Afleveringen
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Ep17 Mental Health Matters for ChristiansShe thought one diagnosis meant her life was over. Instead, it became the beginning of her journey to Jesus.After being diagnosed with an STD, Lindsey Ellen spiraled into shame, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts. But what she believed would define her forever became the very place where God met her with grace, healing, and a new identity.In this honest and hope-filled conversation, Lindsey shares how shame isolates us, why bringing our struggles into the light breaks shame's power, and how God's design for sexuality is rooted in loveānot condemnation.Whether you're carrying sexual shame, regret, addiction, hidden sin, or simply feel like your past disqualifies you, this conversation will remind you that your story isn't over.TOPICS DISCUSSEDā¢ How an STD diagnosis shattered her identityā¢ The suicidal thoughts that became a turning pointā¢ Why shame grows in secrecy and silenceā¢ Practical ways to break shame's gripā¢ How Jesus met her in her darkest momentā¢ God's design for sexuality and human flourishingā¢ Why community is essential for healingā¢ How to move from shame to freedomš¹ Connect with Lindseyhttps://www.lindseyellyn.com/Lindsey's book: The Shame Gamehttps://www.amazon.com/Shame-Game-Countercultural-Overcoming-Relational/dp/B0CDZM938M/CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS0:00 The Shame Game: How to Beat Shame0:55 Meet Lindsey Ellen06:00 An STD Diagnosis Changed Everything09:13 From Shame to Shining12:15 What Is "The Shame Game"?16:30 "Don't Keep Secrets with Satan"21:01 BrenĆ© Brown on Why Shame Thrives in Secrecy22:12 The Garden, the Cross, and God's Answer to Shame24:47 How Early Does Shame Begin?28:49 Why Christians Must Talk About Sexuality30:59 God's Design for Sex and Human Flourishing35:11 Why Sin Is Temptingābut Never Worth the Cost37:46 The Hidden Consequences of Sexual Choices39:48 Practical Ways to Break Shame42:38 Why Serving Others Accelerates Healing46:23 Creating Safe Places for People to Heal47:49 Does Telling Your Story Lead to Rejection?50:01 Why Vulnerability Requires Wisdom52:33 What True Friendship Really Looks Like53:11 Finding Friends Who Know Your Whole Storyš¹ Connect with Christineā¢ Website: https://www.worthycreations.org/#MentalHealth #ChristianMentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters #faithandmentalhealth
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Episode 16 of Mental Health Matters for ChristiansWhy can't I let go of this person?If you've ever felt like your happiness depends on one relationship, struggled to move on after a breakup, or felt consumed by a friendship, dating relationship, or even a marriage, this episode is for you.In this honest conversation, Christine Sneeringer and therapist Tim Long explore the difference between healthy emotional attachment and unhealthy emotional dependency. They discuss why some relationships become all-consuming, how attachment wounds from childhood can shape our adult relationships, and why putting all our emotional needs into one person often leads to anxiety, jealousy, possessiveness, and heartbreak.Christine shares her own journey of overcoming emotional dependency and explains how healing unhealthy attachment transformed her relationships. Tim brings psychological insight into attachment, secure bonding, and why God designed us for healthy interdependenceānot emotional isolation or unhealthy obsession.TOPICS DISCUSSEDā¢ The warning signs of emotional dependencyā¢ Why "I can't live without this person" isn't loveā¢ The difference between healthy attachment and unhealthy dependenceā¢ How childhood attachment wounds can shape adult relationshipsā¢ Why emotional dependency can affect friendships, dating relationships, and marriagesā¢ Practical steps toward healthier, God-centered relationshipsResources Mentionedā¢ Emotional Dependency by Lori Rentzel (InterVarsity Press)CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS00:00 ā Why can't we let go of certain people?01:27 ā What is emotional dependency?02:45 ā 12 warning signs you're emotionally dependent05:35 ā Healthy attachment