As a pastor and counselor, I am informal, adaptable, and relational. People tell me I am a good listener, give wise counsel, and tune in to the Holy Spirit. One of my goals is to be fully present with people. I enjoy watching God transform people over a period of time. Whether you’re looking for marriage counseling, family counseling, individual counseling, or life coaching, I would be honored to walk alongside you as you identify areas of growth and learn to implement positive, God-honoring changes in your life to achieve the results you desire.
My Goal as a Christian Counselor
My goal as a Christian counselor is to see people thrive and to find their life purpose in Christ. My ultimate desire is for every person to have an intimate relationship with God in which the Holy Spirit is activated in their lives and they see the Lord as a good, good Father. “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father’” (Romans 8:15).
What I Offer in Christian Counseling
I offer a safe, judgment-free space where you can release your burdens to the Lord and begin the process of overcoming the challenges you face. I will patiently sit with you through your season of struggle as we look to God together for restoration and hope.
I also like to pray with clients who are open to it. I find prayer to be a very effective intervention. As Dallas Willard says, “Prayer is talking with God about what we are doing together.”
My Approach to Christian Counseling
My faith is inseparable from my counseling. I trust Jesus to be present in every session, and believe He is working in and through me and my clients. Jesus can hold both our hope and our pain. Therefore, we can give Him the things weighing us down. "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). Through our sessions, I hope to remind you that Jesus wants to take your burden and make it light. He says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
Qualifications & Experience
I have 30 years of experience in pastoral counseling, including roles as a senior pastor, associate pastor, youth pastor, and inner city house church pastor. I hold an MFTA from Seattle Pacific University, an MDiv from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and a BA in English Literature and Biblical Studies from Gordon College. I am also a Marital Facilitator trained in Gottman Level 1 and Prepare-Enrich Premarital Counseling.
My Call to Christian Counseling
I’ve been an ordained pastor for 30 years, and pastoral counseling is one of my favorite ministries. I enjoy mentoring, discipling, counseling, and life coaching. I also love working with all types of people, including Christian leaders, young Christians, and not-yet Christians.
More About Me/On a Personal Note
My wife Alice and I have been married for 34 years. We have six kids – three boys and three girls. All are adults except for our youngest, who is in high school. I enjoy hiking, camping, cycling, and trail running. Forests, lakes, rivers, mountains and sea coasts are places I meet God and find peace. I also enjoy traveling and learning about other cultures and geographical places. I feel enriched learning from other cultures, and find great joy serving on short-term mission trips and serving the homeless in downtown Seattle.
Areas of Expertise/Specialties
- Abandonment and Neglect
- Aging and Geriatric Issues
- Anger Management
- Anxiety
- Coaching
- Counseling for Children
- Counseling for Teens
- Codependency
- Depression
- Family Counseling
- Grief and Loss
- Individual Counseling
- Infidelity and Affairs
- Men’s Issues
- Online Counseling
- Personal Development
- Professional Development
- Relationship Issues
- Sex and Porn Addiction
- Spiritual Development
- Women’s Issues
Marriage Counseling
When Jesus described marriage, He quoted God as the original designer of marriage: “‘A man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:4-6). Many things can threaten to separate a couple—baggage from the past, the busyness of life, creating a child-centered home, wounds and resentment, lack of attention, and sexual issues, just to name a few.
It’s challenging to maintain a healthy and happy marriage through the changes of life. I commend you for looking into couples counseling. The fact you are seeking help, willing to accept input from a therapist, and asking God to bring healing to your marriage puts you in a different category from most couples.
If you are willing to put your full effort into counseling, I will put my full effort into helping you. I already know God desires to see your marriage whole, healthy, and thriving. It’s common for marriage to resemble a messy, tangled ball of yarn, with confusing and painful issues and memories interwoven. Together we will work to unravel it so you and your spouse can enjoy a loving, trusting, Christ-honoring relationship with God’s help.
