I'm still here! I have just been writing, books, thesis etc. Also, moving through lots of grief and loss in my chaplaincy work.

As always, connect with me best via www.davidtensen.com

This is a reading of a recent blog article by the same title. It was too popular and important to people to keep in writing, so here it is on the podcast.

Find this on Youtube, my blog, substack, linkedin and facebook

This is an audio extract from an interview/converation that I (David) had with Tara boothby on her Youtube channel "Sojourn Psychology With Tara Boothby"

The first 17 minutes we talk about the Collective Wisdom Academy and local church,

then at around 17:00 we speak about different cultures, ADHD, my new book and things that impact on our spiritual formation as we move through life.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXmhwxVLrK4

It's full of goodness! Tara is a wealth of joy and wisdom.

Also mentioned:

For more info on the Collective Wisdom Academy:https://collectivewisdomacademy.com/The Theology Summit this May 19-22, 2025, in Canmore, Alberta, is 80% full. Don't miss out, register today:

https://sojo.ca/resources/theology-summit-canmore-may-2025/

In this episode, I talk with Felicia Murrell about the art of deep listening and her personal journey from childhood invisibility to becoming a spiritual companion. We explore how her early experiences of feeling unseen shaped her path to becoming someone who creates sacred space for others to be heard.

Felicia shares candidly about her transition from traditional ministry roles to spiritual companioning, and how this shift reflects a deeper understanding of presence and wisdom. Our discussion touches on parenting adult children, the annual family tradition that keeps their bonds strong, and the complexities of healing from childhood parentification.

This interview is full of moving moments including when Felicia discusses how she approaches parenting adult children, plus shares of her relationship with her mother and the liberating realisation that helped her find peace. She also offers insights into why some struggle with listening, linking it beautifully to our human fears of being truly seen.

About Felicia:

Website: feliciamurrell.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/felicia.murrell.9

About Felicia's latest book:

In this episode, I explore the six stages of faith from Janet Hagberg and Robert Gulich's book 'The Critical Journey'. Drawing from my personal experiences and nearly three decades of working with people in the faith space, I break down how our faith journey evolves through Recognition of God, Life of Discipleship, Productive Life, Journey Inward (including The Wall), Journey Outward, and Life of Love.

Through stories and insights, I explain why some get stuck at certain stages, how religious institutions often excel at the first three stages but struggle with the later ones, and what propels us forward in our spiritual growth. I share my own decade-long wrestle through The Wall - a pivotal point where our old ways of relating to God no longer work.

This framework offers valuable insights for anyone questioning their faith, feeling stuck, or sensing a call to something deeper. Whether you're serving actively in ministry, deconstructing your beliefs, or seeking authentic spirituality, understanding these stages may just help your path forward.

Critical Journey - Stages of Faith Overview PDF

Further Reading

Journey through The Life Model - my favorite developmental framework and the most valuable tool I've discovered for raising children. This exploration highlights the critical stages of maturity - from infant to elder - and why understanding these life stages is crucial for personal growth and community wellbeing. Learn why some adults struggle with relationships, how modern parenting philosophies may be holding us back, and what it truly means to become an elder in today's society.

Whether you're a young adult finding your way, a parent seeking wisdom, or someone interested in leaving a lasting legacy, this episode offers profound insights into the journey of human maturation and the vital role of authentic elderhood in our modern world.

Resources Mentioned

LifeModelWorks

Overview worksheet

As always, I love and value your feedback. Email me ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠, leave a comment or find me on socials.

Find more of my writings and resources at www.davidtensen.com/quicklinks

We are talking attachment theory today. Lucky for me I have wonderful friend in Canada, Tara Boothby, who runs a psychology and counselling clinic to chat with about it! Tara specialises in attachment theory approaches and had so many wonderful things to share about the theory, faith, family, co-regulation, her new book, and much more. Below is Tara's bio and a link to a 2025 event happening in Canmore, Alberta with some of our favourite people!

Watch this on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/5YXpNZ5wpzk

#TaraBoothy #attachment #attachmenttheory #psychology #faith #deconstruction #DavidTensen

The question that sparked this episode from a couple of listeners was: "My faith has evolved. So do I still call myself a Christian -  even when others might not?"

Well, this isn't just a faith or religious question, this is an identity question.  One that leads to other connected questions like:
In what ways can deconstruction reshape our understanding of meaning?
Are there practical steps to integrate multiple identities harmoniously?
How do environmental influences impact identity development across different stages of life?

In this walk-and-talk we take a look at our how our faith evolves over time and explore reasons why some people manage identities that are complex and open, while others remain low, and often guarded.

You'll have plenty of 'ahaa' moments!

I deep dive into the real origins of deconstruction using Derrida's work (1950s) and use Brewer's Social Identity Complexity theory (2000s) to consider how and why you don't always have to 'be' a Christian - that it depends.

As always, I love and value your feedback. Email me ⁠[email protected]⁠, leave a comment or find me on socials.

Find more of my writings and resources at www.davidtensen.com/quicklinks

We continue to explore the Christian experience through lenses of different theoretical frameworks.

This episode continues from the last. I do a deep dive into applying Ecological Systems Theory (EST) to religious experience. EST is pretty easy to understand, and everyone will be able to relate - chances are though, you haven't heard it used in this context. But it is super helpful!

Listen in and you'll see how multilayered our lives really are and how we are all affected and surrounded by very complex systems that shape our lives.

Embracing this complexity, may help you become more compassionate and understanding of others - and most importantly, with yourself.

Find charts, details and notes on my blog here: https://davidtensen.com/podcast-s02-e03-exploring-perspectives-pt2-your-christian-experience-through-ecological-systems-theory/

As always, I love and value your feedback. Email me [email protected], leave a comment or find me on socials.

Find more of my writings and resources at www.davidtensen.com/quicklinks

In this episode I reflect on challenging one's perspectives around church and spirituality. I discuss the impact of complex systems on spiritual development and influence, borrowing from American psychologist Urie Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory (EST).

If you are open to considering different perspectives and frameworks to aid personal growth and healing from spiritual and church abuse, this may be a worth a listen.

Here are some links of videos explaining the basics of EST:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRdlWPB8xS4

https://youtu.be/g6pUQ4EDHeQ?si=scx8BLlEZukq_ptK

Find more of my writings and resources at www.davidtensen.com/quicklinks