Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Doniel Gudeman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Doniel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

What began as a journey of personal healing became a passion for helping others. My experiences were characterized by various forms of trauma, which had deeply affected my relationships and ministry without my realizing it at the time. After a painful, failed marriage and two alienated children, God brought us to a small church where my wife and I were invited to a weeknight Bible study, which was really biblical group therapy. My wife and I attended it – she was more willing than me, and we began to experience positive, personal changes. At one point, I thought I heard one of my daughters say, “You guys aren’t the ones who raised us. We don’t know who you are, but we like you better.” From that moment forward, I knew I didn’t want to return to the way I was before. The Lord opened the right doors and provided the way for me to return to school and eventually begin working on a master’s degree in biblical counseling at Luther Rice College and Seminary. All of this was intended to help me better understand the changes that I needed to make and how to make them, But halfway through the master’s program, I realized that I couldn’t shut up about what God was doing in my life and I wanted others to experience the same deliverance and healing I was experiencing. That’s when I knew God would use my education to serve Him as a biblical counselor. That has been the general pattern throughout life since then. I recognize personal issues, research them, get the help and training necessary to address my issues, and then God sends people who would benefit from my training and personal healing experiences. Sometimes, God just sends people to grow me, too. My counseling, coaching, writing, and public speaking have all sprung this formula.

Doniel, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am an ordained minister, a biblical counselor with an MA in Biblical Counseling from Luther Rice College & Seminary, a certified Prepare/Enrich facilitator, and currently working on certification as a Board Certified Master Mental Health Coach. Since entering the field, I have received training from the Arizona Trauma Institute related to working with multiple forms of trauma, including personal, family, complex, and spiritual trauma. I have been trained as a Trauma Support Specialist and previously certified as a Trauma Professional and a Family Trauma Professional. I provide biblical counseling and Christian life coaching related to relationship, emotional, behavioral, and spiritual issues – all from a trauma-informed perspective. I have become specialized in the integration of ACT and DBT from a spiritual perspective due to their effectiveness in the application of biblical principles and life skills. This has led to my development of a 13-week class on the seven spiritual perspectives of the six premises of ACT and to the writing of the “He Must Increase…” series of books. I currently run my own biblical counseling and life coaching practice, teach my 13-week class, write, and work for LifeTree Counseling as their IOP Program Manager and the key person for teaching ACT as a Behavioral Health Technician and providing spiritual integration for interested patients. I am currently accepting new clients into my private practice.

I became a Christian when I was six, surrendered to full-time ministry when I was ten, began serving in various ministries at church when I was 13, began preaching regularly when I was sixteen, went to bible college, and became a traveling youth evangelist when I was eighteen. I married my high school sweetheart when I was nineteen and continued to serve in various ministry capacities while working in various non-ministry fields. God gave us two daughters and, eventually, eight grandchildren. I have had the privilege of serving as a church planter, senior pastor, assistant pastor, youth pastor, youth evangelist, Sunday school teacher, deacon, elder, sound ministry worker, and church maintenance man. I am currently open to a full-time ministry position as Pastor of Counseling Ministries where I can minister to individuals and groups, oversee multiple care ministries, and have time to continue my personal growth, teaching ministry, and writing career until our Lord calls me home.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Other than training and knowledge, I believe empathy is most helpful for succeeding in the field. Some people come in with great knowledge and a lack of empathy. One might say that our wounds and healing experiences could become keys to our effectiveness. Quality training and strong knowledge are prerequisites, and the ability to connect through personal suffering and healing is priceless because they can provide empathy and hope.

Have you ever had to pivot?

The ability to pivot in life should be a constantly growing dialectical ability. I teach this as a values-driven life as opposed to a goals-driven life. When goals-driven, we may become rigid and violate our values to reach our goals. If our values drive us, we can become flexible with our goals and learn to use goals as validation of living our current values. My favorite personal example of this is the time I was sitting at dinner with a missionary friend and answered his questions about my background. He asked, “Why aren’t you in the ministry now?” I replied, “I’m always in the ministry; I’m just wearing a different hat right now.” I value serving our Lord. To continue living this value, I must constantly pivot to different roles and goals.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dongudeman.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dglifecoachaz/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DGLifeCoach
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-gudeman-45626479