Counsel for Life

Welcome to Season 4 of Counsel for Life! In this first episode, Eliza and Beth talk about mistakes that are common in marriage counseling. We unpack mistakes counselors make, as well as mistakes couples make as they engage in the counseling process. You won't want to miss this episode! Become a friend of the podcast by subscribing! Our subscribers are invited to quarterly zoom calls with the...

In this episode we talk with Chris Moles , pastor, counselor and director of Peaceworks. Peaceworks is an organization that is designed to educate the Church in domestic abuse prevention and intervention. Chris shares the importance of growing in awareness of abuse and its effects, and he talks about the ways in which Peaceworks can help. He offers a podcast and an educational program called Peace...

Alice Churnock is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist with a concentration in adolescents and young adults. To provide an alternative to medication for relief of symptoms surrounding focus and attention, anxiety, insomnia and other cognitive dysregulations, Alice is also Board Certified in Neurofeedback and frequently utilizes neurofeedback for both children...

In this episode we talk with Logan MacLean , a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist who assists patients undergoing ketamine therapy for struggles such as suicidal thoughts, depression, and PTSD. Logan shares helpful information about the process of receiving ketamine infusions to treat these struggles, and he also shares his perspective on approaching this topic from a Christian worldview. To l...

In this episode we talk with Micha Boyett, author of Blessed Are the Rest of Us: How  Limits and Longing Make Us Whole   (Brazos Press). Micha shares her story with us about how she came to struggle with the perfectionism and ablism of our culture when she became the mother of a child with Down Syndrome. She helps us understand the true meaning of the word 'blessed' as Jesus presented it...

In this episode we talk with Joel Warneking, Executive Director of 423 Ministries. Joel and his wife lead this ministry to men, women, and teens who struggle with sexual sin and addiction. Joel shares about the need for community and a gospel-centered perspective in order to forsake sexual sin. He talks about how the Church can and should come alongside those who struggle, and he gives some helpfu...

In this episode we hear from Scott Mehl, pastor and author of  Redeeming Sex in Marriage .  Scott unpacks this difficult topic with us and shares some of the complexities of what makes this topic so hard to discuss. He shares about the importance of having a strong theological foundation for what we believe about sex, and he offers encouragement to listeners who want to grow their intimacy in marr...

In this episode we talk with Megan Hill, author and pastor's wife. Megan shares with us some helpful things to think about related to how people can be hurt by the church and what can be done to help people reengage and feel seen and heard by others. Megan's book, Sighing on Sunday is available for purchase and is a devotional book for those who have suffered church hurt. Become a friend...

Dr. Paul Tripp joins us for this episode to talk with us about what it means to counsel wisely from a biblical perspective. Dr. Tripp is a leading voice in Biblical Counseling, and he shares his wisdom about the need for humility and slowness in counseling. He also shares what he believes the Biblical Counseling movement will need in the coming 50 years. You won't want to miss this episode. C...

In this very important episode, we talk with Brad Hunstable. Brad is the father of a teenage son who lost his life to suicide, and Brad has become a leading voice in helping parents have conversations with their children and teens about suicide. He shares about the importance of talking with our kids, and he also gives some helpful tips for how to have this difficult conversation. Whether you are...

This episode includes an important discussion about OCD, including its definition and symptoms. Mike Emlet is a counselor an faculty member at CCEF, and he has written a book called OCD: Freedom for the Obsessive-Compulsive , which is part of the Ask the Christian Counselor series published by P&R Publishing. Mike shares his extensive wisdom about how to think about OCD and what sufferers need...

In this episode we talk with Joy Forrest, Founder and Executive Director of Called to Peace Ministries , a nonprofit ministry designed to care for women who are victims of domestic abuse. Joy shares part of her personal journey through domestic abuse, and she gives encouragement to those who may need support. She also shares about Called to Peace's upcoming retreat, held May 2-5, 2024. Click...

