With You in the Weeds: Where Faith Meets Mental Health

Whatever control you believed you had over how your life would turn out is going to be challenged when you reach midlife. Also known as the “crunch” years, research on levels of happiness in midlife suggests that it can be the most dissatisfying life season. Spanning the ages of 35-64, midlife is a time of raising and launching kids, reaching (or not reaching) your professional goals, defining you...

The 20’s is a time of transition from college to adulting, requiring tenacity and adaptation. It is also a time of making big decisions about career, relationships and establishing yourself in the world. In your 20’s the weightiness of life is pressing in, while the sharp edges of reality are becoming more pronounced. As “digital natives”, 20’s don’t know life apart from screens, social media, tex...

Whether you’re in college, work with, or are parenting a college student, this conversation with Austin, Kyle and Emilee will open your eyes as to why Gen Z is a generation worth investing in. Their curiosity and openness is evidence that God is doing something incredible in the lives of college students around the world. Gen Z is known as the loneliest and least religious generation of all time....

We were so excited to have Caroline Sundvold in the studio with us to share her story as part of our "What Are You Longing For" series! If you’ve browsed Netflix recently, you might have noticed a docuseries called “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders” at the top of the most-watched list. Featured in the documentary is Missouri’s own Caroline Sundvold, a DCC veteran who has since ret...

If you’ve been trying to read the mind of a teenager and still feel perplexed, today’s episode is for you!  Today we ask: What does your teen really want? What are some challenges and opportunities they are facing?  How can you love your teen when they push you away?  What can you do to encourage their growth? Austin asks all of these questions and more to the co-directors of Crossing Students - J...

Childhood cancer forced Samantha to face reality at an early age, but working through the myriad of emotions that come with hardship has been an ongoing process in her life. Giving herself permission to fall apart and “not be ok” was just one thing she learned through counseling. Battling cancer, infertility, infant loss and the journey of adoption are just a few elements of Samantha’s story that...

“Addiction is about filling a hole in your heart.”  Have you considered that the underlying dynamics of addiction are driven by a relationship? A simple definition of addiction is: “An unhealthy, mood-altering relationship with a person, behavior or substance.” This relationship promises comfort and significance to fill the hole in your heart, but it always falls short. This enlightening conversat...

Does the current political climate make you want to bury your head in the sand? Whether you enjoy political debates or try to avoid politics altogether, we think you’ll appreciate this episode. John and Shay offer a biblical view of the role of government and provide guidance on how to love others who you have political disagreements with. They also share how you can have hope, no matter which can...

Imagine that you’re in a tunnel and you don’t see a way out. Or maybe there isn’t a way out. What would that feel like?  If you are managing a chronic illness, or love someone who is, the feeling of being trapped in a tunnel may be all too familiar. Whether it’s chronic pain, autoimmune disease, recurrent migraines, cancer or some other life-altering illness that prevents you from living a “normal...

Have the flaws and imperfections in the body of Christ become a stumbling block to your faith? Whether it's a church leader abusing their power, a congregation full of gossip, or a legalistic message that curdles your soul, a church can be a source of hurt just as easily as a source of healing. In this special episode, Austin interviews author, pastor, and university professor Trevin Wax, to discu...

If you've experienced betrayal, then you know the pain and heartache that comes with it. Betrayal is a piercing wound that can cause you to never want to trust anyone again, even God. John and Lynn discuss the impact that betrayal can have in the areas of: - friendship - marriage - with a parent - within a church By naming the reality of this hurt, and using the Psalms as a guide, this conversatio...

When you're suffering and in pain, hope is something you wish would arrive like a package on your doorstep. But that's not actually how hope is formed. In this special episode, John and Austin interview Christian psychiatrist Curt Thompson, MD, author of the book: "The Deepest Place: Suffering and the Formation of Hope". This conversation will completely change the way you've thought about HOPE, a...

What are you most afraid of? If you can honestly answer that question, then you are well on your way toward facing your fear. There are many reasons why fear can be overwhelming, but how you handle fear will determine whether or not you stay stuck or keep growing. And understanding the biblical antidote to fear will help you not lose faith, even when your fear threatens to shut you down. In this e...

After working as a therapist in an inpatient treatment center for eating disorders, Travis Steward realized that rejecting shame with his clients was the way to break the pattern of a compulsive behavior. In this installment of "Stories in the Weeds", Austin and Travis discuss what it takes to surrender self-destructive patterns and give up your personal strategies for making life work apart from...

"How do I know the difference between bad therapy and good therapy?" This listener wanted to know our hot take on the new book "Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up" by Abigail Shrier. As counselors who believe in the power of the therapeutic relationship, we were curious to find out what this author had to say about therapy. Some of the concerns Shrier raises are: - the over diagnosing of...

We want to help you fight your spiritual battles with a powerful prayer! Listen as Lynn Roush guides you through a prayer to cover your mind, body and heart. Download your copy of this prayer at withyouintheweeds.com so you can use this written prayer as often as you need, and share it with a friend. We are praying with you! The WYITW Team: John Tinnin, Mdiv, MFT Lynn Roush, LPC Shay Roush, Mdiv A...

Do you want to pray but don't know what to say? "A Powerful Prayer" was written just for you based on our Fighting Your Spiritual Battles series! Go to withyouintheweeds.com for your copy of this prayer over your mind, body and heart. In Ephesians 6:10 we are told to: "Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might". In this episode we want to address what you will need to stay strong as y...

As counselors, we know that everyone is walking around with hurts, wounds, injuries, fears, losses, and traumas as a result of living under the curse of sin. And whether you know it or not, or want to admit it or not, your heart has been wounded. Your story contains scenes of heartache and pain, and your sense of being loved by God has been disrupted in some way that is unique to you. In this epis...

Your body is the "turf" on which your spiritual battles are fought, which means you can't escape this warfare no matter how hard you try. Given this reality, it's no wonder that the enemy will take your natural and unavoidable physical appetites and use them to lure you towards one extreme or another: self-worship or self-contempt. The design and complexity of your body declares the goodness, glor...

Are you aware of the doors in your mind that the enemy will try to open? In this third episode of our "Fighting Your Spiritual Battles" series, John Tinnin and Shay Roush take a look at the two moves that the enemy uses to try and cut us off from God's love: Temptation and Accusation. The battle for your mind is of utmost importance, as it is the primary force that drives all of your beliefs, emot...

As Sun Tzu, the ancient Chinese military strategist states, "If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt." Knowing your enemy starts with understanding the origin of his name, the catastrophic decision he made, and his most effective tactics to deceive you. In this second episode of our Fighting Your Spiritual Battles series Lynn Roush, LPC and Shay Roush, Mdiv wi...

We constantly hear our clients wrestling with whether or not God really loves them. Have you considered that there is a powerful force persistently working to pull you as far away from God's love as possible? The Bible explains that there is an unseen, spiritual battle hidden in plain sight that directly impacts your daily life. The enemy, described as "the father of lies", likes to prey on your t...

Every addiction revolves around the same lie: "I am in control." In this edition of "Stories in the Weeds", Scotty shares how his successful radio career was threatened when alcohol took over his life. Despite being on an award winning broadcasting team with prestigious trophies from the Academy of Country Music, Scotty's life was on hold until he finally broke through the illusion of control and...

You asked and we answered! We John, Lynn and Austin address these three listener questions: 1. How do I help my daughter in an abusive marriage? What about the grandkids? 2. How do I deal with a family member who tries to manipulate me with guilt trips? 3. How do I know if my child has ADHD? If they do, what steps can I take to help them? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter at withyouintheweeds.com...

In your experience, this term may feel like an oxymoron. But we believe that there are indeed blessings that come from cultivating and being a part of a healthy Christian family. Since we live in a (western) culture where Christianity often gets a bad rap and is frequently the butt of jokes and unflattering caricatures, we thought it was worth slowing down and reflecting on the lasting impact that...