What if fear isn’t a warning sign—but a signal you’re stepping into something that matters?

I’m joined by the brilliant and creative Mary Marantz to explore why fear often shows up right before a breakthrough—and how to stop seeing it as a reason to back down.

We also get into:
* How fear hides behind perfectionism, people-pleasing, and procrastination
* The surprising link between fear and creativity
* Why grief is often the first step in learning to trust yourself
* What it means to become the “grown-up in the room” for your own healing
* How naming your inner critic can help disarm its power

Check out Mary’s new book Underestimated!

📞 Don’t forget—We want to hear from you! What’s one area of your emotional, mental, or spiritual health where you’d like to grow? Call 307-429-2525 and leave a voicemail with your name, where you’re from, and your answer. Your voice may be featured in a future episode!

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

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

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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.

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Why do I feel guilty for protecting my time or energy?

Is this a boundary—or am I just avoiding someone?

Boundaries stir up a lot of emotions. But what if they’re not about building walls, avoiding people, or being “selfish”?

In this episode, I share a deeply personal and surprising take on what boundaries truly are—and why they matter more than you think.

You'll hear:

*Why healthy boundaries begin not with rejection, but with rhythm

*The two most common ways we misuse boundaries

*A powerful metaphor that changed how I think about relationships

*How codependency, enmeshment, and burnout signal boundary issues

*Real-life scripts and strategies to set boundaries with compassion and clarity

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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Editing by Giulia Hjort

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 felt emotionally exhausted—even while doing all the “right” things—this episode is for you.

I’m sharing a personal story and unpacking something I see in so many women I work with: the quiet, often unnoticed pattern of denying your own needs in the name of being kind, helpful, or faithful.

We’ll talk about how these patterns take root, how faith communities can unknowingly reinforce them, and why that emotional exhaustion you’re feeling might be trying to tell you something important.

In this episode, I explore:

* How codependency hides behind helping & overfunctioning

* How the fawn response might be showing up in your life

* The impact of church messages that tell us to "die to ourselves" without teaching us how to live

* What healthy dependence looks like

* Why your locus of control—internal vs. external—matters more than you think

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:

Editing by Giulia Hjort

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

This week, I’m joined by someone whose work has profoundly shaped my own healing journey—Dr. Hillary McBride. A psychologist, researcher, author, and speaker, Hillary is a leading voice in the integration of embodiment, spirituality, and trauma recovery. We discuss her personal story as well as themes from her powerful new book, Holy Hurt: Understanding Spiritual Trauma and the Process of Healing.

Whether you’ve struggled with body image, experienced spiritual harm, or simply long to feel more whole—this conversation is for you.

We explore:

* Hillary’s story of healing from an eating disorder—and how it led her into her life’s work

* Why body image issues are never just about the body

* How trauma fragments our nervous system and disrupts our sense of safety, trust, and self

* What spiritual trauma is and how it can quietly take root in early beliefs and experiences

* How our attachment to God is often shaped by relational wounds—and what healing can look like

Order your copy of Holy Hurt 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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Editing by Giulia Hjort

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 feel constantly driven to get everything right—to be the perfect partner, parent, worker, or friend? On this week's solo episode, Dr. Alison explores the hidden relationship between perfectionism and anxiety, revealing how trying to be perfect is often a disguised way of managing deeper fears.

You'll discover:

* Why perfectionism is rarely about actually being perfect.

* The main ways anxiety cleverly disguises itself.

* The surprising question you need to ask yourself when you can’t stop perfecting.

* Practical steps to break free from perfectionistic behaviors.

Today's episode will give you proven strategies to finally break free from perfectionism.

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:

Editing by Giulia Hjort

Sound design by Kelly Kramarik

Music by Andy Luiten

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 overwhelmed by the invisible yet relentless responsibilities that occupy your mind every single day? You’re not alone. In today’s insightful conversation, Dr. Alison welcomes psychologist and relationship expert Dr. Morgan Cutlip, author of a brand new book, A Better Share, to unpack the complexities of the mental load. Dr. Cutlip brings clarity and practical strategies to a topic that often creates tension and misunderstanding within families.

Together, they explore:

* The definition and dimensions of the mental load—physical, mental, and emotional.

* Why women typically bear more of this invisible labor.

* How to recognize signs of mental overload and prevent burnout and resentment.

* Practical, real-world solutions for effectively communicating and sharing responsibilities with your partner.

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

In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Alison talks with Sheila Wray Gregoire, groundbreaking author of The Great Sex Rescue. They confront harmful misconceptions about sexual intimacy within Christian marriages, amplifying the often-overlooked voices of women.

Sheila shares powerful insights drawn from her extensive research involving over 20,000 Christian women, challenging damaging narratives and revealing startling truths about sexual satisfaction, obligation, and intimacy.

You'll learn:

* The 4 harmful teachings that negatively impact sexual intimacy

* Why “sex as obligation” is so destructive for women

* How to reframe your sex story with your spouse

* Practical steps toward recovering true intimacy

Sheila's compassionate yet bold approach offers hope, clarity, and practical wisdom for those longing to rewrite their sexual stories, reclaiming God's true design for intimacy.

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

In this week’s episode, Dr. Alison explores the pervasive issue of narcissism—a term that's become increasingly relevant in today's culture. From toxic relationships to leadership failures, the influence of narcissism is widespread, affecting many without us even realizing it. Dr. Alison explains what it is and offers strategies to protect ourselves from its insidious effects.

You'll discover:

* The true meaning of narcissism beyond the buzzword.

* How to recognize love bombing

* The dangers of gaslighting and manipulation

* The tactics of triangulation

* Practical steps to guard your emotional health and develop resilience.

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

In this episode, Dr. Dan Allender, a pioneer in Christian counseling and founder of The Allender Center, joins Dr. Alison to explore the raw, real work of marriage, trauma, and intimacy. Known for his groundbreaking book, The Wounded Heart, Allender has spent decades teaching how personal trauma shapes relationships. And on the very day of his 48th wedding anniversary, he openly shares how these dynamics continue to play out in his own marriage.

In this episode, we dive into:

* The surprising (and hilarious) fight he and his wife had the night before their anniversary

* Why marriage is both heaven and hell—and why that’s actually a good thing

* The childhood wounds that have impacted his own marriage

* Why logic doesn’t help when we get emotionally hijacked

* How to fight well and grow through conflict

Check out The Deep Rooted Marriage anywhere books are sold.

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

In this powerful episode, Dr. Alison welcomes Adam Young, a psychotherapist and author of the new book, “Make Sense of Your Story”, to dive into the complexities of family dynamics, and how the stories we tell about our families shape our adult lives. Adam shares his personal experiences and professional insights on how being triangulated within his family as a child impacted his psychological development and emotional health.

Here's what you'll learn:

* Why it’s crucial to identify family myths

* The unique trauma of being the chosen child

* Idealizing families—why we do it & how it hurts us

* The danger of self-betrayal in relationships

* The #1 way to heal childhood attachment wounds

* Traits of securely attached relationships

Get Make Sense of Your Story by Adam Young

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