In this deeply moving episode, John Tinnin sits down with Kari Kaczan, author of A Light in Momentary Affliction, to discuss the profound grief of losing a child and the journey of navigating trauma through faith. Kari shares her heartbreaking yet hope-filled story of her son Christopher’s diagnosis with metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), a rare and terminal disease, and the emotional and spiritual challenges that followed.

With raw honesty, Kari recounts the moments of shock, despair, and wrestling with God as she walked through the unimaginable pain of watching her son slowly lose his abilities. She opens up about the loneliness of grief, the difficulty of making impossible medical decisions, and the isolating reality of being part of a “club no one wants to join.”

Yet, in the midst of deep sorrow, Kari found an anchor in her faith. She speaks about the power of surrender, choosing to bring Jesus into her pain, and how lament became her path to healing. The conversation touches on depression, emotional numbness, and the ways grief affects relationships, but ultimately points to the hope and presence of Christ in suffering.

Listen as John and Kari discuss:

Check out the book A Light in Momentary Affliction by Kari Kaczan to learn more about how bringing Jesus into suffering can transform the way we endure pain.

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“Sit down. I’ve got to tell you something…” What follows might be your worst nightmare as your spouse confesses their betrayal and infidelity.

Matthew & Joanna Raabsmith have lived through this themselves, and now they work with couples who are trying to rebuild their relationship after trust has been shattered. They have 15+ years of theological and counseling experience helping couples repair the damage that betrayal creates. 

When you listen you’ll get a front row seat of what happens when couples first confess, what their ongoing counseling sessions look like, signs of growth (or lack of growth), and how you know when trust is being restored.

Whether you’ve experienced the trauma of betrayal, or you know someone/a couple who has, you’ll be thankful you took the time to listen to Matthew & Joanna.

You can check out their book Building True Intimacy: Creating a Connection That Stands the Test of Time or their website for free resources and to learn more.

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Can the deep pain and division of racism ever be healed? And does the Christian faith play any role in the work of racial reconciliation?

Pastor Derwin Gray believes that if we rightly understand the message of grace through Jesus, we will see the image of God across all races and cultures, and embrace and promote a culture of love instead of a culture of hate.

In this special episode Pastor Derwin Gray of Transformation Church has a discussion with Shay and Lynn about the history of racism in America, its lasting impact, and the current need for ongoing reconciliation. Derwin’s book, How to Heal Our Racial Divide, proposes that “racial reconciliation is God’s idea”, and that the church should be a place that “isn’t colorblind, but color-blessed.”

This conversation covers topics like:

Although the church should be a natural place for racial healing to occur, the reality is that barriers such as pride, fear, power and economics often prevent the church from taking the risk to love others when the cost seems too high. We appreciate Pastor Gray’s passion and insights on this important topic, as he calls us to see the beauty of diversity as part of God’s design and highlights the role we can play in helping people heal from racial trauma through empathy, compassion and understanding.

If you enjoy listening to With You in the Weeds we’d love to hear from you! You can email us at [email protected] or leave us a review. For more great content from the team you can subscribe to our newsletter at withyouintheweeds.com and follow us on Instagram @withyouintheweeds.

The residual trauma from war can have a lasting impact on veterans and their families. No one knows this better than Dan and Jo Slawski, founders of Guardian Hills Veterans Healing Center. 

When Dan’s father returned from his service in World War II, he struggled to cope with the mental and emotional stress of post-war trauma. Dan experienced his father’s outbursts of rage and occasional disappearances as confusing and disruptive to family life. That didn’t deter Dan from joining the Air Force after college to help pay for his medical school, which was a positive life change for Dan and his wife Jo.

Since that time, Dan’s active military service as well as his experience caring for orthopedic patients opened his eyes to the post-traumatic stress that veterans live with every day. After hearing many stories from POW’s, veterans and family members living with veterans who were suffering both physically and mentally, Dan and Jo knew their calling was to help veterans be restored to health and wholeness. 