vs unhealthy attachment08:08 ā Tim shares his own experience11:05 ā Emotional dependency isn't just a same-sex issue13:15 ā The real antidote to emotional dependency17:08 ā Are we supposed to depend on other people?18:30 ā Putting God first in our relationships21:05 ā Christine's journey out of emotional dependency24:55 ā Why God didn't answer her prayer the way she expected29:15 ā Healing attachment wounds32:05 ā Childhood relationships shape adult relationships35:40 ā Can emotional dependency lead to sexual struggles?39:10 ā The role of shame and insecurity45:00 ā Healthy interdependence: what it actually looks like48:15 ā Practical steps toward emotional freedom53:30 ā Final encouragementš¹ Connect with Timā¢ Website: https://www.kainoschristiantherapy.com/š¹ Connect with Christineā¢ Website: https://www.worthycreations.org/#MentalHealth #ChristianMentalHealth #EmotionalDependency #Attachment #Codependency #Relationships #TraumaHealing #AttachmentStyles #Healing #ChristianCounseling #MentalHealthMatters #FaithAndMentalHealth #EmotionalHealing #HealthyRelationships
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Episode 15 of Mental Health Matters for Christians
Can shame shape the course of a person's life?For Garry Ingraham, it did. Long before he struggled with same-sex attraction, Garry carried a crushing sense of shameāfrom rejection, bullying, father wounds, and early exposure to pornography. Those experiences shaped how he saw himself, how he viewed God, and the choices he made for years.Convinced that God didn't care about him, Garry surrendered to his same-sex attractions and embraced the gay lifestyle, believing it was where he finally belonged. But God wasn't finished with his story.In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, Garry shares how Jesus met him in the middle of his brokenness, exposed the lies shame had taught him, and began a lifelong journey of healing, freedom, and restoration.Whether you've struggled with shame, rejection, unwanted sexual attractions, addiction, or simply wondered if God has given up on you, this conversation offers hope that your past does not have to define your future.Topics discussed:ā¢ How childhood shame shaped Garry's identity ā¢ The impact of rejection and father wounds ā¢ How early exposure to pornography affected his life ā¢ Why he believed God didn't care about him ā¢ His journey through same-sex attraction and the gay lifestyle ā¢ The unexpected moment he surrendered his life to Christ ā¢ What true healing and freedom have looked like over the yearsš¹ Connect with Garryhttps://loveandtruthnetwork.com/Garry's book https://loveandtruthnetwork.com/am-i-gayš¹ Connect with Christinehttps://www.worthycreations.org/Resources MentionedDon't Waste Your Sorrows by Paul E. Billheimer Chapter Timestamps0:00 Introduction3:45 Growing up in a legalistic Christian home8:40 Feeling different from other boys12:00 Early exposure to pornography16:00 "God Doesn't Care About Me"18:45 Entering the gay lifestyle24:45 The emptiness of life apart from God31:40 The drive home that changed everything34:45 Surrendering his life to Jesus36:30 What healing actually looked like40:30 Marriage, divorce, and learning to trust God again48:30 Father wounds, identity, and restoration56:30 How Christians can respond with both truth and grace1:04:00 Final encouragement and hope
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In this powerful conversation, Dr. Carol Swain shares her remarkable journey from growing up in extreme poverty, dropping out of school after the eighth grade, and battling depression and suicidal thoughts, to becoming a tenuredprofessor at Princeton and Vanderbilt University.
But despite achieving everything she had dreamed of, she discovered that academic success couldn't heal the emptiness inside. Carol opens up about her dramatic encounter with Jesus, how God delivered her from depression and fear, and why losing the career she fought so hard to build turned out to be one of the greatest blessings of her life.
If you've struggled with depression, disappointment, or wondering whether God can redeem your story, this episode will encourage you to trust Him with every chapter.
