Mark Shoemaker, LPC
Specialties: Virtual Counseling, Marriage & Couples, Teens & Adolescents, Depression, Anxiety, Anger Management, Abuse & Trauma, Christian Counseling
Education
Masters in Biblical Counseling (Dallas Seminary)
Bachelors in Psychology (Stephen F Austin State University)
Experience: 2.5 Years
Getting to know Mark
Mark’s passion for counseling started during his years as a college student. This huge transition and everything that came with it surfaced a lot of self-doubt, insecurity, and shame in Mark. It wasn’t until he developed really close friendships and started his own personal therapy that he started to work through the self-doubt, insecurity, and shame. Because of the power of those friendships, therapy, meaningful conversations, and transformation that took place in his life, Mark was inspired to pursue counseling.
After Mark graduated Stephen F. Austin State University (Axe em’ Jacks!) with a degree in Psychology, he went on to study Counseling at Dallas Theological Seminary. Alongside his studies at DTS, which he loved every minute of, he had the opportunity to do something else he loves, travel the world! Over the last year of his studies at DTS Mark traveled to the Virgin Islands, Mexico, Ireland, Italy, Australia, and his personal favorite, Switzerland! Mark enjoys interacting with the people he meets everywhere he goes and loves exploring new places, people, and conversations. During his off time Mark will probably have his nose deep in a new book, traveling, hanging out with friends, or just chilling with his wife watching the newest season of Suits.
Mark is determined to help clients explore issues surrounding, anxiety, depression, marriage, shame, identity, spiritual concerns, relationship concerns, and trauma. He has a strong desire to help others find healing and hope in the midst of some of the toughest problems life can throw at you.
style & Approach
Mark’s style of counseling begins with the relationship between him and the client. Mark’s goal is to build a relationship with each person he sees so that trust and connection can be the starting point for the rest of therapy. He believes that any relationship, especially the counseling relationship is most beneficial when trust and connection has been established. During and after the process of building a connection, Mark tailors the counseling process to each person who walks through his door. His personal life experiences, along with his education in psychology and counseling, has informed his counseling style but he is always seeking to learn more to better help each of his client’s diverse concerns.
In session Mark and each of his client’s look for thinking patterns and beliefs that can drive anxiety, anger, depression, stress, and other concerns in order to resolve them and bring to the surface thoughts that encourage healthy mood regulation. Mark realizes that getting completely rid of feelings like anger, stress, and sadness is not possible or even desirable, instead developing healthy ways of dealing with those feelings leads to more stability and fulfillment.
Not only does Mark focus the counseling session in on harmful thinking patterns, but he works with clients to break through poor relationship habits or hurts. Mark helps couples and individuals work through communication issues, intimacy, infidelity, and other concerns by resolving unhealthy relationship patterns that might have been developed in the past, rekindling love and intimacy, and working through both verbal and non-verbal forms of unhealthy communication.
samples of Mark's Work
What people have to say