Relationship Prescriptions with Dr. Carol

What does beauty have to do with fear, faith, and the future? In this compelling conversation, Dr. Carol sits down with former Muslim and now author and pastor Naeem Fazal to explore how beauty is not just aesthetic; it's transformational. Naeem shares his powerful personal story of overcoming deep fear and rejection, and how beauty is bound up in the very life of relationship with God. "Beauty ha...

Today's young people are navigating a sexual landscape unlike anything previous generations have faced. Porn is not just accessible—it's expected. Messages about identity, desire, and intimacy are being shaped more by screens than by Scripture. In this important conversation, Dr. Carol talks with Joel Warneking and Bill Williams from 423 Communities, a ministry that walks with people toward freedo...

What happens when you step away from the noise of life and create space for God to do deep heart work? In this special episode, Dr. Carol sits down with three courageous women who participated in one of our recent Intensives—four powerful days designed as a safe place to deal with the broken places in their stories around intimacy and relationships, and to experience deep healing, transformation,...

For many men, sexuality and spirituality feel like two separate worlds. In this honest and insightful conversation, Dr. Carol talks with former pastor, ministry leader, and spiritual director Bill Delvaux about what it truly means to  invite God into our sexual story . Bill shares why so many men experience a deep disconnect between their sexuality and their relationship with God, and how that dis...

Identity is a hot topic in today's culture, especially when it comes to the LGBTQ conversation. But where does identity come from? Does it matter? And does one's biology matter? Elizabeth Woning embraced a lesbian lifestyle and a theology that embraced homosexuality until she had an encounter experiencing the love of God while engaged in pastoral ministry. She since cofounded CHANGED Movement, a n...

What does it really look like to walk with God in singleness—especially when the path feels long, lonely, or confusing? In this honest and compassionate episode, Dr. Carol responds to real questions from listeners about the complexities of single life. We talk about the ache of unfulfilled longing, wrestling with God when He hasn't brought a spouse, and how to navigate desire—especially sexual des...

In this powerful session from our Change(d) Conference 2024 , we're joined by a licensed marriage and family therapist with a unique blend of clinical expertise and pastoral insight. With years of experience walking with individuals and couples through the trenches of intimacy, sexuality, and relational pain, Zion Montgomery offers a compelling vision for how lasting transformation happens when bo...

What happens when the place meant to be a refuge becomes a source of silence—or worse, complicity—in the face of abuse? In this episode, we sit down with Diane Schnickels, certified counselor, domestic abuse advocate, and founder of Living Waters of Hope to talk honestly about domestic violence in the context of Christian faith. Together, we unpack the warning signs that distinguish abuse from eve...

Dr. Carol regularly gets questions about difficult marriage, relationship, and sexual issues. On this episode she answers questions about some especially challenging situations; a wife whose husband is living with another woman, a husband who is frustrated with his wife's frequent "no" to sex, a wife whose husband is threatening to make her move out, a husband whose wife has left for the second ti...

When a parent is unfaithful, the fallout often extends far beyond the couple—it can leave a lasting imprint on their children, shaping how they view trust, intimacy, and their own worth. In this episode, we're joined by author and former therapist Melissa Macomber who has spent decades exploring the often-overlooked impact of parental infidelity on children, particularly as they grow into adulthoo...

What does it truly mean to experience intimacy—with God, with others, and with ourselves? In this episode, we sit down with author and campus chaplain Rev. Dr. Erin Moniz to explore how sex and intimacy may be related but are not the same, unravel common cultural myths, and examine where the church's approach often falls short. Too often, Christian communities embrace culture's idolatry of romance...

What if reflecting on our own mortality could lead to a richer, more meaningful life? In this episode, we sit down with internal medicine physician Dr. Pamela Pyle to explore how considering our earthly expiration date can transform the way we live today. While we touch on the importance of end-of-life planning, the heart of our conversation is about the here and now—how contemplating our mortalit...

