Why is everyone so angry? There are many answers to this question, but the best is offered by the apostle James.Today, we talk about self control. We define it and share why it’s important. We note that, if you’re 95% in control, the other 5% will rule you. We talk about the different types of psychology, explaining the problem with materialism. We share why you should never give unsolicited advice, note that people change their minds, and urge you to ask yourself what’s fighting you for control. We note the relative unimportance of control of others and discuss the proper role of feelings.“There is no good thing that comes from my lack of self-control.” DMH- Dr. Matt HookThis week on Shepherd & the Shrink:●      The problem with materialistic psychology●      What is phenomenology?●      Why you shouldn’t give unsolicited advice●      The meaning of self-control●      Why you shouldn’t let your feelings rule youBringing Mental Health and Spirituality TogetherThanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Shepherd & the Shrink Podcast (https://www.drmartinfletcher.com/podcast-home) with your hosts Dr. Matt Hook and Dr. Martin Fletcher, the show where theology meets psychology. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shepherd-and-the-shrink-podcast/id1534592701) | TuneIn (https://tunein.com/podcasts/Health--Wellness-Podcasts/The-Shepherd-and-the-Shrink-Podcast-p1381332/) | GooglePlay (https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9zaGVwaGVyZC1zaHJpbmsubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M) | Stitcher (https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/audioadrenaline/the-shepherd-and-the-shrink-podcast) | Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/5ePixpNhLIdlyyamt7GaR2) Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more amazing people like you.Join us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/martytheshrink/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/DrMartyLP), and for more exclusive content and information, visit our website (https://drmartinfletcher.com/) and grab your free guide with 10 Ways to Overcome Anxiety & Defeat Your Loneliness.Find us on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/theshepherdandtheshrink) too, where you can talk to us personally, get cool merchandise and exclusive video content, and more! You can get involved for as little as $1 a month.

Love is easy to talk about, but it’s much harder to live. In this episode, we talk about what it means to love your enemy and how to lay down your life for someone else on this side of death.Today, we talk about marriage. We discuss why marriage is so hard, note the importance of communication, and explain why relationships shouldn’t be competitive. We talk about why the key to a successful marriage is striving to outdo each other in acts of love and service, instead of focusing on what you get out of the relationship. We talk about what it means to lay down your life for others in a world where it’s rare to need to do so literally. We note the power of just being there for someone, and we talk about what it means to say, “Love never fails.”“If your love’s gonna be complete, it can’t be just for the people who adore you.”- Dr. Marty FletcherThis week on Shepherd & the Shrink:●      Why marriage is hard●      The importance of communication●      Why relationships aren’t a power struggle●      What it means to lay your life down for someone●      The meaning of acediaResources mentioned●      Overcome Anxiety and Defeat Your Loneliness●      Shepherd and the Shrink Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/theshepherdandtheshrink)Bringing Mental Health and Spirituality TogetherThanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Shepherd & the Shrink Podcast (https://drmartinfletcher.com/the-shepherd-and-the-shrink/) with your hosts Dr. Matt Hook and Dr. Martin Fletcher, the show where theology meets psychology. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shepherd-and-the-shrink-podcast/id1534592701) | TuneIn (https://tunein.com/podcasts/Health--Wellness-Podcasts/The-Shepherd-and-the-Shrink-Podcast-p1381332/) | GooglePlay (https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9zaGVwaGVyZC1zaHJpbmsubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M) | Stitcher (https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/audioadrenaline/the-shepherd-and-the-shrink-podcast) | Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/5ePixpNhLIdlyyamt7GaR2) Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more amazing people like you.Join us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/martytheshrink/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/DrMartyLP), and for more exclusive content and information, visit our website (https://drmartinfletcher.com/) and grab your free guide with 10 Ways to Overcome Anxiety & Defeat Your Loneliness.