Topics discussed:
From poverty and 8th-grade education to PrincetonHer battle with depression and suicide gesturesWhy success didn't satisfy her deepest needsHer supernatural encounter with JesusHow faith transformed her identity and removed lifelong fearWhy leaving academia became one of God's greatest giftsWhat she tells people who struggle with depression todayš¹ Connect with Carol https://carolmswain.com/
Chapter Timestamps
0:00 Introduction: Meet Dr. Carol Swain
2:12 Growing up in poverty and battling depression
4:00 Dropping out after eighth grade and becoming a young mother
5:44 Her years as a Jehovah's Witness and believing the world would end
9:03 Knowing she was made for something more
9:50 From GED to five college degrees
12:58 Discovering her intellectual gifts
16:12 Filing to be placed in foster care
17:49 Community college and finding her path
20:00 Becoming a professor at Princeton and Vanderbilt
20:57 How faith delivered her from lifelong fear and shyness
22:05 Success, awards, and the emptiness that followed
23:47 How her Christian faith affected her academic career
24:53 Her dramatic encounter with Jesus
30:13 Baptism, miracles, and discovering what it means to follow Christ
33:10 How God delivered her from depression
36:01 Advice for those struggling with depression
37:31 Leaving Vanderbilt and trusting God's timing
39:44 Breaking stereotypes and embracing God's purpose
40:54 Rapid-fire questions
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In this episode, Christine welcomes missionary and evangelist Fielding Cage to discuss the transformative power of discovering our identity in Christ.Fielding shares his story of growing up in a home marked by rejection and brokenness, believing he was unwanted and had nothing valuable to offer. Through a life-changing encounter with Jesus, miraculous healing, and years of studying God's Word, he learned to replace those lies with God's truth.Together, they discuss healing, evangelism, confidence, spiritual authority, the power of God's Word, and why understanding who you are in Christ can transform every area of life.TOPICS DISCUSSEDā¢ Growing up feeling unwanted and rejectedā¢ How childhood beliefs shape identityā¢ The importance of knowing God's Wordā¢ Discovering identity in Christā¢ Overcoming insecurity and low self-worthā¢ Why confidence comes from God's Word, not personalityā¢ Replacing lies with God's truthā¢ Living as a beloved son or daughter of Godš¹ Connect with Fielding and Go Harvestinghttps://www.goharvesting.comYouTube: @GoHarvestingCHAPTER TIMESTAMPS01:38 Meet Fielding Cage04:05 Growing Up Unwanted05:56 Leaving Church at Sixteen06:56 The Business Meeting That Changed His Life08:30 Playing Church Without Knowing God10:28 Quitting Engineering to Study the Bible11:31 The Childhood Lies That Shaped His Identity14:12 From Pastor to Missionary15:03 His Son's Near-Fatal Horse Accident17:35 Why God's Word Became Everything18:23 The Scripture That Changed His Life21:12 Why Healing Comes Before Evangelism24:15 Training Ordinary Christians to Heal the Sick27:02 Confidence Comes from Identity, Not Personality31:53 Teaching Children to Pray for Healing33:52 Tumors, Cancer, and Unexpected Healings38:21 The Lie That Keeps Christians Stuck43:00 The Disciples Were More Broken Than You Think46:00 How to Stop Believing Lies About Yourself49:00 What It Means to Be a Son or Daughter of God52:00 Practical Steps to Renew Your Mind55:00 Fielding's Advice for Christians Struggling with Identity1:01:00 Closing Thoughtsš¹ Connect with Christineā¢ Website: https://www.worthycreations.org/BUY CHRISTINE A COFFEE:https://buymeacoffee.com/mentalhealthforchristiansš Connect & Share If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who needs hope today.#MentalHealthMatters #IdentityInChrist #FaithAndMentalHealth#overcomingrejection
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Many survivors spend years minimizing their pain, believing what happened to them āwasn't that bad.ā Debra Marsalisi knows that journey firsthand. She shares her story of childhoodsexual abuse, teen pregnancy, date rape, years of silence, and the emotional wounds that shaped her life. She explains how trauma affected her relationships, identity, and understanding of herselfāand how Jesus met her in the middle of that pain and began a process of healing.
Together, Christine and Debra discuss trauma responses like freezing and dissociation, why many survivors struggle with anger and shame, the importance of grieving losses, and common misconceptions Christians have about forgiveness.Debra also shares how God used counseling, discipleship, and the Trees of Hope ministry to bring freedom and restoration. -
In this powerful conversation, Christine and her co-host Tim Long explore how our experiences with parents, church culture, trauma, addiction, and shame can shape the way we see God. Many Christians know the right answers about God intellectually, yet experience Him very differently in their hearts.
Tim shares his personal journey through pornography addiction, shame, and multiple counselors before his transformation, which came through experiencing God as present, compassionate, and deeply attuned to his pain.
Christine shares how growing up in a home marked by domestic violence distorted her view of both men and Godāand how God used safe, loving relationships to bring healing and restore trust.
