Therapy and Theology

In Season 14 of Therapy & Theology, we’re learning what it means to live aware but not afraid. Together we’ll explore topics like spiritual discernment, spiritual warfare, the armor of God, death and dying, heaven and hell, what Scripture says about the unseen realities behind the battles we face, and so much more.

You see, there is a seen, physical reality to the things we experience, but then there is also an unseen, spiritual reality coexisting at the same time. While we don't want to ignore the enemy, we also don't want to give him too much credit.

This season's episodes will help you:

• Recognize signs of Satan's deception and spiritual warfare through biblical discernment and wisdom.
• Process chaos, suffering, addiction, and sin while understanding the role the enemy can play in the midst of it all.
• Understand and apply the armor of God to the daily battles you face.
• Get honest about your doubts instead of ignoring them or allowing them to take root.
• Discover what the Bible really says about death, heaven, and hell.

Plus, Therapy & Theology is linking arms with First 5 for a special crossover experience centered on a brand-new Bible study, Between Heaven and Here: Biblical Answers About the Spiritual Battle You’re Facing. So get your copy of the Bible study, and subscribe to the Proverbs 31 Ministries YouTube Channel so you're notified as soon as Episode 1 drops!

Links and resources we mention in this season:

• We’re grateful to the American Association of Christian Counselors for being a yearlong sponsor of Therapy & Theology. When someone you care about is hurting, it’s not always easy to know what to say or how to help. The fully online Caring for People God’s Way Biblical Counseling Certificate Program, presented by the American Association of Christian Counselors and Light University, can help you feel more equipped to navigate those conversations with compassion and biblical Truth. And because you’re part of the Therapy & Theology community, you can access the complete program for just $99 with a special scholarship. Visit LightUniversity.com/Proverbs31 to learn more.
• Go to Compassion.com/Lysa to join us in sponsoring a child through Compassion International today.
• Capstone Wellness provides residential treatment and custom therapy intensives that retrace hurt to the roots in a Christ-centered environment. You can learn more by visiting Capstonewellness.com/proverbs31 today.
• Click here for all Therapy & Theology links and resources.
• Click here to download a copy of the episode transcript.

We know that it isn't our responsibility to control another person, but when they're chaos enters into our world and we want it to stop, we start trying to manage them without even realizing what we are doing. Friend, you have co-signed their chaos long enough. Now it's crucial that you exercise the one type of control we are supposed to have as followers of Christ — self-control.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How to set healthy boundaries with difficult people.
• How we unintentionally add to others' chaos through our own desires, fears, and self-serving perspectives.
• Practical ways to cultivate biblical self-control and experience the peace of Christ ruling in your heart.

Links and resources we mention in this episode:

• We’re grateful to the American Association of Christian Counselors for being a yearlong sponsor of "Therapy & Theology." Click here to apply for their Trauma-Informed Coaching certification. Taught by leading experts in mental health, trauma, and ministry, it will equip you with practical, biblically grounded tools to walk alongside hurting people with wisdom, compassion, and hope.
• Go to Compassion.com/Lysa to join us in sponsoring a child through Compassion International today.
• Capstone Wellness provides residential treatment and custom therapy intensives that retrace hurt to the roots in a Christ-centered environment. You can learn more by visiting Capstonewellness.com/proverbs31 today.
• Click here for all "Therapy & Theology" links and resources.
• Click here to download a copy of the episode transcript.

If we are honest, sometimes we declare that our trust is in the Lord, but we simultaneously doubt His plans and frantically come up with our own. In the name of "being responsible," we obsess over how to get everyone and every circumstance to line up with the outcome we think is best.

In this episode, you will learn how to:

• Identify sneaky controlling tendencies that may be hiding behind good intentions.
• Plan for the future without obsessing over the future.
• Be responsible for what you can be responsible for, and ultimately surrender outcomes to God.

Links and resources we mention in this episode:

• We’re grateful to the American Association of Christian Counselors for being a yearlong sponsor of "Therapy & Theology." Click here to apply for their Trauma-Informed Coaching certification. Taught by leading experts in mental health, trauma, and ministry, it will equip you with practical, biblically grounded tools to walk alongside hurting people with wisdom, compassion, and hope.
• Go to Compassion.com/Lysa to join us in sponsoring a child through Compassion International today.
• Capstone Wellness provides residential treatment and custom therapy intensives that retrace hurt to the roots in a Christ-centered environment. You can learn more by visiting Capstonewellness.com/proverbs31 today.
• Click here for all "Therapy & Theology" links and resources.
• Download a copy of the episode transcript. 

