Author • Speaker • Licensed Professional Counselor

Meet Tommy

A life shaped by family, faith, hard work, varied experience, and a commitment to practical tools that genuinely help.

Portrait of Thomas C. Bates, known as Tommy

My Journey

My wife and I will celebrate 30 years of marriage in December 2026. We have four adult children, the eldest two of whom are affected by autism. It has been a wild but wonderful ride.

I worked with my hands for most of my life. Growing up in a rural community meant blistering hot summers harvesting watermelons, peas, and other crops. My work history has included elevator construction, auto mechanics, research and development in the automotive industry, local and over-the-road flatbed driving, data entry, dock work, machine shop operation, mathematics teaching, and many other roles.

That diverse background often helps me build rapport quickly.

There is a good chance that, at least vocationally, I have experienced something similar to what a client or audience member has faced.

Faith and Counseling

I am a Christian and a licensed counselor. When clients are amenable, I can counsel from a biblical perspective. When they are not interested in matters of faith, I am also able to remain grounded in clinical principles.

My Mission

My hope is to help a larger group of people, expand my circle, and pass along the tools and strategies I have learned in my practice. Our culture is filled with information, but much of it is not especially useful in everyday life. I focus on the practical—what works.

I spent twenty years attaining my bachelor's and master's degrees, pausing to earn a living and stopping and starting while raising children with special needs. I have had my fill of fluff. I want to help people use simple, successful techniques that, when applied, actually help.

Contact

Email: highergroundliving@outlook.com

Phone: (334) 310-1504