Conversational Counseling

>> Get FREE Anxiety Journal and Biblical Thought Filter handouts <<

In our second episode on anxiety we bring it to a personal and practical level as Brenda walks through one of her own anxiety journals with Alex. 

As they walk step by step through the Anxiety Journal exercise (that is available for free on our website) Brenda and Alex show us how to take a very real moment of anxiety and work through it using Philippians 4:4-9. This Biblical self counsel tool takes us through what it looks like to pray, think, and act biblically in our anxiety or current struggle. 

Through Biblical prayer we are reminded that if we have His presence we have everything we need. Our anxieties can draw us into a deeper and more trusting relationship with Him because we can shift our eyes from our circumstances onto His promises and assurances. Using the thought filter tool we can acknowledge our internal monologue and bring Him our current thoughts and turn that into a conversation with God where we consider how God would speak into those very thoughts that reflect His character. 

It’s important for us to acknowledge that a lot of the time anxiety is inviting us into grief - but it can be easier for us to feel anxiety than engage in the grief underneath. Maybe we need to begin to ask ourselves what grief is the Lord asking me to enter into and lament before Him. 

Once we walk through those prayers and thoughts, we can move into productively channeling them into actions. We can look at the simple and practical ways to acknowledge our anxiety in the moment, and adjust our focus to the rest of our day. As we end the exercise we can begin to rest in the peace that is cultivated as we practice the presence of God through biblical self- counsel.

Scripture memory and meditation, within the anxiety journal and in everyday life, help our minds to create new neural pathways. We have the power to slowly change those pathways as we meditate on biblical truths and God’s promises. It is mentally impossible to focus both on my worry and God’s word - and we can practice continually redirecting our attention from worries to truth to help us walk through hard moments. 

This is something we can invite others into! We can share our journals with someone who can encourage, comfort, and challenge us as we walk through our anxieties and in turn become more equipped to walk with the same struggles with others.

To sign up for free visuals and discussion questions for this season click ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

Our theme music is by ⁠⁠As Isaac⁠⁠.

This podcast is made possible by engineers and producers ⁠⁠Zachary Tate Smith⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Shane Selby⁠⁠, executive producer ⁠⁠Meleah Smith⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠generous donors⁠⁠.

⁠⁠Known Ministries⁠⁠ is ⁠⁠Alex Kocher⁠⁠ and Brenda Payne. This fourth season of Conversational Counseling is called "Wisdom for life's common struggles.”

>> Get a free handout on visual theology that goes with this episode! <<

Anxiety is one of the most common struggles that we all face today. And it can be no small thing. We experience anxiety as a whole person so it impacts our thinking, feelings, body and behaviors. In this episode Alex and Brenda discuss how anxiety affects us holistically and how to address these different factors so we can truly move towards turning our worry into worship. This doesn't mean that we won't face anxiety! But we can have more tools and frameworks to be able to navigate it as it comes, both in our own lives and as we walk with others we love.

In this season of Conversational Counseling we're offering a tool for your soul and a tool for your body in each episode. The soul tool we walk through in this episode is walking through visual theology which allows us to meditate on specific biblical truths and attach them to a mental picture before anxiety hits. So then when it does hit, our distressed nervous system (which can often more easily recall an image) will then be reminded of the truths of Scripture. You'll have to listen to learn more about it! And learn about specific breathing techniques that are helpful tools to relax your body when experiencing anxiety.

It is precious to see God's personal nature for us through these processes, the ways He connects what's especially meaningful to us to bring the hope and help we so desperately need when facing anxiety.

To sign up for free visuals and discussion questions for this season click ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

Our theme music is by ⁠⁠As Isaac⁠⁠.

This podcast is made possible by engineers and producers ⁠⁠Zachary Tate Smith⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Shane Selby⁠⁠, executive producer ⁠⁠Meleah Smith⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠generous donors⁠⁠.

⁠⁠Known Ministries⁠⁠ is ⁠⁠Alex Kocher⁠⁠ and Brenda Payne. This fourth season of Conversational Counseling is called "Wisdom for life's common struggles.”

