Heart Set Above

In this episode of the Heart Set Above Podcast, Ellen Radcliff, LMFT, takes the next step in the Internal Family Systems (IFS) journey: moving past protector parts and into the deeper, more tender places within us — the exiled parts. These are the younger, more vulnerable parts of us that carry pain, fear, and distorted beliefs formed in moments when we were hurting and didn't have the resourc...

In this episode of Heart Set Above we explore gentle, faith-filled ways to care for our hearts and walk in deeper wholeness with the Lord. In today’s episode of our Internal Family Systems (IFS) series, we’re taking the next tender step together—learning how to truly connect with our parts, validate them, and begin building trust so they can relax into God’s care and ours. We start with the beauti...

What if the part of you that you hate the most — the inner critic, the wall-builder, the people-pleaser — is actually trying to protect you? In this episode of the Heart Set Above Podcast, Ellen Radcliff, LMFT, dives deeper into Internal Family Systems (IFS) by exploring protector parts: what they are, why they form, and how to engage them with curiosity instead of frustration or shame. You'll...

What does a childhood memory about spicy food have to do with healing your inner wounds? More than you'd think. In this episode of the Heart Set Above Podcast, Ellen Radcliff, LMFT, gets personal — sharing a real-life example of how Internal Family Systems (IFS) actually works from the inside out. If the IFS framework has felt abstract or hard to grasp, this episode is for you. You'll hear...

In this episode of the Heart Set Above podcast, Ellen Radcliffe, LMFT, introduces Internal Family Systems (IFS) — a therapeutic framework that helps people understand the different “parts” of themselves with greater compassion, clarity, and honesty. But this isn’t IFS disconnected from faith. Ellen explores the model through a deeply biblical lens, discussing how protector parts, wounded parts, an...

In this episode of the Heart Set Above Podcast, Ellen Radcliff, LMFT, is joined by Chelsea Novak for part 2 of our Autism Awareness Month episodes. How does your faith hold up when life doesn’t go the way you planned? We move beyond diagnosis and daily life—and into the deeper, more personal question: Where is God in all of this? As autism moms walking very different journeys, we share how raising...

In this episode of the Heart Set Above Podcast, Ellen Radcliff, LMFT, is joined by Chelsea Novak for Autism Awareness Month. Join us for an unfiltered conversation between two moms navigating autism at very different stages. One is newly diagnosed. One is years into the journey. Both are learning how to carry grief, fear, and deep love—at the same time. Together, we talk about: The emotional impac...

What do you do when you mess up — especially when you should know better? In this episode of the Heart Set Above Podcast, therapists Ellen and Georgia have an honest conversation about mistakes, shame, and the process of repairing relationships with both God and others. Even as therapists who teach emotional regulation and healthy communication, they still lose their tempers, say things they regre...

In this episode of the Heart Set Above podcast, host Ellen Radcliff, LMFT, shares a personal update on her life, ministry, and the exciting (and challenging) shifts ahead in 2026. As a former lesbian turned faith leader, therapist, and mom of two neurodiverse boys, Ellen opens up about navigating family transitions—including her youngest's autism diagnosis and her oldest's ADHD/OCD—while balancing...

In this episode of Heart Set Above, therapists Ellen and Georgia respond to a listener question many Christians quietly carry: How can I pursue closeness with God when parts of Scripture disturb me—and I can’t “resolve” the tension? Instead of offering a neat theological bow (we’re not theologians), we approach this from a relational and clinical lens—the same way we’d guide a therapy client navig...

Join host Ellen Radcliff on this week’s episode of the Heart Set Above Podcast as she unpacks a freeing truth many believers overlook: God invites us to serve Him—not because He needs us, but because He longs to be with us. Through honest reflection and real-life examples from her counseling work, Ellen explores: • Why we often feel overly responsible for God’s work • How fear of letting people do...

In this Heart Set Above episode, Georgia and Ellen pull back the curtain on what therapists actually learn—and why it matters for everyday relationships and Christian living. From trauma-training surprises (“we paid to learn how to be quiet!”) to Jesus’ non-anxious presence with Mary and Martha, they unpack how simply being with someone can be more healing than any quick fix. You’ll hear real stor...

In this episode of the Heart Set Above Podcast, host Ellen Radcliff, LMFT pauses the Nearness series to set clear expectations: drawing near to God doesn’t mean all of life’s problems vanish. Fear, grief, and anxiety still come—but God’s presence changes how we experience them. Ellen shares stories from her own life, Scripture, and pastoral counseling to remind us that the antidote to fear is not...

