The Merge

In this warm, real-life conversation, host LynnDee Horne, Biblical Mental Health Counselor and founder of Narrow Gate Counseling, invites her daughters Liberty (8) and Lydia (4) to help listeners see how faith and mental health meet at home. Together they talk through family prayer rhythms (morning, mealtime, bedtime), using worship to shift difficult moods, and simple ways kids can “take every th...

Grief isn’t linear—and it isn’t godless. In this episode of The Merge, biblical mental health counselor LynnDee Horne welcomes Terry Crowther and Rhonda Marts to share two honest paths through loss—one after a long illness, the other sudden and shocking—and the same faithful God who met them in both. They talk about releasing the “what-ifs,” giving yourself permission to cry, practical life shifts...

What does it look like to follow Jesus with an ADHD or autistic brain—and help the Church become a place of true belonging? Biblical mental health counselor LynnDee Horne sits down with Dr.  Rebecca Dykes (LCSW, Certified Autism Specialist, department chair, professor, and mom) to unpack neurodivergence from a gospel lens. Rebecca shares her testimony of coming to Christ, navigating her daughter’s...

In this episode of The Merge, host LynnDee Horne sits down with physician associate and culinary-medicine specialist Lauri Powers to connect the dots between faith, sleep, and diet.  Lauri explains why starting with sleep can quickly improve mood and energy (including when to screen for sleep apnea), and how CBT-I builds healthy sleep patterns without dependence on meds. You’ll learn the gut–brain...

On this episode of The Merge, host LynnDee Horne talks with author Natasha Buchanan about finding hope in the darkest valleys. Natasha shares her journey after losing her husband in Afghanistan—how the Holy Spirit reframed her pain, why identity rooted in Christ (not roles or seasons) changes everything, and the surprising freedom she found through repentance, fasting, and surrendering hidden idol...

Host LynnDee Horne, Biblical Mental Health Counselor, welcomes frequent guest Candace Leon to unpack a hard but hopeful topic: shame. What’s the biblical and clinical difference between guilt (“I did wrong”) and shame (“I am wrong”)? Why does shame fuel anxiety, depression, addiction, isolation, and disconnection—while conviction leads to repair and growth? LynnDee and Candace break down how shame...

Host LynnDee Horne, Biblical Mental Health Counselor, guides a solo conversation on “The Blessing Challenge”—how biblical blessing shapes identity, heals emotional wounds, and strengthens mental health. Drawing from Scripture (Numbers 6:24–26; Deuteronomy 30:19; 1 Peter 3:9; Ephesians 2:8; Jesus blessing the children) and insights from Dr. John Trent and Dr. Tony Wheeler, LynnDee clarifies the dif...

Host LynnDee Horne welcomes counselor Candace Leon for Part 2 on religiously integrated CBT—a practical, biblical approach to renewing the mind. This episode zeroes in on ten common “thinking errors” and God’s answers to each: all-or-nothing thinking, overgeneralization, mental filtering, disqualifying the positive, jumping to conclusions, fortune-telling, catastrophizing, emotional reasoning, “sh...

Licensed biblical counselor LynnDee Horne welcomes Candace Leon for part one of a two-episode series on Religiously Integrated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (RCBT)—a practical, Scripture-rooted approach developed with free therapist and client manuals from Duke’s Center for Spirituality, Theology & Health (linked in show notes). In this episode, LynnDee unpacks behavioral activation—“walking by...

Join LynnDee Horne as she talks about faith, mental health, and growth. She discusses 3 steps we can take from a spiritual perspective to help us grow and shares some of her own stories in these areas. If you have struggled with motivation or you know your areas of growth but don’t know your next move- try these steps. Connect with LynnDee Horne and her team at https://NarrowGateCounseling.com

Join LynnDee and her guests Scott and Hillary Shelton, the owners of Heal the Land Farm and Market , as they discuss the Shelton's journey of faith and farming. Hillary and Scott share their own journeys of becoming believers and the path that led them to Heal the Land Farm. LynnDee and the Sheltons talk about how our faith and mental health is connected to being in and working in God's creation. ...

