Meet Your Marriage Coaching Team
Hello! My name is Lisa A. Stoddard-Herriman, and I am blessed to be married to my best friend, Mitch, for 37 wonderful years and we live in the Land of Enchantment – New Mexico! Together, we have dedicated over 15 years to Christian marriage coaching, helping couples build thriving and loving relationships. Our journey has been enriched by our four wonderful children, thirteen beautiful grandchildren, and four spectacular great-grandsons. And no, we’re not that old—we all started our families young!
Our passion for marriage coaching stems from our own experiences and the joy we find in seeing couples grow closer and stronger in their relationships. We are trained and certified with the National Association of Marriage Enrichment (N.A.M.E.), XONow Marriage Mediation, and SYMBIS (Save Your Marriage Before It Starts). These certifications have equipped us with the tools and knowledge to guide couples through various stages of their marital journey.
Mitch is truly the greatest blessing I’ve received (sorry, kids, you all have moved out!). Our love and commitment to each other have been the foundation of our coaching practice. We believe that with the right support and guidance, every couple can experience a fulfilling and Christ-centered marriage. We look forward to sharing our passion and expertise with you, helping you build a strong and lasting relationship.
To quote Jimmy Evans, “you have a 100% chance of success in marriage when you do it God’s way.”
FAQs
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We do nouthetic counseling.
Nouthetic counseling is a type of faith-based counseling based on biblical beliefs, doctrines and interpretations. The purpose of nouthetic counseling is to provide biblical support and guidance to help people with personal challenges. Since the Bible is central to this kind of counseling, many people use the terms “nouthetic counseling” and “biblical counseling” interchangeably.
The word nouthetic originates from the Greek verb “noutheteo,” which means to counsel, admonish or instruct. The Institute for Nouthetic Studies defines nouthetic counseling as a loving confrontation rooted in concern with the aim to help people make faith-based life changes.
The nouthetic counseling framework is built upon three pillars:
Confrontation. A nouthetic counselor lovingly confronts another Christian about an issue the person may or may not be aware of. The counselor’s confrontation can only stem from biblical principles and not the counselor’s personal beliefs or ideals.
Concern. A nouthetic counselor is warm, friendly and prioritizes the counselee’s welfare. Nouthetic counseling also encourages emotional bonding with the patient as opposed to clinical detachment.
Change. The nouthetic counselor’s goal is to help another person change. The person in question achieves the desired change when their behavior aligns with biblical teaching.
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Nouthetic counselors are not required to complete any particular education or earn professional credentials. On the other hand, practicing as a professional counselor requires graduate-level education, such as a master’s in counseling or psychology, plus supervised internships, state licensure and certification, depending on the specialty. Moreover, professional counseling is not necessarily faith-based, whereas nouthetic counseling is.
However, at 1 Accord Christian Marriage Coaching, we are trained and certified through the National Association of Marriage Enhancement (N.A.M.E.), XONow Marriage Mediation and SYMBIS (Save Your Marriage Before It Starts) organizations.
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A thought to ponder…
“The downfall of all great empires was the breakdown of the family. “
~ Baker College, Flint, MI, Sociology Professor
The Bible is clear about our personal relationship with God, the sanctity of marriage, and the instructions regarding parenting. If we live life with God’s priorities, we are individuals living for Christ, our marriages are Christ-centered, and our children are raised to be in right relationship with Jesus.
So that with one accord you may with one voice glorify and praise and honor the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~ Romans 15:6