In his 35 years as a counselor and educator, Paul C. Smith said he’s discovered his most rewarding work is helping people find their own answers and reach their potential.

Smith had practiced Christian counseling and life coaching in the past, from 1994 through 2008, and after having people ask if he’d consider doing it again, he decided to open his firm DestinyRise in February.

He has a master’s in education in counseling psychology and has been a certified family life educator and college psychology instructor for 20 years. He was also the Grant County program manager for early childhood special education and early intervention and was Grant County Education Service District curriculum director, school improvement and grant specialist for several years.

Semi-retired, Smith currently works as an education consultant for Long Creek School District, and he is a John Day city councilman.

Through DestinyRise, he holds consultations with individuals and couples at his office at 126 NW Canton St. in John Day.

In visiting with his clients, Smith said he facilitates, guides and teaches to help them find their own answers, opening up new perspectives and ways of thinking.

“I ask, ‘Where do you want to be in five or 10 years?’ and help people find answers that they already have inside of them — they just haven’t found it yet,” he said.

Smith said Christian life coaching is not psychotherapy.

He said, while psychotherapy is generally about the past and the present, addressing painful life traumas, mental health disorders, etc., life coaching is about the present and especially the future.

Coaching, he said, assists a person through questioning and challenging to discover their own life answers including a greater ownership of their unique strengths.

Two common problems for people struggling, Smith said, are when couples grow apart or a person lacks God at the center of their life.

“We all have seasons, we grow and change and we can either grow together or grow apart,” he said.

He helps clients with personal and career goal-setting, motivation and finding their potential, as well as stress management and personal wellness. He also helps couples who are considering marriage and those who seek marriage enrichment and better communication.

“We have to challenge the status quo, and we’ve got to be willing to embrace the present and create our own future,” he said.

For more information, or to schedule a free initial consultation, call Smith at 541-340-1271 or leave a message at 541-575-1326.