Counseling Talk

Hayley and Deepak talk with Ellen Dykas about the problems of relational idolatry. What can you do when you turn an important relationship into an idol? How can you find satisfaction in Christ rather than a person in your life?31 Day Devotional on Toxic RelationshipSexual Sanity for WomenSex and the Single GirlHarvest USAArticle: Close Friends and Entangled Hearts: Dykas and Powlison.

Garrett, Hayley and Deepak interview the  Dunhams about their journey through Krista's eating disorder. Dave and Krista explain how she let go of control, sorted through all of the unhelpful things she was told, and in the end, centered her life around Christ.

Garrett, Hayley and Deepak explore 12 principles that people struggling with eating disorders should follow, like facing their shame, turning down the outside cultural influences, fighting against perfectionism and pride, addressing ungodly fears, and much more!

Garrett, Hayley and Deepak think about how pastors can care for a member who confesses a battle with an eating disorder. What are the theological, medical and practical considerations? How does the gospel change this dilemma?

Garrett, Hayley and Deepak think about what the Bible has to say about food and our relationship with food.Related resources:Helping Bulimics by Elyse FitzpatrickHelping Anorexics by Elyse FitzpatrickDisorderly Eating... for the Rest of Us by Elyse Fitzpatrick

The decision to bring the counseling process to a close is sometimes clear, but often not. In this episode of Counseling Talk, Deepak Reju, Garrett Kell, and Hayley Satrom talk about how to end counseling sessions.Related resourcesThe Discipleship River by Steve Viars

In this episode of Counseling Talk, Deepak, Garrett, and Hayley interview Michael Gembola, the author of After an Affair.Related resources:After an Affair by Michael Gembola

In this episode of Counseling Talk, Deepak Reju, Garrett Kell, and Hayley Satrom finish their mini-series on adultery, talking about reconciliation after adultery.Related resources:My Spouse Was Unfaithful: Finding Strength in God's Presence by Robert JonesForgiveness by Garrett KellDisclosing Past Sexual Sin in a Dating Relationship by Garrett KellForgiveness: Reflecting God's Mercy by Hayley SatromSubscribe to our new podcast, A Storm in the Desert.

What should counselors do when adultery comes to light? In this episode of Counseling Talk, Deepak Reju, Garrett Kell, and Hayley Satrom continue their mini-series on adultery. Related resources:Restoring Your Broken Marriage: Healing After Adultery by Robert JonesAfter an Affair by Michael Gembola

In this episode of Counseling Talk, Garrett, Deepak, and Hayley begin a 3-part series on adultery and discuss what the Bible says about adultery.Related resources:Envision the End of Your Sin by Garrett KellHelp! My Spouse Committed Adultery: First Steps for Dealing with Betrayal by Winston SmithSubscribe to our new podcast, A Storm in the Desert.

Counseling Talk is back for season 2!In this episode, Garrett, Deepak, and Hayley discuss how to ask good questions in a counseling session. They share personal stories and practical examples that they have seen over the years.X-ray Questions: Drawing Out the Whys and Wherefores of Human Behavior by David PowlisonThe Pastor and Counseling by Deepak Reju and Jeremy PierreA Do-It-Yourself Marriage Retreat by Deepak Reju

In this final episode of Counseling Talk Season 1, Deepak Reju, Hayley Satrom, and Garrett Kell interview John Henderson on how to fight anxiety.Related resources:Running Scared by Ed WelchWhen I'm Afraid by Ed WelchA Small Book on Anxious Heart by Ed WelchAnxiety: Knowing God's Peace by Paul TautgesJohn Henderson on anxiety at DRBC

In this episode of Counseling Talk, Deepak Reju, Garrett Kell, and Hayley Satrom share common mistakes that counselors make and how to avoid them. Related resources:Is It Abuse? by Darby Strickland

How do we fight our anxiety and how we help others fight it?In this episode of Counseling Talk, Deepak Reju, Hayley Satrom, and Garrett Kell finish the mini-series on anxiety.Related resources:Engaging with God in the Midst of Anxiety by Deepak RejuA Small Book on Anxious Heart by Ed WelchAnxiety: Knowing God's Peace by Paul Tautges

What does the Bible say about anxiety?Listen to the second episode of a mini-series on anxiety as Deepak Reju, Hayley Satrom, and Garrett Kell discuss. Related Resource:Help, I don't know where my anxiety is coming from by Mike Emlet and Winston SmithHope in an Anxious World – Helen ThorneOvercoming Anxiety – David Powlison

Anxiety is the spiritual x-ray that God uses to reveal who or what you worship. In this episode of Counseling Talk, Deepak Reju, Hayley Satrom, and Garrett Kell start the first of three episodes on anxiety.Related resourcesJohn Henderson on anxiety at DRBCEd Welch's Running Scared and When I'm Afraid

Related resources:https://www.heartsongcounseling.org/C4 announcementC4 is a group of like-minded Christian counseling centers across the country that are joining together to foster a spirit of mutual edification and encouragement among its members by providing opportunities for care, consultation, content collaboration, and continuing education. If you're interested in learning more about C4, visit our website.