Most of us aren't "controlling people" by nature. We are usually caring people whose desperation has compelled us try and fix what we already know is beyond our ability to control. But underneath the need to control is often something deeper: fear. And that fear has convinced us that it's our job to fix, manage, and hold everything together.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How to identify the root of what you're truly afraid of.
• The four components of fear — and how understanding them can change the way you respond.
• Healthy ways to process and respond the next time someone or something feels out of control.

Links and resources we mention in this episode:

• We’re grateful to the American Association of Christian Counselors for being a yearlong sponsor of "Therapy & Theology." Click here to apply for their Trauma-Informed Coaching certification. Taught by leading experts in mental health, trauma, and ministry, it will equip you with practical, biblically grounded tools to walk alongside hurting people with wisdom, compassion, and hope.
• Go to Compassion.com/Lysa to join us in sponsoring a child through Compassion International today.
• Capstone Wellness provides residential treatment and custom therapy intensives that retrace hurt to the roots in a Christ-centered environment. You can learn more by visiting Capstonewellness.com/proverbs31 today.
• Click here for all "Therapy & Theology" links and resources.
• Download a copy of the transcript here.

Welcome to Season 13 of Therapy & Theology! Over the next few weeks, you're going to get an inside look into Lysa TerKeurst’s new book, Making Peace with What I Can’t Control.

This message will come alive as you learn:

• What's really driving your temptation to control people, outcomes and circumstances.
• How to recognize when healthy responsibility has crossed the line into fear-driven control.
• How to navigate around other people's chaos without losing your peace and sanity.
• How to release burdens that were never yours to carry into God's capable hands.

If you've ever felt exhausted from overthinking, trying to fix other people, or wanting to figure it all out, this season is for you. Episode 1 releases September 3, so get a copy of Making Peace with What I Can’t Control and let's learn together!

Links and resources we mention in this season:

• We’re grateful to the American Association of Christian Counselors for being a yearlong sponsor of Therapy & Theology. Click here to apply for their Trauma-Informed Coaching certification. Taught by leading experts in mental health, trauma, and ministry, it will equip you with practical, biblically grounded tools to walk alongside hurting people with wisdom, compassion, and hope.
• Go to Compassion.com/Lysa to join us in sponsoring a child through Compassion International today.
• Capstone Wellness provides residential treatment and custom therapy intensives that retrace hurt to the roots in a Christ-centered environment. You can learn more by visiting Capstonewellness.com/proverbs31 today.
• Click here for all Therapy & Theology links and resources.
• Click here to download your transcript.

In this Q&A episode, Lysa TerKeurst, Counselor Jim Cress, and Dr. Joel Muddamalle respond to questions sent in by generous partners of Proverbs 31 Ministries.

They're answering questions like:

• Can anxiety ever be cured?
• How do I set boundaries with someone who is in active addiction?
• What does biblical submission in marriage look like?
• Why does God feel distant even when I pray and read my Bible?
• Can Satan influence our thoughts?

Links and resources we mention in this episode:

• We’re grateful to the American Association of Christian Counselors for being a yearlong sponsor of Therapy & Theology. Click here to apply for their Trauma-Informed Coaching certification, a biblically grounded training that teaches you how to recognize trauma, respond with care, and walk someone toward healing.
• Go to Compassion.com/Lysa to join us in sponsoring a child through Compassion International today.
• Capstone Wellness provides residential treatment and custom therapy intensives that retrace hurt to the roots in a Christ-centered environment. Learn more at Capstonewellness.com/proverbs31
• Click here for all Therapy & Theology links and resources.
• Download a copy of the transcript for this episode. 

However you are called to help other people, that is your personal ministry. But how can you serve others, lead well, and make a difference without losing yourself or burning out?

In this episode, you'll learn:

• When helping others crosses the line into enabling, you're trying to "play savior," or even becoming codependent.
• How to manage internal desires you have, like longing for affirmation, so that you can stay healthy, emotionally grounded, and purehearted.
• The difference between bettering your self-image and growing in self-awareness.

