What if true healing isn't found in chasing spiritual experiences—but in deeply knowing Christ?

In this episode, Heidi sits down with Psychologist Dr. Anita Marchesani to explore her journey from charismatic Protestant spaces into the historic faith of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Together, they unpack spiritual discernment in a time when supernatural experiences are increasing—and often misunderstood. This conversation brings clarity to what's truly from God, and how humility, suffering, and surrender shape real transformation.

This conversation opens the door to important questions about how we interpret Scripture, pursue healing, and stay grounded in truth.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why discernment matters in spiritual experiences
• The risks of New Age influence in Christian spaces
• The deeper meaning of communion and early Church practices
• How true healing is formed through humility and surrender

"Be still, and know that I am God." — Psalm 46:10

Anita's Substack: https://substack.com/@thedranitagroup

Dr. Anita's book Be Still: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Uncovering-Achieving-Happiness-Wholeness/dp/0578226758

Find more about Heidi: www.heidimortensonlmft.com

Join my mailing list: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t5u2y5

If you are in crisis, help is available by call or text 1-800-273-8255 24/7. You can also visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. You are loved!

What if spiritual maturity isn't measured by how powerful an encounter feels… but by how we love the person right in front of us?

In this episode, Heidi shares a personal reflection on her faith being refined—learning to hold both the gifts of the Spirit and a deeper commitment to Scripture, discernment, and emotional health.

As conversations around revival, deliverance, and spiritual experiences continue to grow, there is an important question we must ask:

Are we missing the person right in front of us? Are we overlooking the hurting in pursuit of the miraculous?

Through both a biblical and psychological lens, Heidi explores how true discernment is not just about recognizing truth—but expressing that truth through love.

Because healing doesn't just come through power. It also comes through being seen, known, and safely held.

WHAT YOU'LL GAIN FROM THIS EPISODE

• A deeper understanding of hesed—God's steadfast, relational love • How attachment and emotional safety reflect God's design for healing • Discernment of when spirituality is bypassing pain vs. truly healing it • A framework for integrating faith, mental health, and whole-person healing

"The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love (hesed) and faithfulness." — Exodus 34:6

Schedule a FREE 15-minute clarity call: https://calendly.com/heidimortenson/15min

Find more about Heidi: www.heidimortensonlmft.com

· Release What Isn't Yours FREE Download: https://subscribepage.io/IAqSlk

· If you are in crisis, help is available by call or text 1-800-273-8255 24/7. You can also visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. You are loved!

What happens when someone deeply embedded in darkness encounters the real Jesus?

In this powerful episode, Heidi sits down with Riaan Swiegelaar, former co-founder and leader of the South African Satanic Church, who shares his radical transformation after encountering the love and truth of Christ.

Together, they unpack the difference between true discernment and a critical spirit, the dangers of counterfeit spiritual practices, and why many believers are missing the power of a genuine relationship with the Holy Spirit.

This conversation will challenge, stretch, and strengthen your understanding of authority, identity, and freedom in Christ—and remind you that Jesus is still delivering, healing, and transforming lives today.

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." — John 8:32

What You'll Gain From This Episode

• How to discern between the Holy Spirit and counterfeit spiritual practices
• The difference between true discernment and a critical or religious spirit
• Why intimacy with God—not striving—develops spiritual authority
• A deeper understanding of deliverance and the role of Jesus (not human effort)
• How to walk in your identity and authority in Christ with clarity and confidence

Riaan's website: www.deliverance4me.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riaan_swiegelaar?igsh=eG5sNTE2dGE0bTUw

Find more about Heidi: www.heidimortensonlmft.com

If you are in crisis, help is available by call or text 1-800-273-8255 24/7. You can also visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. You are loved!

Are you carrying emotional or spiritual weight that may not actually belong to you?

In this episode, Heidi shares how to recognize and release burdens God never asked you to hold. If you're feeling overwhelmed by others' expectations, ministry pressures, or leadership responsibilities, this conversation will help you return to peace and clarity.

In this episode you'll learn:

• How to recognize the difference between compassion and responsibility • Why your nervous system signals when you're carrying too much • A biblical framework for releasing anxiety and emotional burdens • How to refocus on your God-given assignment • A simple spiritual practice to give your burdens back to God

As Scripture reminds us:

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." — 1 Peter 5:7

If this episode encourages you, be sure to subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find hope, healing, and clarity in their walk with God.

Schedule a FREE 15-minute clarity call: https://calendly.com/heidimortenson/15min

Find more about Heidi: www.heidimortensonlmft.com

· Join my mailing list: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t5u2y5

· If you are in crisis, help is available by call or text 1-800-273-8255 24/7. You can also visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. You are loved!

How do you actually know when God is speaking?

Pam shares her personal story of walking with God through family dysfunction, deep loss, and healing, and how those experiences taught her to depend on the Holy Spirit's guidance.

Together Heidi and Pam explore four levels of listening—listening to, listening for, listening with, and listening in—and how these help believers grow in discerning God's voice in everyday life.

In this conversation you'll learn:

• How to recognize God's voice vs. your own thoughts • How to identify the enemy's accusations and lies • Why slowing down and listening before reacting matters spiritually • How to test prophetic words and spiritual impressions • Practical ways to grow in hearing God more clearly

Pam also leads listeners through a simple listening exercise and closes the episode by praying for those who want to grow in discerning God's voice.

John 10:27 "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."