>> Get free visuals, handouts and discussion questions for Conversational Counseling! <<

This season of Conversational Counseling is all about offering wisdom for life's common struggles. In this episode Brenda and Alex begin with introducing the six topics that will be discussed throughout the season that are common to us all.

What we'd like to do over this season is to bring clarity to these common struggles by pairing biblical knowledge with our individual experiences, provide body and soul solutions, and equip our listeners to become more confident and competent to walk through these struggles within their own lives and when walking alongside others. 

Whether it's a season of guilt and shame, or wrestling with people-pleasing and anxiety, or a battle with bitterness and anger - there are categories of sin and suffering that we all walk through. Throughout this season Brenda and Alex both share their experiences with the struggles that are common to each of us. We want you to know that in whatever season you find yourself in you are not alone and there is hope and help available.  

⁠Get free discussion questions and visuals for this season

Our theme music is by ⁠⁠As Isaac⁠⁠.

This podcast is made possible by engineers and producers ⁠⁠Zachary Tate Smith⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Shane Selby⁠⁠, executive producer ⁠⁠Meleah Smith⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠generous donors⁠⁠.

⁠⁠Known Ministries⁠⁠ is ⁠⁠Alex Kocher⁠⁠ and Brenda Payne. This fourth season of Conversational Counseling is called "Wisdom for life's common struggles.”

On this episode of Conversational Counseling we are thrilled to have Marty Solomon, creator and executive producer of ⁠The BEMA Podcast⁠ join us!

We talk about the how Jewish scholarship teaches us about the ministry of Jesus and therefore our ministry to others, the theme in the story of the Bible of God's desire to restore relationship after disruption, the value of a deeper understanding of the Text to help us understand who God is more fully, the value of radical community amongst our diversity, a rabbinical model of discipleship, the value of wrestling with questions and nuance, and so much more!

Marty Solomon is an author, content creator, and resource creator on a mission to examine bad readings of the Bible and reconstruct better readings of the Bible that are informed by historical/Jewish context. His recently released book is called Asking Better Questions of the Bible: A Guide for the Wounded, Wary and Longing for More. He is the president and director of discipleship for Impact Campus Ministries. He and his wife, Rebekah, live in Cincinnati with their two children. Find out more about Marty at martysolomon.com.

For free visuals and discussion questions for Conversational Counseling, sign up at ⁠knownministries.org⁠.

Our theme music is by ⁠As Isaac⁠.

This podcast is made possible by engineers and producers ⁠Zachary Tate Smith⁠ and ⁠Shane Selby⁠, executive producer ⁠Meleah Smith⁠, and ⁠generous donors⁠.

⁠Known Ministries⁠ is ⁠Alex Kocher⁠ and Brenda Payne. This third season of Conversational Counseling is called "Key elements of personal ministry.”

Let’s be honest, sometimes as we walk with one another, we just miss it. None of us are perfect and sometimes we get on people’s nerves and even outright hurt them.

In this episode, we highlight some of the ways we can really just be miserable counselors in everyday ministry. Even though we address some serious misses, hopefully you’ll find yourself laughing through this episode and taking yourself a little less seriously.

And remember, what strengthens relationships is not that we never miss people; it’s that we’re willing to own where we’ve missed them and take responsibility for where we’ve missed them. So let’s keep learning together! 

For free visuals and discussion questions for Conversational Counseling, sign up at knownministries.org.

Our theme music is by As Isaac.

This podcast is made possible by engineers and producers Zachary Tate Smith and Shane Selby, executive producer Meleah Smith, and generous donors.

Known Ministries is Alex Kocher and Brenda Payne. This third season of Conversational Counseling is called "Key elements of personal ministry.”

So often when we think about feeling inadequate in ministering to others, it’s because we don’t think we’ll know what to say. We hope by now in this season, that we’ve shown you (ironically, with our words… ha!) how even though we tend to think words should be used first in ministry, so often they really need to be used last.

Before we speak, we really have to remain humble enough to recognize that we don’t have all the answers.

