Hearing people and helping people FEEL heard are two different things.   In today’s busy, loud, disconnected world, feeling heard is an incredibly meaning experience. Everyone wants to know that they are seen, valued, and appreciated.    Of course, we cannot make people feel anything. We cannot guarantee that people will always react to us in the way we hope or expect.    But we can approach our interactions with people with intentionality. We can practice the skill of listening.   So join me today for a counselor’s look at how we can listen well and help people f ..read more

One of the most common things that Christian counselors help clients with is getting their thought life more in line with Philippians 4:8.    When someone is stuck in negative thinking, it is not honoring to God and not helpful to their relationships or emotional health. And guess what? Pastors and ministry leaders struggle with their thinking too!   In our last episode, we looking at the 5 R’s to turn your thoughts around and stop the negative thinking. Today, we’ll dive deeper into one of the hardest steps there: replacing the negative thought with a positive thought. Not a fa ..read more

Even strong Christians sometimes struggle with negative thinking. We can get stuck overthinking things, blaming ourselves for problems, grumbling, or judging others in our thoughts.   But there are strategies that will help!   As you pray over these struggles, confess your sin, and seek the Holy Spirit’s help, these 5 strategies will give you practical action steps to start changing your thought patterns.   Join me today for the 5 R’s that will give you practical steps to stop that negative thinking.   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -    ABOUT YOUR HOST    ..read more

At some point in life, everyone will struggle with conflict. The church is not immune! Even in the best ministry, there are different personalities, priorities, and preferences. Conflict will happen.    So what’s a pastor or leader to do?   Of course, the top urgency is to start with prayer. Pray for the other person, for the situation, for your own reaction. Be quick to listen and slow to speak. Seek to understand.   But if conflict is escalating, there are action steps that can help. Let’s look together at 4 steps that will help you manage and resolve conflict in your min ..read more

Hopefully, you’ve thought through what you want (dare I say… need?) your boundaries to look like. This is critical for a healthy ministry, family, and life.    But then the question turns to: how do I do it?   How do I implement these boundaries? Stick with them when it’s tough? Adjust them if it’s appropriate?    Well, today I’ll share 5 tips from my experience as a licensed counselor, pastor’s wife, and ministry leader. Find some practical tips and encouragement for HOW to live out boundaries in your life, and avoid ministry burnout in the process.    ..read more

One of the biggest problems in ministry leadership is burnout. The demands of ministry are high and the stress, emotions, and responsibilities weigh on us.    And one of the best things that can help prevent burnout and keep you passionate about the ministry work you are doing is setting boundaries.   We all need healthy boundaries! Jesus had them, and we need them.    Join us today for some practical tips in how to think about boundaries in your life, family, and ministry work. Next week, we’ll dive deeper into how to live out these boundaries… but you can’t live them ..read more

Every Christian leader will have opportunities to help people in their marriages. But how do you approach marriage counseling? Can you help a marriage even if you’re meeting 1:1 with someone? (Yes! You can.)   Today you’ll get some specific tips from a Christian marriage counselor on how to get started on the right foot when you’re trying to help couples.    Whether you’re doing full-blown marriage counseling or you’re just talking with someone about their life, you can have a big impact on people’s marriages.   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -    ABOUT YOUR HOST&nbs ..read more

It can be a scary thing to wonder if someone is depressed, hopeless, or suicidal. It's overwhelming.   But if you're in a church, a ministry, or relationships with your community... it's inevitable.    Depression and suicide are a HUGE concern in today's world. It's one of the leading causes of death among kids, teens, and middle-aged adults especially.    Today, we'll go through some practical action steps that you can take if you're concerned about someone. Don't wait for them to bring it up. Reach out. Try these tips, and don't think you're in it alone.    ..read more

Depression is a big problem in today’s world. And for a ministry leader or pastor, it can be scary to think about. It can feel very overwhelming.   But if you truly want to minister well to the people God has put around you… well, you need to be ready to recognize signs of concern and respond to them well.    So today, let’s tackle the first part of that. Let’s go through some common warning signs and red flags that might tell you depression, suicide, or hopelessness is a concern for someone.    Next week, we’ll take a look at practical action steps for what to do if y ..read more

Every Christian is called to show love to those around us. "Love your neighbor as yourself," Jesus tells us. Love your enemies. People will know you are Christ's disciples by your love. It is all throughout the Bible!   And this is most especially true for pastors and other ministry leaders.    But without good interpersonal skills, it is unlikely that people will feel loved by you... despite your best intentions.    So join us today for a look at 3 keys to good interpersonal communication - and be working on this in your ministry and relationships!   Click here t ..read more