Pam's website: Blueprintlife.com

Pam's book: https://www.amazon.com/Listen-hearing-vs-listening-God-Help-ebook/dp/B0DMZNDDQB/ref=sr_1_1?crid=225SUO0T93X8T&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.6qRHbNDZcbbdwyV01QtBlg.X1n2hzWzcBcYuaOkzq1uj4r6sGsgIk5roSagfxaGo_I&dib_tag=se&keywords=pamela+mertz+listen+in&qid=1773573926&sprefix=pamela+mertz+listen+in%2Caps%2C131&sr=8-1

Find more about Heidi: www.heidimortensonlmft.com

· Join my mailing list: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t5u2y5

· If you are in crisis, help is available by call or text 1-800-273-8255 24/7. You can also visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. You are loved!

What happens when deep faith collides with deep hurt?

In this powerful and nuanced conversation, Heidi Mortenson sits down with Jeremy Butros to explore his journey through church hurt, ministry trauma, and personal healing. Jeremy openly shares his experiences of childhood verbal abuse and the trauma he says he endured while working in ministry contexts connected to Bob Hartley and Shawn Bolz.

Rather than offering sensationalism or blame, this episode dives into the complexity of navigating spiritual leadership, boundary violations, forgiveness, and personal responsibility. Jeremy reflects on his time in high-level ministry environments—including working with Shawn Bolz—and the 2–3 year healing process that led him toward emotional integration, self-mastery, and spiritual maturity.

This conversation holds space for both pain and faith—offering wisdom for anyone wrestling with church-related trauma while longing to stay anchored in God.

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." ~Psalm 34:18

What You Will Gain

• An honest conversation about church hurt and ministry-related trauma
• Insight into trauma responses and long-term healing
• A balanced perspective on forgiveness, boundaries, and accountability
• Encouragement to pursue professional help alongside faith

Follow Jeremy on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyButrous/videos

Find more about Heidi: www.heidimortensonlmft.com

If you are in crisis, help is available by call or text 1-800-273-8255 24/7. You can also visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. You are loved!

What do you do when the Church feels unstable?

When ministries you respected face exposure… When leadership disappoints you… When questions shake what once felt certain…

In this honest and pastoral episode, Heidi Mortenson speaks directly to the sheep — not just about leaders, but about how to stay rooted in God when confusion rises.

This conversation explores how to discern without becoming cynical, how to separate Jesus from human systems, and how to mature spiritually without losing tenderness. Heidi reflects on governance gaps and leadership responsibility, but the deeper focus is this:

How do believers find God again — personally, quietly, safely — when trust has been disrupted?

If you're feeling disoriented, disillusioned, or unsure what to believe, this episode offers grounding, humility, and hope.

Your faith was never meant to rest on personalities. It rests on Christ.

"When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I." — Psalm 61:2

Join the coaching group: https://heidimortenson.squarespace.com/rwgroupcoaching

· Join my mailing list: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t5u2y5

· If you are in crisis, help is available by call or text 1-800-273-8255 24/7. You can also visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. You are loved!

What happens when God interrupts a life headed for destruction? What happens when addiction, depression, identity confusion, and trauma collide with the power of Jesus?

In this raw and powerful episode of the Strong Tower Mental Health Podcast, Heidi sits down with Pastor Michael to talk about deliverance, healing, spiritual warfare, and what real freedom actually looks like.

Michael shares his testimony — from growing up in church to addiction, pornography, depression, and medication dependence — and how an encounter with Jesus rewrote his story.

Together, they explore: • How God restores identity and heals trauma • Why spiritual warfare is real — and how to walk in victory • The role of prayer, fasting, and obedience in lasting freedom • Finding purpose on the other side of pain

You'll walk away with renewed hope, practical steps for spiritual growth, and the reminder that no one is too far gone for God.

Your past does not define you. Your pain does not disqualify you. Your future is still being written.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." ~2 Corinthians 5:17

Activation Church's website: www.activationchurch.life

Find more about Heidi: www.heidimortensonlmft.com

Join my mailing list: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t5u2y5

If you are in crisis, help is available by call or text 1-800-273-8255 24/7. You can also visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. You are loved!

What if your struggle to be still isn't spiritual failure—but a nervous system that learned survival? In this episode, we explore how to train your body, soul, and spirit to experience God's presence in a real, sustainable way. If you feel restless, bored, agitated, or unable to slow down with God, this conversation will gently show you that stillness is a skill that can be learned.

You'll learn:

• Why stillness is biblical and essential for hearing God • How trauma and overstimulation affect spiritual focus • What to do when boredom or agitation rises • Simple practices to train your nervous system for rest • How stillness strengthens your ability to stay in your God-given assignment

This episode is an invitation into a slower, safer, more rooted way of walking with God. "Be still, and know that I am God." — Psalm 46:10

What if Jesus isn't just relevant to your faith—but deeply relevant to your emotions, your mind, and your mental health?

What if Jesus cares about your mental health as much as your faith? In this episode of the Strong Tower Mental Health Podcast, Heidi is joined by licensed marriage and family therapist and author Rebecca Maxwell to explore how biblical truth and psychology work together in emotional healing. Rebecca shares her journey to faith and insights from her book Jesus and Mental Health, revealing how Jesus models emotional health and why slow healing can still be sacred.

In this episode, you'll gain: • A biblical framework for understanding emotions and mental health • Insight into how Jesus models healthy emotional processing • Clarity on how faith and therapy can work together • Encouragement if healing feels slow or discouraging • Hope for anyone feeling stuck emotionally despite loving God

Bible Verse: Romans 12:2 (ESV) — "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

This conversation offers hope-filled truth for anyone seeking healing, renewal, and wholeness in Christ.

Rebecca's website: www.jesusandyourmentalhealth.com

Find more about Heidi: www.heidimortensonlmft.com

Join my mailing list: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t5u2y5

If you are in crisis, help is available by call or text 1-800-273-8255 24/7. You can also visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. You are loved!