Podcasts about austin stone counseling center

Integrating Biblical Counseling in the Local ChurchIn this episode Mike and special guests, Jonathan Holmes and Andrew Dealy, focuses on integrating biblical counseling within local churches. Hosted without his co-host, Mike is at the made administer conference, featuring guests Jonathan Holmes of Fieldstone Counseling and Andrew Dealy of the Austin Stone Counseling Center. They discuss the importance of biblical counseling in churches, their personal journeys into counseling within a church context, and practical aspects of setting up and running counseling centers that are both clinically sound and deeply rooted in gospel principles. The podcast also touches on the challenges of maintaining a robust partnership between counseling centers and churches, ensuring community integration for those counseled, and how they care for their counselors. Key insights include the necessity of a community in healing, the value of counselors sharing their own struggles, and the concept of counseling as a temporary 'rest stop' on a longer journey of spiritual growth and community integration. Episode LinksJonathan's Books  

NOTE: This episode is a re-release of a conversation that was previously recorded in March of 2022.  As a perennially relevant topic at Regents, we are releasing it again for those of you who may have missed it the first time around. Mary Bennett is a former professor  at Texas State University and currently works as a play therapist and counselor at the Austin Stone Counseling Center.  In this conversation with Liz Benigno, she discusses techniques to develop emotional intelligence in our children.

Reframing how we respond to our emotions is slow work. It involves our minds, hearts, and bodies, and it involves our communities.Along with adding to some important points from previous episodes, the counselors consider how our emotions—and the ways we interact with them—can declare the hope we have in Jesus. By engaging our emotions from a biblical framework and through healthy habits, we build a foundation that produces empathy, connection, and the ability to help people better understand the human experience.Episode Transcript | Groups GuideOn September 1, The Austin Stone Institute and The Austin Stone Counseling Center will conclude More to It: Reframing Emotions with a live Q&A! Ask a question in advance of the event here.Presented by The Austin Stone Institute and Austin Stone CounselingRecommended ResourcesEpisode Resources from The Austin Stone InstituteUntangling Emotions, by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. SmithPodcast Production TeamProducer & Host: Lindsay FunkhouserContent Experts: Shanda Anderson, LPC-S; Brittany Beltran, LPC; Andrew Dealy, LPCTechnical Producer: Aaron CampbellPodcast Art: Stephen ManchaPodcast Music: Matt GrahamLiturgy Writer: Erin FeldmanLiturgy Reader: Alex EspinozaGroups Guide Writer: Erin Feldman

Joy is not an emotion but a state of being. We receive it from God, and we cultivate it—on our own and in community—through orienting toward God and what He says is true, in both our happiness and sadness.Joy leads us to live in the tension of the already, but not yet. It allows us to acknowledge the griefs of this life while still choosing to live by hope in Jesus, who loves us and gave Himself for us (Galatians 2:20). Jesus lived a life filled with joy; Jesus is joy. And if Jesus is joy, then joy is selfless. Joy is loving and kind and gentle and self-controlled (Galatians 5:22–23). Joy is delight—delighting in God and His ways, even when our circumstances and emotions tell us to believe and do something else.Episode Transcript | Groups GuideOn September 1, The Austin Stone Institute and The Austin Stone Counseling Center will conclude More to It: Reframing Emotions with a live Q&A! Ask a question in advance of the event here.Presented by The Austin Stone Institute and Austin Stone CounselingRecommended ResourcesEpisode Resources from The Austin Stone InstituteUntangling Emotions, by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. SmithPodcast Production TeamProducer & Host: Lindsay FunkhouserContent Experts: Shanda Anderson, LPC-S; Brittany Beltran, LPC; Andrew Dealy, LPCTechnical Producer: Aaron CampbellPodcast Art: Stephen ManchaPodcast Music: Matt GrahamLiturgy Writer: Sarah FellerLiturgy Reader: Alex EspinozaGroups Guide Writer: Erin Feldman

