Pain has a future.
It’s called purpose.
I’m Emmett Josiah Hall — counselor, author, and former lifer. I help the formerly incarcerated rebuild identity outside of crime, restore self-efficacy, and plant their lives in purpose.
From a 15-year sentence at 18, to a master’s in counseling — and a mission to change the story.
In 2006, at eighteen years old, I was convicted for possession with intent to distribute and sentenced to fifteen years. Inside, I became a high-ranking gang member and led some horrible rackets.
Then something shifted. I learned to change my identity — to see myself differently than the cell, the conviction, or the streets ever told me I was. I went back to school. I earned a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling.
Today I serve as a board member for Changes and Beyond, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working with the formerly incarcerated. I’ve built programs that rebuild self-efficacy and help people create new identities outside of crime — identities planted in purpose.
Four pillars. One trajectory: from wound to root.
Counseling, curricula, speaking, and printed resources — designed to move people through recovery, reentry, and the rebuilding of self.
Counseling & Recovery
- Individual Counseling
- Trauma-Informed Therapy
- Recovery & Relapse Prevention
- Emotional Regulation Skill Building
- Identity & Self-Worth Development
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Reentry & Transformation
- Models of Change Program
- Planted in Purpose Curriculum
- Reentry Preparation & Reintegration
- Accountability & Lifestyle Development
- Healthy Relationship & Communication
- Purpose & Goal Development
Workshops & Speaking
- Correctional Facility Workshops
- Community Reentry Presentations
- Motivational Speaking
- Group Facilitation
- Youth & At-Risk Mentorship
Books & Educational Products
- Raised in the Language of Wounds
- Versions
- Companion Workbooks
- Recovery & Identity Materials
- Journals & Guided Reflection
Books, programs, and the rooms where the work actually happens.
Featured projects include Models of Change, Planted in Purpose, Raised in the Language of Wounds, Versions, CBT-based group materials, correctional reentry programming, and trauma-informed educational resources designed for long-term transformation.
Lived experience meets counseling principles, trauma-informed care, and evidence-based practice — bridging mental health, recovery, personal development, and community restoration.
Reduce recidivism. Slow crime. Restore self-efficacy. Transform the stigma. Plant identities in purpose.
Questions people actually ask.
Formerly incarcerated individuals, people in active recovery, families navigating reentry, at-risk youth, correctional and community organizations, and anyone ready to rebuild an identity outside of crime, addiction, or trauma.
It is grounded in lived experience and clinical training. I served 15 years inside the system and now hold a master’s in clinical mental health counseling. The work blends trauma-informed care, CBT, and identity reconstruction — not theory wrapped in jargon.
Yes. I deliver workshops and keynotes inside correctional facilities, schools, churches, conferences, and community organizations across the country. Reach out through the contact section to start the conversation.
Models of Change, Planted in Purpose, Raised in the Language of Wounds, Versions, and the companion workbooks are released through the Changes and Beyond program. Email directly for current availability and bulk orders.
Yes — limited availability. Sessions focus on identity, purpose, accountability, and recovery. Send a brief note describing what you’re working through and we’ll determine if it’s the right fit.
Let’s build the next chapter together.
Counseling, speaking engagements, workshop bookings, partnerships, or just a real conversation — start here.