As human beings, we lose all the time. The fact is, we can’t rely on ourselves to succeed. That’s why we need to surrender to the only one who won’t let us down: God. But what does this mean?Today, we talk about surrender. We explore the idea that life is loss, and that learning to live is learning to lose well. We note Jesus’ statement that you can only find your life through losing it, and we explain why we can look to Jesus for an example of surrender. We also share some Old Testament examples, noting that real faith is not fully based on whether or not it will work out for us.“We’re so afraid of our surrender. We run away and do our own thing. But that’s exactly what Jesus never did.”- Dr. Matt HookThis week on Shepherd & the Shrink:●      What does it mean to surrender to God?●      Learning how to lose well●      What is winning?●      FInding your life through losing it●      Why didn’t Jesus run away?●      Why it’s okay to be devastated●      Surrendering the small things●      Examples of surrender Bringing Mental Health and Spirituality Together Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Shepherd & the Shrink Podcast (https://www.drmartinfletcher.com/podcast-home) with your hosts Dr. Matt Hook and Dr. Martin Fletcher, the show where theology meets psychology. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shepherd-and-the-shrink-podcast/id1534592701) | TuneIn (https://tunein.com/podcasts/Health--Wellness-Podcasts/The-Shepherd-and-the-Shrink-Podcast-p1381332/) | GooglePlay (https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9zaGVwaGVyZC1zaHJpbmsubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M) | Stitcher (https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/audioadrenaline/the-shepherd-and-the-shrink-podcast) | Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/5ePixpNhLIdlyyamt7GaR2)Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more amazing people like you.Join us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/martytheshrink/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/DrMartyLP), and for more exclusive content and information, visit our website (https://drmartinfletcher.com/) and grab your free guide with 10 Ways to Overcome Anxiety & Defeat Your Loneliness.Find us on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/theshepherdandtheshrink) too, where you can talk to us personally, get cool merchandise and exclusive video content, and more! You can get involved for as little as $1 a month.

Underreacting, overreacting - people think that these reactions are merely circumstantial. And when you’re on the receiving end of these underreactions and overreactions from others, it can be hard not to take those reactions personally. It can be difficult to realize – these people aren’t out to get you. Instead, they’re likely reacting based on an old childhood habit, a childhood pattern, or a childhood wound.  Today, I discuss how people often operate from woundedness and how they can break free from this manner of response. I share what the “child in survival mode” looks like and how it manifests in people as adults. I also dive into the “Love Chapter” from the Bible and share what love is, what it’s not, and how God’s call to His people to love others plays a crucial role in responding compassionately to others who are operating from their childhood wounds. “God showed me when people are underreacting and blowing me off, or they’re overreacting to me or to other people, they’re not out to get me. They are simply operating out of their woundedness.” - Dr. Matt Hook This week on Shepherd & the Shrink: ●     The personal impact of understanding the root cause for why others overreact●     The worst time to tell someone they are operating from their woundedness●     What it means to“put away childish things”●     Understanding the phrase “ the child is the father of the man”●     How to put away childish things●     How to be free to grow into the person God created you to be●     How to recognize it’s the “little child” in you that’s acting up●     Why marriage is a union of four people, not two●     The One who can help heal the wounded inner child●     What the sixth sense is and why you should ask for it Resources Mentioned: ●     Putting Away Childish Things by David A. Seamands  Bringing Mental Health and Spirituality Together Thanks for tuning into this week’s Shepherd & the Shrink Podcast episode with your hosts Dr. Matt Hook and Dr. Martin Fletcher, the show where theology meets psychology. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shepherd-and-the-shrink-podcast/id1534592701) | TuneIn (https://tunein.com/podcasts/Health--Wellness-Podcasts/The-Shepherd-and-the-Shrink-Podcast-p1381332/) | GooglePlay (https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9zaGVwaGVyZC1zaHJpbmsubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M) | Stitcher (https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/audioadrenaline/the-shepherd-and-the-shrink-podcast) | Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/5ePixpNhLIdlyyamt7GaR2) Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more amazing people like you. Join us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/martytheshrink/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/DrMartyLP), and for more exclusive content and information,

Despondency is hard to identify, but it’s everywhere. Between the values pushed in our society and the pressures caused by things like Covid 19, it’s not easy to find joy, even if you have faith. Today, we talk about how to combat desp...

In what seems to be a chaotic and out-of-control world, it seems irresponsible and heartless not to be caught up in the feelings that come with focusing on all of the problems. But the truth is, for the most part, things are okay. And most of the things that aren’t okay are the things of this world. God says, “Be still and know that I am God.” Today, we talk about doing just that. Mindfulness might have the connotation of flaky spirituality for some Christians, but today we discuss why that’s not the case. We define it, note its long history, and discuss its many benefits. We talk about our negativity bias, which prompts us to focus on one bad thing over many good things. We talk about the role of the media in playing up our negativity bias, and we discuss the dangers of being led by your emotions. We look to Paul for an example of mindfulness in the middle of chaos and discuss why angry emotions aren’t productive. We mention gratitude's role and discuss why mindfulness is the most proactive approach you can take. “God is more real, past, present, and future, than anything that’s floating across my screen.”Dr. Matt Hook This week on Shepherd & the Shrink: ●     Mindfulness vs. mindlessness●     The benefits of mindfulness●     Overcoming your negativity bias●     The role of gratitude in mindfulness●     The importance of loving kindness Resources mentioned●     Overcome Anxiety and Defeat Your Loneliness   Bringing Mental Health and Spirituality Together Thanks for tuning into this week’s Shepherd & the Shrink Podcast episode with your hosts, Dr. Matt Hook and Dr. Martin Fletcher, the show where theology meets psychology. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shepherd-and-the-shrink-podcast/id1534592701) | TuneIn | GooglePlay (https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9zaGVwaGVyZC1zaHJpbmsubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M) | Stitcher (https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/audioadrenaline/the-shepherd-and-the-shrink-podcast) | Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/5ePixpNhLIdlyyamt7GaR2) Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more amazing people like you. Join us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/martytheshrink/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/DrMartyLP), and for more exclusive content and information, visit our website (https://drmartinfletcher.com/) and grab your free guide with 10 Ways to Overcome Anxiety & Defeat Your Loneliness.

