If you grew up being told to “stop crying,” “toughen up,” or “just be grateful,” you’re not alone. Somewhere along the way, many of us learned to mistrust our emotions or even feel ashamed for having them. But I want to shift that narrative today—because your emotions are not a spiritual failure or a sign of weakness. They are signals, not sins. Emotions are how God wired us, not something He’s asking us to overcome. Let’s break this down together—biblically, clinically, and practically—so you c...
Apr 09, 2025•16 min
Have you ever felt like God was distant—like no matter how much you prayed, you couldn’t hear Him? Maybe deep down, you’re carrying unspoken disappointment or even resentment toward Him. It’s not that you don’t believe He’s good, but a part of you wonders, "If He really loves me, why did He allow these things to happen?" Without realizing it, we can hold judgments against God, using our pain as evidence that He isn’t trustworthy. But here’s the thing—God isn’t the one who hurt you. And rebuildin...
Apr 02, 2025•19 min
Do you ever feel like you’re losing yourself while trying to keep everyone else happy? You’re not alone. People-pleasing is exhausting—it tricks us into thinking that if we can keep everyone else content, we’ll finally feel safe, accepted, or worthy. But the truth is, people-pleasing often comes at the cost of our own well-being. Whether it’s the fear of rejection, a need for approval, or the belief that loving others means ignoring yourself, this pattern slowly steals your peace. But here’s the...
Mar 26, 2025•25 min
Have you ever wrestled with the idea of denying yourself, wondering if it means you don’t matter? Many of us have been taught to put others before ourselves, but somewhere along the way, that message got distorted into believing our feelings, needs, and limits don’t count. When we internalize this misunderstanding, setting boundaries can feel wrong—almost as if we’re going against God. But what if denying ourselves doesn’t mean becoming invisible or neglecting our well-being? What if it actually...
Mar 19, 2025•16 min
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the weight of your responsibilities, struggling to say no even when you know you should? Many of us were never taught how to set boundaries, and as a result, we allow situations, people, and even our own expectations to push us beyond what is healthy. Setting boundaries isn’t about controlling others—it’s about taking responsibility for what we will and will not allow in our lives. It’s about recognizing our limits and having the courage to say, “This is too far...
Mar 12, 2025•24 min
Have you ever hesitated to come to God because you were afraid of His punishment? Maybe you’ve wondered if your struggles are proof that He’s angry with you. If so, you’re not alone. From childhood, many of us have been conditioned to fear punishment—it’s why we instinctively react with punishment rather than discipline when others fail. This fear leads us to hide our pain rather than confront it, convincing us that God responds to our failures the same way. But here’s the truth: there’s a diffe...
Mar 05, 2025•20 min
Ever find yourself snapping at someone out of nowhere, feeling the urge to run from a situation, shutting down completely, or agreeing to things just to keep the peace? These are all ways our bodies respond to stress—and you’re not alone in experiencing them. In today’s episode, we’re diving into the fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses. We’ll explore how your nervous system reacts when it senses a threat (real or imagined) and, more importantly, how to reset when you feel stuck in survival...
Feb 26, 2025•19 min
Forgiveness—it’s one of the hardest things to talk about, let alone work through. Most of the people I work with don’t even touch the topic of forgiveness until several sessions in. And it’s no wonder—our pain tells us that forgiving means letting someone off the hook. But what if that’s not true? What if forgiveness isn’t about excusing what happened but about freeing ourselves from the weight of it? In this episode, I'm unpacking the complexities of forgiveness—why we struggle with it, the dif...
Feb 19, 2025•19 min
Have you ever wrestled with the question, “If God is good, then why did this painful thing happen to me?” When we’re deep in hurt, the idea of a loving God can feel impossible to reconcile with our suffering. It’s not about struggling with prayer or faith itself—it’s about wrestling with who God is in the midst of pain. In this episode, I'm opening up this conversation, not to offer quick-fix answers, but to create space for the real questions so many of us carry. We’ll explore what it means to ...
Feb 12, 2025•18 min
Have you ever felt like God is silent or distant during your most painful moments? If so, you’re not alone. In today’s episode, we’re addressing the heartache of feeling abandoned by God and how these emotions shape our view of His presence. We’ll take a closer look at why these feelings arise, how our circumstances can cloud our understanding of God, and what Scripture says about His unwavering love. If you’ve ever questioned where God is in your pain, I hope this episode offers a fresh perspec...