But when the time does come to speak up, how do we know what to say? What to not say? It’s so nuanced and unique in each situation. Our hope in this episode is to give you some tools and frameworks to help you craft hopeful words offering true comfort and a path to change in others’ lives. Not to have all the answers, but to faithfully point people to the One who does. And to use your words to enter in and come alongside others.

For free visuals and discussion questions for Conversational Counseling, sign up at knownministries.org.

Our theme music is by As Isaac.

This podcast is made possible by engineers and producers Zachary Tate Smith and Shane Selby, executive producer Meleah Smith, and generous donors.

Known Ministries is Alex Kocher and Brenda Payne. This third season of Conversational Counseling is called "Key elements of personal ministry.”

On this episode of Conversational Counseling we are thrilled to have Dr. Curt Thompson share about interpersonal neurobiology and embodying the gospel to one another.

We talk about the incredible science of the brain, the Scriptures, how important physical presence is, cultivating community, telling our stories more truly, paying attention to our bodies, suffering, transformation, and more!

Dr. Thompson is known for bringing together a dialect of interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB) and a Christian anthropology to educate and encourage others as they seek to fulfill their intrinsic desire to feel known, valued and connected. Curt understands that deep, authentic relationships are essential to experiencing a healthier, more purposeful life — but the only way to realize this is to begin telling our stories more truly. 

Dr. Curt Thompson's work may be found through curtthompsonmd.com; his Being Known Podcast; his books The Soul of Desire, The Soul of Shame, The Anatomy of the Soul, and The Center for Being Known.

For free visuals and discussion questions for Conversational Counseling, sign up at knownministries.org.

Our theme music is by As Isaac.

This podcast is made possible by engineers and producers Zachary Tate Smith and Shane Selby, executive producer Meleah Smith, and generous donors.

Known Ministries is Alex Kocher and Brenda Payne. This third season of Conversational Counseling is called "Key elements of personal ministry.”

Many of us can think of someone who is just really good at asking questions. It can seem like an unobtainable skill, yet it’s really something we can all grow in!

Rather than assigning motives and misunderstanding people, we can truly just ask the next question to get to know them. Not simply fact finding to satisfy our curiosity, but really learning who they are.

Learning to ask better questions will help us grow into being a holy, healing community.

In this episode we offer examples and paradigms for asking better questions that can help right away but also open up ways of approaching asking questions that can help for a lifetime.

For free visuals and discussion questions for Conversational Counseling, sign up at knownministries.org.

Our theme music is by As Isaac.

This podcast is made possible by engineers and producers Zachary Tate Smith and Shane Selby, executive producer Meleah Smith, and generous donors.

Known Ministries is Alex Kocher and Brenda Payne. This third season of Conversational Counseling is called "Key elements of personal ministry.”

So often, when trouble comes to those we love, we are tempted to be quick to give advice. But the Gospel calls us to listen before we speak. And in our listening, to really seek to know and understand the other person rather than to just try to get information and facts out of them.

This episode has a total of 20 tips you can practically use to pause, see and really experience someone’s story with them.

For free visuals and discussion questions for Conversational Counseling, sign up at knownministries.org.

Our theme music is by As Isaac.

This podcast is made possible by engineers and producers Zachary Tate Smith and Shane Selby, executive producer Meleah Smith, and generous donors.

Known Ministries is Alex Kocher and Brenda Payne. This third season of Conversational Counseling is called "Key elements of personal ministry.”

If we’re going to care for someone, we have to be present with them. But it’s not just being a body in the room, it’s being truly present. Really being an embodied presence so they feel like they’re in the presence of Christ.

Being present with others in this way can be risky and vulnerable. And it definitely requires a lot from us. But when we know that we are beloved by Jesus, we really are empowered to comfort and enter in with others. When we are with Jesus and know that He is with us, we’re able to be with others.

A couple of resources we mention in this episode are:

For free visuals and discussion questions for Conversational Counseling, sign up at knownministries.org.

Our theme music is by As Isaac.

This podcast is made possible by engineers and producers Zachary Tate Smith and Shane Selby, executive producer Meleah Smith, and generous donors.

Known Ministries is Alex Kocher and Brenda Payne. This third season of Conversational Counseling is called "Key elements of personal ministry.”