Traffic jams. Squeaking doors. Interruptions. Long lines. Flat tires. What do these all have in common? They’re all triggers of impatience. When was the last time you thought about the link between patience and peace? Questioned your sense of entitlement? Examined your gratitude for the things you have? Patience is easy to talk about, but the real thing is no Disney movie.Today, we explore patience and talk about its link with peace. We talk about how patience involves an acceptance of reality and how it can help us to escape our addiction to consistency and a sense of entitlement. We explore the link between patience and gratitude and give personal testimonies about the effect of patience on our lives. We end by sharing several practices that help to cultivate patience, as well as a reflection on the price of a pearl.“Patience is a reminder that our faith is to be lived out in real life.” -Dr. Matt Hook“Impatience interferes with the contemplative life.” -Dr. Martin Fletcher“When there is a huge problem with today, I say, ‘God, you’ve got a huge problem. I’m going to bed.’”-Dr. Matt Hook“Patience is optimistic because it means I am not a slave to my current circumstances.” -Dr. Matt Hook This week on Shepherd & the Shrink:●     What is patience●     Keeping the bigger picture in sight●     Patience as acceptance of reality●     The importance of listening●     Slowness to anger●     Giving up control●     The role of humorBringing Mental Health and Spirituality TogetherThanks for tuning into this week’s Shepherd & the Shrink Podcast episode with your hosts, Dr. Matt Hook and Dr. Martin Fletcher, the show where theology meets psychology. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shepherd-and-the-shrink-podcast/id1534592701) | TuneIn | GooglePlay (https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9zaGVwaGVyZC1zaHJpbmsubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M) | Stitcher (https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/audioadrenaline/the-shepherd-and-the-shrink-podcast) | Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/5ePixpNhLIdlyyamt7GaR2)Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more amazing people like you.Join us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/martytheshrink/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/DrMartyLP), and for more exclusive content and information, visit our website (https://drmartinfletcher.com/) and grab your free guide with 10 Ways to Overcome Anxiety & Defeat Your Loneliness.

Everybody wants to know the secret: What’s the secret to prayer? Jesus himself said that the secret to prayer is ‘secret prayer.’ The power of prayer is far-reaching and can benefit your life in many ways. But, when many people pray, they often feel like it's not working, or they need to do it differently to be effective. Prayer is a very personal thing; it's between you and God. How do you make sure you are praying the right way, and what does that even mean?  Today, we discuss how prayer can help us through these challenging times and look at the statistics of those who choose to pray. Martin shares how prayer is assisting him through a busy schedule, and we explore some of the preconceptions many people have about prayer. We explore the importance of privacy in prayer, how some people experience emotions that others don't, and why it's OK either way. We also share how you can get started with bringing prayer into your life - even if you don't have the words - and why where you pray is important. "Globally, in every culture, people pray.” - Dr. Matt Hook  This week on Shepherd & the Shrink:●     How prayer can impact our experience of current events●     Statistics on prayer and the people that choose to pray●     How prayer is helping Martin through his hectic schedule●     The preconceived notions many people have about prayer●     Observations from recent protests●     What is prayer and how to do it according to God's will●     How loss can bring you closer to God●     Why the privacy of prayer matters●     How what we do in public is shaped by what we do in private●     The physiological effects of prayer●     How secret prayer safeguards you from pride●     How prayer deepens with practice●     Why you don't need to worry about your motivations for prayer●     Why many people experience a raw emotional response when they pray ●     How Science and Faith are not in opposition to each other●     Why the self-conscious emotions, such as shame, are painful ●     What prayer has done for Matt's life●     Why it's ok if you pray and don't have emotions●     How you can pray even when you don't have the words●     How you can get started in prayer with confidence●     Why where you pray is important●     How Jesus taught us to worship and what the prayer He gave us means Bringing Mental Health and Spirituality Together Thanks for tuning into this week’s Shepherd & the Shrink Podcast episode with your hosts, Dr. Matt Hook and Dr. Martin Fletcher, the show where theology meets psychology. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shepherd-and-the-shrink-podcast/id1534592701) | TuneIn | GooglePlay (https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9zaGVwaGVyZC1zaHJpbmsubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M) | Stitcher (https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/audioadrenaline/the-shepherd-and-the-shrink-podcast) | Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/5ePixpNhLIdlyyamt7GaR2) Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more amazing people, like you. Join us on

