Mark Lees Coaching & Hiker Therapy

Often times in life we resist our current situation. Yet, if we understand we are where we are supposed to be, maybe not where we want to be, we can take the time to take steps required to grow to where we need to be. Happy Friday.#justbreathe #wearewherewearewearesupposedtobe#usa#california #sandiego #oceanside#hikertherapy

Baseball offers so much regarding how it impacts our lives, our families, our memories... Best baseball memory. My first Tigers game in 1962. I was 7. My Dad and I walking along catwalk thru upperdeck tunnel Tiger Stadium, Detroit. We walk out of tunnel right before my eyes a huge field of emerald green, the bright white bases and perfectly manicured infield. My jaw went slack, my eyes wide open. To this day everytime I am at a game and the star- spangled banner is played, a tear and the life-long memory of that moment is triggered as Im looking out at Petco Park. Thank you Dad.... Its opening day... Go Tigers! Go Padres! Whats your best baseball memory? #openingday#baseball#memories#tigers #padres#thankGoditsbaseball#

Beautiful day of service and purpose offering coaching and counseling to a willing and in need client at Buccaneer Beach City Park in Oceanside. I offer different venues ( mostly in nature) as part of my counseling approach. Sessions are Park, beach, location of your choosing or Zoom for $75 for a 50-minute session. Hiking sessions are $100 a hike with an additional $25 travel fee. My main therapeutic focus is to meet client where they are at mentally and emotionally. It i...s not my goal to fix or to cure anybody but to guide clients to their own enlightenment and resolve. I do not know what is better for a client more than they do. A common therapeutic model I use is to help bring awareness to automatic negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Positive self- talk and affirmations. I also help with self-doubt, , confidence, and boundary setting. Please contact me if you are looking for an affordable mental health well- being care professional. #markleescoaching #hikertherapy#coaching#counseling #usa#california #sandiego #oceanside #ahhhhhaa See more

Our intentions set the course for our day. We can wake up and be consumed by the drama in our heads. Or we can set an intention of rich experiences, service and purpose, and beautiful opportunities. The energy of intention is supplied by the Universe and is ours if we are open to it. Be good to you and have a great Wednesday. Intend it so. #intention #wednesday #usa#california #sandiego #oceanside #hikertherapy

Stickers! View in shop in IG profile.. #stickers#hikertherapy #alternatepridesticker#logosticker#usa#california #sandiego #oceanside #hikertherapy

Positive thought equals positive feelings and behaviors. Negative thought equal negative feelings and behaviors. You cant mix the two. The life we manifest comes directly from our thoughts. #thoughtsfeelingsandbehaviours #positiveyhoughtpositivelife#usa#california #sandiego #oceanside #hikertherapy

Our thoughts lie to us. They also default to negative thoughts easier than they do to positive thoughts. When we are GRATE FULL we are having positive thoughts about people, places, and things in our lives. Positive thoughts lead to positive feelings and behaviors. We can change our thinking, our mindset by practicing gratitude. Heres 4-tips that have proven to work. 1. For 21-days write down 3 people, places, or things you are grateful for. These can be anything or an...yone. 2. Be present. I like to say be where your feet are and nowhere else. Being in the moment engaging all 5-senses is a great way to increase a positive mindset and being grateful for our surroundings. 3. Do not take time for granted. Time flies, we do not get it back, its gone forever, especially for people in our lives. Being grateful for the moments we get with people, places, and things is huge. 4. Reframe. Instead of ( woe is me, self- pity) saying what we don’t have change to what we do have. I m not with someone, when will I meet my love. reframe to what a great opportunity for me to learn about myself and to explore and experiment with life.. I hate my job. to right now I have a job. I can take steps by either changing my attitude or changing my circumstance. These 4-tips can change our negative thoughts and lead us to a grateful heart and mind. Hike On .. #gratitude #thankful#mentalhealth #usa#california #sandiego #oceanside #hikertherapy See more

Once you’ve been up there it never leaves you. I think about it everyday.. - Joseph .... Taken from Pops Take Us To The Top: An amazing father and son adventure led with Love. ... editing...#popstakeustothetopthestoryofhowfatherandsonhikethehighestmountaininthe48states #writer#hikers#usa#california #sandiego #oceanside

