Dr. terrell K. Pugh

Founder

Dr. Terrell K. Pugh is a pastor, counselor, educator, and relationship researcher whose work centers on helping individuals, couples, and families grow in biblical truth, emotional health, and relational strength. His ministry and professional work bring together theology, counseling, human development, and practical tools for real-life transformation. He is known for building resources and training that are both spiritually grounded and highly applicable to everyday life.

Calling and Ministry Focus

Dr. Pugh’s work is driven by a desire to see people restored in their relationship with God and strengthened in their relationships with others. His approach to ministry is rooted in Scripture, shaped by discipleship, and attentive to the work of the Holy Spirit. Whether he is counseling, teaching, writing, or training leaders, his aim is to help people understand God’s design and walk it out with clarity, conviction, and wisdom.

His ministry often emphasizes marriage, personal growth, identity, emotional maturity, and the renewal of thought and behavior through biblical truth. He has a particular burden for helping people move beyond surface change and into lasting transformation.

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Academic and Professional Background
Dr. Pugh holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology and a Master’s degree in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling. His doctoral training in developmental psychology contributes a strong understanding of how people grow and change across the lifespan, including how emotional, cognitive, relational, and social development affect marriage and family life. This perspective is especially valuable in coaching and counseling because it helps explain how past experiences, developmental stages, transitions, and patterns of growth shape the way people think, bond, communicate, and respond within relationships.

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He is the Director of Arise and Live Christian Counseling and also serves as pastor of Arise and Live Church. Since being ordained in 2006, he has taught in areas such as theology, ministry formation, spiritual growth, counseling development, and marriage enrichment.

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Research, Training, and Resource Development
In addition to counseling and ministry leadership, Dr. Pugh has been actively involved in relationship research, counselor development, and the creation of practical resources for emotional and relational wellness. His work includes developing training materials, certification content, and counseling tools designed to support both professionals and the people they serve.

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He is also the creator of several wellness- and marriage-focused resources, including the BeHealed app, the MindRenew app, and the Heartmonize app, along with other tools designed to promote healing, growth, self-awareness, and stronger relationships. These resources reflect his commitment to making support accessible, structured, and useful in daily life.

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Areas of Contribution
Dr. Pugh’s work contributes to several overlapping areas, including marriage coaching, Christian counseling, relational development, leadership training, and care ministry systems. He is especially passionate about equipping churches, counselors, and leaders with frameworks that are biblically faithful, psychologically informed, and practical enough to use in real ministry and relational settings.

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Personal Life and Perspective
Dr. Pugh has been married since 2003 and is the father of seven children. His personal life has deeply shaped his work. He and his wife have walked through both joy and hardship, including the loss of a child, and those experiences have added depth, compassion, and realism to the way he serves others. He does not approach marriage and family work as theory alone, but from lived experience, academic preparation, ministry service, and years of helping others navigate real challenges.