Intern Spotlight: Manoj
This summer we’re highlighting our Counseling Interns. Masters-level interns are an important part of our work to train the next generation of Christian clinicians as they offer affordable counseling to clients. Get to know Manoj Thomas!
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m a husband to an amazing wife and my best friend, Beena, and father to two adult children, Preeya and Ajay. All four of us are in various graduate programs in the NY/NJ/PA area. I spent 30+ years in various Fortune 100 companies leading teams domestically and globally across multiple disciplines including technology strategy, consulting, and sales management. I’m loving this season of life since I’ve had to really exercise parts of my brain that I’ve not trained as much over the years. It’s been amazing meeting and making friends with those who are my kids' ages.
What was your journey to becoming a counselor?
I embarked on a journey to pursue counseling and coaching as a means to help others in their own journeys during this next season of life, post-Corporate America. My favorite quote is by Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Do not follow where the path may lead; go instead to where there is no path and leave a trail.” I’ve made plenty of mistakes in my own life and marriage and want to be a catalyst to propel others to achieve the potential God has for them without stumbling into the same potholes that I stepped in.
What’s your ideal day?
Wake up on a mountain in another part of the world to see the sunrise early in the morning. Get the blood moving by exploring the area with my family and create some memories. Hang with people during the day to be a student of their perspectives on life and enjoy eating whatever they eat. Wind down by having dinner while watching the sunset and then go dancing in the evening. If I could see the Milky Way in the heavens with my own eyes before going to bed, that would be a terrific end to a day. Hey, it's an ‘ideal’ day… it's great to dream, right? 😊
Favorite food?
I haven’t found a cuisine that I don’t like and my motto has been to always try anything once. As a favorite, I’d say that I’m partial to anything from southeast asian cuisines—Indian, Korean, Japanese, Pakistani, Vietnamese, Malaysian, Thai, etc.
Favorite musical artist?
I don’t have a favorite per se, but if I had to pick, I’d probably say Lindsay Sterling, Bond, Piano Guys, or others who mix classical with a serious beat. I love EDM (electronic dance music) or anything that gets me up and dancing. Spotify has been life-changing to hear music and rhythms from around the world in a matter of clicks.
What do you do for fun?
I enjoy the outdoors, so running, hiking, biking, kayaking, etc are some of my favorite things to do. During my corporate career, I absolutely loved landing in a new region of the world where I could experience various cultures, languages, and cuisines in the midst of meetings, hotels, and airports. Learning from others who have a completely different view of the world has been eye-opening. So yes, I’ve still got the travel itch.
Describe your approach to counseling.
I believe each person is unique and created in the image of God, so respect for the unique journey that they have gone through is central to who they are and must be dignified. Helping my clients make meaning of what has transpired in their respective journeys is absolutely helpful. My personal bias is future-oriented, so coaching clients to understand their unique purpose in life and then empowering them to identify, plan, and achieve goals that move them toward that end is extremely motivating and satisfying.
What elements or areas of counseling are you most passionate about?
The ‘corporate athlete’ who has back-to-back meetings for 9-12 hours per day is someone that I can absolutely relate with. The complexities of mental, emotional, and physical stress and fatigue which result from juggling multiple competing priorities are something that I know far too well. As a result, I’m most interested in helping individuals through major life and career transitions when numerous stressors are compounded. In addition, helping marriages transform from survival to flourishing as God intended is another area of specific interest and focus.
Any advice for someone considering counseling?
Get ready to do some hard work to examine your own life journey. Doing this later on in life has given me pause to remember various experiences I’ve had and the meaning I’ve made from them—some good and some bad. Courageously confronting your own ingrained beliefs, biases, and behaviors is a lifelong journey, and having a sherpa to guide you along the way is super helpful.