Yes it does. Risk is where we begin the process of change, growth, setbacks, success, and accomplishment. #risk #lifechange #growth #usa #california #oceanside #sandiego #hikertherapy #alabamahills #mtwhitney

MA Psychology, Chapman University, emphasis, Marriage & Family Therapy. Offering: Park, Trail, and Tele-health sessions. Editing: Pops Take Us To The Top : An amazing father and son adventure led with love......www.hikertherapy.com....... #hikertherapy#usa#california #sandiego #oceanside #hikeon

Along with our physical and spiritual health nothing is more important than our mental health. That includes ‘ The Hustle’ Im hearing mentioned more and more these days. Whether it is the side hustle or the main hustle our mental health cannot be sacrificed because of it. I say many of us use the hustle as a distraction from life, love, and self. The hustle is part of the great distraction. We focus on pitching the hustle over mental health care and Peace without knowing as we slowly slip into burnout, depression, and negative coping skills. Absolutely nothing is more important than our mental health well being care. #thehustle #25daysofdecemberwellbeingcare #usa#california #sandiego #oceanside #hikertherapy

25 Days of December well-being care. Dec. 24: Peace..... cant be bought, is not from another, person, place, or thing. Peace long- lasting is derived from and lives in our heart. For Peace to be sustained we must nurture it. That is a personal quest. Peace can be rocked by an event or a person, place, or thing but it cannot be broken by any of those four. Our Peace is our responsibility and a choice. Others cannot create it for us nor can we provide it for them. Peace helps us deal with tumultuous times in our lives and can and does exist during down or low times in our lives and in- fact is how we survive these times. Peace is a must for mental and spiritual health well- being care. #peace#25daysofdecemberwellbeingcare #usa#california #sandiego #oceanside #hikertherapy

Serenity to me allows for the ultimate Peace. As the Serenity Prayer tells us we can also practice Serenity by acceptance and courage regarding what we can and cannot change. Serenity is much more than happiness. Serenity leads to joy and the acceptance of what is. Not only is this mental health well- being care but practicing serenity is also spiritual well-being care at its finest. Its a practice and a process #serenity#serenityprayer #25daysofdecemberwellbeingcare #usa #california #sandiego#oceanside #hikertherapy

For much of my life Anxiety has been the enemy. As far back as age 5 I can remember being afraid of being afraid. It is only in recent years have I come to ally with my anxiety and utilize anxiety to my advantage to motivate me. I Embrace, rather than resist it. Resisting anxiety adds anxiety to your anxiety, exponentially ratcheting it up to something that can quickly become unwieldy, and overwhelming. Instead, try to embrace that your anxiety is trying to alert you to som...ething you care about. For me this plays out in my motivational speaking and group facilitation. Prior to either I get extremely anxious but I use that anxiety to motivate me to be the best presenter/facilitator I can be. The natural anxiety derived is turned into enthusiasm and positive energy. Also, we can seize the inherent motivation of anxiety. Anxiety produces a desire to do something. Like a baby’s cry, we are motivated when anxiety strikes to find a solution to make it stop. This is how it is designed. If we don’t waste its energy fighting with ourselves, we can use it to propel action towards our goals. I believe good well-being care includes working with our anxiety to our advantage. So freeing. #anxietyasamotivator#25daysofdecemberwellbeingcare #usa#california #sandiego #oceanside #hikertherapy See more

Life is a beautiful experience and includes good times and down times. Those around us are all part of that experience. We need to tell them that. Friends, family need to know we love them. If telling them is awkward, ease through that and tell them anyway. I Love You is a powerful statement. #iloveyou #usa#california #sandiego #oceanside #hikertherapy

Being present means we are in the moment, there is no other place. We are mindful of the person place or thing we are giving our attention too. Being fully present is good spiritual well- being care. We are mindful and giving of our time. Its a practice and a process. #25daysofdecemberwellbeingcare #usa#california #sandiego #oceanside#hikertherapy

Love this. Taken from the How to Reduce Anxiety Through Thought Challenging slide posted in my story. If you would like the full slide and all techniques. message me, will send. Hike on and check in on your anxiety hourly. #anxietycheckin #usa#california #sandiego #oceanside #hikertherapy#oceansidebeach

