About Mark

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 experienced faith-based counselor. Over the last 15 years I’ve conducted over 15,000 therapy sessions, trained over 1,000 therapists, and helped over 1,000 clients. If you’re skeptical of therapy, I don’t blame you. But I’m not like most therapists.

Mark with Dr. Jordan B. Peterson

I recently had the privilege of meeting Dr. Peterson and consulting with him on the issues of vicarious trauma, boundaries, faith, compassion, pride, and resentment. His advice for me and my practice was monumental. I would expect nothing less from a heavyweight like Jordan.

Therapist

I received my Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, and went on to receive my EMDR training from renowned EMDR pioneer, Dr. Roger Solomon. In the years to follow, I received hundreds of hours of advanced training in EMDR from international experts, became a Certified EMDR Therapist, an Approved EMDR Consultant, and an Approved EMDR Continuing Education Provider. In this capacity, I have the privilege of training therapists around the world and helping pilots and other high-achieving men across the country experience breakthrough.

Coach

In addition to providing therapy, I also provide life coaching for pilots and other professional men. My coaching philosophy and approach have been shaped by my experiences as a therapist and through the mentorship of elite coaches. Years ago, I accepted the invitation to receive extensive business coaching from the legendary Scott Hallman (coach to Tony Robbins), and have attended lectures from international speakers like John O’Leary, Ken Coleman, Patrick Lencioni, Dr. John Delony, and Brian Buffini. Most recently, I had the privilege of discussing vicarious trauma with Dr. Jordan B. Peterson.

Creator

I’ve been blessed to author over a dozen books, publish poetry, build businesses, create award-winning visual art, and make guest appearances on national shows like 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 a work in progress. 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 my faith, the support of loved ones, and trying to practice what I preach by getting my own therapy I’ve become a better version of myself. As a result of these experiences, I now have a heart for helping other successful men experience healing and breakthrough.

Hobbies

When not working, I enjoy surfing, jiu jitsu, hunting, writing, playing guitar, weight training, hiking, connecting at church, and enjoying life on the beach with my wife and 4 kids.

Mark’s Mission

Over the years I’ve observed that the very men who innovate, sacrifice, and invest to make the world a better place are misunderstood by the culture and even by their own wives and kids. In not so many words, they are told to be quiet and retreat from life. There’s nothing sadder than to see a caged lion who has lost the fire in his eyes. I help men get the fire back. To leave their cages and become the lions they were created to be… Men capable of courageously stepping into the fray to provide, protect, create, love, and leave a legacy.

Over the years I’ve worked with many high achieving men, including Fortune 100 executives, elite athletes, and other successful professionals. However, because of family connections, it seemed inevitable that I’d eventually start working with pilots as well. My uncle Steve is a first officer at Delta, and my brother Anthony is a neuropsychologist who specializes in giving psychological assessments to pilots. Through our conversations, it became clear that my skillset and experience could be used to help pilots get the mental health support they need and deserve, in a way that is convenient and confidential.

As a pilot, I know that you face unique pressures and responsibilities. And for the most part, you handle your stress extremely well. After all, it takes not only intelligence, but also discipline, delayed gratification, and a lot of hard work to get to where you’re at in your career. But we’re all human. Anxiety, grief, depression, trauma, addiction, and strained relationships can happen to the best of us. Sadly, I know that getting the professional support you need and deserve isn’t easy or straightforward. That’s a big part of why I created Lion Counseling. I wanted to provide a space for high-achieving men to get top-notch mental health services in a way that is completely confidential. If given the privilege of working with you, here’s what I’ll do to safeguard your privacy…

• I will NOT use your insurance. By paying out of pocket you avoid the paper trail and the diagnosis necessary for insurance companies to pay.
• I will NOT label you with a mental health diagnosis. This means we can simply work on your goals without having to worry about a diagnosis following you.
• I will NOT expose your personal issues through unnecessarily long and detailed notes. I take a minimalist approach to record-keeping, only recording the objective data needed to track our progress.
• I will NOT share your private information with any third party unless you give me your written and verbal permission to do so.
• I WILL use a HIPAA-Compliant business version of Zoom as the video platform for all our online sessions.
• I WILL use the highly-respected IntakeQ software for record-keeping, scheduling, and payments.

In my experience, men who are admired and respected in public, often have their flaws and vulnerabilities painfully exposed at home. While defensiveness, anger, hurt, and addiction are natural responses to these things, I encourage successful men to walk towards the pain and do the deep emotional work that needs to be done. At this point in life you probably don’t need another self-help book or life coach… you need an emotional surgeon who can systematically guide you through a process of deep healing, eliminating insecurities and emotional barriers at their source. As a Certified EMDR Therapist and relationship expert, that’s what I specialize in. As a pilot, you’ve no doubt guided your passengers and crew through many storms. As a therapist, I guide men through the emotional, relational, and spiritual storms of life. No doubt, there will be some bumps along the way. But my commitment is to help you land safely on the other side with a renewed sense of peace, perspective, and properly aligned priorities. A man in your position needs discrete, confidential support, and that’s exactly what I provide. While every client is different, my services may help you to:

Mark’s Credentials