Tele-Mental Health Provider, (BC-TMH), and a Board Certified Coach, (BCC). My M.A. in Counseling is from Amberton University. My B.C.A. in Applied Pastoral Ministries is from Dallas Baptist University. I have an interest in “Faith Based Therapy” and Life Coaching from a Christian perspective. Currently, I work off of both the Better Help and Faithful Counseling platforms as an online counselor and coach. Memberships include: Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International, (CSI); American Association of Christian Counselors, (AACC), and Christians United for Israel, (CUFI). Where do Christians go for: hope, help, and healing when answers are not readily forthcoming from other “trusted” sources? I have worked for several years in an educational supportive role with students in the public school system. I have formerly provided biblical counseling and prayer support with a nationally recognized para church ministry for a few years. My professional counseling experience includes work with male juveniles within a state correctional facility, work with juveniles in a youth shelter, and work with adults in a community college setting. I have previously co-facilitated a Grief Share Support Group within my church, and I have formerly co-facilitated a Family Support Group within the Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance, (DBSA). I also have expertise and experience working with the Prepping/Survival Skills community. I know what it is like to experience both the joy and the struggle over faith related issues as a practicing Christian. I know what it is like to win a victory over two addictions. I know what it is like to deal with identity issues as an adult adoptee after meeting biological family members. I know what it is like to be the primary caretaker of aging parents in the last years of their lives as their health fails. I know what it is like to deal with a family member who has a serious mental illness. I know what it is like to be an older single person without children of my own. I know what it is like to be underemployed and to experience career setbacks. I know what it is like to struggle with a learning disability. I know what it is like to fail two grades in elementary school and to achieve scholarly distinction and a graduate degree. I know what it is like to win victories when life seems out of control, your dreams are in jeopardy, and everything around you indicates defeat. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (KJV). My current challenge is weight loss. I cannot take clients any further than I am willing to go myself. I put feet to my prayers when the situation calls for it. God has taken care of many of my needs and some of my wants. God has helped me overcome several obstacles in my life. The fact that I am able to communicate with you off of this platform is a miracle in and of itself. What has God been doing in your life lately? What do you need Him to do? In our work together, you may find my persona to be a cross between that of a nurturing grandmother and a Marine Corps Drill Sargent, (without the language issues of course). I will let you decide which one;) Generally speaking, I like to provide: hope, encouragement, and resources to my assigned clients in addition to addressing their specific need(s). I believe in giving “value” to the client for the service that I render. Whether it is done in an office, a church, or online, my Christian clientele recognizes that counseling is neither “value free” or “value neutral.” I offer “Faith Based Therapy” and “Life Coaching” from a “Christian Perspective,” as options at their request. This is a “holistic” approach that speaks to the uncertain times in which we live. It usually means shared beliefs and values between the client and the counselor, which helps with communication about a particular need. This is an “integrated approach” that works within this worldview. It recognizes and respects the inner working power of the Holy Spirit within the individual believer to aide in the process of change. Typically, this approach also utilizes prayer and sharing scripture from the bible along with the integration of techniques and psychological truths from secular theory that fit within this framework. I sometimes utilize Mindfulness and various Stress Management techniques to teach clients how to de-stress. In my general approach, I like to borrow from Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, and Life Coaching. Both CBT and SFBT have strong research support behind them as an effective treatment. As such, my approach with clients tends to be directive at times. I like to focus on “client strengths” and “Positive Psychology.” If you are a typical client, we will not spend much time exploring the past or in trying to resolve the “Why” question. We do however spend a lot of time addressing: “Who, What, When, Where, and How.” The SFBT orientation coupled with a Life Coaching specialization use: vision casting, skillful questioning, active listening, intuitive listening, and accountability among other things. This approach is present and future oriented. The client is in the driver’s seat. You tell me where you want to go, but I hold you accountable to your stated goals. The answers that you seek often lies within yourself. I will help guide you along the way through this process of self-discovery, as we develop a plan of action for achieving your goals. How long it takes and how fast we progress largely depends upon you and how motivated you are to change. Psychological pain and or discomfort are often “good” motivators for change. If you are seeking help from me or someone else, it is probably a good indicator that you are ready to move forward. How do you perceive the world in which you live? One of the techniques that I like to use is “re-framing.” It is learning how to see things differently. Is the sun on the horizon setting or rising? “Is the glass half full or half empty?” You do not know because there is missing information, but you may have an assumption or a belief. It is often a matter of perspective or a matter of faith. What do you see? What do you believe? I see possibilities! I believe in opportunities, even if we have to make them ourselves. You may be asking yourself, “Why do I need a life coach when I know what I need to do to succeed?” My response is a simple one. Have you reached your goal yet? If not, how long have you been telling yourself that, and when will it ever change? Life coaching is a “unique” opportunity to explore the potential that lies within you. Let us discover it together! What does the future have in store for you? Commenting upon his masterpiece, a famous sculptor once said: “The statue was always there in the block of stone, I just had to chip away at the edges to bring the image out to the surface.” Perhaps, this is the way that it is within each one of us, regarding our potential as human beings and as Christians. Life coaching can help chip away at the rough edges in our lives to help reveal the masterpiece lying within, which is you. God is the potter and we are the clay! How well do we connect with one another? Do we have shared beliefs and values? Do we have a shared life experience? Do you have an interest in changing from where you are to where you want to be? Do you aspire to attain some meaningful goal in your life toward self-improvement? Do you need help making a career or life transition? Are you a person in need of work/life balance? Are you in need of support as you go through a difficult time in your life, or are you simply someone seeking an answer to one of life’s many problems where it seems there is none? Wherever you find yourself in life, I am prepared to meet you where you are. Are you ready to go to work? What are you waiting for? Let’s get started today! “Come thou with us and we will do thee good.” (Numbers 10:29 KJV) What is your COVID -19 Story? Will you let me pray with you? P.S. If you have benefited from our previous work together, feel free to share my contact information below with others. Word of mouth out of a satisfied customer is still the best form of advertisement. A good review on the platform does not hurt either. Thanks;) www.BetterHelp.com/earl-green www.FaithfulCounseling.com/earl-green Quick answers to life’s problems are great when they occur. The answers to many questions in life however, come about as the result of a process. Perhaps, you have been searching for answers in your life a long time. It may not be an accident that you have arrived here. Trust your heart as God leads you. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 KJV)