It was brought to my attention today by an oncology social- worker I am working on this topic. He asked me, Is there anything you need to share about being told you have cancer?. I immediately said something keeps coming up for me.. He asked what?. I said Why?. his response Have you asked the Dr’s that question? I have not but as he pointed out. If it keeps coming up for you its time to address it.. Good grief why didn’t I think of that. We’ve all experien...ced ongoing issues that keep surfacing. Denying their existence only gives the unaddressed topic more power. Also it drains us of energy that can be used more constructively. Any feelings we experience are valid , for me as of late its anger and anxiety. I know that as we gather information and facts we are better prepared to deal with our initial concern and feelings. Addressing the issue also gives us a sense of control and ownership, both which enables us to move forward in a positive and confident way. For those who have a question or issue that keeps coming up, it may be a time to address the issue. #addresstheissue #25daysofdecemberwellbeingcare #usa#california #sandiego #oceanside #hikertherapy See more

Somethings just have to be done one more time... #mtwhitneytrail #easternsierra #inyonationalforest #sequoianationalforest #usa#california #sandiego #oceanside #hikertherapy

Part of mental health well- being care is stepping out of our comfort zone to take a chance to risk. Many of the clients I work with have a common issue of boredom and feeling stuck. They are afraid to risk. In my graduate school program we students were given the assignment of interviewing someone older than we were. One of the questions to be asked was What is a life-time regret?. I interviewed my 83 year- old Uncle who was a very successful management person at Ford ...Motor Company in Detroit, where I grew up.. His response, I didn’t take enough chances in life. I didn’t take risks. I always wanted to open my own company.. Interestingly when I shared this with my majority of my twenty-something classmates this generated a class long discussion. Many of them saying even in their twenties they wished they’d taken more chances in life. Btw you have no idea the risk I felt going back to school for a masters degree at 55 years old. It turned out to be a top 5 life- time experience. Of course risk doesn’t mean a threat to safety but it does mean letting go of what doesn’t serve us anymore whether that be a person, place, or thing. Fear of the unknown, fear of letting go of the familiar are the enemies of risk and what keeps us bored and stuck in life. Life is meant to be lived to its fullest, with that comes risk. #risk#25daysofdecemberwellbeingcare #usa#california #sandiego #oceanside #hikertherapy See more

Today I will practice compassion. First I will be kind and loving to myself, but I will not stop there. I will extend this compassion to others. I am one among those around me. When I offer unconditional love, it eventually comes back to me multiplied. Excerpt From Courage to Change ... Happy Monday and the 21st day of 25 December well- being care days.#25daysofdecemberwellbeingcare #compassion #usa#california #sandiego #oceanside #hikertherapy

We can say yes, but more importantly we can say NO. Be gentle with self and be ok with not accepting everything that is offered. #usa#california #sandiego #oceanside #hikertherapy

Its not about how others are treating us. Its how we treat them and in the end, ourselves. Be gentle with self and look inward. #usa#selfreflect#itsnotaboutothers #california #sandiego #oceanside #hikertherapy

Not easy, these conversations are hard to start but well worth it and needed for any relationship to grow. Many times the fear we have in starting them is quickly eased by each person expressing their needs to one another. I say there is no relationship until these conversations take place. Its a practice and a process. #openandhonestconversations #relationships #usa#california #sandiego #oceanside #hikertherapy

Are your days filled with space to breathe? #hikertherapy#usa #california #sandiego #oceanside #natureheals#justbreathe

Perserverance leads to big things. The summit is a lot closer than you think.. Hike on! #mtsanantonio #usa#california #sandiego #oceanside #hikertherapy#hikeon

25 days of December Well-being care. Dec. 19: Hold on to your Mental Health Power. The events are real. People, places, and things are going to trip us up, make us angry and disappoint us. But even under the most trying conditions and situations we do not have to give away our Mental Health power and Peace. Thats a choice. It is up to us to stay the course, do the necessary steps that secures our Mental Health Power. Those steps could include: acceptance, communication, physical activity, Love, taking a look at our part. Whatever it is for you. Nothing is worth our Peace and Mental Health power. #25daysofdecemberwellbeingcare #mentalhealthpower #usa#california #sandiego #oceanside #hikertherapy

