This week, we’re privileged to sit down with The SoulHealers therapist Ed Millard to discuss what brought him to the practice, why he has a passion for working in this area, and his best piece of advice.
Tell us about yourself, Ed:
I am a Marriage and Family Therapist and have been married for 9 years and have three amazing children. I discovered several years ago that my passion was working with men. I have found that I love working with men, because they often feel free for the first time in their lives when they make progress. Being able to be part of that moment with someone is absolutely priceless.
What was your childhood like? What were the highlights?
When people ask me about my childhood the best example I can come up with is the boys in the movie Sandlot. I grew up in a neighborhood full of kids and we spent all of our free time playing together. There was even a neighborhood pool with a lifeguard we all had a crush on! My favorite holiday to this day is the Fourth of July, because every year all of the families in the neighborhood would get together and have a BBQ. When it got dark out everyone brought out there fireworks and lined the street to see who could come up with the best show. There was also a forest across the street from my house we would spend endless hours exploring and building forts in. I also loved playing sports, which is what I did most of the time.
What is your educational background? What credentials do you have?
In 2003, I received my Bachelor’s Degree from Multnomah University in Education and Biblical Theology. I finished my Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Seattle Pacific University in 2005 and have been working in the field ever since.
What brought you to The SoulHealers? What is your role today?
I originally met Jayson through the graduate school that we both attended (Go Falcons!). I got an e-mail from the alumni department explaining what The SoulHealers did and that they were looking for a counselor to run groups and do therapy. When I read the about The SoulHealers, I just had to get involved, so I contacted Jayson as soon as I could and the rest in history. Currently I run a Men’s Group, Teen’s Group and the College Group, along with doing individual and marriage counseling for The SoulHealers.
What is your best piece of advice for individuals working through whatever they may be dealing with?
Unlike most therapy experiences, The SoulHealers helps people become part of a community of recovery, but helping people build encouraging relationships with other people who share similar struggles. I would tell people that the more open they can be in the therapy process the more they will get out of it. Also expect this to take a while. Life-change does not happen overnight, so expect to put the time in. It is also well worth the time and effort.