Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Cox.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am the second child of four, I have an older brother (passed away in 2022) and two younger sisters. My brother was about 4 years older than myself and my sisters are 2 and three years younger than me. Although my dad had a well above average income, the longest we lived in one house as a kid was 3 years. I spent most of my adolescents feeling like I had to prove my place in my family, extended family and community (my black community in particular). While living in this wild juxtaposition of, having a very close family and we often spent time together, especially on holidays.
I remember, very vividly, my grandmother telling me, “you are going to be a preacher one day.” I also remember saying, “nope.” The picture of a minster that I had at the time was the pastor yelling and screaming up front. and others yelling back at him. Yet, there was always this great sense of comfort being at church and even more the time I got to spend with my grandmother (paternal). She was a woman before her time, an entrepreneur in so. many ways. She sold Avon, jewelry, and candy, she had a food truck that we would take to the drag races every weekend and sale food. I remember mom telling a story about it was so hot one day, after we ran out of food and drinks, folks were paying to buy the ice water from the cooler. Eventually she would open he own candy store and restaurant. My greatest childhood memories were with her and my Papa. My mother’s dad too was an owner of his own cement company, but I did not have the privilege of working alongside him.
My Papa was my dad’s step dad, a fact I didn’t learn until my teens. He was the first black police officer in our community. I look back now and realize what influencers they both were in our community. I look in the mirror now and see where their influence, prayers and example had such a resounding impact on my life today. My mom tells stories of having to call and ask my grandmother if she could have her son back, after my being with them for a significant amount of time.
In that same church, I remember working hours to memorize “speeches.” Which I now know were really lines but to a 4 or 5 year old, it may as well have been a thesis. As a professed introvert consistently thrusted in the presence of many, this laid a foundation for me to a life and career constantly standing in front of audiences. Modeled for me was integrity, hard work and truly – reaching high and getting there are possible. Today, I look back and see how this foundation set the pace for the journey i have and continue to walk. I had a 10 year career in vocational ministry (grandma was right), went back to school for Master’s Degree in Counseling and have now been working in the Mental Health Arena for almost 20 years.
I am the humbled husband of my wife Coloma of 24.5 years, the father of 3 amazing teen boys and an entrepreneur of 6 years. I am honored to pave the way, through leading a life that was modeled for me. They are boys from a home with parents from two different ethnic backgrounds and backgrounds of folks paving the way. None of which were on the Big Screen or flashy, but grounded in substance. I seek to continue this and can only pray I have continued to build upon the firm foundation that was laid for me.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, I would. not call it a smooth road. I would say climbing, overcoming and jumping obstacles along the way. Even though those before me laid a solid foundation, no one walked me through how to walk the road. I have attempted three different non profit start ups and failed. Before this, as a Licensed Professional Counselor you have to take a standardized test to become licensed. I failed it multiple times and was ready to give up, but my amazing and supportive wife would not let me.
We greatly desired children, probably more me than my wife, and we could not conceive after 5 years of trying, (eventually did through surgery for my wife).
Early in my adult life, I often found myself as the only person that look like me in many circles. This while feeling very rejected by my own black community. To date, I find myself on the bridge between many worlds and often alone because each side of the bridge demands my loyalty. Without it, I can often feel left isolated. So daily walking with resilience yet inwardly battling loneliness and identity struggles.
We’ve been impressed with Whole Life Priorities, PLLC and Michael S. Cox Services, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Whole Life Priorities Counseling, PLLC is a private counseling practice established to walk with individuals, couples and families through life’s obstacles and toward a place of healing and wholeness. We are a small crew of three men, working within our community to truly see lives transformed. We see clients in person and virtually throughout Texas. Established in 2018, I sat out to establish a practice where we truly see where the professional meets the personal. Based in a new therapeutic model called Restoration Therapy, we focus on Attachment, Mindfulness and relationships. Each of our therapists have areas of focus, all as a part of supporting the family as a whole. Knowing that sustainable wellness is done int he context of families/community.
We are known for our unique ability to provide services to men, men of color and their families. There are few practice where the clinicians are all men and men that do life within the community as well as serve it. We offer small groups, individual therapy, couples therapy and family therapy. We are proud of this as a diverse staff because it is setting the pace for what can be done in a female dominated profession. We also pride ourselves on quality service, clients are going to partner with us in the journey of healing, not just sit in an office and talk.
Michael S. Cox Services LLC, established in July 2025 is focused on coaching, training and speaking. This is a platform where I get the chance to take things outside of the walls of the counseling room and connect with individuals, groups and organizations in a practical way. I walk with parents and teens as a bridge between their struggles and life joys and help them establish a healthy foundation for interacting and connecting. Things I am proud of in this brand is the soon to be public, book on parenting teens from a place of regulation. Helping parents know how to get grounded themselves as they guide and walk alongside their teen. I have a podcast focused on relationships and how to on all levels of our lives and providing practical daily tools for a healthy and vibrant family. This brand is still under construction and offerings to the public to come soon.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wholelifepriorities.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heart.work1/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WLP2017,https://www.facebook.com/Theheartwork1/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-cox-m-a-lpc-s-9a746333/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHeartworkPodcast
Image Credits
Giselle Pecina
