Meet Terry Porter
Relationship and Leadership Coaching Rooted in Faith and Healthy Relationships
You want to build a strong marriage, lead well, and be present for the people who matter most. But knowing what matters does not always make it easy to live it out.
Maybe conversations with your spouse keep turning into the same argument. Maybe you carry so much responsibility at work that your family gets whatever energy is left. Or perhaps you look capable on the outside while privately feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure of your next step.
I’m Terry Porter, a relationship and leadership coach based in Traverse City, Michigan. I help individuals, couples, and leaders strengthen their relationships, develop healthier boundaries, and take practical steps toward meaningful change.
My work is grounded in Christian faith and a conviction that has shaped both my life and my coaching: healthy relationships are essential to a healthy life.
Stronger Relationships. More Intentional Leadership.
The way we relate to people affects every part of life: our marriages, families, workplaces, and communities. When those relationships become strained, working harder rarely solves the whole problem.
Relationship Coaching
You may love each other deeply and still struggle to feel heard, understood, or connected. Relationship coaching provides a place to slow down, recognize patterns, and practice a different way of responding.
Together, we can work on:
- Communicating clearly and listening with greater understanding.
- Navigating disagreements while protecting your connection.
- Rebuilding trust through honesty, responsibility, and consistent action.
- Establishing healthy boundaries without losing compassion.
- Creating intentional habits that strengthen your relationship.
You can also begin individually to work on your own boundaries, choices, and responses.
Leadership Coaching
Being responsible for people can be rewarding—and lonely. Business owners, executives, pastors, and ministry leaders often have plenty of people depending on them and few places to speak openly about their own challenges.
Our work can help you:
- Clarify priorities and turn goals into consistent action.
- Address difficult conversations and team tension.
- Delegate, establish expectations, and hold people accountable.
- Recognize how your habits affect the people you lead.
- Lead with greater integrity while making room for your marriage, family, and personal growth.
Leadership begins with how we lead ourselves and shows up in how we treat others.
Why This Work Is Personal to Me
I grew up in South Bend, Indiana, as a latchkey kid who loved skateboards and bikes. I learned independence early. Learning to build close, healthy relationships took more time.
My journey led me to Bible school in Iowa, summers serving at a Northern Michigan youth camp, and eventually to Maryland, where I worked as a pastor and high school social studies teacher. Those experiences helped me see how much people grow when they have truth, encouragement, responsibility, and supportive relationships around them.
My wife, Jen, and I later moved to Traverse City, where I spent eighteen years serving at a local church. Across more than twenty years of pastoral ministry, I walked alongside people through marriage struggles, leadership challenges, personal setbacks, and significant transitions.
I have needed help along the way, too. Through counseling, honest relationships, and applying biblical principles, I have worked through painful patterns and learned healthier ways to connect with God and others.
That experience shapes the way I coach. I understand the courage it takes to admit something needs to change. You can expect a conversation marked by respect, honesty, and a commitment to your growth.
Experience, Training, and a Commitment to Growth
I am an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and hold a master’s degree in Executive Coaching and Organizational Consulting from the Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine.
My background combines formal coach training, years of pastoral leadership, and experience helping people navigate relationships and personal growth. I continue to invest in professional development, consultation, and relationships that challenge me to keep growing.
I bring that same expectation to coaching: insight becomes useful as we practice it in everyday life.
What Working Together Looks Like
We begin with what is happening in your life and what you want to change.
From there, we identify patterns, clarify your goals, and develop practical steps you can take between sessions. I will listen carefully, ask direct questions, offer perspective, and help you follow through on the commitments you choose.
For clients seeking Christian coaching, we connect biblical wisdom with the daily work of communication, boundaries, responsibility, and leadership. There is room to speak honestly about both your faith and your struggles.
Coaching focuses on growth, decisions, skills, and action. When your needs call for clinical care, I will encourage appropriate professional support.
Sessions are available in person in Traverse City and online through Zoom.
Beyond the Coaching Office
Jen and I have three children, and investing in my own family relationships remains a priority. I enjoy running, mountain biking, and exploring Northern Michigan’s trails and beaches with my family.
The things I encourage in coaching—intentional relationships, personal responsibility, and continued growth—are things I work to practice in my own life.
Speaking and Team Development
I also work with businesses, churches, and ministry teams through speaking, training, and consulting. Topics include healthy relationships, communication, boundaries, personal responsibility, and leadership.
To discuss your event or team’s needs, email talk@terry-porter.com.
Let’s Talk About Your Next Step
You do not have to have everything figured out before asking for help.
If you want a stronger relationship, healthier boundaries, or a more intentional approach to leadership, I invite you to schedule a free initial consultation.
We will talk about what you are facing, what you hope to change, and whether working together is a good fit.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
Looking for practical encouragement today? Explore the blog.