Feb 05, 2025•17 min
Have you ever found yourself constantly trying to keep the peace, avoiding conflict, or prioritizing others’ needs at the expense of your own? While these behaviors may seem like acts of kindness or love, they often stem from a deeper trauma response called the fawn response. In today’s episode, we’re exploring the fawn response from a nervous system perspective—what it is, why it happens, and how it impacts our emotional, relational, and spiritual health. Together, we’ll uncover how this respon...
Jan 29, 2025•19 min
Hi friends! Today, we’re diving into a topic close to my heart: Having emotions doesn’t make you emotional. Yes, God intentionally created us as emotional beings, and that’s not a weakness—it’s a reflection of His design. If you’ve ever been told you’re “too emotional” or felt like you had to hide how you truly feel, this episode is for you. Together, we’ll explore why your emotions matter, how to honor God with them, and what it looks like to process feelings in a healthy, God-honoring way. Roo...
Jan 22, 2025•20 min
In this episode, we dive into a struggle many of us face without even realizing it—comparing our pain to others. Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I shouldn’t feel this way; others have it worse”? If so, you’re not alone. In this conversation, we’ll uncover how this mindset can invalidate our experiences, explore what God says about honoring our pain, and share practical, grace-filled ways to embrace healing. Rooting for you, Jessica Next steps: Get my free 3-day study and learn how to de...
Jan 15, 2025•15 min
As we step into 2025, I’ve noticed a common thread that keeps so many of us from experiencing emotional and physical healing: a lack of self-awareness and ownership over what we can control. Here’s the truth: we can’t heal what we keep hidden. In this episode, I’m unpacking how growing in self-awareness, taking responsibility, and allowing God’s light to reveal the hidden places in our hearts can set us on the path to freedom and healing. Rooting for you, Jessica Next steps: Get my free 3-day st...
Jan 08, 2025•17 min
I want to share my journey with you because I've learned some powerful truths about emotional regulation, stress, and how we handle pain. For almost a year, I stepped away from something I loved—strength training. Not because it wasn’t good for me, but because God was asking me a hard question: “Is this good for your body right now ?” That question was humbling. As a health coach for almost 14 years, I’d always focused on the external—workouts, meal plans, and supplements. And while those things...
Jan 01, 2025•17 min
Have you ever found yourself wanting to lose weight or make a positive change, but your actions just don’t line up with your intentions? You know what you want —to feel better, to be healthier, to grow spiritually—but there’s this frustrating disconnect between your mind, your heart, and what you actually do. Whether it’s reaching for that snack you promised yourself you wouldn’t eat, skipping the project you know would bring relief, or struggling to find time for prayer even when you long for a...
Dec 18, 2024•14 min
For the past four months, nearly every morning, I’ve started my day with a quiet ritual: stepping outside, grounding myself by putting my feet in the grass (or snow) and soaking in 8 to 10 minutes of morning sunlight. In this episode, we’re diving into the power of rest, silence, and intentionality. We'll explore how embracing stillness not only helps us reconnect with our bodies and minds but also with God. Together, we’ll unpack the discomfort of silence, why we tend to avoid it, and how learn...
Dec 11, 2024•15 min
Today's episode is very personal for me. We often hold onto pain because it reassures us paradoxically, convincing us to guard our hearts and mistrust the world around us. Pain can trick us into believing that love and trust will only lead to more suffering, pushing us into isolation and away from peace. Reflecting on my journey, especially during the time I became my mother's medical power of attorney after 14 years of no contact, I've come to realize how pain can dominate our lives. My mother'...
Dec 04, 2024•17 min
You're going to notice something a little different today! This episode is extra special because I’m sharing an interview I had with K-LOVE, a nationally recognized Christian radio station. I was honored to be featured in their “Positive People” segment, which aired locally in Pittsburgh, PA. In this conversation, we dive into the theme of walking through pain—what it means to face it, hold it, and ultimately grow through it. I share parts of my journey, my work as a Christian Mental Health Coac...
Nov 27, 2024•22 min
Suffering is one of life’s hardest realities, but it’s important to know that God never chose suffering for us. His original design was perfect, free from pain and brokenness. Suffering entered the world through humanity’s choice to sin, not because it was part of God’s plan. In this episode, we explore where suffering comes from, why God allows it, and how He uses it for His purposes. We discuss the role of free will, different views on God’s sovereignty, and how suffering impacts our faith. Wh...