In this episode we talk with Stuart Scott, who is a counselor, professor, and author of  Wayward Children: Finding Peace, Keeping Hope .  Stuart shares with us some encouragement for parents who struggle to know how to connect with a wayward child. He also talks about the need to lean into God's comfort and wisdom in the midst of difficulty. If you are a parent whose child has walked away fro...

In this episode we hear from Emily Meyer, a survivor of an eating disorder. Emily shares her story and discusses with us some of the important signs that parents and other caregivers need to notice in  children and teens. She also talks about how the Lord entered into her struggle and gave her hope in the midst of despair. You won't want to miss this encouraging episode! Become a friend of th...

In this episode we talk with Christie Dondero Bettwy. She is the executive director of Rock Recovery , a nonprofit that helps clients and communities overcome disordered eating by providing clinical, community and spiritual care. Having experienced full recovery herself, she is passionate about spreading the message that complete freedom from disordered eating is possible. Christie shares her stor...

This episode features Elijah Broom, thirteen-year-old son of Beth Broom. Elijah shares some inside information about how young teens experience the pressures of school and relationships, and he gives us valuable insights into how adults can support and encourage the young teenagers in their lives. He also gives us some fun info about what it's like to live in Beth's home! Become a friend...

This episode features Darby Strickland , author of Something Scary Happened . Darby is a counselor who works with families who have experienced trauma, and her new book is designed for children ages four to seven. Darby shares with us some of the ways in which adults can come alongside children who are experiencing fear, and she gives us encouragement for how to seek additional help when needed. A...

In this episode, we talk with Heather Bjur, a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. Heather spends much of her time as a counselor working with people who struggle with codependency, and she shares with us some of the markers of codependency. She describes some of the interventions she uses to help people grow in understanding their identity, and she gives us some biblical principles to help us...

This episode includes our recommendations for some books that are currently encouraging us. Click the book titles below to learn more about them: A Theology of the Ordinary, by Julie Canlis Embodied Hope: A Theological Meditation on Pain and Suffering , by Kelly Kapic Dawn of Sunday: The Trinity and Trauma-Safe Churches , by Preston Hill, Joshua Cockayne, and Scott Harrower Suffering Wisely and We...

Our guest in this episode is Dr. Jim Wilder, neurotheologian, counselor, and developer of the LIFE Model. His book, Living from the Heart Jesus Gave You , has sold over 100,000 copies. Jim shares his research and clinical work in the intermingling of spiritual formation and therapeutic help. He gives us a model for what causes Christians to thrive and live joyful lives. To learn more about Dr. Wil...

In this episode we discuss some of the differences between anxiety and a specific form of anxiety, Social Anxiety. We talk about the symptoms of this struggle and ways we can come alongside someone who is suffering in this way. Today’s episode is sponsored by P&R Publishing, whose mission is to serve Christ and his church by producing clear, engaging, fresh, and insightful applications of Refo...

This episode features Eric Johnson, professor of Christian Psychology at Houston Baptist University. Dr. Johnson shares with us from his book, God and Soul Care: The Therapeutic Resources of the Christian Faith , a theological framework for Christian counseling. He gives us some insights into the importance of developing a deep theology so that our counseling is rooted in biblical truth. You can l...

This episode features Jonathan and Jennifer Holmes. Jonathan has written a book called Counsel for Couples: A Biblical and Practical Guide for Marriage Counseling , and his wife Jennifer teaches with him on the topic of marriage. They will share their experience of being married and teaching others about marriage, and they also give us insight into ways marriage counseling can help Christian coupl...

In this episode, we will discuss the definition of PTSD and how it affects a person. We'll think about ways it might be helpful to have an official diagnosis of PTSD, and we'll share how we should think about caring for a person who has a PTSD diagnosis.  Here is the blog post mentioned in this episode: https://www.ccef.org/ptsd-and-trauma Become a friend of the podcast by subscribing! O...

This episode features Melissa Affolter , counselor and director of content at Fieldstone Counseling . Melissa has many years of experience in leading small groups for survivors of trauma, and she shares with us some benefits of joining with a group of people to work through our pain and grow in our faith. She also talks about some things to consider before joining a group, and she offers wisdom an...