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 noticed that many of my clients fall into two groups: “Rogue Lions” and “Caged Lions.”

My “Rogue Lions” include Fortune 500 executives, professional athletes, Olympians, and celebrities. These men broke free from their cages long ago but may have drifted too far from their core values, facing struggles at home. High stress, emotional numbness, addiction, and marital conflict are common. I work with these men to realign their priorities, heal relationships, and tackle the deeper emotional work needed to maintain health and build a lasting legacy.

On the other hand, my “Caged Lions” are small business owners, physicians, entrepreneurs, commercial pilots, engineers, and tradesmen. They rank among the top 10-15% of earners but haven’t yet achieved financial freedom and feel pulled in too many directions. They often hold strong values in faith, family, and freedom, yet still feel trapped—overworked and underappreciated. My goal is to help these men escape their cages and become who they were truly meant to be.

About Mark Odland

I’m Mark Odland, and my mission is to help men break free from the cages holding them back, stepping into the strength and purpose they were created for. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified EMDR Therapist, and experienced faith-based counselor, I’m here to guide that transformation. 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. Today, my sweet spot is providing support to high achieving men through individual EMDR therapy and marriage counseling.

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. Several years ago, I had the privilege of receiving in-depth business coaching from Scott Hallman, known for coaching Tony Robbins. More recently, I had the unique opportunity to consult with Dr. Jordan Peterson and have gained personalized insights from renowned speakers such as 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.



What To Expect From An Online EMDR Session With Mark

Values

My worldview has been shaped by my Christian faith, and I 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.

Next Steps

Mark Odland and his team only counsel men who are serious about doing the work. If you believe you’re ready to make the necessary investment of time, energy, and finances, send us a message using the contact form. We will call you within one business day for a free consultation and explain the next steps to take from there. If you’d prefer to contact us ASAP, you can call us at: 213-537-2273 or email us at: contact@escapethecagenow.com