Topics discussed
ā¢ How distorted concepts of God are formed
ā¢ Why head knowledge alone doesn't produce heart transformation
ā¢ The connection between shame and addiction
ā¢ How childhood experiences shape our view of God
ā¢ Why feeling seen and known is essential for healing
ā¢ How God uses healthy relationships to reveal His true character
ā¢ The difference between trying harder and genuine transformationResources Mentioned:
ā¢ Knowing God by J.I. Packer
ā¢ Experiencing God by Henry BlackabyChapters
00:00 Introduction: Healing Distorted Concepts of God
01:00 Head Knowledge vs Heart Experience
04:30 Can You Know God and Still Feel Distant?
07:40 Tim's Struggle with Pornography Addiction
10:55 The Girlfriend Who Said "Get Help"
13:00 Why Accountability Alone Didn't Work
16:30 Four Therapists Later
18:45 Desperation, Shame, and Fear of Abandonment
21:30 Meeting the Therapist Who Changed Everything
23:20 "I Believe You"
26:00 Learning to Feel Instead of Think
27:45 The Hidden Loneliness Beneath Addiction
29:20 Family Dynamics and Childhood Wounds
30:10 Discovering Childhood Sexual Abuse
32:00 Feeling Seen, Safe, and Known
35:30 A Life-Changing Spiritual Revelation
38:15 "This Is How I Am With You"
39:20 A New Understanding of God
40:35 When Church Culture Distrusts Emotions
41:25 Christine's Distorted View of God
43:15 Healing Through Healthy Relationships
46:00 The Father Figures God Brought Into Her Life -
In this deeply honest conversation, Christine and Justin Greenfield unpack his journey through same-sex attraction, emotional wounds, identity struggles, and sexual redemption through Christ. Justin shares how unmet emotional needs, bullying, father wounds, emotional abuse, and longing for same-sex connection shaped his early developmentāand how God met him in the middle of shame, confusion and despair.
They explore the developmental roots often connected to same-sex attraction, the importance of healthy same-sex bonding, and why compassion and truth must go hand in hand in the Church. This episode is not about condemnationāitās about understanding, healing, identity, and hope.
Key Takeaways
ā¢ The developmental need boys have for healthy same-sex bonding
ā¢ How bullying, rejection, and father wounds can shape identity struggles
ā¢ The emotional roots often connected to same-sex attraction
ā¢ Why shame and silence in the Church can deepen suffering
ā¢ The impact of pornography, online grooming, and isolation
ā¢ The importance of compassion, understanding, and truth
ā¢ How God brings healing, wholeness, and redemption
CONNECT WITH JUSTINāŗ Justinās website: https://greenfieldministries.com/
Websites and Resources mentioned
https://godloveshomosexuals.com/
https://homosexuality101.com/
https://www.genderidentity101.com/
Sy Rogers teaching on personality & archetypes
https://youtu.be/TeFSPnfLZwY?si=lwEO3fnxLKNJPSx-
Chapter Timestamps
00:00 ā Introduction to Justin Greenfield
01:40 ā Growing Up in a Christian Home
03:00 ā Feeling Different From Other Boys
05:00 ā Sports, Rejection, and Masculinity
08:00 ā Bullying, Shame, and Being Called Names
12:30 ā Same-Sex Bonding and Emotional Needs
15:00 ā Puberty, Sexualization, and Emotional Hunger
18:00 ā The āKitchen Window Boyā Concept
19:30 ā Christine Shares Her Own Gender Confusion Story
21:30 ā Why Todayās Culture Is āTransing Tomboysā
24:00 ā Writing About Trauma and Family Pain
25:30 ā Discovering Pornography and Online Chat Rooms
27:30 ā Wrestling With Same-Sex Attraction as a Christian
30:00 ā Nature vs. Nurture Discussion
31:00 ā Temperament, Fathers, and Masculinity
35:00 ā Giftedness, Identity, and Feeling Different
37:00 ā Healthy Male Mentorship and Father Figures
41:00 ā Emotional Abuse and Family Dysfunction
45:00 ā Depression, Shame, and Suicidal Thoughts
47:30 ā Harmful Church Responses to Homosexuality
49:00 ā God-Given Needs vs. Sexual Identity
51:00 ā Compassion, Healing, and Redemption Through Christ
š¹ Connect with Christine https://www.worthycreations.org/
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In this episode, Christine sits down with Lin Button, founder of the Healing Prayer School and longtime ministry partner of Leanne Payne, to discuss why we leak love and how God heals the deepest places of emptiness and insecurity.