Nov 20, 2024•21 min
Today I'm delving into a common yet often unspoken struggle: the need for approval. For many, this desire becomes so ingrained that it can feel impossible to escape, creating a sense of entrapment that often goes unnoticed. In this episode, I’ll explore the root causes of approval-seeking behavior, why it’s so challenging to break free, and the steps we can take to overcome it. I'll also give an overview of attachment styles and the impact they have on our relationships and self-worth. Let's unp...
Nov 13, 2024•20 min
Ever feel like God is trying to get your attention, but you're not sure how to listen? Today, we’re exploring practical, down-to-earth ways to recognize His voice—even in subtle, everyday moments that we might easily overlook. While we often expect bold signs or clear words, God’s communication can come as a gentle nudge, a persistent thought, or a sense of calm amid the chaos. We’ll dive into both biblical insights and clinical strategies for quieting the mind, grounding ourselves in Scripture,...
Nov 06, 2024•21 min
Last month, I talked about the difference between a mental health coach and a counselor, and today, I want to take it a step further. We’re diving into what it really looks like to work with a Christian mental health coach. As a trauma-informed life coach, my goal is to help my clients grow emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Coaching is all about meeting you where you are, setting goals, and taking real steps toward the life you want. It’s different from counseling—I don’t diagnose or tre...
Nov 04, 2024•11 min
Today, we’re diving into a topic that many believers experience - the dark night of the soul. If you’ve ever felt distant from God, like your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling, or that you’re spiritually wandering through a desert, this episode is for you. In this episode, I'll define "the dark night of the soul," some reasons we go through it, and share some uncommon, yet powerful, ways to walk through this challenging season. Remember, this isn't the end of your story. God is with you, even...
Oct 30, 2024•19 min
In today’s episode, I delve into the experiences of those who grew up as the ‘good child’—the one who followed the rules, stayed out of trouble, and asked for little, yet often felt neglected or overlooked. As adults, many of these individuals find themselves in a constant cycle of seeking approval and validation. We will explore the reasons behind this, its roots in past experiences, and, most importantly, how to heal from it with Christ. Other episodes that would be good to listen to: The Trut...
Oct 23, 2024•23 min
Pain, whether physical or emotional, can lead us to question God’s goodness and presence in our lives. We might wonder, "Has God abandoned me?" or "Why is this happening to me?" These doubts can leave us feeling isolated from Him. In this episode, I explore the false beliefs that can arise from pain, such as thinking it's a form of punishment or that we're unworthy of God’s love. These distorted thoughts often keep us stuck in a cycle of guilt, shame, and self-punishment, but there is hope! List...
Oct 16, 2024•23 min
One of the most common questions I'm asked during consultations is, "What's the difference between mental health coaching and counseling?" So in this episode, I'm breaking down counseling vs. coaching. Whether you're curious about which path might suit you best or are currently navigating your own mental health journey, this episode will help clarify the unique roles and approaches of a coach versus a counselor. We’ll also explore how both can work together to support your personal growth and he...
Oct 14, 2024•18 min
Negative thought cycles are something we all face, but as Christians, we have a unique opportunity to tackle them not only from a clinical perspective but by grounding ourselves in God’s truth. In this episode, we’ll dive into the psychology behind negative thinking and explore how aligning our minds with scripture can lead to lasting change. Whether you’re struggling with anxious thoughts or feeling stuck in a pattern of negativity, I’ll guide you through practical steps to renew your mind. Let...
Oct 09, 2024•21 min
In this episode, we're diving into three common Christian phrases that, while often spoken with good intentions, might be doing more harm than good. Have you ever heard or even said things like, "All things work together for good," "Everything happens for a reason," or "God allowed this to happen"? These phrases can be problematic when taken out of context or misused. Today, we’ll explore why some of these statements aren't even biblical, how others depend on your view of God’s sovereignty, and ...
Oct 02, 2024•27 min
Welcome back, friend! I'm so glad you're joining me for today's episode, which dives into a deeply personal topic I’ve had to walk through myself. This isn’t something I talk about lightly—it's a question I hear often from my one-on-one coaching clients: "Why doesn’t God heal me?" While I’m not addressing physical healing today, I want to talk about healing in terms of emotional pain and brokenness, and how it relates to our beliefs about God’s love for us. If you’ve ever wondered why you still ...
Sep 25, 2024•17 min