Anxiety is an appropriate feeling when we encounter situations—known or as yet unknown—that seem impossible to endure. The counselors point to Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. As He considered the cross, He agonized. Yet Jesus' anxiety never controlled His actions.Our anxiety invites us to recognize our need for Jesus, who knows all things and cares for all things, and to follow His ways, even when our anxiety says to do the opposite.We should confess our anxious thoughts to one another and pray for one another. Sharing our fears and worries diminishes their power over us. We begin to bear each other's burdens by proclaiming the truth: God is not absent from our life's equations, but present in all of them. Episode Transcript | Groups GuideOn September 1, The Austin Stone Institute and The Austin Stone Counseling Center will conclude More to It: Reframing Emotions with a live Q&A! Ask a question in advance of the event here.Presented by The Austin Stone Institute and Austin Stone CounselingRecommended ResourcesEpisode Resources from The Austin Stone InstituteUntangling Emotions, by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. SmithDark Clouds, Deep Mercy, by Mark VroegopDepression: Looking Up From the Stubborn Darkness, by Edward T. WelchPodcast Production TeamProducer & Host: Lindsay FunkhouserContent Experts: Shanda Anderson, LPC-S; Brittany Beltran, LPC; Andrew Dealy, LPCTechnical Producer: Aaron CampbellPodcast Art: Stephen ManchaPodcast Music: Matt GrahamLiturgy Writer: Michaela BarrigaLiturgy Reader: Alex EspinozaGroups Guide Writer: Erin Feldman

Anxiety is an appropriate feeling when we encounter situations—known or as yet unknown—that seem impossible to endure. The counselors point to Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. As He considered the cross, He agonized. Yet Jesus' anxiety never controlled His actions.Our anxiety invites us to recognize our need for Jesus, who knows all things and cares for all things, and to follow His ways, even when our anxiety says to do the opposite.We should confess our anxious thoughts to one another and pray for one another. Sharing our fears and worries diminishes their power over us. We begin to bear each other's burdens by proclaiming the truth: God is not absent from our life's equations, but present in all of them. Episode Transcript | Groups GuideOn September 1, The Austin Stone Institute and The Austin Stone Counseling Center will conclude More to It: Reframing Emotions with a live Q&A! Ask a question in advance of the event here.Presented by The Austin Stone Institute and Austin Stone CounselingRecommended ResourcesEpisode Resources from The Austin Stone Institute‍Untangling Emotions, by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. Smith‍Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, by Mark VroegopPodcast Production TeamProducer & Host: Lindsay FunkhouserContent Experts: Shanda Anderson, LPC-S; Brittany Beltran, LPC; Andrew Dealy, LPCTechnical Producer: Aaron CampbellPodcast Art: Stephen ManchaPodcast Music: Matt GrahamLiturgy Writer: Michaela BarrigaLiturgy Reader: Alex EspinozaGroups Guide Writer: Erin Feldman

Left unchecked, jealousy spawns feelings of resentment, anger, shame, and bitterness. It whispers, “If I had this one thing, I would be happy. I would be content.” But one thing turns into many, none of them able to satisfy our hungry hearts and souls.The counselors suggest our lack of satisfaction lies in trying to remedy a spiritual reality with physical goods. As long as we try to remedy our jealousy with counterfeit solutions, we will neglect the work to which our beautiful Savior calls us: repentance and faithful stewardship. We will miss out on how God has beautifully designed us for His glory, and we will miss out on celebrating and cultivating God's beautiful design in others. Presented by The Austin Stone Institute and Austin Stone CounselingEpisode Transcript | Groups GuideOn September 1, The Austin Stone Institute and The Austin Stone Counseling Center will conclude More to It: Reframing Emotions with a live Q&A! Ask a question in advance of the event here.Recommended ResourcesEpisode Resources from The Austin Stone InstituteUntangling Emotions, by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. SmithPodcast Production TeamProducer & Host: Lindsay FunkhouserContent Experts: Shanda Anderson, LPC-S; Brittany Beltran, LPC; Andrew Dealy, LPCTechnical Producer: Aaron CampbellPodcast Art: Stephen ManchaPodcast Music: Matt GrahamLiturgy Writer: Noah AustriaLiturgy Reader: Alex EspinozaGroups Guide Writer: Erin Feldman