In this eye-opening episode, Shay Roush interviews Dan and Jo to discuss their work with Guardian Hills Veterans Healing Center, a facility dedicated to helping veterans recover from the physical, emotional, and relational injuries they often face after service. Located in the beautiful country of northern Missouri, Guardian Hills provides resources and support for veterans struggling with trauma, including post-traumatic stress (PTS) and moral injury.

Many veterans don’t experience their first impact of post-traumatic stress until 11 years after service, and they often don’t have access to the resources needed for them to process the memories or stressors associated with their time in active duty. Their emotional and physical injuries are distressing, debilitating, and often lead to suicide as an alarming 17 veterans a day die by suicide around the country.

You will be inspired and encouraged as you hear the Slawskis' vision for Guardian Hills, and the transformations that are occuring in veterans lives on a daily basis (as captured in this video). 

If you or someone you love could benefit from the services offered at Guardian Hills or you want to learn more about the programs and educational therapies they offer, visit the Guardian Hills website where you can also purchase tickets for the upcoming annual banquet and auction on Saturday, March 8th at Cooper’s Ridge Event Center.

For information about housing for veterans in Columbia, Missouri visit the Welcome Home website to learn about their vision for ending homelessness for veterans in our community.

If you enjoy listening to With You in the Weeds we’d love to hear from you! You can email us at [email protected] or leave us a review. For more great content from the team you can subscribe to our newsletter at withyouintheweeds.com and follow us on Instagram @withyouintheweeds. 

There are several therapeutic interventions that can play a role in your recovery from trauma, and perhaps one of the most proven, effective and powerful methods is EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. But what does that mean and how does it work?

As part of our "Surviving and Thriving After Trauma" series, Austin brings in special guest Dr. Mark Pfuetze, an EMDR trained therapist and Covenant Seminary professor, to explain how the body stores trauma and how EMDR can help you manage distressing memories, experiences, and thoughts that haunt you, shame you, or pull you from the present back into the past.

After listening to this insightful interview, you will understand more about:

Online Christian Counseling Resource: Global Counseling Network

If you have a question for Dr. Pfuetze you can email him at: [email protected] 

If you enjoy listening to With You in the Weeds we’d love to hear from you! You can email us at [email protected] or leave us a review. For more great content from the team you can subscribe to our newsletter at withyouintheweeds.com and follow us on Instagram @withyouintheweeds. 

Have you ever experienced a “complete and total loss” only to have it be flipped into a “complete and total life transformation”? 

In this powerful episode of our “Surviving and Thriving After Trauma” series, Lynn Roush, LPC interviews her colleague and friend, Jules Lundberg, (trauma-informed PLPC & PhD student) who shares the compelling story of her journey as a trauma survivor and how she has worked hard to heal, thrive, and help others flip the script of their trauma.

Together, Lynn and Jules provide listeners with practical steps for rewriting the shameful narrative that emerges from childhood trauma and how to begin breaking generational patterns of sin and dysfunction.

Jules' story of resilience includes severe childhood abuse, domestic violence, divorce, infant loss, fostering and adoption. Lynn and Jules discuss:

If you are wanting to rewrite the narrative of your life, this episode will offer insight, hope and practical steps to help you change your internal dialogue and experience the transformation that occurs when you receive God’s invitation to be transformed by his love and truth. We want you to have hope that you can survive and thrive after trauma and embrace your identity as a beloved child of God.

Bible Verse Highlight:

Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

If you are in an abusive relationship and need support you can call the domestic abuse hotline: 1-800.799.SAFE (7233), or visit their website https://www.thehotline.org/

If you live in Columbia, Missouri, you can contact True North to receive education, counseling, and shelter from an abusive partner. 

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Are you facing a baffling, frustrating and emotionally intense struggle with your child? 

Do you question everything you’re doing as a parent because your best efforts don’t seem to be working to change your child’s misbehavior?

In this episode of our "Surviving and Thriving After Trauma" series, we tackle an increasingly important question: What do parents need to know about trauma? 

Austin is joined by Kari Nietzel, a behavior analyst with over 14 years of experience working with families and children who have experienced trauma. Together, they explore how trauma impacts children, how it manifests in behavior, and how parents and caregivers can better understand and support their kids.

