Hi, my name is John Reid and welcome to the BetterHelp platform. Thank you for allowing me to provide you with Professional Counseling Services and thank you for considering me as your Therapist/Counselor. The five most important personal and professional characteristics that I consider necessary for a successful Counselor are: to be a good listener, to be non-judgmental, to genuinely care about people, to be professionally trained, and to be experienced. Yes, experience is necessary. I began Pastoring in 1968 while in college. I have pastored two churches and served as a Director of Missions for a Baptist Association of 50 churches for more than 20 years here in Western North Carolina. Afterwards, I began being a Professional Counselor for the next twenty-four years at a Counseling Agency, a Baptist Residential Cottage serving teen age boys and their families, as a Therapist with two different Mental Health agencies, as a therapist in public schools, and as a BetterHelp Counselor working with Clients in the US from the Pacific to the Atlantic and working with International Clients in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, the Caribbean, and from Canada to Mexico in North America. Yes, education is necessary. I earned a Master’s Degree in Counseling in 1976 and used the Counselor training in my church work. I became a Licensed Professional Counselor in 2007 and recently completed a five year training program in Gestalt Therapy with Appalachian Gestalt Training Institute in Asheville, NC. While education, training, and experience are important, nothing replaces a willingness and an ability to listen at a deep human level and relate one to one. Along life’s journey I have made some mistakes. Out of these experiences I have learned that everyone, no matter who you are or what station in life you are, makes mistakes. Experiencing forgiveness is important. One can recover from mistakes and move forward. And I learned not to be judgmental. I will not judge you. All of my life experiences have taught me to genuinely care for others and the concerns they have in their lives. I have helped many people, adults and children, with a variety of Mental Health issues included but not limited to: Depression, Anxiety, various Mood Disorders, ADHD, Low Self-Esteem, Marriage and Divorce, Divorce Reaction, Blended Families, and Anger Management issues to mention a few. My wife and I have been married for forty-eight years. We have two successful daughters and a beautiful granddaughter. When doing Christian counseling, I use the Bible as a text but not as a weapon. I do not believe in using the Bible to beat people over the head. I believe that love in all its expressions heals.