The clients I work with love my office. Nothing is more healing than nature. One of three counseling venues I offer is to sit with a client in a natural park setting. This one is called Buccaneer Beach Park in Oceanside. It is across the street from the Pacific Ocean and provides excellent space for confidentiality and quiet. I find nature puts a client at ease and helps with anxiety and the guarded layers. Besides a park, I offer tele- health with Zoom as well as the ...hiking trail. The CV-19 environment has amped up fragile mental health for all of us. Today I met with three new clients all of them saying I feel so emotional lately. This was such a tough week for me. and I feel so stressed and burned out. If you are in San Diego County and are in need of mental health healing. Consider Hiker Therapy Park Sessions as an alternative or add- on to your mental health care. #hikertherapy#buccaneerbeachpark #oceanside #mentalhealthhealing #california #usa#nature#naturetherapy See more

The Masterpiece being you. Its progress not perfection. The life you live isnt a contest nor is it a race. It takes time, experience, wisdom, and above all faith and a belief in self. Be gentle with self you wonderful work of art you... #masterpiece #workofart #usa#california #sandiego #oceanside #hikertherapy #mywhitney

I have been counseling individuals with mental health and substance abuse issues for 10+years. I have an MA in Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. My approach is to meet a client where they are at with unconditional positive reguard. I do not know whats better for you than you do. But I can utilize my training and tools to guide you to a place of resolve and Peace. please visit www.hikertherapy.com to see if Hiker Therapy is a good fit for you. #hikertherapy#usa#california #sandiego #oceanside

Today is a wonderful opportunity to check in on your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being care. I have created 5 essential practices that offer a well rounded well being care routine. Its a practice, a process, and a discipline. #25daysofdecemberwellbeingcare #monday#mindbodysoul #usa#california #sandiego #oceanside #hikertherapy

is when someone assumes that the worst will happen. Often, it involves believing that you're in a worse situation than you really are or exaggerating the difficulties you face. What is Catastrophizing? Catastrophizing has two parts: Predicting a negative outcome.... Jumping to the conclusion that if the negative outcome did in fact happen, it would be a catastrophe. Example Student worries they will fail an exam. Student jumps to the conclusion that failing an exam would be a catastrophe. They imagine that if they were to fail an exam, it would mean they would never be a success in their life. Those of us with High Anxiety full well know all about Catastrophizing. How to Overcome Catastrophizing 1. Mindful awareness You have to catch yourself having cognitive distortions to be able to do anything about them, 2. Consider Other Possible Outcomes Consider positive predictions, neutral predictions, and mildly negative predictions, not just very negative predictions. 3. Make a Distinction Between "Significantly Unpleasant" and "Catastrophe" The key to overcoming catastrophizing is making a distinction between something being significantly unpleasant and it being a catastrophe. Failing an important exam would be extremely distressing but it does not doom the individual to a life of failure. 4. Increase your perception of your ability to cope. If you believe you can cope with negative events, anxiety will be much less of a problem for you. Be gentle with self and understand how Catastrophizing affects your mindset. #Catastrophizing#cognitivedistortions #invalidthoughts #usa#california #sandiego #oceanside #hikertherapy

All healing starts with forgiveness. Starting with forgiveness of self. Give yourself the ultimate gift. Forgiveness. #forgiveness #usa#california #sandiego #oceanside#hikertherapy

Elevate your Mind, Body, and Soul. New vinyl, all-weather, die-cut 3x3 sticker... Beautiful on laptops and bottles...now offering VENMO... #hikertherapysticker #hikertherapy #usa#california #sandiego #planetfitness @planetfitness

Good beautiful Tuesday a good day to be all you can be.. #usa#california #sandiego #oceanside #hikertherapy#positive#inspire #motivate

Unconditional love and being non- judgemental. Its not easy doing either one of those. We get triggered, we set expectations and being human we are far from perfect. However Leading with Love opens up the channel to unconditional positive regard towards others in a non- judgemental way. Its also a mindset and a choice. Happy Beautiful Monday. #leadwithlove #usa#california #sandiego #oceanside #hikertherapy