When Gathering Light

Matt and Victoria welcome Jeremy Garver-Hughes to the studio today to explore the topic of Inter-generational patterns of trauma & addiction. We all dive deep into family patterns and how they are internalized then acted out throughout the lifespan of individuals within a family. Jeremy and Matt discuss how these patterns feed addiction cycles, what it takes to move forward in healing and how addressing this looks in recovery. Victoria brings to the discussion her own personal history within family patterns and her unique perspective from a clinical lens. 

As always, thanks for listening and we hope you find this conversation helpful in your own healing journey. 

Join Victoria and Matt and our guest Harry Winters as we discuss God’s Justice and Mercy and how they impact our daily lives. Pastor Harry retired a while back after 33 years of service at Akron Reform Church in Highland Square. His wisdom and loving spirit give us some wonderful insights into these difficult topics. 

We explore topics like how does God offer justice and mercy in His timing in our modern world? How do we as broken humans view justice in an unjust world and can we offer mercy as Jesus did so often?  How can we seek a merciful heart when others around us need it? 

Join us and we hope this episode will start a dialog in your circle of family and friends,

 Peace,

Victoria and Matt

Laurie Bohrer joins Matt and Victoria in the studio today to explore the sacred space of the pause.  Creating a practice of pausing in physical, emotional and relational circumstances creates an opportunity for deeper spiritual maturity and growth. Taking the time to pause is done with intentionality and purpose as a discipline to become more attuned to the situation you are facing. Victoria, Matt and Laurie explore what this means for them personally as well as offer ways that you can begin to practice the art of pausing in your life. 

Victoria and Matt are joined in the studio by Harry Winters. Harry was the Pastor of The Akron Christian Reformed Church in Highland Square for 33 years. Victoria and I became members of the church a year before Harry retired.  

Today we are discussing a tricky little issue called pride. A word with very few synonyms with good reason. There are positive and negative aspects of pride, and we offer a dialog about this deadly sin as well as its opposite, humility. 

Thanks for tuning in. Blessings + Peace

Victoria and Matt

Matt and Victoria are joined in Akron Recording Studio with Jeff Gray, LPCC and licensed minister. Jeff has decades of experience working with marriages, families and ministers. He is passionate about educating ministers and other groups in self-care, emotional health, and the effects of spiritual abuse. Jeff loves to see an individual have a true revelation of their identity in Christ, aside from what they can accomplish, and apply this revelation throughout their daily life.

In these next 2 episodes Matt, Victoria and Jeff discuss the impacts of spiritual abuse by leaders in the church, ministry, communities and families. This is an important topic for many to explore, and we are thankful for Jeff's willingness to share both his professional and personal experiences with us. 

Matt and Victoria are joined in Akron Recording Studio with Jeff Gray, LPCC and licensed minister. Jeff has decades of experience working with marriages, families and ministers. He is passionate about educating ministers and other groups in self-care, emotional health, and the effects of spiritual abuse. Jeff loves to see an individual have a true revelation of their identity in Christ, aside from what they can accomplish, and apply this revelation throughout their daily life.

In these next 2 episodes Matt, Victoria and Jeff discuss the impacts of spiritual abuse by leaders in the church, ministry, communities and families. This is an important topic for many to explore, and we are thankful for Jeff's willingness to share both his professional and personal experiences with us. 

Thanks for stopping by for a new episode of When Gathering Light. Victoria and I are joined in the studio today by our good friend Rob Lavy. We will be talking about Rob's healing journey which includes reconstructing his faith and finding new purpose in his career because he serves a loving God. We will discuss the new product that he has created with some encouragement from his wife Christie and Victoria. 

The new product is the Bilater-Roll. It is a beautifully carved piece of yellow pine, and you simply roll a marble or in the larger version a pinball back and forth and soothe your anxious brain. I have been using it and many in the therapy world are using it in their practices. We will get into more detail in this episode but if you want to get a sneak peek go to Etsy and look up: Bilater-Roll and you will find photos and some videos, pricing and more. 

Thanks for listening to When Gathering Light's newest episode. We really appreciate your ongoing support. We love you all. Peace! 

Join Victoria and Matt as they settle back into Akron Recording Studio for their 2026 season. They recap what has been going on for them and discuss Matt’s new book “Prodigal Daughter”. Matt shares what it has been like for him to create his first book of fiction about a woman who navigates the complex dynamics of alcohol addiction and her hard-fought battle for sobriety. 

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of “Prodigal Daughter” email him at [email protected]. 

Join Matt, Victoria and their guest, Laurie Bohrer, as they discuss interpersonal dynamics between siblings throughout one's lifespan. We are born into our unique family systems, and we can be defined by birth order in our formative years.  Matt, Victoria and Laurie explore what it looks like to move beyond birth order in our family systems to foster healthier adult relationships with siblings. Additionally, not all family systems can adapt to a sibling initiating a desired change in adulthood. This often leads to the need to create distance/separation from sibling dynamics in order to continue the path towards healing and maturing. 

Regardless of your dynamic, we hope that you find this episode a conversation starter within your own homes, friendships and family dynamics. 

Thanks again for listening, Matt and Victoria

Join Matt and Victoria as they discuss what it means to foster post-traumatic growth and resiliency in your healing journey. As we navigate trauma-informed therapeutic interventions in our recovery, we often focus on what happened and can lose sight of what can be gained on the other side truth.  Victoria and Matt discuss what it means to move beyond maladaptive ways of coping with our histories to a divine encounter with Christ.  As we invite Jesus into our stories, we move from survival from the truth of our experiences to an encounter with wisdom, mercy, compassion, mindfulness and humility. 

As always, we hope this episode opens up conversations with those that are walking alongside you in your journey of healing.