Lin explains how our earliest experiences ā even in the womb or infancy ā shape our capacity to feel secure, connected, loved, and emotionally grounded. She explores the connection between attachment wounds, shame, addiction, emotional emptiness, sexual trauma, and relationshipstruggles.
This episode offers both practical insight and deep hopefor anyone longing for healing in the core of their being. The conversation also includes Linās prescriptive prayer for the healing of sense of being, developed after a powerful dream that revealed how deeply unmet emotional needs can affect a personās identity and relationships.
Key Takeaways
ā¢ how early attachment wounds shape identityā¢ why some people āleak loveā and canāt hold onto belongingā¢ the connection between emotional deprivation and addictionā¢ how trauma, rejection, and sexual abuse damage the core selfā¢ why many people never truly feel safe insideā¢ the healing prayer Lin developed after a revelatory dreamāŗ Linās book ā Mother Matters
CONNECT WITH LIN
āŗ Linās website: healingprayerschool.org.uk
Chapter Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to Lin Button & Healing Prayer School
02:00 Discovering Leanne Payneās ministry
05:10 What is āsense of beingā?
09:00 Identity, connectedness & emotional security
12:00 God as the source of all being
16:00 Performance, worthiness & āhuman doingā
18:00 How attachment begins in the womb
21:00 The āstill faceā experiment & emotional attunement
24:00 How babies develop security & connectedness
26:00 Adoption, rejection & emotional wounds
28:00 āLeaking loveā ā the colander analogy
31:00 Trauma, illness & loss of emotional foundation
34:00 Addiction as self-medication for emptiness
36:00 Sexual abuse & damage to identity
38:00 Linās ālove and cuddlesā prayer story
43:00 Why unmet attachment needs affect relationships
46:00 Sense of being, same-sex attraction & emotional need
49:00 Misogyny, fear, insecurity & attachment wounds
52:00 Shame, self-hatred & believing lies
55:00 Therapy, healing & spiritual growth
57:00 Lin prays for healing & belonging
š¹ Connect with Christine https://www.worthycreations.org/
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Christine sits down with country music artist Lisa Daggs to unpack her raw and redemptive story. Lisa shares how unresolved pain, a longing to feel loved, and a desire to numb her emotions led her down a path of alcohol and drug addiction that nearly destroyed her life.After multiple arrests and facing prison time, Lisa hit rock bottomāand thatās where everything changed. In a moment of surrender, she cried out to Godā¦ and began a journey that has now led to over 36 years of sobriety, healing, and ministry.They explore the deeper roots of addiction, the role of identity and emotional pain, and the practical tools that help sustain long-term recovery. Lisa also shares how faith, community, and honest self-reflection can help anyone break free from destructive patterns and step into purpose.
Key Takeaways
ā¢ Addiction often begins as a way to numb emotional pain
ā¢ Feeling ānot enoughā can drive destructive behaviors
ā¢ Recovery requires honesty, community, and surrender
ā¢ Freedom is possibleābut it requires daily choices
ā¢ God can redeem any story and use it for purpose
āŗ Lisaās book ā No Turning Back, Regardless
CONNECT WITH LISA
āŗ Lisaās website: https://www.lisadaggs.net/
āŗ Lisaās Instagram: @lisadaggsmusic
Chapter Timestamps
00:00 ā The reality of addiction and a $1,000/day cocaine habit01:20 ā Lisa Daggsā background and early life03:00 ā The father wound and its impact on identity05:00 ā Numbing emotional pain through substances08:30 ā The belief: āIām not enoughā14:00 ā The slow fade into addiction16:30 ā Life in music, nightlife, and partying20:00 ā Dealing cocaine and living a double life22:20 ā Multiple arrests and facing prison24:00 ā Rock bottom and crying out to God29:00 ā Rehab, surrender, and starting over34:00 ā God restores her purpose through music37:00 ā Handling cravings and intrusive thoughts40:30 ā The importance of honest community41:50 ā Can God still use my story?44:00 ā The secret to long-term sobriety47:00 ā Final encouragement and walking in purposeš¹
Connect with Christine https://www.worthycreations.org/
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What do Christians get wrong about sex, porn, and parenting? In this candid Q&A, Sy Rogers addresses some of the most difficult and often avoided topics in the Christian life. These are real questions from real peopleāabout sex, pornography, masturbation, parenting, shame, and self-controlāand Syanswers them with biblical clarity, compassion, and decades of pastoral experience.