Links and resources we mention in this episode:

• We’re grateful to the American Association of Christian Counselors for being a yearlong sponsor of Therapy & Theology. Click here to apply for their Trauma-Informed Coaching certification, a biblically grounded training that teaches you how to recognize trauma, respond with care, and walk someone toward healing.
• Go to Compassion.com/Lysa to join us in sponsoring a child through Compassion International today.
• Capstone Wellness provides residential treatment and custom therapy intensives that retrace hurt to the roots in a Christ-centered environment. Learn more at Capstonewellness.com/proverbs31 .
• Click here for all Therapy & Theology links and resources.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode. 

Parenting in today's world has never felt more overwhelming. Between rising anxiety, social media, and the pressure to get it all right, many Christian parents are wondering: How do I raise resilient, emotionally healthy kids?

In this episode, featuring counselors Sissy Goff and David Thomas, you'll learn:

• Common parenting mistakes that unintentionally undermine a child's confidence, capability, and emotional growth.
• How to discern the difference between healthy struggle and situations that require intervention and support.
• Practical scripts to use when your child experiences failure and disappointment.
• Tools for overcoming parental shame and trusting God with your child's story.

Links and Resources We Mention in This Episode:

• Stay connected with Sissy Goff and David Thomas by visiting their website, getting a copy of their new book Capable, and following them on social media.
• Fight for your family by downloading 15 Prayers for Your Husband and 15 Prayers for Your Son or Daughter.
• We’re grateful to the American Association of Christian Counselors for being a yearlong sponsor of Therapy & Theology. Click here to apply for their Youth Mental Health Coach program — a biblically grounded, clinically excellent training to help you support youth facing today’s most common mental health challenges. 
• Go to Compassion.com/Lysa to join us in sponsoring a child through Compassion International today.
• Capstone Wellness provides residential treatment and custom therapy intensives that retrace hurt to the roots in a Christ-centered environment. Learn more at Capstonewellness.com/proverbs31.
• Subscribe here to receive new Therapy & Theology episodes straight to your inbox.
• Want a chance to be featured on Listener Mail? Leave Lysa, Jim, or Joel a message or a question right here.
• Download a transcript of this episode. 

Praying for our family shouldn't be our last resort — it should be our first priority.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Scripture-based prayers you can borrow when you feel inadequate or short of words.
• How to persist and make peace with prayers that have gone unanswered.
• The powerful, generational impact prayer can have on your family.

Links and Resources We Mention in This Episode:

• Give today, and get a copy of Come Close to Jesus by Lysa TerKeurst as our thank-you. Get started here!
• Fight for your family by downloading 15 Prayers for Your Husband and 15 Prayers for Your Son or Daughter.
• We’re grateful to the American Association of Christian Counselors for being a yearlong sponsor of Therapy & Theology. Click here to apply for their Youth Mental Health Coach program — a biblically grounded, clinically excellent training to help you support youth facing today’s most common mental health challenges. 
• Go to Compassion.com/Lysa to join us in sponsoring a child through Compassion International today.
• Capstone Wellness provides residential treatment and custom therapy intensives that retrace hurt to the roots in a Christ-centered environment. Learn more at Capstonewellness.com/proverbs31.
• Subscribe here to receive new Therapy & Theology episodes straight to your inbox.
• Want a chance to be featured on Listener Mail? Leave Lysa, Jim, or Joel a message or a question right here.
• Click here to download a copy of this transcript. 

Healthy relationships require healthy boundaries — even with family members. While dysfunction or even abuse needs to be addressed, are there instances where we have taken boundaries "too far"?

In this episode, you'll learn:

• When relational boundaries become unhealthy, leading to cutoffs, emotional distance, or family estrangement.
• How to set boundaries with family members in a way that increases safety, improves communication, and reduces isolation.
• How to protect your emotional health without attempting to control another person.

Links and Resources We Mention in This Episode:

• Fight for your family by downloading 15 Prayers for Your Husband and 15 Prayers for Your Son or Daughter.
• We’re grateful to the American Association of Christian Counselors for being a yearlong sponsor of Therapy & Theology. Click here to apply for their Youth Mental Health Coach program — a biblically grounded, clinically excellent training to help you support youth facing today’s most common mental health challenges. 
• Go to Compassion.com/Lysa to join us in sponsoring a child through Compassion International today.
• Capstone Wellness provides residential treatment and custom therapy intensives that retrace hurt to the roots in a Christ-centered environment. Learn more at Capstonewellness.com/proverbs31.
• Subscribe here to receive new Therapy & Theology episodes straight to your inbox.
• Want a chance to be featured on Listener Mail? Leave Lysa, Jim, or Joel a message or a question right here.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.