With You in the Weeds: Where Faith Meets Mental Health

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. 

What is Christmas really about? Is Jesus like the “elf on a shelf” toy that we play with once a year? Or is he like Santa, punishing those who are naughty and rewarding those who are nice?

It’s easy to get caught up in cultural traditions and forget that the true meaning of Christmas is that God became flesh to dwell among us. Jesus entered into a world of darkness and declared: “I am the light of the world”. Who could make such a claim, and live a life of perfection to back it up? And what does that mean for you today?

John and Shay explain the gospel message that God wants to be WITH YOU, and moves towards you in your sinfulness, darkness and brokenness. God took on flesh in the person of Jesus in order to identify with you in your suffering and to forgive your sins. Emmanuel means “God with us”, a comforting declaration that you are not alone in this world, you have a friend in Jesus.

If you are looking for hope this Christmas season, this episode will comfort, encourage and awaken your heart to the beauty and wonder of what it means that Jesus is WITH YOU in the weeds of life.

The WYITW team wishes you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

You won’t want to miss our NEW SERIES that begins January 8th: Surviving and Thriving After Trauma, so stay tuned for more great content on topics you care about in 2025!

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 heard of doom spending? It’s when you spend money you don’t have in order to cope with stress. Without considering the cost, you splurge on a shopping spree to find a little bit of happiness. We know that it’s tempting to do a little doom spending over the holidays, but what will happen when the credit card bills come around? 

We want to help you think wisely and purposefully about your finances. So in this episode, we’ve brought in two knowledgeable guests to offer guidance on your holiday spending, personal budgeting and long term finance goals. Shay talks with financial planner Kevin Adam, and Molly Harville, long time instructor for the Financial Peace class taught at The Crossing. Both Kevin and Molly have helped many people create a plan to not only get out of debt, but also reach their financial goals.

Shay, Kevin and Molly share their insights on topics such as:

The bottom line of this episode is: you don’t have to just cover your eyes and swipe the credit card! You can learn the principles behind wise spending so that you can take steps towards financial freedom and peace, even around the holidays.

If you want to know how to sign up for the next Financial Peace class at The Crossing or have a question about your finances, email Molly Harville: [email protected] 

Book recommendations:

Rich Dad Poor Dad

The Psychology of Money

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 most beloved Christmas songs boast that it's the most wonderful time of the year, but is it really true? 

As counselors, we know that what you see on the outside of people’s lives never tells the full story. Even the beautiful family Christmas card isn’t an accurate picture of reality. The truth is that there’s a lot of sadness and brokenness in this world, and it’s easy to push it away and not enter into it. It’s normal to want to numb yourself or avoid and gloss over the hurt. 

In this episode John, Shay and Lynn acknowledge that the holidays can both be a time of levity and joy, but can also be a time where we are faced with hard realities. You may have recently lost a loved one, been given an unwanted health diagnosis, or are reeling from a painful breakup. Or maybe you're far away from family or friends and don't feel like celebrating over the holidays.

This episode will help you manage the grief you may be experiencing as we discuss:

Stay tuned for two more episodes in our “Keeping Your Sanity Over the Holidays” series!

Picture the scene: you’re sitting in front of the fireplace sipping hot cocoa while chatting quietly with family, reminiscing about the joys of your upbringing and your favorite family moments. Meanwhile, your children sit cross legged on the ground together, silently and peacefully listening with rapt attention. 

That’s how your holidays go as a family right? HA! If you’re like most people, the holiday season is filled less with peace, stillness, and cooperation and more with frantic, frustrating, and stressful situations. Or at best, a mix of the two. Travel, lack of routine and divided time with relatives and in-laws can make parenting extra challenging.

Christian and Andrew Neuenswander, busy parents of 3 young children, can definitely relate to the messiness of gathering with family over the holidays (Pro tip: never leave the house without extra handi-wipes!). In this episode Austin interviews this busy family of 5 about practical tips and suggestions for how you can “keep your sanity” over the holidays as parents.

When you finish listening, their insights and perspectives will help you apply these takeaways as you navigate tricky, fun, busy, and complex dynamics over the holiday season so that you can keep your sanity!