We talk about:
How to talk to your kids about sex without shame The truth about pornography and its impact What healthy sexuality looks like in marriage Helping teens navigate desire and self-control Healing from sexual brokenness and past woundsChapter Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to Sy Rogers this Q&A0
2:50 Is oral sex wrong in marriage?
10:35 Talking to teens about sex & masturbation
14:30 The real goal: self-control (not shame)
21:20 How to handle young kidsā body curiosity
26:00 Breaking free from pornography addiction
29:30 Shame vs. calling: helping someone move forward
32:20 Is porn ever okay in marriage?
36:30 How porn rewires desire (and why it matters)
42:55 Gender confusion in kidsāhow should parents respond?
45:30 Sexual abuse statistics & prevention
47:45 Helping teens manage sexual urges
49:50 When your child is being bullied
52:30 Raising boys without strong male role models
55:10 Why affection matters for boys and girls
56:55 Healing from sexual abuse and trauma
01:00:50 Dating, boundaries, and integrity
01:03:45 STD realities and removing shame
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In this powerful part two of the episode on Why are feelings important, Christine and co-host Tim Long go deeper into the question around feelings and attempt the solve the dilemma: If feelings are so important… why do we avoid them?
Christine shares raw, personal stories from her own journey—growing up learning to suppress emotions, struggling with self-criticism, and eventually discovering how to reconnect with her “little self” in a way that brought real healing. From a surprising therapy breakthrough involving a teddy bear… to learning how to sit with pain instead of running from it… to understanding the internal “critic” that drives shame and perfectionism—this episode is both deeply honest and incredibly practical.
Together, they unpack:
Why emotions can feel unsafe (especially after trauma)The exhausting cycle of self-rejection and inner conflictWhat it means to actually process feelings instead of suppressing themHow faith, attachment, and emotional healing connectAnd how learning to “be with” your emotions can change everything00:00 – Why many of us learned feelings aren’t safe
Connect with Tim at https://www.kainoschristiantherapy.com/
02:00 – “Take me to your pain” (and why we resist it)
03:00 – The idea of “little you” and why it’s uncomfortable
05:30 – A real-life moment of feeling rejected
07:30 – Escaping emotions vs. facing them
10:00 – The first breakthrough: choosing to feel
12:00 – The teddy bear moment (learning self-compassion)
15:30 – Daily practice: prayer, healing, and emotional connection
19:30 – Feeling unseen and the “colander” analogy
23:00 – Why emotions “leak” without inner security
26:00 – What is emotional regulation (and why feelings feel dangerous)
28:30 – Seen, soothed, safe, and secure (what we all need)
30:00 – The inner critic: where it comes from
33:00 – Perfectionism, trauma, and shame
36:00 – Reconnecting with compassion instead of criticism
38:30 – Losing touch with your own desires
41:00 – Learning to ask: “What do I actually want?”
43:00 – Finding balance between faith and feelings
Connect with Christine at https://www.worthycreations.org/ -
What happens when addiction takes everything—and God still calls you back?
In this powerful episode, Christine sits down with Katina Anagnostakis, who shares her raw and redemptive journey through drug use, gambling addiction, and devastating loss—including gambling away nearly $1 million in just three years.
But Katina’s story doesn’t end in destruction. Through recovery, the 12 steps, and a renewed relationship with Jesus, she discovered that addiction isn’t just about behavior—it’s about the deeper question: “Why am I not enough?” Now mentoring dozens of women in recovery, Katina reveals how God uses brokenness to build purpose—and how true healing begins with honesty, surrender, and identity in Christ.
