Mark Odland – MA, LMFT, MDIV
Founder of Lion Counseling
Mark Odland - MA, LMFT, MDIV
Mission
We live in a world where men are often misunderstood, overworked and under-appreciated. My mission is to help men escape the “cages” that hold them back, and unleash their potential to become the lions they were created to be.
Clients
Over the years I’ve found that many of my clients seem to experience life as either “Rogue Lions” or “Caged Lions.”
My “Rogue Lions” are Fortune 500 executives, Professional Athletes, Olympians, and Celebrities. They already left their cages long ago, but have maybe drifted too far from the pride and are now struggling on the homefront. High stress, numbness, addiction, and marriage conflict are common. I help these men recalibrate their priorities, heal relationships, and do the deeper emotional work necessary to stay healthy and leave a legacy that’s lasting.
My “Caged Lions” are the small business owners, physicians, entrepreneurs, commercial pilots, engineers, architects, and electricians. As earners they’re already in the top 10-15% of men… but they still haven’t achieved financial freedom and feel pulled in too many directions. Often, they value faith, family, and freedom. And yet, they still feel caged, overworked, and underappreciated. I help these men to escape the cage and become the men God created them to be.
About Mark Odland
My name is Mark Odland, and my mission is to help men escape the cages that hold them back and become the lions God created them to be. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Certified EMDR Therapist, and an ordained pastor. Over the last 15 years I’ve conducted over 15,000 therapy sessions, trained over 1,000 therapists, and helped over 1,000 clients.
Passion for Counseling
After earning my Master of Divinity degree from Seminary and my Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, I went on to receive intensive EMDR training from renowned EMDR pioneer, Dr. Roger Solomon, and received hundreds of hours of advanced training from other international experts. I went on to become a Certified EMDR therapist, Approved EMDR Consultant, and Approved Continuing Education Provider through the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA). In this capacity, I’ve had the privilege of training therapists around the world.
Passion for Coaching
In addition to counseling, I also offer executive coaching for business leaders, and mental coaching for athletes. Along the way, I’ve been blessed to learn from the very best. Years ago, I accepted the invitation to receive extensive business coaching from the legendary Scott Hallman (coach to Tony Robbins), and at Dave Ramsey’s 2023 EntreLeadership Summit, I received personalized guidance from international speakers like Dr. Jordan Peterson, John O’Leary, Ken Coleman, Patrick Lencioni, Dr. John Delony, and Brian Buffini.
Media
I’ve been blessed to author over a dozen books, and have made frequent guest appearances on national shows like the The Healing Trauma Podcast and The Anxiety Slayer Podcast.
Flaws
I’ve had many victories in my life. But at the end of the day, I’m far from perfect. I’ve experienced firsthand the agony of failure, the grief of losing loved ones, and the numbness and compassion fatigue that comes with burnout. I’m far from perfect, but through these experiences I now have a heart for helping other successful men experience healing and breakthrough.
Personal Life
When not working, I enjoy surfing, jiu jitsu, weight training, hiking, connecting at church, and enjoying life on the beach with my wife and 4 kids. As an artist and poet, I’m also energized by time alone to think, reflect, and create.
Values
My worldview has been shaped by my Christian faith, and cherish the values of faith, family, and freedom. As a former competitive athlete and martial artist, I also value the virtues of discipline, sacrifice, personal responsibility, and elements or Samurai philosophy. For these reasons I often find myself devouring content by podcasters like Jordan Peterson, Jocko Willink, Andrew Huberman, Joe Rogan, and Lex Fridman. And while I work with men of all backgrounds and cultures, many seek me out because they share a similar worldview or aspire to adopt it.
Education
I earned my B.A. in Art and Religion from Augustana University, my M.DIV. from Luther Seminary, and my M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Board-Approved Supervisor, and an ordained pastor. And through the EMDR International Association I am a Certified EMDR Therapist, Approved Consultant, and Approved Continuing Education Provider. In addition to providing therapy for my clients, I train other EMDR therapists around the world through my consultation, books, and courses.
Approach
I help men identify the barriers that make them feel caged, and systematically target these barriers at the source with research-proven EMDR therapy. A kind of “emotional surgery,” this life-changing therapy is not for the faint of heart. However, I guide the process with steadiness and professionalism, respecting any man who steps into the fray and does the deep work necessary for a personal breakthrough. In addition to EMDR, I also draw on my education as a Marriage and Family Therapist, service as a pastor, and life experience as husband and father of 4 to provide expertise on spiritual matters and relationship challenges. Finally, I offer innovative coaching and accountability programs to help men achieve their goals both during therapy and after therapy is complete.
Locations Served
I provide online counseling sessions to clients residing in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. I also see clients in-person at my office in Duluth, Minnesota. In addition, I provide online coaching services to clients all over the world.
