The Best of You

Have you ever wondered if someone you know might be on the autism spectrum—or even questioned it about yourself?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or even missed entirely, especially in those who don’t fit common stereotypes. In this episode, neuropsychologist Dr. Donna Henderson joins us to unpack the complexities of autism, neurodiversity, and how we can better understand and support those around us.

What You’ll Learn:

* The 7 key criteria for identifying autism

* When to pursue a neuropsychological evaluation

* Why talk therapy often falls short for neurodivergent individuals

* How someone can exhibit an "autistic nervous system" without having ASD

* Practical ways to support loved ones

This conversation will deepen your understanding of neurodiversity and help you see the world - and those you love - in a new light.

Have a question for Dr. Alison? Leave it here.

Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.

If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love:

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Music by Andy Luiten

Sound editing by Kelly Kramarik

While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you ever feel stuck in anxious thoughts?

Are you longing for more moments of calm throughout your day?

Every single one of us has a relationship with anxiety. The goal isn't to eradicate anxiety; it’s to work with anxiety to create more peace and balance in our lives. In this episode, I guide you through a clear, step-by-step understanding of your relationship with anxiety. Whether you’re navigating your own anxious moments or supporting loved ones, you'll learn how to identify root causes and key insights needed to find calm and clarity.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

* How to understand your unique experience with anxiety

* Key root causes of anxiety, including genetics, personality, and environment

* The impact of High Sensitivity (HSP) and neurodivergence on anxiety

* 3 practical techniques to calm anxiety and cultivate strong internal leadership

Have a question for Dr. Alison? Leave it here.

Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.

If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love:

Thanks to our sponsors:

Music by Andy Luiten

Sound editing by Kelly Kramarik

While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you carrying burdens that aren't entirely your own? Could understanding your family's past be the key to unlocking a healthier future?

In this powerful episode, we dive into the concept of generational trauma with my guest, Gina Birkemeier, therapist and author of the book & workbook, “Generations Deep”. Gina shares her personal and professional insights on how deep-seated family issues can affect us and how both faith and therapy play pivotal roles in healing and breaking these cycles.

You'll learn. . .

* What generational trauma is and how it subtly influences our lives

* Why Gina realized that she needed therapy and Jesus

* What epigenetics is and how our genes remember & sometimes inherit the trauma of previous generations

* How to understand cycle breaking & to end the cycle of dysfunction

* About the legacy burdens we carry from our family's past.

Have a question for Dr. Alison? Leave it here.

Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.

If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love:

Thanks to our sponsors:

Music by Andy Luiten

Sound editing by Kelly Kramarik

While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are patterns from your past influencing how you show up in relationships today?

In this episode, we explore how early family dynamics—like criticism, control, & emotional immaturity—shape our adult relationships. This process isn’t about placing blame but about building awareness of behaviors that impact self-worth, boundaries, and relational health. By naming these patterns, we open a path to greater confidence, healthier connections, autonomy, and healing.

In this episode, we cover:

* The two essential ingredients for building secure parent-child attachment

* The role of enmeshment and individuation in emotional health

* 5 common parenting patterns that disrupt secure attachment

* 5 questions to assess how these patterns may be impacting you today

* Practical steps to heal and change

Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.

Have a question or an episode idea? Leave them here.

If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love:

The Best of You: Break Free From Painful Patterns, Mend Your Past, and Discover Your True Self In God

Episode 109: Healing Burdens From the Past—How to Overcome Childhood Wounds and Heal Your Younger Self with Tammy Sollenberger

Thanks to our sponsors:

Music by Andy Luiten

Sound editing by Kelly Kramarik

While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you know that by adulthood, most people have experienced some form of sexual wounding?

Today's conversation with Sam Jolman, therapist and author of the new book, "The Sex Talk You Never Got," is one of my absolute all-time favorites. Why? It truly surprised me.

It’s so rare to find a nuanced conversation about sex—especially in a world where we’re constantly tugged between a reductive view of “purity” and an equally reductive sense of “permissiveness.”

This conversation is packed with absolute gems—there’s depth, wisdom, and healing in every moment that’s relevant to all of us, no matter our stories.

Here’s what we dive into:

- How to establish safety, consent, and trust in intimate relationships

- An eye-opening statistic from Harvard about what kids long for from their parents on the topic of sex

- How to have a truly meaningful “sex talk” with your kids

- What God actually desires from us when it comes to sex

- Sam's advice for those who’ve experienced sexual wounding or brokenness and want to begin the healing process

Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.

Want to receive free bonus content? ⁠⁠Sign up for my free weekly email here.

If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love:

Episode 125: Recovering From Purity Culture: Dismantle the Myths, Reject Shame-Based Sexuality, and Move Forward in Your Faith with Dr. Camden Morgante

Thanks to our sponsors:

Music by Andy Luiten

Sound editing by Kelly Kramarik

While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is a fascinating conversation about the phenomenon of "purity culture." You've heard the phrase, but my guest today, licensed therapist and purity culture expert, Dr. Camden Morgante, is here to explain exactly what it was and how it created a culture of shame, fear, and coercion around sex, especially for women.