Austin and Kari discuss:

Key Takeaways:

We know you’ll be encouraged, comforted and equipped with parenting strategies through this conversation as you learn from Kari’s personal and clinical experiences. 

Resources:

Raising Kids with Big Baffling Behaviors by Robyn Gobell

The Connected Parent by Karyn Purvis and Lisa Qualls

TBRI podcast

Calm Parenting Podcast

If you enjoy listening to With You in the Weeds we’d love to hear from you! You can email us at [email protected] or leave us a review. For more great content from the team you can subscribe to our newsletter at withyouintheweeds.com and follow us on Instagram @withyouintheweeds. 

In today’s episode, Lynn Roush, LPC, sits down with Lori Ann Wood, an inspiring author, speaker, and survivor of medical trauma. As part of our series on “Surviving and Thriving After Trauma,” we are delving into the challenges and lessons that come from facing health crises, and the shift that needs to occur from being a “fixer” to accepting that not everything in life can or will be solved.

When a trip to urgent care led to a 2 week stay in the ICU as a critical care patient, Lori Ann Wood’s life went from predictable to precarious. Being diagnosed with end stage heart failure with an enlarged heart functioning at only 6%, Lori Ann was faced with a health crisis that would test her faith with an uncertain future.

Lynn and Lori Ann discuss how medical crises disrupt not only your physical well-being but also create emotional, psychological and spiritual instability. When you receive a “forever diagnosis”, nothing seems normal anymore and everyone in the family is affected by the detour that occurs when you lose your health.

Lori Ann’s journey of receiving a life-altering diagnosis and how she processed the feelings of failure, guilt and shame that come with chronic illness, will encourage and comfort anyone who can relate to the struggle to find hope when your heart - or health - fails.

Divine Detour: The Path You’d Never Choose Can Lead to the Faith You’ve Always Wanted by Lori Ann Wood

If you enjoy listening to With You in the Weeds we’d love to hear from you! You can email us at [email protected] or leave us a review. For more great content from the team you can subscribe to our newsletter at withyouintheweeds.com and follow us on Instagram @withyouintheweeds. 

The million dollar question our clients ask when it comes to trauma is: “How do I heal?” 

In this episode, Austin, Lynn, and John continue their series, Surviving and Thriving After Trauma, with a deep dive into the key elements needed for healing.

Trauma is any experience that overwhelms your ability to cope on your own and can stem from events like divorce, abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, health crises, betrayal and more. However, it’s not just the event itself that is disruptive, but the lingering emotional and mental impact that makes healing difficult.

In this episode we cover key elements needed for healing:

Although each person’s journey is unique, growth and recovery are possible with the right resources and a supportive community. This episode will guide you through how and why healing from trauma is possible, and provide the insight you need to move towards healing and hope.

If you enjoy listening to With You in the Weeds we’d love to hear from you! You can email us at [email protected] or leave us a review. For more great content from the team you can subscribe to our newsletter at withyouintheweeds.com and follow us on Instagram @withyouintheweeds. 

In this foundational episode, we kick off our series, Surviving and Thriving After Trauma, by exploring what trauma truly is—and isn’t. As the term “trauma” becomes more prevalent in everyday culture, it’s essential to clarify its meaning, dispel myths, and offer tools for understanding and growth. Throughout this series, we want to bring clarity, validation, and encouragement to those navigating the complex impacts of trauma.

While it’s true that trauma means different things to different people, John, Lynn and Austin will answer the following questions:

The truth is that the Bible has a lot of say about trauma, using different words: suffering, hardship, distresses, trials, sorrow and brokenness. Using biblical realities along with psychological insight, this episode will provide essential understanding for those seeking healing from trauma. 

Tune in to our next episode: “How do I Heal From Trauma?” and share this episode with someone who might benefit from a deeper understanding of trauma.

Suffering and the Heart of God by Diane Langberg.

Healing What’s Within by Chuck DeGroat.

Try Softer by Aundi Kolber

If you enjoy listening to With You in the Weeds we’d love to hear from you! You can email us at [email protected] or leave us a review. For more great content from the team you can subscribe to our newsletter at withyouintheweeds.com and follow us on Instagram @withyouintheweeds.