Grief is an ongoing process as we reckon with the reality of loss. Grief also serves as an invitation to know Jesus, the Man of Sorrows (Isaiah 53). To Jesus, grief was productive. It both acknowledged the limitations of the human frame and proclaimed confidence in God.Grief brought to God and shared with people in community can become the means by which we better know God's heart for us and care for one another.Presented by The Austin Stone Institute and Austin Stone CounselingEpisode Transcript | Groups GuideOn September 1, The Austin Stone Institute and The Austin Stone Counseling Center will conclude More to It: Reframing Emotions with a live Q&A! Ask a question in advance of the event here.Recommended ResourcesEpisode Resources from The Austin Stone InstituteUntangling Emotions, by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. SmithDark Clouds, Deep Mercy, by Mark VroegopGod's Healing for Life's Losses, by Robert W. KellemanPodcast Production TeamProducer & Host: Lindsay FunkhouserContent Experts: Shanda Anderson, LPC-S; Brittany Beltran, LPC; Andrew Dealy, LPCTechnical Producer: Aaron CampbellPodcast Art: Stephen ManchaPodcast Music: Matt GrahamLiturgy Writer: Lindsay FunkhouserLiturgy Reader: Alex EspinozaGroups Guide Writer: Erin Feldman

We don't always know what our anger indicates in the moment. We need a community that will sit with us in our anger and invite us to consider what it's telling us. Discovering the emotions behind our anger is hard work, but it's essential to understanding ourselves and working toward a life in which anger does not overwhelm us.It's also essential to begin changing not only how we think about anger but also how we act in response to it. Jesus was angry—and did not sin. How is that possible? The counselors suggest Jesus' anger never aimed at self-glory or self-preservation. Rather, it ignited in response to misrepresentations of God and His character, and mistreatment of God's image-bearers. Jesus' anger was deeply rooted in love, love for God and love for people. Presented by The Austin Stone Institute and Austin Stone CounselingEpisode Transcript | Groups GuideOn September 1, The Austin Stone Institute and The Austin Stone Counseling Center will conclude More to It: Reframing Emotions with a live Q&A! Ask a question in advance of the event here.Recommended ResourcesEpisode Resources from The Austin Stone InstituteUntangling Emotions, by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. SmithGood and Angry, by David PowlisonPodcast Production TeamProducer & Host: Lindsay FunkhouserContent Experts: Shanda Anderson, LPC-S; Brittany Beltran, LPC; Andrew Dealy, LPC Technical Producer: Aaron CampbellPodcast Art: Stephen ManchaPodcast Music: Matt GrahamLiturgy Writer: Annie AbuHamadLiturgy Reader: Alex EspinozaGroups Guide Writer: Erin Feldman

Pride says we have everything under control. We are the masters of our destinies. Pride separates us from God and one another. Confidence differs from pride. Humble confidence results from dependence on God. It gives us a category for navigating our imperfections, limitations, and inadequacies. Weakness displays God's goodness and glory all the more. It celebrates other people, recognizing how other people's gifts complement ours. In community we encourage and correct, confess and repent, always looking to Jesus who shows us the better way, the way of humble confidence in God and His purposes.Episode Transcript | Groups GuideOn September 1, The Austin Stone Institute and The Austin Stone Counseling Center will conclude More to It: Reframing Emotions with a live Q&A! Ask a question in advance of the event here.Presented by The Austin Stone Institute and Austin Stone CounselingRecommended ResourcesEpisode Resources from The Austin Stone InstituteUntangling Emotions, by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. SmithPodcast Production TeamProducer & Host: Lindsay FunkhouserContent Experts: Shanda Anderson, LPC-S; Brittany Beltran, LPC; Andrew Dealy, LPC Technical Producer: Aaron CampbellPodcast Art: Stephen ManchaPodcast Music: Matt GrahamLiturgy Writer: Erin FeldmanLiturgy Reader: Alex EspinozaGroups Guide Writer: Erin Feldman

Fear is normal, and some fears are good. Fearing God, for instance, cultivates godly courage within us. And yet, fear occasionally crushes us. We need people who will help us slow down and sit with us until we're calm enough to begin evaluating what makes us afraid. Slowing down and digging into fear can be difficult, but, in community, we help regulate one another through the gift of presence. We simply need to come and sit, helping each other work through our fears, and lean into God, who is patient, trustworthy, and kind, our refuge in times of need.Presented by The Austin Stone Institute and Austin Stone CounselingEpisode Transcript | Groups GuideOn September 1, The Austin Stone Institute and The Austin Stone Counseling Center will conclude More to It: Reframing Emotions with a live Q&A! Ask a question in advance of the event here.Recommended ResourcesEpisode Resources from The Austin Stone InstituteUntangling Emotions, by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. SmithPodcast Production TeamProducer & Host: Lindsay FunkhouserContent Experts: Shanda Anderson, LPC-S; Brittany Beltran, LPC; Andrew Dealy, LPCTechnical Producer: Aaron CampbellPodcast Art: Stephen ManchaPodcast Music: Matt GrahamLiturgy Writer: Dashon MooreLiturgy Reader: Alex EspinozaGroups Guide Writer: Erin Feldman