Everyone looks for hope, purpose, and peace, and many seek help from a therapist to find them. While this is an important and incredibly helpful step, many people don’t know about the mental health benefits of a relationship with Jesus. Today, Pastor John Reed joins us to talk about the hope, purpose, and peace that come from following Jesus. We discuss mental health in the Church and note the importance of fellowship and community. We talk about the importance of recognizing that flaws are nearly universal to humans--even St. Paul. We discuss the most effective way to evangelize and why kindness to others doesn’t need to mean that you condone their decisions and beliefs. We also offer three pillars of evangelization. “Understand where you were and who you were, and what He did for you anyway.” Pastor John Reed  This week on Shepherd & the Shrink: ●     Why we know ourselves best through others●     Mental health in the Church●     The importance of community●     Accepting who God says He is instead of who we want Him to be●     The three pillars of evangelization Resources mentioned ●     Overcome Anxiety and Defeat Your Loneliness●     Shepherd and the Shrink Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/theshepherdandtheshrink) Bringing Mental Health and Spirituality Together Thanks for tuning into this week’s Shepherd & the Shrink Podcast episode with your hosts, Dr. Matt Hook and Dr. Martin Fletcher, the show where theology meets psychology. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shepherd-and-the-shrink-podcast/id1534592701) | TuneIn (https://tunein.com/podcasts/Health--Wellness-Podcasts/The-Shepherd-and-the-Shrink-Podcast-p1381332/) | GooglePlay (https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9zaGVwaGVyZC1zaHJpbmsubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M) | Stitcher (https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/audioadrenaline/the-shepherd-and-the-shrink-podcast) | Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/5ePixpNhLIdlyyamt7GaR2) Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more amazing people like you. Join us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/martytheshrink/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/DrMartyLP), and for more exclusive content and information, visit our website (https://drmartinfletcher.com/) and grab your free guide with 10 Ways to Overcome Anxiety & Defeat Your Loneliness. Find us on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/theshepherdandtheshrink) too, where you can talk to us personally, get cool merchandise and exclusive video content, and more! You can get involved for as little as $1 a month.

Possession may conjure up the many images from movies and cartoon-like visages of the devil. There are many references in the Bible, and it can be a struggle to relate concepts in the scriptures to today. Even though these are ancient teachings, they are still very much relevant today. So, what is possession? Does it still happen in this day and age? How do you recognize the signs, and what can you do to guard yourself against evil in the world?Today, we discuss how outside influences can become part of us and how we can often feel bound by them. We explore the differences between ideological and demonic possession and how it is not always the instant process we may think. We discuss how a healthy sense of sin is helpful and why we should not hate ‘evil’ people. We share how spiritual problems are not correctable with human solutions and why the Bible's teachings are still relevant today. We also discuss the power of belief, how you can deal with the feelings of being bound, and your best weapons against the modern world's evils."There's always something that you can't see, controlling something that you can." - Dr. Matt HookThis week on Shepherd & the Shrink:●      Do outside influences truly possess us●      How all belief has a metaphysical element●      How symbolism helps to reflect the true meaning of faith●      How we can feel bound by outside things●      The difference between demonic and ideological possession●      Why possession is not the quick or instant process we may think it is●      How healthy guilt or a sense of personal sin can stop things from getting out of hand●      Why an unsubmitted will can allow evil in●      Why evil people are not to be hated●      How we can follow scripture to mock the devil in the world today●      The story of possession in Mark 5:1 and how it relates to modern times●      How we entomb ourselves with things that are not life-giving●      How spiritual problems can't be reconciled with human solutions●      Why the teachings and actions in the Bible can help with the modern conditions we see in others●      How we can change our view to look above what the world shows us●      The power of belief and how it shapes our world●      How you can deal with the feeling of being bound●      What are demons, demonic possession, and your best weapon against itResources Mentioned:●      The People of the Lie - by M. Scott Peck (https://www.amazon.com/People-Lie-Hope-Healing-Human/dp/0684848597)●      The Road Less Traveled - by M. Scott Peck (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/347852.The_Road_Less_Traveled)●      The Screwtape Letters - by C. S. Lewis (https://www.amazon.com/Screwtape-Letters-C-S-Lewis/dp/0060652934)Bringing Mental Health and Spirituality TogetherThanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Shepherd & the Shrink Podcast (https://drmartinfletcher.com/the-shepherd-and-the-shrink/) with your hosts Dr. Matt Hook and Dr. Martin Fletcher, the show where theology meets psychology. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shepherd-and-the-shrink-podcast/id1534592701) |