Meet James Montford | Christian counseling

We had the good fortune of connecting with James Montford and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi James, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind my success is my ability to integrate psychology and theology as a Black male practitioner.
Rather than choosing between science and faith, I hold them in conversation. I bring clinical rigor, cultural humility, and spiritual insight into the same room. This approach allows me to meet individuals and families holistically—mind, body, and spirit—while addressing generational trauma, identity, and resilience. That alignment has become the foundation of my brand and the reason people trust my work.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My business, Mustard Seed Faith Coaching and Counseling Services, exists because too many people—especially Black men, couples, and families—were being asked to fragment themselves to get help.
Check your faith at the door.
Silence your culture.
Reduce your pain to a diagnosis.

I couldn’t do that. And I wouldn’t ask anyone else to.

What sets my work apart is integration. I bring together psychology, theology, and lived experience into one honest, ethical, evidence-based practice. I don’t treat symptoms in isolation—I work with the whole person: mind, body, spirit, history, and hope. That approach isn’t trendy, but it’s effective. It creates trust. And trust is where real healing begins.

What I’m most proud of is not the growth of the brand, but the depth of it. I’m proud that people feel safe telling the truth in my space. I’m proud that faith isn’t used to bypass pain, and psychology isn’t used to dismiss belief. I’m proud that my work honors God and professional standards without compromise.

How I got here wasn’t easy. Not even close.

Business-wise, this journey came with resistance, financial uncertainty, academic pressure, and moments of deep self-doubt. There were seasons where I was building while working full-time, studying late nights, carrying family responsibilities, and still showing up for others. There were doors that didn’t open because I didn’t fit neatly into someone else’s box. There were times I had to learn systems, structure, and boundaries the hard way.

I overcame those challenges by staying grounded in purpose, staying teachable, and refusing shortcuts that would cost me my integrity. I learned to pace myself. I learned that calling doesn’t cancel process. I learned that sustainability matters more than speed.

The biggest lesson?
Healing work requires a healed practitioner.
I had to do my own work—spiritually, emotionally, relationally—before I could lead others well.

What I want the world to know about me and my brand is this:

I’m not here to be famous.
I’m here to be faithful.
Not perfect—present.
Not loud—lasting.

My story is one of obedience, resilience, and wholeness. I’m proof that a Black man can think deeply, believe boldly, practice ethically, and still remain human. My brand isn’t built on hype—it’s built on trust, truth, and transformation.

And I’m just getting started.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Alright—if my best friend pulled up for a week in Atlanta, I’m not doing tourist Atlanta. I’m doing soul + culture + good food + deep laughs + moments that linger. This is a city that moves to rhythm. You don’t rush it—you feel it.

Here’s the itinerary. Trust me.
Morning / Arrival
• Pick up from the airport → quick drive through the city so they see Atlanta breathe.
• First stop: Jackson Street Bridge
Classic. Quiet. Lets the city introduce itself.

Lunch
• Busy Bee Cafe
This is ancestral food. No debates.

Evening
• Walk Ponce City Market
• Rooftop vibes at Skyline Park

Day 2 — History With Weight (Know Where You’re Standing) Morning
• Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park
You don’t rush this. This is grounding.

Lunch
• Paschal’s Restaurant

Afternoon
• Drive through Atlanta University Center
Spellman. Morehouse. Clark. Sacred ground.

Evening
• Quiet dinner + deep conversation. Atlanta teaches by whispering too.

Day 3 — Culture & Creativity Morning
• Walk the Atlanta BeltLine

Lunch
• Krog Street Market

Afternoon
• Photos + art at Krog Street Tunnel

Evening
• Live music or poetry. Atlanta creatives don’t perform—they testify.

Day 4 — Nature & Nervous System Reset Morning
• Hike Sweetwater Creek State Park

Afternoon
• Sit by the Chattahoochee River
Let the body unclench.

Dinner
• Something low-key. Rest is part of the experience.

Day 5 — Black Excellence & Celebration Morning
• National Center for Civil and Human Rights

Brunch
• Breakfast at Barney’s

Night
• Buckhead or Midtown lounge—grown vibes, clean music, no chaos.

Day 6 — Neighborhood Energy & Family Tables Daytime
• Little Five Points
Thrift. Records. Characters.

Dinner
• Family-owned spot. The kind where the owner talks to you like kin.

Day 7 — Sabbath Energy (Close the Loop) Morning
• Church. Not performance—presence.

Afternoon
• Walk Piedmont Park

Final Meal
• Somewhere meaningful. Food seals memory.

Why this works

Atlanta isn’t about doing everything.
It’s about doing the right things.

This city teaches you:
• how to honor history without getting stuck in it
• how to rest without guilt
• how to build without losing your soul

That’s the Atlanta I’d show my best friend.

If you want, I can:
• tighten this for a magazine feature
• swap in budget-friendly options
• or customize it for faith-based, creative, or family vibes

Atlanta’s ready.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’m honest, my shoutout goes to layers, not just a single name.

First, I give credit to God—not as a cliché, but as the constant presence that kept me when the work was heavy and the calling felt lonely. Scripture, especially The Bible, has been both mirror and map for me—challenging me to heal deeply, lead humbly, and serve faithfully.

I also want to honor the mentors, pastors, professors, and supervisors who refused to let me choose between my faith and my profession. The ones who pushed me to think critically, practice ethically, and stay grounded spiritually. They didn’t just teach theory—they modeled integrity.

Equally important are the clients, congregants, and communities I’ve walked alongside. Many of them trusted me with their pain, their stories, and their healing journeys. They’ve taught me as much as any classroom ever could.

And finally, my shoutout belongs to the Black men who came before me—those who prayed, studied, endured, and opened doors in spaces that weren’t built with us in mind. Their resilience made my presence possible.

My story is not self-made.
It’s God-sustained, community-shaped, and legacy-driven.

That’s who deserves the credit.

Website: https://www.mustardseedfaithcoachingcounseling.com