What should you really expect when you walk into a therapist's office for the first time?

In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross, LMFT (#116623) explores the heart of what therapy offers with fellow clinician Katelyn Smedley, LMFT (#99805) Katelyn shares her approach to working with women and families, emphasizing that the most important thing clients should leave with after their first session is hope.

Katelyn Smedley, LMFT Email: [email protected] Phone: (805) 914-8253 Currently accepting new clients Fully virtual therapy sessions Specializes in women and families.

Catholic Therapy Center Website: catholictherapycenter.com

This conversation goes deeper than typical therapy discussions. Katelyn explains how Catholic therapy invites people to discover their true identity as beloved children of God, moving beyond merely surviving trauma to experiencing true resurrection and freedom. From practical tools like the "size of problem" scale to the profound difference between Catholic and secular mindfulness, this episode offers both encouragement and concrete guidance for anyone considering therapy.

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If you're wondering whether therapy is right for you or what makes Catholic counseling different, this conversation will give you clarity and hope.

Have questions? Visit my website: adamcrossmft.com Adam Cross, LMFT #116623

Can you be grateful while grieving? Should you even try? In this episode, licensed marriage and family therapist Adam Cross tackles one of the most challenging tensions in Catholic spiritual life: how to honor our grief while maintaining gratitude for God's goodness.

Drawing on Scripture, theological insights from Father Raniero Cantalamessa and Dr. Shan Tobin, and his clinical experience, Adam explores:

This isn't about dismissing pain or forcing positivity. It's about recognizing that grief and gratitude aren't mutually exclusive but can exist together as we wait for God's resurrection in our lives.

Key Quote: "The opposite of sin is not virtue, but praise. The opposite of sin is remembering that God is goodness."

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Whether you're navigating your own season of grief or walking alongside someone who is, this episode offers theological depth and practical wisdom for honoring both the weight of suffering and the hope of the Gospel.

About Adam Cross: Adam Cross is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) based in Southern California, specializing in Catholic therapy and integrating faith with mental health treatment.

Connect with Adam: Website: www.adamcrosslmft.com Instagram: @adamcrosslmft

What's it really like to sit across from a Catholic therapist who specializes in shame, addiction, and anxiety?

In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross, LMFT (#116623), sits down with Luis Lopez, AMFT (#147456) one of the clinicians at the Catholic Therapy Center, to explore what happens inside the therapy room when faith meets clinical practice.

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If you've ever wondered whether therapy could help you grow not just mentally but spiritually, this conversation will give you hope that healing is possible, and holiness is within reach.

Have questions? Visit my website: adamcrossmft.com Adam Cross, LMFT #116623

Do you ever take yourself too seriously when it comes to healing?

In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross, LMFT (#116623), explores how humor can be a powerful healing tool in therapy and spiritual growth.

Drawing on GK Chesterton's wisdom and the reminder that seriousness is not a fruit of the Holy Spirit, Adam explains why taking ourselves lightly (while not taking sin lightly) creates space for genuine transformation. He unpacks the mystery of suffering, the limits of intellectual understanding, and why childlike levity helps us trust God more deeply in our brokenness.

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Healing doesn't always look serious. Sometimes the most profound growth happens when we remember we're children of God and trust that our struggles aren't too much for Him.

Have questions? Visit my website: adamcrossmft.com Adam Cross, LMFT #116623

What does Catholic therapy actually look like? And how does faith integration work when clients come from different backgrounds or beliefs?

In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross, LMFT (#116623), sits down with colleague Kolbe Young, APCC, a holistic trauma therapist at the Catholic Therapy Center. Together they unpack what makes Catholic therapy unique, how it serves people across all walks of life, and why working with the body is essential to emotional and psychological healing.

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Whether you're curious about Catholic therapy or actively seeking a therapist, this conversation offers hope, clarity, and an invitation to take one small step toward healing.

Have questions? Visit my website: adamcrossmft.com Adam Cross, LMFT #116623

Do you approach confession with anxiety, feeling like you're about to be judged and condemned?

In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross, LMFT (#116623) unpacks how to heal an unhealthy, fear-based approach to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Drawing on insights from Father Jacques Philippe and reflecting on God's justice as restoration (not punishment), Adam helps listeners understand confession as a return to spousal love rather than a trip to the principal's office.

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This is an invitation to approach the sacrament with peace, freedom, and trust in the Father's love.

Have questions? Visit my website: adamcrossmft.com Adam Cross, LMFT #116623

Many Catholics wonder whether online therapy can truly offer the same healing as meeting face-to-face. In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross, LMFT (#116623) explores the question: Does telehealth therapy really work?

Drawing from his own clinical experience, Adam breaks down the pros and cons of telehealth and in-person therapy, how both approaches serve the human person, and what it means to encounter Christ in the digital age of counseling.

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Tune in for a thoughtful and encouraging reflection on how faith and technology can work together for healing—showing that grace can reach us anywhere, even through a screen.

Have questions? Visit my website: adamcrossmft.com

Many Catholics hesitate to begin therapy because it can feel clinical, impersonal, or disconnected from faith. In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross is joined by Danielle Enriquez, LMFT #152199, for a candid conversation about what Catholic therapy really looks like in practice. Together, they explore how clinical tools and Catholic spirituality unite to bring authentic healing rooted in Christ.

Topics covered:

• Why Catholic integration in therapy matters and how it protects faith and conscience

Tune in for a hopeful, faith-filled conversation on what it means to encounter Christ in therapy—where psychology meets prayer, and wounded hearts discover they are seen, loved, and capable.

Have questions? Visit my website: adamcrossmft.com

Many Catholics wonder if they need a Catholic therapist, and if so, how to find one. In this episode, licensed marriage and family therapist Adam Cross shares why trust is essential in any therapy relationship, what makes Catholic therapy unique, and where to look for faithful resources.

Drawing from his clinical practice and Catholic tradition, Adam explains the importance of Catholic anthropology in healing, why faith matters in therapy, and how to discern if a therapist is a good fit for your needs.

Topics covered:

Do you need a Catholic therapist? Why any therapy is better than none, and when faith becomes essential.

Trust and fit in therapy, why the relationship itself is part of healing.

Catholic anthropology, what it means to view healing through a Catholic lens.

Resources for finding Catholic therapists, including CatholicTherapist.com, the Catholic Psychotherapist Association, and the Catholic Therapy Center.

The role of the Holy Spirit in the healing journey.

How to use online tools and directories to connect with the right therapist.

Tune in for a hopeful and practical conversation on faith, psychology, and taking the next step toward healing.

Have questions? Visit my website: adamcrossmft.com

Many Catholics struggle with therapy because it can feel abstract, secular, or even at odds with the faith. In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross is joined by Dr. Tim White to explore how “parts work,” nervous system regulation, and Catholic spirituality can come together for real healing. Drawing from Catholic tradition and clinical insight, they share practical ways to notice your body, pray with your emotions, and invite Christ into the places that feel most fractured.

Topics covered:

Why Catholics sometimes resist therapy and how to integrate faith with psychology

Body, mind, and soul, how what affects one touches the others

“Parts work” explained in plain language, protectors, exiles, firefighters, and the Self

Prayer, breath, and the nervous system, calming stress through faith and science

Internal discipleship, what self leadership means in a Catholic lens

Addiction, shame, and wounded parts, how to partner with them for redemption

Why this inner work changes relationships, confidence, and daily discipleship

Tune in for a hopeful conversation on faith, psychology, and the path from stress and fear toward peace, healing, and deeper communion with God.

Have questions? Visit my website: adamcrossmft.com