Outer Circle Inner Stillness

What is recovery all about? What is the role of spirituality in recovery, and what is the role of our childhood experiences of our parents in our spirituality?  In today’s episode, I interview Ken Ovitz, fellow counselor and spiritual pilgrim, about recovery, spirituality, how our parents shape our understanding of God, and how we need each other to really thrive. We talk about how recovery is abo...

Today I interview Trevor Hill, a sex-addiction therapist, and student of clinical sexology, from Little Rock, Arkansas. We reflect on the lingering legacy of Purity Culture, and how that has contributed to sexual shame, and how shame drives addiction. Then we explore practices of empathy and acceptance and how these can help to overcome shame in early recovery. Along the way, we reflect on our exp...

Here we review our favorite ever counseling movie! "Good Will Hunting," is the story of Will, who is a brilliant and very angry under-achiever and Sean, his unconventional and relentlessly compassionate counselor, and the healing journey the undertake together. The story explores issues of trust, connection, trauma, humility, and the absolute vitality of human relationship. We watch this...

What can we learn about the inner life from a 2005 epic film about the Crusades? Check out our discussion and find out! Rhys and Caleb delve deep into their loves of story, film, history, faith, and the journey towards inner peace to unpack the layers of meaning in this highly under-rated director's cut of a Ridley Scott film. The story is simple - follow the lowly blacksmith Balian as his long lo...

Healing takes many forms, and many of those forms combine well to bring out their best parts! Elizabeth's healing journey has taken her through the 12 Steps, naturopathic healing, eastern medicine, and Christianity. Through her own journey of healing and learning to love herself, she has also learned much about healing others. In our conversation today, I add in my own experiences of Recovery,...

Join us for our dive into Inside Out 2, Pixar’s latest exploration of emotions, identity, and mental health. In this discussion, we analyze the film’s portrayal of anxiety, self-concept, and emotional growth as Riley navigates the challenges of adolescence. With insights from professional counselors, we break down how the movie captures the complexity of the inner world, the transition from childh...

In this special episode of Outer Circle Inner Stillness , we sit down with author and recovery advocate Patti Clark. Patti shares her deeply personal experiences, spanning decades, including relapses, reconnecting with herself, and building a fulfilling life in recovery. We delve into the challenges and nuances of recovery, particularly the unique experiences of women, and the creative tools and p...

When we were small, we could go out to the swings or share toy cars, and we were friends. Later, we could sit together for hours—maybe talking, playing games, or simply enjoying each other’s company in silence. We weren’t afraid to be ourselves or to open up to others. Or maybe we were, and the problem only grew worse. Now, as adults, we find ourselves freakishly busy, terribly lonely, desperately...

In this heartfelt and humorous episode, Rhy’s sits down with his longtime friend Toni Hammer, to explore the unexpected intersection of trauma, humor, and mental health. Tony shares her journey of using humor as a coping mechanism for anxiety and depression, discussing the balance between self-deprecation and self-awareness. Together, they delve into the complexities of using humor in the healing...

In this conversation, licensed therapist Darrin Ford shares his journey from skeptic to advocate of mindfulness practices in recovery. Drawing from 20 years of clinical experience and his own recovery journey, Ford explores how mindfulness can help break destructive patterns and foster authentic self-discovery. He discusses the science behind meditation's effectiveness, dispels common misconceptio...

In week four of the Object To Icon Book Study , Rhys explores how we move from objectification to authentic human connection. This episode tackles the challenging journey of removing our protective masks and creating spaces for genuine vulnerability. Rhys shares insights from both Orthodox Christian tradition and contemporary counseling approaches, offering practical wisdom on: Understanding our t...

Rhys Pasimio welcomes Conrad Lipic, a combat veteran and therapist based in Fairbanks, Alaska. Together they explore the complex challenges faced by military personnel transitioning to civilian life, discussing healthy masculinity, addiction recovery, and the journey toward emotional wholeness. Conrad shares valuable insights on helping veterans reconnect with themselves and society, offering a un...

Rhys Pasimio sits down with Matt Rensi, a licensed clinical counselor and Marine Corps veteran, to explore the challenges faced by military personnel during their transition to civilian life. Matt shares his personal experiences of combat, the struggles of re-adjusting to a new reality, and the mental health challenges veterans often encounter. Together, they discuss the importance of structured s...

The opposite of objectification is curiosity. In this episode, I discuss how we can respond to pornography and the "pornified mind," in the context of relationships. In marriages, courtships, dating, friendships, and other encounters with people, we are susceptible to objectifying the other person, missing the Image of God, and deeply damaging ourselves and the other person. What should we do inst...

In this week's discussion we tackle two main topics. 1 - we cover chapters 7-9 which explore the softening of masks into veils. These chapters are about how to open up to others safely, and how to see others gently. As in most things, we should be wary of extremes, and seek to be gentle and mutual in our opening up to each other. Here we talk about some of the ways the sacrament of Confession is e...

Recently my community did a group study of the book From Object to Icon by Andrew Williams. In this study, we talked at length about iconography and veneration and how these phenomena should inform our relationships. We also talked about objectification and pornification as the inverse of the holy seeing-the-humanity-of-the-other. Recognizing that pornography, and a pornographic mindset, create my...

First, apologies that there is no week 1. Recently I hosted a study of the book From Object to Icon , by Andrew Williams.     Andrew Williams is an Orthodox Christian, and a graduate of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, and Oxford University, and the host of the podcast "Finding the Freedom to Live in the Image of God."               Williams says, "The icon is central in our relations...

We started with the internet and a question about how to best prepare our kids to navigate the online world. Now, we talk about pornography. Central to all of our concerns about our kids is the very present reality that kids get hurt, exploited, disconnected, and overwhelmed by digital and online content every day. It's not just about pornography...but we recognize that porn and sexual content has...

How will you talk to your kids about the internet and devices? What kind of parameters will you set and why? What do you see are the benefits and risks of giving developing humans access to the maelstrom that is the online world? In particular, how will you equip your kids in preparation for inevitable exposure to pornography? I asked these questions of a group of dads who are also counselors, mos...

All couples have problems, and sometimes they are problems the couple cannot solve on their own.  How can a couple begin to thrive when they are feeling stagnant? How can a couple survive the very difficult times? How can a couple heal after lethal wounds such as infidelity and betrayal? Some couples go to counseling because they are doing well adn want to go from good to better. Others go to coun...

Matt Droguett is a Life Consultant and Self-Sabotage expert who is passionate about encouraging men in living whole and healthy lives, and who firmly believes in the importance of doing his own inner work. Hailing from the Hawaiian islands, he brings his experience, expertise, and attention to men caught in patterns of sabotaging their marriage, particularly through use of pornography. His dream i...

Contains explicit content - language, brief descriptions of war Sobriety is challenging, even in the best of times for well-resourced civilians. Some folks struggle more, among them, our armed forces. Soldiers in all branches of the military face a kind of stress that can only truly be understood by another soldier. Returning veterans carry unique burdens that can seem frightening and mysterious t...

Christian Gonzalez and Rhys Pasimio bring together clinical expertise, a shared love of Internal Family Systems, and the traditions of the Orthodox Church into one conversation about how to cultivate a healthy inner life. Our center is on the person of Jesus Christ, but we talk about the difference between an intellectual understanding that may or may not make sense, and a tangible daily lived exp...

Kevin Roberts is a husband, father, business owner, and a sub-deacon in the Orthodox Church.  In today’s conversation, Rhys and Kevin discuss the meaning of commitment in the spiritual life. We reflect on how a person is shaped by the commitments the make, the relationships they maintain, and the life-long vocations they undertake. We reflect on being drawn to monasticism, but learning to know the...

If Bible College was the crucible, then monasticism is daily crucifixion…and we’re glad to be here. Sister Lisa’s journey has taken her from Protestant Bible College, to Roman Catholicism, to becoming a nun, to founding a new monastic order in the wilds of Arizona.  Here, she and Rhys discuss the spiritual life, the sobriety life, and what we can learn from the monastic traditions. We explore how...