Author Archives: Valerie Burrell, Coach & Counselor

Don’t Be So Quick to Judge

If you met me on the street looking like this, what would be your first thought? She’s crazy, she needs help? Something’s wrong? We generally come up with an opinion that’s negative when we engage with someone who “appears” differently, okay, maybe not you – but most do. As an African-American woman who is educated,Continue reading “Don’t Be So Quick to Judge”

I Can Cope

What do you consider being the first step to coping? In my opinion, it’s mindfulness. Mindfulness is defined as, “the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something; a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feeling, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used asContinue reading “I Can Cope”

I’m Ready To Push

When was the last time you pushed yourself beyond your comfort zone? We do it physically some times, emotionally some times but spiritually, we seem to take it as it comes without exerting that extra push to excel. Today, the Holy Spirit is saying PUSH into the next level of greatness that’s awaiting you.  https://www.blogtalkradio.com/empowermentplace/2020/07/22/im-ready-to-push

I Talked Too Much

“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and they defile the man.” – Matthew 15:18 KJV A tainted heart does a lot of damage! Do you ever give thought to what has been coming out of your mouth as a child of God or as a person, savedContinue reading “I Talked Too Much”

Grief is more than about Death

Could I be grieveing and unaware? That’s a question I hear often as a counselor and my general response before a weighty conversation is generally, yes. For many years before becoming a counselor, I only associated grief with death, and am now so thankful to have learned that I was wrong. Grief can be experiencedContinue reading “Grief is more than about Death”

Christians Have Issues Too!

As a Christian, early on, I was never encouraged to seek counseling for any challenges I was facing, just to make an appointment and talk to the Pastor. Well, what I learned painfully is that the conversation with the Pastor, became the conversation from the pulpit on Sunday morning. The feeling of guilt, embarrasement, andContinue reading “Christians Have Issues Too!”

The Kingdom Advantage

What does it take for a person to be successful in what they’ve been called to do in the Kingdom? Are you thinking about it? Let me help you, it requires that we are operating not according to our plan, our budget or the needs of others, but that we are doing what we’ve beenContinue reading “The Kingdom Advantage”

Coach Versus Counselor

With a growing need for coaches and counselors in this hour, many people question the difference in the two and whether having one is sufficient. Today, I’m going to share with you what I’ve discovered about the differences, as I serve in the capacity of “coach” to some, and “counselor” to others; and some areContinue reading “Coach Versus Counselor”