Join LynnDee and Candace Leon as they talk about how curiosity can help your spiritual walk, mental health, and relationships. They talk about how curiosity has helped in their own lives and steps to take to help us be more curious in the right ways. Connect with LynnDee Horne and her team at https://NarrowGateCounseling.com

Join LynnDee (the counselor) , Candace Leon (the former educator and now work from home mom) , and Cameron Leggett (the graduate student with a full time job) as they discuss their own career journeys and how God was in those steps for each of them. They discuss the difference in career and calling and share some practical steps for navigating career decisions.  Connect with LynnDee Horne and her...

Join LynnDee and Candace Leon as they talk about the difference between living from a worldly identity or from our Identity in Christ. As they use the metaphor of a house to explore where our current identity comes from and how to make sure we have the right foundation, they offer 3 steps we can all take to understand more fully our Identity in Christ as believers and live in the assurance of who...

If you are tired, feeling exhausted, or just know that rest is something you need more of- listen in as LynnDee and Charla Suggs, LCMHCS, explore rest.  They talk about the 7 types of rest, how we need them all, and where we can find all 7 types in scripture.  They list some of the barriers of rest and practical steps we can implement to having more rest in our lives.  Also in the show notes, if y...

Join LynnDee as she talks with Pastors John and Suzette Miller about having healthy relationships and pursuing healinging in those that are not going the way we planned.  They explore what the bible has to say about relationships and how we can move forward in the midst of the pain we have experienced in relationships. Also check out the resource in the show notes called the Hope Plan- an intentio...

Join LynnDee and Candace Leon for an experiential episode as they walk listeners through 5 tools used in counseling sessions to address many mental health concerns. Come practice along with them as they engage in tools to help your emotions and thoughts, and feed your spirit.  Get the free resources: Spiritually-Integrated Heart Math Productive Thinking Encounter Podcast Connect with LynnDee Horne...

Join LynnDee and her friend Candace Leon as they dive into the topic of depression.  Listen in as they explore what depression is, what causes it, what some effective treatments are, and steps we can all take to put hope back in our lives during difficult times.  Get the resource: Heart Steps Connect with LynnDee Horne and her team at https://NarrowGateCounseling.com

Join LynnDee and Becca Autry as they talk about transitions and the changing seasons of life, what the bible says about them, and how we can travel through those seasons well! Whether you are in a joyful season or a difficult one, God is always there!  Connect with LynnDee Horne and her team at https://NarrowGateCounseling.com

Join LynnDee and Dr. Calvina Ellerbe as they dive in to exploring parenting structures that lead to spiritual development. They talk about how to help our children understand that God is the source and standard for everything, how to shape our children’s behavior to look more like Him, and even how to encourage our children to stand for God even when it’s hard to do.  They share personal stories a...

Join LynnDee and Tim Hunt, LCMHCS, as they look deeper into the experience of grief and the responses we can have.  LynnDee and Tim talk about the different types of grief, how grief can hide, and how we can process it all with God’s help.  Download:  Tasks of Mourning Connect with LynnDee Horne and her team at https://NarrowGateCounseling.com

Join LynnDee and Candace Leon as they look at how to break unwanted patterns in your life from a biblical approach. Learn how scripture and prayer can be used as key tools to cut out the unhealthy (sinful) patterns we all deal with.  Connect with LynnDee Horne and her team at https://NarrowGateCounseling.com

Ever thought of gratitude as a weapon? Join LynnDee and licensed counselor Megan Hammonds as they explore how gratitude positively impacts our body, brain, and most importantly, our spirit. Connect with LynnDee Horne and her team at https://NarrowGateCounseling.com

Join LynnDee and Candace Leon as they look at what happens to our brains when we become emotionally dysregulated and how we can change that by aligning our thoughts and emotions with God’s truth. Mentioned in today's episode: Processing Emotions through Prayer Linear Thinking 28 Days to Joy Calendar Connect with LynnDee Horne and her team at https://NarrowGateCounseling.com

LynnDee sits down with her friend Becca Autry as they explore what it is like to help others in our lives that are struggling with their mental health.  Becca and LynnDee give tips on how we can support those we love, those we serve, and those we encounter each day. As believers we always carry Christ in us, which means we can always be helpful and show others His love. Connect with LynnDee Horne...