When we experience shame, we sense we are not as we were meant to be. This is a normal feeling and part of the human experience. Shame becomes problematic when we respond as Adam and Eve did, hiding behind fig leaves and thus, hiding from ourselves, each other, and God. We experience freedom from shame through living in Christ, who loves us and gave Himself for us (Galatians 2:22). Jesus doesn't cover our sin and shame with better “leaves.” He gives us a new life and a new name. We are no longer slaves and orphans but beloved sons and daughters of God. Presented by The Austin Stone Institute and Austin Stone CounselingEpisode Transcript | Groups GuideOn September 1, The Austin Stone Institute and The Austin Stone Counseling Center will conclude More to It: Reframing Emotions with a live Q&A! Ask a question in advance of the event here.Recommended ResourcesEpisode Resources from The Austin Stone InstituteUntangling Emotions, by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. SmithDark Clouds, Deep Mercy, by Mark VroegopPodcast Production TeamProducer & Host: Lindsay FunkhouserContent Experts: Shanda Anderson, LPC-S; Brittany Beltran, LPC; Andrew Dealy, LPC Technical Producer: Aaron CampbellPodcast Art: Stephen ManchaPodcast Music: Matt GrahamLiturgy Writer: Brittany BeltranLiturgy Reader: Alex EspinozaGroups Guide Writer: Erin Feldman

In the first episode of More to It: Reframing Emotions, The Austin Stone Institute and Austin Stone Counseling introduce emotions and consider the different ways people relate to them. The counselors invite us to “reframe” our foundational beliefs regarding emotions. We will recognize and receive our emotions as signposts in our lives rather than rejecting them or being ruled by them. If we do, we might discover a “whole, put-together life” (Romans 6:22–23, MSG). Presented by The Austin Stone Institute and Austin Stone CounselingEpisode Transcript | Groups GuideOn September 1, The Austin Stone Institute and The Austin Stone Counseling Center will conclude More to It: Reframing Emotions with a live Q&A! Ask a question in advance of the event here.Recommended ResourcesEpisode Resources from The Austin Stone InstituteUntangling Emotions, by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. SmithPodcast Production TeamProducer & Host: Lindsay FunkhouserContent Experts: Shanda Anderson, LPC-S; Brittany Beltran, LPC; Andrew Dealy, LPC Technical Producer: Aaron CampbellPodcast Art: Stephen ManchaPodcast Music: Matt GrahamLiturgy Writer: Richard WilsonLiturgy Reader: Alex EspinozaGroups Guide Writer: Erin FeldmanOn September 1, The Austin Stone Institute and The Austin Stone Counseling Center will conclude More to It: Reframing Emotions with a live Q&A! Ask a question in advance of the event here.

Mary Bennett is a former professor  at Texas State University and currently works as a play therapist and counselor at the Austin Stone Counseling Center.  In this conversation with Liz Benigno, she discusses techniques to develop emotional intelligence in our children.

Matt lies on the proverbial counseling couch while Jason walks us through the turbulent waters many are feeling during the pandemic with the gospel-centred approach to counseling that he utilizes. Season 4 of The Deep Thoughts Podcast engages deep thinkers on some of their deepest of thoughts so listeners can explore aspects of the Christian faith a little more deeply. *Incredibly, no deep thinkers were harmed in the making of this podcast…yet.  ABOUT: JASON KOVACS Jason has been serving individuals, leaders, families, churches and non-profit organizations in the areas of pastoral care, counseling, and orphan advocacy for over 20 years. Prior to starting Gospel Care Collective, Jason served as the Pastor of Counseling at the Austin Stone Community Church where he founded and directed The Austin Stone Counseling Center. Jason's areas of interest include marriage, adoption-related issues, parenting, depression, anger, anxiety, addiction, stress, and work-related struggles. Jason received his Masters of Arts with a focus on Biblical Counseling, utilizes a gospel-centred, clinically-informed approach, and has received specialized training in working with foster/adopt families and trauma through TBRI® and is a member and Certified Biblical Counselor with the Association of Biblical Counselors. He serves on the Council of the Biblical Counseling Coalition and the Board of the Canadian Biblical Counseling Coalition. He founded and currently serves as the Executive Director of Redemption Counseling Centers in British Columbia, Canada. Jason's greatest passion is to see clients and churches experience the reality of the overcoming grace of God in their lives.

In our first episode, Mitchell and Tyler sat down with the Director of Clinical Care at The Austin Stone Counseling Center, Shanda Anderson. Shanda has been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2006. As a professional, someone who loves Jesus, and adores college students, she gives down-to-earth insight on the all-too-common struggle with anxiety and mental health. Listen in as we wrestle with Scriptures like Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything,” and the physical effects of mental illness. Be advised: the following conversation contains content about the topic of suicide.For more information about The Austin Stone Counseling Center, please email info@austinstonecounseling.org or check out the website at austinstonecounseling.org.

Matt sits down with Jason Kovacs, co-founder of Together for Adoption and board member of ABBA Canada, to talk about foster care and adoption. *Incredibly, no deep thinkers were harmed in the making of this podcast…that we're aware of. Season 3 of The Deep Thoughts Podcast informs the listener on many issues of faith and life today by engaging some deep thinkers on some of their deepest of thoughts. ABOUT: JASON KOVACS Jason has been serving individuals, leaders, families, churches and non-profit organizations in the areas of pastoral care, counseling, and orphan advocacy for over 20 years. He helped plant a church, started a non-profit, and served as the Pastor of Counseling at the Austin Stone Church in Austin, Tx where he founded and directed The Austin Stone Counseling Center. In 2018 Jason and his family moved back to Canada to start the Gospel Care Collective and Redemption Counseling. He has received specialized training in working with foster/adopt families and trauma, serves on the board of ABBA Canada (provides financial assistance for adoptive families in Canada), and co-founded Together for Adoption. He and his wife Shawnda have been married for 16 years and have 5 children (4 through adoption).

Please note, this story is for mature audiences as it references heavily sexual themes, including pornography and sexual assault. When Hannah Mae was sexually abused at five-years-old, she only remembered feeling confused. Confusion developed into shame, self-loathing, and loneliness that haunted her for years. She became addicted to masturbation and started working in the pornography industry, thinking that these things would make her feel valued. But deep down, Hannah Mae knew that they wouldn't save her, and she cried out to God for help. He answered—through a slow, patient process of recovery. Hannah Mae learned that God's forgiveness is eternal, that she is no more a sinner today than yesterday and tomorrow. She clings to the truth that God calls her His bride, holy and pure. She is His beloved, always and forever. For more information about the Recovery Ministry of The Austin Stone visit https://austinstone.org/soul-care/. The Austin Stone Counseling Center offers gospel-centered, church-based, clinically-informed counseling. For resources, appointments, and more, visit https://www.austinstonecounseling.org. The Austin Stone Worship Story team identifies, empowers, and equips artists in the local church to utilize creative storytelling as a means to exalt the name of Jesus. We are a group of photographers, writers, editors, and filmmakers who use our gifts for His glory. For more stories, go to https://austinstone.org/stories.

Please note, this story is for mature audiences as it references heavily sexual themes, including pornography and sexual assault. When Hannah Mae was sexually abused at five-years-old, she only remembered feeling confused. Confusion developed into shame, self-loathing, and loneliness that haunted her for years. She became addicted to masturbation and started working in the pornography industry, thinking that these things would make her feel valued. But deep down, Hannah Mae knew that they wouldn’t save her, and she cried out to God for help. He answered—through a slow, patient process of recovery. Hannah Mae learned that God’s forgiveness is eternal, that she is no more a sinner today than yesterday and tomorrow. She clings to the truth that God calls her His bride, holy and pure. She is His beloved, always and forever. For more information about the Recovery Ministry of The Austin Stone visit https://austinstone.org/soul-care/ (https://austinstone.org/soul-care/). The Austin Stone Counseling Center offers gospel-centered, church-based, clinically-informed counseling. For resources, appointments, and more, visit https://www.austinstonecounseling.org (https://www.austinstonecounseling.org). The Austin Stone Worship Story team identifies, empowers, and equips artists in the local church to utilize creative storytelling as a means to exalt the name of Jesus. We are a group of photographers, writers, editors, and filmmakers who use our gifts for His glory. For more stories, go to https://austinstone.org/stories (https://austinstone.org/stories).

Isaiah thought that he didn't deserve God's love and always had to earn it. To numb his feelings of guilt and unworthiness, he turned to sex, drugs, and alcohol. Yet with his marriage and sanity on the line, he recognized that only God could change his heart posture. In this ongoing process of healing, Isaiah knows that he can trust God to give him good things simply because he's His child. Because, as Isaiah has learned, God gives His love freely. For more information about the Recovery Ministry of The Austin Stone visit https://austinstone.org/soul-care/. The Austin Stone Counseling Center offers gospel-centered, church-based, clinically-informed counseling. For resources, appointments, and more, visit https://www.austinstonecounseling.org. The Austin Stone Worship Story team identifies, empowers, and equips artists in the local church to utilize creative storytelling as a means to exalt the name of Jesus. We are a group of photographers, writers, editors, and filmmakers who use our gifts for His glory. For more stories, go to https://austinstone.org/stories.

Isaiah thought that he didn’t deserve God’s love and always had to earn it. To numb his feelings of guilt and unworthiness, he turned to sex, drugs, and alcohol. Yet with his marriage and sanity on the line, he recognized that only God could change his heart posture. In this ongoing process of healing, Isaiah knows that he can trust God to give him good things simply because he’s His child. Because, as Isaiah has learned, God gives His love freely. For more information about the Recovery Ministry of The Austin Stone visit https://austinstone.org/soul-care/ (https://austinstone.org/soul-care/). The Austin Stone Counseling Center offers gospel-centered, church-based, clinically-informed counseling. For resources, appointments, and more, visit https://www.austinstonecounseling.org (https://www.austinstonecounseling.org). The Austin Stone Worship Story team identifies, empowers, and equips artists in the local church to utilize creative storytelling as a means to exalt the name of Jesus. We are a group of photographers, writers, editors, and filmmakers who use our gifts for His glory. For more stories, go to https://austinstone.org/stories (https://austinstone.org/stories).

Judy believed that her purpose in this world was to achieve perfection, and she worked hard at it for years. But her obsession with it led her to spiral into heavy substance abuse, escalating to a point where she came to God in desperation. During her recovery journey, Judy realized how her need for perfection overruled her need for God. She knows now that her purpose in this world is to serve God as His ambassador, loving His people and sharing the gift of compassion. Jesus, her perfect Savior, will always be enough for her. For more information about the Recovery Ministry of The Austin Stone visit https://austinstone.org/soul-care/ (https://austinstone.org/soul-care/). The Austin Stone Counseling Center offers gospel-centered, church-based, clinically-informed counseling. For resources, appointments, and more, visit https://www.austinstonecounseling.org (https://www.austinstonecounseling.org). The Austin Stone Worship Story team identifies, empowers, and equips artists in the local church to utilize creative storytelling as a means to exalt the name of Jesus. We are a group of photographers, writers, editors, and filmmakers who use our gifts for His glory. For more stories, go to https://austinstone.org/stories (https://austinstone.org/stories).

Judy believed that her purpose in this world was to achieve perfection, and she worked hard at it for years. But her obsession with it led her to spiral into heavy substance abuse, escalating to a point where she came to God in desperation. During her recovery journey, Judy realized how her need for perfection overruled her need for God. She knows now that her purpose in this world is to serve God as His ambassador, loving His people and sharing the gift of compassion. Jesus, her perfect Savior, will always be enough for her. For more information about the Recovery Ministry of The Austin Stone visit https://austinstone.org/soul-care/. The Austin Stone Counseling Center offers gospel-centered, church-based, clinically-informed counseling. For resources, appointments, and more, visit https://www.austinstonecounseling.org. The Austin Stone Worship Story team identifies, empowers, and equips artists in the local church to utilize creative storytelling as a means to exalt the name of Jesus. We are a group of photographers, writers, editors, and filmmakers who use our gifts for His glory. For more stories, go to https://austinstone.org/stories.

Matt's desire to control his life led him to develop deeper roots in sexual sin and pornography, which he kept hidden because he wanted to become the perfect version of himself. Through a series of wake-up calls, God worked in Matt's heart to show him it was time to stop hiding and believing that he held the power to save himself. Since then, Matt has witnessed how God steps in to intercede for him as Protector, Deliverer, and Conqueror. For more information about the Recovery Ministry of The Austin Stone visit https://austinstone.org/soul-care/. The Austin Stone Counseling Center offers gospel-centered, church-based, clinically-informed counseling. For resources, appointments, and more, visit https://www.austinstonecounseling.org. The Austin Stone Worship Story team identifies, empowers, and equips artists in the local church to utilize creative storytelling as a means to exalt the name of Jesus. We are a group of photographers, writers, editors, and filmmakers who use our gifts for His glory. For more stories, go to https://austinstone.org/stories.

Matt’s desire to control his life led him to develop deeper roots in sexual sin and pornography, which he kept hidden because he wanted to become the perfect version of himself. Through a series of wake-up calls, God worked in Matt’s heart to show him it was time to stop hiding and believing that he held the power to save himself. Since then, Matt has witnessed how God steps in to intercede for him as Protector, Deliverer, and Conqueror. For more information about the Recovery Ministry of The Austin Stone visit https://austinstone.org/soul-care/ (https://austinstone.org/soul-care/). The Austin Stone Counseling Center offers gospel-centered, church-based, clinically-informed counseling. For resources, appointments, and more, visit https://www.austinstonecounseling.org (https://www.austinstonecounseling.org). The Austin Stone Worship Story team identifies, empowers, and equips artists in the local church to utilize creative storytelling as a means to exalt the name of Jesus. We are a group of photographers, writers, editors, and filmmakers who use our gifts for His glory. For more stories, go to https://austinstone.org/stories (https://austinstone.org/stories).

Naomi and Hector, a married couple, both dealt with mental illness and slowly awakened to their need for healing. They realized the importance of walking through their struggle together, and they experienced how God moves through His church to encourage His people. Most importantly, Naomi and Hector learned to run to Christ and not lose heart in the midst of darkness. For more information about the Recovery Ministry of The Austin Stone visit https://austinstone.org/soul-care/. The Austin Stone Counseling Center offers gospel-centered, church-based, clinically-informed counseling. For resources, appointments, and more, visit https://www.austinstonecounseling.org. The Austin Stone Worship Story team identifies, empowers, and equips artists in the local church to utilize creative storytelling as a means to exalt the name of Jesus. We are a group of photographers, writers, editors, and filmmakers who use our gifts for His glory. For more stories, go to https://austinstone.org/stories.

Naomi and Hector, a married couple, both dealt with mental illness and slowly awakened to their need for healing. They realized the importance of walking through their struggle together, and they experienced how God moves through His church to encourage His people. Most importantly, Naomi and Hector learned to run to Christ and not lose heart in the midst of darkness. For more information about the Recovery Ministry of The Austin Stone visit https://austinstone.org/soul-care/ (https://austinstone.org/soul-care/). The Austin Stone Counseling Center offers gospel-centered, church-based, clinically-informed counseling. For resources, appointments, and more, visit https://www.austinstonecounseling.org (https://www.austinstonecounseling.org). The Austin Stone Worship Story team identifies, empowers, and equips artists in the local church to utilize creative storytelling as a means to exalt the name of Jesus. We are a group of photographers, writers, editors, and filmmakers who use our gifts for His glory. For more stories, go to https://austinstone.org/stories (https://austinstone.org/stories).

Sarah realized the depths of her anger towards God when she saw how it strained her marriage. In her desire to maintain control over her life, it was difficult to admit that she needed help. Once she learned to surrender her heart to Christ, He revealed the incredible peace and rest she could find only in Him. Instead of viewing herself as her own savior, she learned to run to God for restoration. For more information about the Recovery Ministry of The Austin Stone visit https://austinstone.org/soul-care. The Austin Stone Counseling Center offers gospel-centered, church-based, clinically-informed counseling. For resources, appointments, and more, visit https://www.austinstonecounseling.org. The Austin Stone Worship Story team identifies, empowers, and equips artists in the local church to utilize creative storytelling as a means to exalt the name of Jesus. We are a group of photographers, writers, editors, and filmmakers who use our gifts for His glory. For more stories, go to https://austinstone.org/stories.

Sarah realized the depths of her anger towards God when she saw how it strained her marriage. In her desire to maintain control over her life, it was difficult to admit that she needed help. Once she learned to surrender her heart to Christ, He revealed the incredible peace and rest she could find only in Him. Instead of viewing herself as her own savior, she learned to run to God for restoration. For more information about the Recovery Ministry of The Austin Stone visit https://austinstone.org/soul-care (https://austinstone.org/soul-care). The Austin Stone Counseling Center offers gospel-centered, church-based, clinically-informed counseling. For resources, appointments, and more, visit https://www.austinstonecounseling.org (https://www.austinstonecounseling.org). The Austin Stone Worship Story team identifies, empowers, and equips artists in the local church to utilize creative storytelling as a means to exalt the name of Jesus. We are a group of photographers, writers, editors, and filmmakers who use our gifts for His glory. For more stories, go to https://austinstone.org/stories (https://austinstone.org/stories).

Please note, this story is for mature audiences as it references pornography and sexual assault. For a long time, Laura stayed in the dark with her struggles and secrets, thinking that she was too far from God for help. The pain of it overwhelmed her. But when she reached out for help and embarked on a journey to recovery, she realized that she could truly heal from her trauma, and the only way was through Christ. Because of His salvation, she feels free to walk in the light and experience the fullness of His joy. For more information about the Recovery Ministry of The Austin Stone visit https://austinstone.org/soul-care/. The Austin Stone Counseling Center offers gospel-centered, church-based, clinically-informed counseling. For resources, appointments, and more, visit https://www.austinstonecounseling.org. The Austin Stone Worship Story team identifies, empowers, and equips artists in the local church to utilize creative storytelling as a means to exalt the name of Jesus. We are a group of photographers, writers, editors, and filmmakers who use our gifts for His glory. For more stories, go to https://austinstone.org/stories.

Please note, this story is for mature audiences as it references pornography and sexual assault. For a long time, Laura stayed in the dark with her struggles and secrets, thinking that she was too far from God for help. The pain of it overwhelmed her. But when she reached out for help and embarked on a journey to recovery, she realized that she could truly heal from her trauma, and the only way was through Christ. Because of His salvation, she feels free to walk in the light and experience the fullness of His joy. For more information about the Recovery Ministry of The Austin Stone visit https://austinstone.org/soul-care/ (https://austinstone.org/soul-care/). The Austin Stone Counseling Center offers gospel-centered, church-based, clinically-informed counseling. For resources, appointments, and more, visit https://www.austinstonecounseling.org (https://www.austinstonecounseling.org). The Austin Stone Worship Story team identifies, empowers, and equips artists in the local church to utilize creative storytelling as a means to exalt the name of Jesus. We are a group of photographers, writers, editors, and filmmakers who use our gifts for His glory. For more stories, go to https://austinstone.org/stories (https://austinstone.org/stories).

In Episode 90, you will hear from Jason Kovacs, Adoptive Dad, Co-Founder of Together for Adoption, Author, Counselor with Austin Stone Counseling Center, and Speaker. For full show notes, please visit www.thinkorphan.com

One in four women, and one in six men, have experienced sexual assault. What is sexual assault? What role can the church play in fostering healing? Recent Hollywood scandals and the #MeToo movement have pushed the issue of sexual assault into public consciousness. How should we respond? Can the church be a safe place for survivors? What does it look like for a survivor to recover? How does the gospel of Christ offer a unique and distinct hope in the midst of sexual brokenness? Our guests for this forum are Shanda Anderson, LPC-S and Jessie Wells, LMSW. Shanda and Jessie join us from the Austin Stone Counseling Center to discuss this important issue.

The guys still down with Jason Kovacs, Director of the Austin Stone Counseling Center in Austin, Texas. Jason provides wonderful insight regarding marriage and adoption.

In Episode 40, you will hear from Jon Bergeron, Counselor with Austin Stone Counseling Center and Speaker. For full show notes, please visit www.thinkorphan.com.