In this episode of the Heart Set Above Podcast , host Ellen Radcliff, LMFT continues the Nearness series by exploring how we can move beyond simply making space in our lives to truly filling that space with God’s presence . Drawing from Matthew 12:43–45, Ellen reminds us that empty space doesn’t stay empty for long—if we don’t fill it with God, it will be filled with fear, distraction, or anxiety....

In this episode of Heart Set Above, Ellen Radcliff, LMFT takes us into one of the deepest and most universal emotions: grief . Far from being just about death or tragedy, grief shows up in everyday disappointments, broken relationships, feelings of inadequacy, and the ache of living in a fallen world. She Explores: Why unprocessed grief fuels anxiety A fresh way to picture grief as a shrinking “ba...

In this episode of Heart Set Above (part of the Nearness series), Ellen Radcliff, LMFT, explores the hidden world of emotions and how they shape our walk with God. She talks about: The difference between primary and secondary emotions Why anger, sarcasm, or withdrawal often mask deeper feelings like fear, shame, or grief How our culture teaches us to erase or numb emotions—while scripture shows us...

Welcome back to the Heart Set Above Podcast with Ellen Radcliff, LMFT . In today’s episode of our Nearness series, Ellen explores the beauty and depth of the Sabbath —a rhythm designed by God not just for rest, but for true restoration. In a culture that confuses “rest” with binging Netflix or scrolling social media, the Sabbath calls us into something deeper. It’s a God-given invitation to reconn...

Welcome back to the Heart Set Above Podcast with Ellen Radcliff, LMFT. In this episode from our Nearness series, Ellen shares practical wisdom on how reflection and intentional connection draw us closer to God and to the people we love. Too often, life runs us instead of us running it. But by creating regular rhythms of reflection—annually, seasonally, weekly, and even daily—we can flip the script...

So many of us—whether as parents, spouses, friends, leaders, or coworkers—find ourselves juggling endless responsibilities while feeling spiritually and emotionally stretched thin. If that sounds familiar, this episode of the Heart Set Above Podcast will meet you right where you are. Host Ellen Radcliff, LMFT , continues our Nearness series with a powerful truth: if we want to draw close to God, w...

Welcome back to the Heart Set Above Podcast with Ellen Radcliff, LMFT. In this second episode of our new series, Ellen explores the powerful truth that “nearness is never without effect.” Through stories, psychology insights, and Scripture, she reveals how proximity shapes us in relationships, in our emotions, in our bodies—and ultimately, in our walk with God. Ellen unpacks how: Drawing near to G...

In this episode of the Heart Set Above Podcast, Ellen Radcliff, LMFT, unpacks the profound truth that “nearness is never without effect.” From synced heartbeats to shared emotions, Ellen shows how proximity transforms us in relationships, in our bodies, and in nature itself—and ultimately, how drawing near to God is the antidote to fear and anxiety. You’ll learn: Why distance always leaves a mark...

In this episode, Ellen and Georgia open up about the rhythms of retreat, rest, and pilgrimage in their own lives. Georgia reflects on her recent journey to the island of Iona in Scotland—an experience filled with awe, joy, and the surprising intimacy of being “whisked away” by God. Ellen shares her anticipation (and nerves) about an upcoming silent retreat, unpacking what it means to step away fro...

Welcome to the final episode of the Holding On & Letting Go series on the Heart Set Above Podcast with Ellen Radcliff, LMFT —a space where therapy meets theology and grace meets grit. In Part 5 , we’re getting practical. What does it actually look like to love your adult child well when their choices, beliefs, or lifestyle don't align with your Christian values? This episode is all about n...

This is Part 4 of our series with host Ellen Radcliff, LMFT—for Christian parents navigating complicated or strained relationships with their adult children—especially those who have stepped away from the faith. In this episode, Ellen explores the spiritual invitation of surrender—not as weakness or defeat, but as a powerful act of trust. When control fades, and answers seem elusive, how do you st...

In Part 3 of our series for Christian parents of adult children who’ve drifted from faith, Ellen Radcliff, LMFT, explores the unspoken grief that often sits beneath fear, shame, and confusion. This isn’t grief from loss by death—it’s the sorrow of watching your child become someone you didn’t expect… and mourning a future that never came. 💔 You’ll hear about: Why this kind of grief is so isolatin...