Family Counseling
I’ve been married for over 30 years and have been an ordained pastor for over 30 years as well. Those are two difficult jobs, but the most challenging role I’ve played has been raising children and maintaining a healthy family. Most of my children are adults now and we have really strong relationships. We love being together as a family, but it has taken a lot of hard work. Raising children has involved lots of prayer, purposeful conversations, and seeking help from older parents. There is no shame in admitting that you need help. Pursuing family counseling can be an excellent way to work through family conflict in a healthy, productive manner that will lead to stronger, happier relationships and a more peaceful, joy-filled home by God’s grace.
Life Coaching
I find great joy encouraging and coaching individuals and leaders, and helping people grow and develop professionally, personally, and spiritually. It would be my privilege to come alongside you and help you move past any areas where you feel stuck so you can continue to become the unique and gifted individual God designed you to be.
Men’s Issues
It’s not easy being a man in our society today. Men are expected to work hard, be on a successful career path, generously support their families, yet save enough of themselves to provide spiritual leadership, emotional support, and timely problem-solving at home. Many of the men I know lead lives of quiet desperation. Others are overwhelmed by anxiety, anger, and feelings of inadequacy. It is my privilege to talk with men about real issues and help them find solutions to their most challenging problems.
Women’s Issues
As a pastor, I have had the privilege of counseling many women over the years and have enjoyed serving with gifted women in the church and larger community. Some of my most important mentors have been godly women who invested in my spiritual and personal growth. I am well aware that women suffer in marriages, jobs, and ministry where they are underappreciated, insufficiently encouraged, and not given the love and respect they need to thrive as the beautiful daughters of God they were created to be. Christian counseling can be a wonderful tool to help women realize their true identities in Christ as valuable, beloved image bearers, and to help them biblically address the issues commonly faced by women today.
Sessions: I offer 53-minute sessions. Sessions can be held more than once per week, weekly, or every other week. Scheduling options are discussed in greater detail during your Risk-Free Initial Session.
Availability (by office location):
- Redmond - Tuesday and Thursday
- Mill Creek - Wednesday and Friday
- Online (WA Only) - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for Individuals and Couples looking to pursue counseling with me. Please note that there is a fee for the Risk-Free Initial Session as it is a clinical hour and reimbursable to most insurance companies, but if you choose not to reschedule and continue therapy after the initial session the entire fee for the session will be waived. For ongoing treatment the full fee per session is required at the time of service.
Insurance: As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), some insurance companies will reimburse for a portion of my services (as an Out of Network Provider). Please consult with your insurance provider as to whether they specifically cover adolescents, individuals and couples.
Receipts/Statements: In the event you require a printed or digital receipt, I will provide receipts for personal use, insurance reimbursement, Flex Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).
Payment options: Cash, Check, or Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, & American Express). A fee of up to 2.97% plus $0.15 per transaction will be added for credit card payments.
Focus Areas
Testimonials
My fiancé and I decided to do pre-marital counseling through Mike which has been great. I highly recommend Mike as a therapist.
It's tough looking for a counselor. It's vulnerable and sometimes you just don't click with them. Fortunately, I have had a great experience with Mike and love that we share the same beliefs. It makes all the difference for me and I couldn't be happier with my time here. He is very professional, personable, and makes the space open for sharing and growth. Couldn't recommend highly enough.
I've been seeing Mike for counseling for over a year now and he's been such a blessing to me and indeed a wise voice speaking into my life. He's helped me to work through my story and even assisted me in growing relationships with authority figures at my church. Would recommend Mike to anyone who's looking for someone to help them in understanding their story and indeed see how we can have it redeemed in Christ
I’ve enjoyed having Mike as a therapist for 1.5+ years. He was a pastor for 30+ years before God called him into being a therapist. Our sessions usually start with prayer, diving into what I would like to discuss that day, pointing it back to scripture, and closing out with prayer.
Mike's care and insight has been so helpful to me in walking through a very difficult season. His years as a pastor, and his training and experience show through clearly in his counsel. I would highly encourage anyone looking for a helpful and trustworthy Christian counselor to reach out to him.