The real root of addiction (it’s not what you think) How the 12 steps align with biblical truth Why identity matters in mental health and recovery How to move from shame to freedom What true healing in Christ actually looks like
This conversation dives deep into:
00:00 Why “I’m Not Enough” Started It All
00:07 Early Addiction & Belonging
00:24 Divorce & Relapse
00:27 The First Jackpot (How Gambling Took Over)
00:30 Losing $1 Million in 3 Years
00:33 Rock Bottom Moment
00:34 Entering Treatment
00:36 The Truth About the 12 Steps
00:50 The Moment God Changed Everything
01:03 From Addiction to Ministry
01:06 Identity in Christ
01:10 Faith in Suffering
Connect with Katina on:· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Awaken-Rhema-Coaching/61565049081931/
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awakenrhemacoaching
Connect with Christine at https://www.worthycreations.org/ -
What happens when a pastor secretly battles shame, addiction, and a double life?
In this powerful episode of Mental Health Matters for Christians, Dr. Mike Courtney shares his raw and honest story—from growing up in a broken home to becoming a successful pastor… while hiding deep struggles with shame and sexual addiction. After years of secrecy, everything came crashing down—costing him his family, his ministry, and his reputation.
But that wasn’t the end of his story.
At rock bottom, Mike encountered the truth of God’s love in a way that changed everything. What followed was a long, humbling journey of healing, restoration, and redemption—including the rebuilding of his marriage and relationships with his sons, and the creation of a thriving Christian counseling ministry helping thousands each year.
This conversation dives deep into:
The roots of shame and addictionWhy pastors (and Christians) hide their strugglesThe connection between faith and mental healthWhat real healing actually looks likeHow God redeems even our worst failuresIf you’ve ever struggled with shame, hidden sin, addiction, or feeling like you’re beyond redemption—this episode is for you.
Guest: Dr. Mike CourtneyClinical psychologist, former pastorFounder of a nonprofit Christian counseling center, Branches in Murfreesboro, TNAuthor of Failure and How I Achieved ItConnect with MikeWebsite: https://www.branches.org/
Connect with ChristineWebsite: https://www.worthycreations.org/
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In this powerful episode of Mental Health Matters for Christians, Christine sits down with Angie Monroe—author, speaker, and advocate for survivors of military sexual trauma—to share a story that is both heartbreaking and deeply hopeful.
After experiencing a brutal assault while serving in the military, Angie was pressured to stay silent and left to carry the weight of trauma alone. What followed was years of suppressed pain, shame, and emotional struggle—until a breaking point forced her to confront what she had buried.
In this conversation, Angie opens up about her journey from silence to healing, how unprocessed trauma impacted her mental health, and how God ultimately restored her voice and purpose. Her story is a powerful reminder that healing is possible—and that your past does not define your worth. If you’ve ever struggled with trauma, shame, or feeling unseen, this episode will encourage you, equip you, and remind you that freedom is possible.
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In this episode of Mental Health Matters for Christians, Christine and co-host Tim Long dive into a question many believers struggle with: Why are feelings important—and what do we do with them?
For many of us, we were taught that emotions are unreliable, dangerous, or even sinful. But what if ignoring your feelings is actually keeping you stuck?
Tim shares his powerful story of growing up disconnected from emotions—despite spiritual discipline and success—and how that led to cycles of shame and addiction. Christine opens up about learning to suppress sadness and turn to anger (and even food) instead.
Together, they unpack:
Why feelings were never meant to be ignoredHow emotional suppression leads to addiction and shame cyclesThe difference between feeling your feelings and being controlled by themWhy sadness is actually essential for connection and healingWhat the Bible really says about emotions (including the Beatitudes)This conversation will challenge the way you think about emotions—and help you see them as a God-given pathway to healing, not a threat to your faith.
Connect with TimWebsite: https://www.kainoschristiantherapy.com/
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In this powerful opening episode, Christine sits down with Becky Dymond—a licensed mental health counselor and founder of Lighthouse PBC—who is on the front lines rescuing trafficked women through radical acts of love, relationship building and consistency. By meeting women at laundromats, building trust, and offering real pathways to freedom, Becky shares what it actually takes to walk someone out of trauma, addiction, and exploitation into healing and restoration.
Becky also opens up about her own story of abandonment, addiction, and deep emotional wounds, revealing how God met her in those broken places and brought lasting freedom. This conversation is a raw and hope-filled reminder that your past doesn’t disqualify you—it equips you. If you’ve ever struggled with shame, trauma, or wondering if healing is possible, this episode will show you that transformation is real and your story can help set others free.
Connect with BeckyWebsite: https://lighthousepbc.org/
