Today we’d like to introduce you to Rex Howard Jr.
Hi Rex , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey began on August 9th, 1995 in Knoxville, Tn. Being the middle child of 7 kids, I learned very early that beautiful things can be created if you have the capacity to imagine things in your mind and bring them to life by using your creativity. I had two very hardworking and loving parents that sacrificed everything to ensure that we were all taken care of, but that came at the expense of their marriage. Unfortunately, that forced us to be raised by single parents. In hindsight, I am able to appreciate the fact that wonderful things can come from broken places. Growing up, I played sports, sang in the choir, and participated in many school events, but nothing seemed to fulfill me more than helping people become the best versions of themselves. By the time I reached my junior year of high school, I started a personal training brand by the name of “Rexfit training”. My slogan was “you can be fit or you can be Rexfit”. I would use every opportunity that I was given to workout and to train other people so they could achieve their own personal goals. That passion led me to furthering my education at Tennessee State University to study exercise science. After 2 short years and many experiences later, I transferred to The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to complete my exercise science degree. While at UTC, I joined the greatest fraternity known to man, Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity Inc. I was a senator on the board of student government association, I expanded my personal training brand by creating a clothing line called “Rexfit apparel”, and I took every opportunity to learn and grow as an individual. In August of 2020, I graduated with my Bachelors degree and in that same month, my life took an unexpected turn. The day I returned home from college, I was robbed at gunpoint and all of my personal possessions including my phone, wallet, MacBook, and car was taken from me. Out of all the trauma that I had experienced in my life, that moment impacted me the most. Although I didn’t lose my life, I definitely lost my peace of mind and that caused me to experience an insurmountable amount of anxiety, fear, and paranoid like symptoms. During that time, going to therapy was a foreign idea that my family spoke against, so I took it upon myself to find books that could help me navigate through my experiences. After hours of being in the public library, I finally came across a book titled “cognitive behavioral therapy”, and that book alone gave me the tools that I needed to feel safe in my own body and environment again. shortly after completing that book and working through the exercises, I had this aha moment. I thought to myself, “If I could do this work on myself and get results, I know for a fact that I can help other people do the same thing for themselves”. So, I spent the next few weeks researching different counseling programs that were in alignment with my new found purpose. I stumbled across a school in Houston by the name of Houston Baptist University that was offering everything that I was looking for. After looking at the institutions GPA and educational requirements, I realized that I did not meet their expected requirements, but I applied anyways and I was accepted ! From that point forward, my every move was strictly faith based because I had no idea how I was going to move 14 hours to Texas without a job or family/friends for support. After two long weeks of working uber, I managed to save $1,200 and that was the amount that I needed to pay for gas and the first month of rent at my new apartment. On December 29th of 2020, I packed up my car and began my journey. The last 3 years have consisted of sacrifices and commitments to heal my childhood wounds, to build a name for myself in Houston, to strengthen my connection and understanding of God, and to complete my masters in Marriage and family therapy! To say that this has been a wild ride would be an understatement. There were many days and nights that I doubted myself and wanted to quit, but I was holding onto the belief that God had something much greater waiting for me on the other side of my sacrifices. Now, I am a licensed therapist, a personal development coach, podcaster, and A fiancé! Although it has taken me 28 years to get to this point, I feel like im just now getting started!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My journey has been filled with many blessings accompanied by a number of unexpected events. I struggled in many areas including learning how to navigate through dysfunctional family dynamics, healing from unhealthy relationships, maintaining stable income to support myself while being a full time student, and I struggled with negative thoughts of self-doubt and uncertainty about my future. I also struggled with the weight and pressure of feeling like I had to be the one to save my family and help them get into a better position. That alone made every failure that I had experienced ten times worse because not only was I letting myself down, but it felt like I was letting down everyone that was rooting for me to win. Nothing prepares you for being the first kid out of your immediate family to break generational curses, but I learned along the way that you just have to roll with the punches and keep God first if you want to make it to the other side.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Professionally, I am a Relationship & Sex Therapist, Personal development Coach, and a Podcaster.
As a therapist, I work in the Woodlands, TX at a private practice called “Resolve Counseling & EMDR center” and I specialize in treating individuals and couples who’ve experienced trauma, sexual dysfunctions/disorders, conflict within relationships, anxiety, and issues with emotional regulation. I pride myself on my ability to assist my clients as they navigate their way through their darkest moments and then equipping them with the necessary tools to maintain balance in their life.
As a Personal development coach, I help individuals and couples identify what’s preventing them from attaining the life that they want and I give them the tools to overcome those obstacles. I find that a major factor that prevents people from being their best self is by focusing their attention on everyone and everything but themselves. My goal for coaching is to help individuals learn how to show up for themselves in a way that not only benefits them, but everyone that’s attached to them as well. A quote of mine that I share with each client states ” Your capacity to show up for others is determined by your ability to show up for yourself first”.
Lastly, I have a podcast that I run & operate with my co-host Myles Harris called “Lets Talk Like Men Podcast”. Our sole purpose is to provide practical tools for men to learn how to become the best versions of themselves mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. We teach men how to lead and navigate through the intricacies of life based on biblical principles. We are located in Houston, Texas and the main thing that we are the most proud of is the fact that our podcast clips reaches over 1 million viewers monthly throughout all of our platforms including Instagram, Tik Tok, and YouTube.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My advice to those who are just starting out is to stop waiting for everything to be perfect before you decide to go after the thing that you feel called to do. No matter what it is, never let anything or anyone stop you. Do it broke, do it alone, do it scared, and most importantly do it knowing that the same God that gave you the vision is the same God that will make sure that you’ll have everything you need to make it your reality. Most importantly, start viewing failure as an opportunity to learn a new way instead of viewing it as the end of the road. You will never learn if you never fail and you’ll never succeed if you decide to quit. You got this!
Pricing:
- Couples counseling : $150/per hour
- Individual counseling : $125/per hour
- Couples Coaching : $150/ per hour
- Individual coaching : $125/ per hour
Contact Info:
- Website: https://resolvecc.com/about/meet-our-team/rex-howard-jr/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamrexhowardjr/?locale=pl&hl=am-et
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rex.howardjr.5
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LetsTalkLikeMenPodcast
Image Credits
Eli Penson Photography
Instagram: @elipensonphotography