This episode is about matters of the heart. Dr. Carol talks with Tom Bennardo, a seasoned ministry leader, author, and spiritual director, about the power and challenge of courageous authenticity. We explore the barriers that keep us from true connection—what he calls "Level 3 intimacy," where we move beyond surface interactions into deeper, truly vulnerable relationships. Whether it's fear, shame...

Your past is not truly past; it is still impacting you today. In this episode, Dr. Carol talks with trauma therapist and licensed clinical social worker Adam Young to explore how making sense of your story can lead to freedom, meaning, and transformation. We unpack the ways your past still holds power over you—often in ways you don't even realize—and why resistance to facing your story is so commo...

In this special Easter episode, I reflect on the deep meaning of Easter—yes, a historical event, but also as a personal and transformative reality. I share two moments in my own journey where Easter became especially significant, shaping how I see hope, redemption, and new beginnings. Through a biblical lens, we'll explore the heart of the resurrection story and what it speaks to us today. Then I...

The Christian church has long been a place of both refuge and harm for women, with many experiencing sexism, harassment, or a culture that upholds harmful power dynamics. That is certainly not the way of Jesus, so what can we do about it? In this episode, Dr. Carol talks with licensed counselor and former pastor Dr. Andrew Bauman to discuss the ways a pornified mindset distorts relationships, how...

Childhood sexual abuse leaves deep wounds—emotional, psychological, and spiritual. But healing is possible. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Carol sits down with Dr. Adam Dell, a licensed psychologist, trauma expert, and author, who shares his personal journey of healing and how both faith and therapy played a role in his restoration. With honesty and compassion, he unpacks the Bible's perspecti...

Pornography is no longer just a "worldly issue"—it has deeply impacted Christian marriages (including women) and families. In this powerful episode, we sit down with Ashley Jameson, Associate Director of Women's Groups for Pure Desire, who has not only faced the reality of porn in her own story but has also walked alongside countless women seeking freedom and healing. She shares eye-opening statis...

We may believe Jesus can change things. But we either get upset because we can't orchestrate things to make it happen, or get discouraged because it seems He's not doing what we expect. The truth is that everything changes when Jesus shows up! That beautiful moment when Jesus steps in is usually the beginning, and there's much transformation yet for us to experience. But there are elements we can...

In your journey to transformation you will be tempted again. And most followers of Jesus will slip again. It's tempting to fall into a shame spiral. You may think, "I've got to try harder and be more self-disciplined." Or, "It's no use. I'm too far gone. I might as well give up." You find yourself hiding from yourself, others, and from God. In this episode Dr. Carol unpacks how to deal with slips...

What's your addiction? What do you go to in order to feel better? Some addictions are dark and especially destructive. Others are less obvious, but nonetheless keep us from living whole, healthy, and in union with God. On this episode Dr. Carol talks with therapist, author, and Episcopal priest Ian Morgan Cron about the path to recovery using the 12 steps toward a "spiritual awakening." This is a...

What are you doing to fill the empty places in your soul? We all do something. And for many, that's porn. But there's nothing too dark, too broken, too marred for Jesus to reach in and set a person free. Joshua Broome is a porn star turned preacher. On this podcast he talks with Dr. Carol about his story of what led him to become one of the most successful adult film stars, and how God brought him...

You've probably realized by now that trying harder doesn't work very long or very well. That may be especially true for those experiencing sexual brokenness. Today's episode is excerpted from a session at the Change(d) Conference 2024 where Dr. Carol was joined by Jonathan Daugherty, founder and president of Be Broken Ministries. He shares his own story, and then a powerful picture of why grace is...

Shame seems a certain companion to those who have experienced sexual harm and brokenness. And hurt people end up hurting other people. Those feeling such shame usually also feel like hiding from God. Teresa Whiting had to walk through that in her own journey. She shares about how she found healing, and what it's like to restore one's internal picture of God in this process. And she talks about som...

Neither you nor your spouse entered marriage as a blank slate. Most married people don't realize the extent to which the past experiences of both you and your spouse, especially trauma, form the foundation of most of the conflict between you. Dr. Carol talks with Dr. Steve Call, clinical psychologist, author, and graduate professor at the Allender Center, about dealing with the roots defining your...