In this episode of Counseling Talk, Deepak, Hayley, and Garrett interview Esther Liu about shame and how pastors and counselors can view shame in the light of Scripture and the gospel.Related ResourcesShame Interrupted: How God Lifts the Pain of Worthlessness and Rejection by Ed WelchShame: Being Known and Loved by Esther Liu

Reconciliation after confessing a struggle of pornography can be difficult. In this episode of Counseling Talk, Deepak Reju, Hayley Satrom, and Garrett Kell finish up a series on pornography as they lay out principles for godly reconciliation. Resources for Show 3 - Dating and Marriage Rescue Plan and Rescue Skills by Jonathan Holmes and Deepak RejuRedeem Your Marriage: Hope for Husbands Who Have Hurt Through Pornography  by Curtis SolomonReclaim Your Marriage: Grace for Wives Who Have been Hurt by Pornography by Jenny Solomon

What you retreat to for refreshment turns into love. For some Christians, that's pornography. In this episode of Counseling Talk, Deepak Reju, Hayley Satrom, and Garrett Kell share some of the practical tools that can be useful in helping someone fight this difficult battle. Resources resources31-Day Devotional on Porn by Deepak RejuHide & Seek by John FreemanRescue Skills: Essential Skills for Restoring the Sexually Broken by Jonathan Holmes and Deepak Reju

In this episode of Counseling Talk, Deepak Reju, Hayley Satrom, and Garrett Kell start a mini-series on pornography and how pastors and members can help one another fight the battle.Resources for Show 1 - Porn Overview David Powlison's book: Making All Things New: Restoring the Joy to the Sexually BrokenDavid Powlison's article: Sexual Sin - The Wider and the Deeper Battle Garrett's book Pure in Heart Strategies for Closing Off Access PointsHere are some practical steps to consider as you help an addict to get rid of his access points.   1.  Ask the struggler about every e-device he owns.   2.  Encourage him or her to get a software monitoring program, such as Covenant Eyes, and put it on all his devices.   3.  Get rid of standard web browsers and rely on a browser that is carefully monitored.   4.  Get rid of the applications store. If a new app needs to be downloaded onto a tablet or phone, provide access only temporarily.   5.  Use special restrictions to cut out the web browser and app store, set time limits, and so on. Make sure the restrictions code is known only to an accountability partner. If the struggler knows it, he or she will remove the restrictions in a moment of weakness and act out.   6.  Get rid of all apps that have an embedded browser.What's the principle behind these six points?We're removing control from the believer who struggles with porn and giving it to others because he or she can't steward the freedom of open access.

Seeing your children to come to faith should be every parent's desire. But what happens when they don't? In this episode of Counseling Talk, Deepak Reju, Hayley Satrom, and Garrett Kell interview Stuart Scott about his new book, Wayward Children: Finding Peace, Keeping Hope.Related resources:Wayward Children: Finding Peace, Keeping Hope

Christians expect strict confidentiality when speaking of their own sins. But is that good for them?In this episode of Counseling Talk, Deepak Reju, Hayley Satrom, and Garrett Kell discuss how to shepherd secrets for gospel purposes.Related resources:Discipling by Mark DeverIs It Loving to Practice Church Discipline? Jonathan LeemanChurch Membership by Jonathan LeemanYou're a Pastor, Not a Therapist by Jeremy Pierre

When members of the church suffer it provides a unique opportunity to show tangible love.In this episode of Counseling Talk, Garrett Kell shares with Deepak Reju and Hayley Satrom practical ways how God's people loved his family during their season of suffering.Related Resources: CaringBridge for Eden Kell

Pastors are not excluded from suffering. When trials come they uniquely become in need of their own pastoral care.In this episode of Counseling Talk, pastor Garrett Kell shares about trusting God amidst a season of his family's suffering.Related Resources:Caringbridge for Eden Kell

How can Christians best assess the seriousness of someone's suicidal feelings? And how should we walk with those left behind after the suicide of a loved one?In this episode of Counseling Talk, Deepak, Garrett, and Hayley finish a mini-series on suicide.

Helping someone with suicidal thoughts can be overwhelming. How should we develop a care plan for someone struggling with on-going suicidal thoughts?In this episode of Counseling Talk, Deepak, Garrett, and Hayley offer practical help about caring for suicidal members.

The temptation to suicide tricks us that death is better than life. So how should pastors and members help fellow believers who are struggling with suicidal temptations?In this episode, Deepak, Garrett, and Hayley start a 3-part series on the weighty topic of suicide.

Counseling Talk is here!In this episode, Jonathan Leeman interviews the hosts—Deepak Reju, Hayley Satrom, and Garrett Kell—about the what and why of Counseling Talk.