Marcus Thigpen – MA, Intern / Counselor and Life Coach
Marcus Thigpen - MA, Intern / Counselor and Life Coach
Marcus Thigpen’s Bio
Marcus Thigpen is a former NFL running back who discovered a deep passion for writing and inspiring others while playing football. Marcus was moved by the ways his talent coupled with his devotion to Christ encouraged his fans and he dreamed of expanding his impact while pursuing authorship. Resist & Persist, his first autobiography was published in 2019. It captured his triumphs and trials as a professional athlete while prompting readers to transcend beyond their challenges. His first book had a far-reaching impact on all of its readers and Marcus knew that it would not be his last.
While playing football, Marcus Thigpen earned a Master’s in Psychology and secured various roles in movies and TV shows. Known for his servant-hearted nature, Marcus is committed to inspiring and motivating others through his books and speaking engagements. Currently, he is pursuing a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, aiming to serve in various capacities. His “crazy faith” in God and incredible journey as a dedicated father of seven, drives his perseverance and commitment to being the best man he can be.
Now on the team at Lion Counseling, Marcus provides individual therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, and life coaching. He specializes in anxiety and stress management, trauma and grief counseling, and working with marriage and families. And for those that desire it, he can do so from a Christian Counseling perspective.
At Lion, Marcus collaborates closely with his supervisor, Mark Odland (founder of Lion Counseling). This means that if you work with Marcus, you’ll benefit from the wisdom of both men. In a world where finding a good counselor or coach can be difficult, Marcus’s, education, faith, life experience, and incredible success as a professional athlete make him uniquely qualified to help others experience breakthrough. Marcus’s credentials include the following:
Marcus Thigpen’s Journey
The “Lion” Approach
Lion Counseling works with all types of clients, but we focus on helping high-achieving men and their spouses reach their goals. At Lion, Marcus provides Individual Counseling, Marriage Counseling, Family Counseling, and Life Coaching, and is able to do so through a Christian framework for those that desire it.
Over the years our team at Lion has worked with a variety of men including CEOs, small business owners, entrepreneurs and other hard-working professionals like physicians, pilots, engineers, and architects.
At Lion, we understand that the idea of “balance” itself is somewhat overused, because as a man you have obligations and pressure to succeed. You love your family and want time with them, but you can’t afford to let things fall apart at work, and as a result you feel torn. If you’re in this category, you might not feel like a “caged lion” because you left the cage a long time ago. You already know how to take risks, compete and conquer. If anything, you might be more like a “rogue lion,” having left the pride to forge a new path. You’ve discovered the secret that the goal is not money itself… it’s the thrill of the competition and the freedom that money provides… freedom to pursue things you love, and freedom to take care of those that you love.
While the chase will always be fun, it’s completely natural for a successful man’s thoughts to shift towards cultivating his passions, strengthening his relationships, and leaving a legacy. As an intelligent, hard-working, and resourceful man, you’ve probably already made strides in this area. But wives and children are not “yes men” like at the office. Relationships are complex, and the very traits that help men conquer at work don’t always work on the homefront.
A man who is admired and respected in public has his flaws and vulnerabilities painfully exposed at home. While defensiveness, anger, and hurt are natural responses to these things, we encourage successful men to walk towards the pain and do the deep emotional work that needs to be done. Whether it’s stress, demotivation, or bad habits, we can help support you on the journey. Like an airline pilot guiding you through a storm, there will be some turbulence along the way. But our commitment is to help you land safely on the other side with a renewed sense of peace, perspective, and properly aligned priorities. And unlike therapy, coaching isn’t covered by insurance. This means that your information will not be shared with third parties and you won’t be labeled with a diagnosis. A man in your position needs discrete, confidential support, and that’s exactly what we provide. And while we continue to learn and grow, we believe that our services speak for themselves. We’ve helped hundreds of men to achieve breakthroughs in life, but it only works if you’re really ready to take the next step… if you know deep down that “You’re not everything you could be, and you know it” (Dr. Jordan Peterson).
What Men Are Saying
Mark Odland is a fabulous leader who believes in running a purpose driven, values based organization that is focused on the well-being and greater good of their clients.
An expert who actually cares. I definitely recommend.
Mark has taught me so much about EMDR and he is definitely an EMDR expert. His approach is very compassionate and straightforward so I was able to process my anxiety around using EMDR and be confident with my clinical skills. I’d recommend him as a therapist and supervisor to anyone!
Their clients’ faith and spirituality is fully explored and considered as an integral piece of their mental health and functioning. I recommend Mark…without reservation.
Mark is one of the most talented humans I know… After four hours of sharing my life stories with Mark, he was able to see how everything connected and helped me craft my life’s mission statement: “Freeing others to fiercely pursue their purpose”.
Mark is an extremely talented, enjoyable person and a gifted therapist, and I would not hesitate to refer my closest family and friends to him.
Mark is a wonderful therapist leading a great team of dedicated therapists.
Our team works exclusively with men who are committed to putting in the effort. If you’re ready to invest your time, energy, and resources, contact us today to schedule a free phone consultation. You can call us at: 213-537-2273 or email us at: contact@escapethecagenow.com