We explore the damaging myths purity culture perpetuated and the ways it continues to affect women and married couples, especially around issues of intimacy and self-worth. Dr. Camden shares essential insights on how to heal from these harmful messages and move forward in faith, while also offering practical advice for anyone struggling with shame-based sexuality.

Key Takeaways:

- What purity culture is and its lasting impact on Millennials and Gen X

- The 5 damaging myths, including the "gatekeeper," "damaged goods," & "flipped switch"

- The most important strategy for couples dealing with disappointment around sex

- The real meaning of intimacy beyond physical connection

- Dr. Camden’s practical advice for overcoming shame and reclaiming your faith

Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.

Want to receive free bonus content? ⁠⁠Sign up for my free weekly email here.

If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love:

Episode 48: Loving Your Body as a Spiritual Practice, Why the Flesh Isn’t the Body, and 3 Heresies We Kind of Believe

Thanks to our sponsors:

Music by Andy Luiten

Sound editing by Kelly Kramarik

While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve ever struggled to set boundaries or wondered why it’s so hard to respect them in others, this episode is for you. We dive deep into how to set and receive healthy boundaries, and why so many of us confuse healthy limits with toxic behaviors. Spoiler: setting boundaries isn’t selfish—it’s necessary for healthy, thriving relationships.

But that’s not all. When our boundaries are shaky, complicated emotions—like guilt, resentment, or anxiety—often arise. And instead of dealing with them, many of us reach for quick fixes: we numb. We avoid confronting those tough feelings that boundaries bring to the surface. Today, I’ll break down why we numb, how to recognize it, and the steps you can take to stop avoiding your emotions and start healing.

This episode covers:

* The difference between healthy boundaries and toxic behaviors

* How to communicate boundaries without guilt or shame

* Practical ways to receive boundaries from others gracefully

* How to recognize when you’re numbing emotions (and what to do about it)

* Why boundaries and emotional numbing are deeply connected—and how to untangle them

You deserve relationships that nourish you, not drain you. This episode will help you understand the power of boundaries and guide you toward emotional freedom.

Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.

Want to receive free bonus content? ⁠⁠Sign up for my free weekly email here.

If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love:

Episode 24: Boundaries, the Spectrum of Toxicity, and a Note About Evil

Episode 26: How to say "No" to toxicity

Thanks to our sponsors:

Music by Andy Luiten

Sound editing by Kelly Kramarik

While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you do after someone hurts you?

How do you heal the pain that lingers inside of you?

This is such an incredibly helpful, honest and vulnerable conversation with my friend and fellow therapist Chuck DeGroat, author of the brand new book Healing What's Within. Chuck taught us so much about the harmful realities of narcissism in his book, When Narcissism Comes to Church, and now he's helping us heal the lingering wounds.

Here’s what we cover:

1. The moment that launched 5 years of inner chaos for Chuck

2. 3 surprising questions God asks to each of us

3. How Adam & Eve were manipulated

4. The first step when dealing with narcissism

5. How take feedback from others

6. How to ask for what you need from others

Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.

Pre-order Healing What’s Within: Coming Home to Yourself--and to God--When You're Wounded, Weary, and Wandering

If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love:

Episode 97: I Shouldn't Feel This Anxious—Insights on Trauma & Healing with Monique Koven

Thanks to our sponsors:

Music by Andy Luiten

Sound editing by Kelly Kramarik

While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Has anxiety ever made it hard for you to connect with God?

Do you love God but sometimes struggle with church?

Today's episode is such a breath of fresh air. I had the pleasure of diving into a deep, insightful conversation with New York Times bestselling author John Mark Comer. We explore the powerful intersection of mental, emotional, and spiritual health, uncovering how these aspects work together to create a whole, integrated person.

Here’s what we cover:‍

1. Misconceptions in the church about true discipleship

2. The benefits and limits of therapy for personal growth

3. What to do when anxiety or past trauma make it hard to engage spiritual practices

4. John Mark’s candid experiences with therapy and what he’s learned

5. The two essential spiritual practices for holistic well-being

6. Our thoughts on the overlapping circles of emotional & spiritual maturity

Listen to Dr. Alison Cook discuss fasting with John Mark Comer on the Rule of Life Podcast

Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.

If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love:

Thanks to our sponsors:

Music by Andy Luiten

Sound editing by Kelly Kramarik

While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all face doubt, disappointment, and even disillusionment at times.

In today’s episode, I’m sharing with you my framework for cultivating a vibrant inner spirituality—one that doesn’t bypass or exile the hard parts of this faith journey.

Here’s what I cover:

1. The surprising secret to emotionally resilient faith

2. What is an inner family of parts?

3. Research on different faith orientations

4. The 5 languages (e.g. parts!) of faith

5. How to honor (& lead) each of these parts

Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.

Have questions? Leave them for me here!

Sign up for my weekly email and get free resources here

If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love:

Boundaries For Your Soul Series on Youtube

Thanks to our sponsors:

Music by Andy Luiten

Sound editing by Kelly Kramarik

While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices