Therapy is a powerful tool that aids us in navigating complex issues, pain, trauma, and anxieties that are inherent to the human experience. The concept of seeing a therapist or a “shrink” was once considered taboo but has now become widely accepted in our culture as a normal response to challenging situations.

However, as with many aspects of life, the shift towards acceptance can sometimes lead to overemphasis. Ironically, we find ourselves in an era with an unprecedented number of therapists, yet the prevalence of mental health issues remains at an alarming level. Some individuals even experience a worsening of their condition after undergoing therapy.

In this episode, we delve into the intricate dynamics of modern therapy. We examine the challenges inherent in traditional therapeutic models, highlight the significance of reframing negative thought patterns, and explore the role of faith in fostering mental well-being.

Sponsor:

The Wellness Company

Website: ⁠https://www.twc.health/lovelife⁠

Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!

Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson

Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/

Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook

Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

Today we conclude Elliott's 2 part sermon series on Spiritual Thinking from Philippians 4:6-9. If you missed part 1 make sure to check out Ep. 367.

For more of Elliott’s sermons, please visit: ⁠https://solidrock.faith/⁠ 

Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson

Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/

Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook

Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

Sponsor:

The Wellness Company

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.twc.health/lovelife⁠⁠

Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!

Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson

Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/

Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook

Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

Elliott is back and he’s here today to share a 2-part message series he gave at his church, Solid Rock Church, on spiritual thinking. The series covers Philippians 4:6-9, with Part 1 covering verses 6-7 and Part 2 verses 8-9. 

In his 30 years of experience as a therapist, a counselor, and a spiritual renewal mentor, it dawned on Elliott the necessity and the power of spiritual thinking and how it impacts our lives. 

Far too often, our thoughts can be fixated on worries, anxieties, and condemnation to ourselves or others.

These thoughts can destroy relationships, destroy lives, and block our influence and our inspiration to our community. 

Elliott’s message is strong and direct, and we hope it challenges you. We hope it helps you to recognize and deal with this concept of spiritual thinking in your life. 

For more of Elliott’s sermons, please visit: https://solidrock.faith/ 

Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson

Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/

Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook

Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

Sponsor:

The Wellness Company

Website: ⁠https://www.twc.health/lovelife⁠

Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!

Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson

Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/

Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook

Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

Dr. Karin and Pastor Elliott will be back next week but in the mean time we are replaying Ep. 307, one of our more popular episodes on mental health! Whether you're hearing this episode again or for the first time we hope it will empower you!

___________________________________

Recently, I read an article in Time Magazine titled, “America Has Reached Peak Therapy. Why Is Our Mental Health Getting Worse?”

Obviously, the content was quite sobering. How is it that mental health awareness is up, stigma is down—and yet, we’re more depressed and anxious than ever!?!

I knew I wanted to discuss the article with Elliott and share it with the Love & Life community.

Specifically, we unpack:

1. The unintended consequences of a culture of “Mental Health Awareness.”
2. How health insurance impacts the practice of psychotherapy—and even our understanding of emotional distress in general.
3. How changes in counselors’ training programs affect not only the therapist/client relationship, but also the psychological community as a whole.

Oh, and let’s not forget Pharma. The realities we highlight throughout the episode wouldn’t be occurring without a healthy dose—pun intended—of Big Pharma influence.

Join us as we break down the current landscape while also providing hope for a more holistic, empowered approach to emotional wellbeing!

Article: ⁠https://time.com/6308096/therapy-mental-health-worse-us/⁠

Simon Says by Elliott Anderson: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Simon-Says-Principles-Perspectives-Anderson/dp/0915725207/ref=sr_1_1?crid=21PGSPXG7KW7C&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Kqa9NtnahBSuA6fJUyPREA.6ErqUgC2UO2Knyzxu7gH7227M7SxOuadKhb9ZenpX6w&dib_tag=se&keywords=simon+says+elliott+anderson&qid=1717619097&sprefix=simon+says+elliott+anderson%2Caps%2C135&sr=8-1⁠ 

Sponsors:

The Wellness Company

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.twc.health/lovelife⁠⁠

Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!

Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson

Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/

Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook

Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

Recently, I was invited to appear on a podcast called "We Need to Talk with Dr. Darcy Sterling". On that podcast, we got into a lot of dating topics that I used to cover on Love & Life before Elliott joined. 

- what to look for in the early days

- the dynamic of the dating relationships

- what red flags to notice

- what flag may not be all that red (but we should still pay attention to them)

- and more!

All these kinds of issues are things that Elliot and I are very passionate about. So we asked Dr. Sterling if we could share my interview on her program with you, the Love and Life family. We hope you enjoy my conversation with Dr. Darcy Sterling!

__________________________________

I’ve worked with so many smart, successful people who keep finding themselves in relationships that just don’t work. They’re self-aware, they’ve done the therapy, and on paper, they’re a catch. So why do they keep picking partners who can’t meet them where they are?

In this episode, I’m joined by psychologist and “Love & Life” podcast host Dr. Karin Anderson Abrell to talk about why high-functioning people so often end up in low-quality relationships—and what to do about it.

We’re breaking down:

Why emotionally intelligent people sometimes ignore red flags.

The role fantasy and projection play in choosing the wrong partners.

How to tell the difference between chemistry and compatibility.

What “dating at your level” really looks like.

How to stop mistaking potential for actual partnership.

If you’ve ever thought, “Maybe I’m the common denominator,” this conversation is for you. Because sometimes, you’re not the problem—you’re just dating one.

🎧 Hit play. Let’s talk about it.

Xxoo Darcy

REFERENCES/RESOURCES

www.alternativescounseling.com

Stat on DSM

https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj-2...

CREDITS

“We Need To Talk With Dr. Darcy Sterling” is a Sterling Standard Production. Editing and sound engineering by Bart Migal. Our theme music is by Trending Music. Special thanks to Amanda Cristiani and Robyn Jaenchen. 

DISCLAIMER

https://www.askdrdarcy.com/disclaimer/

Instagram:@drdarcysterling 

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Facebook:Dr.Darcy Sterling

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Tik Tok:@doctordarcysterling  

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Summer is in full swing and that means while Dr. Karin and Pastor Elliott are out we are going back in time to Ep. 262 and replay one of our more popular episodes on mental health! We believe this topic is just as relevant today as it was back in 2023. Whether you're hearing this episode again or for the first time we hope it will empower you!

We’re in the midst of a mental health war. Over the last 50 years, we’ve raised awareness and developed abundant treatment options, yet Americans’ rates of depression and anxiety continue to skyrocket (Whitaker, 2015).

Today, Elliott and I discuss my reflections on his recent messages about the epidemics of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and addiction.

We conceptualize the current mental health landscape as a war for two reasons:  (1) because so many Americans battle psychological concerns and (2) professionals are in the midst of deeply contentious disputes regarding how to best treat clients’ emotional distress.

Pharmaceutical corporations and many psychiatrists view this issue through a medical model i.e. patients are diagnosed with psychiatric illnesses and are prescribed pills to manage symptoms. But despite an exponential increase in the use of psychotropic medications, the number of Americans filing disability claims due to mental conditions has tripled over the last two decades (Whitaker, 2015).

Elliott and I argue that a “medicalized” framework pathologizes reasonable responses to trauma and pain; this frameworks also disempowers clients—which is both an unintended and unfortunate consequence. Furthermore, and very importantly, most pharmaceutical interventions for psychological conditions simply don’t work as promised—if at all (Brogan, 2016, 2019; Whitaker, 2015). 

Join our conversation to learn the necessary tactics for engaging in this mental health war!

Works Cited

Brogan, K. (2016). A mind of your own:  The truth about depression and how women can heal their bodies to reclaim their lives. Harper Wave.

Brogan, K. (2019). Own yourself:  The surprising path beyond depression, anxiety, and fatigue to reclaiming your authenticity, vitality, and freedom. Hay House.

Spielmans, G., Spence-Sing, T., & Parry, P. (2020). Duty to warn:  Antidepressant black box suicidality warning is empirically justified. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 20. ttps://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00018/full

Whitaker, R. (2015). Anatomy of an epidemic. Broadway Books.

Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson

Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/

Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook

Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

We’ve been a series for the past month, taking a counter-cultural approach to the mainstream use of medications. These medications have been normalized by medical professionals and big businesses for decades, and those who experience negative side effects are often demoralized and shunned.

In today’s episode, Elliott offers his response to this series and helps us continue unpack these topics. He also shares with us his LOVE approach, which gives us some practical application to a subject that affects us on so many levels. 

These topics can be heavy and may impact us personally or our closest relationships with family and friends. We hope you find encouragement and practical tools you can incorporate into your daily life. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions or comments about these topics! 

Sponsor:

The Wellness Company

Website: ⁠https://www.twc.health/lovelife⁠

Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!

Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson

Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/

Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook

Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

Over the last 10 years, there’s been an exponential growth in the number of children diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

“Gender affirming care” prescribes puberty blockers to keep children from developing naturally. Doctors often claim puberty blockers merely “pause” physical development—suggesting children can “un-pause” the process and resume puberty at will.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Psychiatric nurse, Dave Wayne, joins us to continue our series about commonly prescribed medications which may have detrimental side effects.

We discuss the realities of puberty blockers, including:

• the fact they’re used to chemically castrate sex offenders in Europe

• the irreversible physical damage they cause

• the resulting cognitive impairment

The research is clear—puberty blockers cause irreparable harm to children’s emotional, physical, and cognitive development.

It’s high time we adults start protecting children, as opposed to “affirming” their delusions.

Citations

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.14.25327614v1

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/dec/17/johanna-olson-kennedy-doctor-won-release-transgend/

Sponsor:

The Wellness Company

Website: ⁠https://www.twc.health/lovelife⁠

Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!

David Wayne

Website: ⁠https://www.describe.health⁠

Instagram: @david.wayne.rn

Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson

Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/

Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook

Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

Psychiatric nurse and Love & Life favorite David Wayne returns to the show today as we continue our series examining drugs that most of us consider completely safe, effective, and harmless. In this conversation, we discuss one of the most commonly prescribed drugs: antidepressants.

David witnessed firsthand how these drugs had profound impacts on the health of his patients…

Spoiler alert: it wasn’t good.

More than the negative impacts of these drugs, however, David believes the public has not been informed about the dangerous side effects and at times lifelong impact these drugs can cause.

As a result, patients are not being provided proper informed consent.

Whether you agree, disagree, or have never heard this side of the position before, we hope this episode will encourage you to think critically and conduct your own research as you start to question the status quo that has infused our cultural for decades regarding these medications.

To learn more about David’s story, please check out the other Love & Life appearances he has made over the years here:Ep. 298 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/4jHUtoWp04Bqw8fjjYjmoR?si=2TCsg4ATTyqrM3uzsNW-gw Ep. 299 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/0rBQyYgzQ8PJZlkhVG3f1o?si=gQrDg-5VQR6F7804f6ohrQ Ep. 316 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/58PblFM1gvijGfx8DF8Yrp?si=QnzwREsBQqCE8-z84ayg3QEp. 321 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5rOU5CwPeS38aRpgIh1p7D?si=QfKkO9TIRaqFdSbfhEbkwAEp. 324 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3rkQJAXYiyxDSIKzAilSQh?si=wgcOiuQ8TLaTLarLtCjbTw

Sponsor:The Wellness CompanyWebsite: ⁠https://www.twc.health/lovelife⁠Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!David WayneWebsite: ⁠https://www.describe.health⁠Instagram: @david.wayne.rnDr. Karin & Pastor Elliott AndersonWebsite: http://loveandlifemedia.com/Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBookInstagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

Today we continue my conversation with Lori Wold as we discuss how Lori's daughter Dana's world was turned upside after taking just 6 pills of a routine antibiotic.

In Part 2, we talk about ways Dana was able to regain parts of her life back as well as providing support for those who have experienced similar injuries.

This episode is the second installment in a new series examining drugs most of us consider completely safe, effective, and harmless.

If you or anyone you know has a similar story please go to loveandlifemedia.com and share your story with us by clicking on the "Contact" tab.

Resources: ⁠https://mountainsandmustardseedssite.wordpress.com/2017/03/18/this-antibiotic-will-ruin-you/⁠

Sponsor:

The Wellness Company

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.twc.health/lovelife

⁠⁠Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!

Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson

Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/

Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook

Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson