Applying the practice personally

What if healing doesn’t start with managing your emotions—but with understanding how your brain responds to fear, grief, and hope?

In this episode, Dr. Alison sits down with neurosurgeon, author, and Iraq War veteran Dr. Lee Warren to explore trauma, loss, faith, and the brain’s God-given capacity to change. 

After unimaginable loss, Dr. Warren shares how “self-brain surgery”—learning to notice and interrupt destructive thought patterns—helped him restore hope and agency without bypassing grief.

This conversation will help you understand:

—Why most of our thoughts are repetitive, negative, and often untrue

—How trauma wires automatic thoughts—and how those patterns can change

—How faith and neuroscience meet in practical ways

—The difference between the mind and the brain, and why that distinction matters for healing

This episode offers hope without shortcuts. It honors the reality of suffering while reminding us that our past does not get the final word — not neurologically, not emotionally, and not spiritually.

📖 Preorder Dr. Lee Warren’s Latest Book, The Life Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery

Listen to the Dr. Lee Warren Podcast here.

📥 Grab your 3 free Soul Mending resources here

If you liked this episode, then you’ll love the following:

Episode 186: Stuck in Overthinking? A Simple Practice to Interrupt Stress, Overwhelm, and Habit Loops

Episode 170: The Truth About Venting, Numbing, and Finding Real Relief - Science-Backed Tools to Actually Restore Your Brain and Body

📖 Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here

💬 Got a question? Call 307-429-2525 and leave a message for a future episode.

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While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍

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