Relationship Prescriptions with Dr. Carol

What does the science of attachment have to do with your walk with God? In this episode, we sit down with husband-and-wife team Geoff and Cyd Holsclaw who lead the Center for Embodied Faith to explore how experiences in early life shape our capacity for trust, intimacy, and connection—not only with people, but with God Himself. That connection then affords you the secure base to live and act in the world with confidence.  Together we unpack the difference between secure and insecure attachment, how those patterns show up in faith, and why many of us struggle to rest confidently in God’s love. You’ll discover practical strategies for moving toward secure attachment, deepening both your human relationships and your spiritual life. This is a conversation filled with hope, courage, and a vision for growing into the wholeness God designed for you. Connect with Geoff and Cyd Holsclaw on their website or their podcast Attaching to God. Find their book Landscapes of the Soul: How the Science and Spirituality of Attachment Can Move You into Confident Faith, Courage, and Connection      Check out Dr. Carol's article Ways of Being With Jesus That Bring Transformation Find out more about Dr. Carol Ministries in-person intensives, or check out individual coaching with Dr. Carol. Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can send a confidential message here.

In this first of a two-part series on spiritual formation, we’re joined by a remarkable couple authors Bill and Kristi Gaultiere with decades of experience in ministry and counseling. As founders of Soul Shepherding, they’ve dedicated their lives to helping believers take their next steps toward deeper intimacy with Jesus, greater emotional health, and more loving relationships. Together, we dive into the transformative power of empathy—what it is, why it matters, and how it reflects the very heart of God in His interactions with us. We explore why learning self-empathy (which is very different from self-pity) is essential for our own healing and growth, and how developing empathy for others can be the doorway to healthier, stronger relationships. Our conversation also touches on the deeply personal journey of experiencing empathy from Jesus Himself, and what it looks like to open our hearts to that reality in daily life. If you’ve ever longed for a more compassionate relationship with God, yourself, and others, this episode will encourage and equip you for that journey. Connect with Bill and Kristi Gaultiere at the Soul Shepherding website, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube. Find Bill and Kristi's latest book Deeply Loved: Receiving and Reflecting God's Great Empathy for You and their earlier book we mentioned Healthy Feelings, Thriving Faith Check out the article from Dr. Carol How to Find a Friend: Who is Your Peter, James, and John? Find out more about Dr. Carol Ministries in-person intensives - a safe place to unpack your story around intimacy and relationships, and experience Jesus coming into your story to bring healing and wholeness. Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can send a confidential message here.

In this candid conversation, we sit down with licensed marriage and family therapist Chris A. Matthews who opens up about the struggles he and his wife faced in their own marriage, and the powerful shift in focus that turned things around. Out of that personal journey, he now equips couples with practical tools to help them stop the negative cycles and cultivate connection, trust, and lasting change. Whether your relationship feels stuck or you simply want to grow closer, you’ll discover hope-filled insights and actionable steps to begin your own marriage turnaround. Your marriage isn't hopeless; it's just ready for a miracle. Connect with Chris A. Matthews on his website, Facebook, X, or Instagram. Find Chris's book Marriage Underdogs: A Man’s Journey to Matrimony      If your marriage could use some help,, check out the two different packages available for the Marriage Healing Kit, and decide which one is right for you. And if you have questions, Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message for her here. 

Your words carry more power in your marriage than you may realize. In this episode, Dr. Carol talks with Ann Wilson, best-selling author, radio host, and 40-year marriage veteran, about the profound influence a wife’s words can have in her husband’s heart and life. Together they unpack why your husband is not a project to be fixed, and how shifting from negative to positive communication can change the atmosphere of your relationship—even when real issues still need to be addressed. If you’ve ever struggled to feel heard, wondered why conversations with your spouse seem to go sideways, or longed to move from conflict toward deeper  and healthier connection, this episode will give you both hope and practical tools to speak life into your marriage. Connect with Ann Wilson at Family Life Today, or on Instagram Find Ann's book How to Speak Life to Your Husband: When All You Want to Do Is Yell at Him If your marriage could use some help, check out the two different packages available for the Marriage Healing Kit, and decide which one is right for you. And if you have questions, Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message for her here.

When it comes to sex and marriage, most couples discover there’s far more beneath the surface than they ever expected. In this episode, Dr. Carol welcomes Dr. Michael Sytsma—ordained Christian minister, licensed professional counselor, certified sex therapist, professor, and national speaker. With over 30 years of clinical experience, Dr. Sytsma has walked with countless couples through struggles, surprises, and the deep joys of intimacy. Together they unpack the common myths couples believe about sex, why intimacy can feel so complicated, and the surprising ways love and faith intersect in the bedroom. You’ll hear practical wisdom, biblical perspective, and real-life insights that can help you and your spouse build a marriage that is both deeply connected and joyfully intimate. Whether you’re facing challenges or simply want to grow closer, this conversation will encourage and equip you with tools for a stronger, more vibrant marriage. This is a replay of an episode we shared a couple years ago, and this provides a taste of what you can access in the Marriage Healing Kit. Connect with Dr. Sytsma on his website, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Find the book by Dr. Sytsma and Shaunti Feldhein Secrets of Sex and Marriage: 8 Surprises That Make all the Difference, and related resources Check out the two different packages available for the Marriage Healing Kit, and decide which one is right for you. And if you have questions, Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message for her here.

What if the difference between a thriving marriage and one headed for divorce could actually be predicted? In this episode, Dr. Carol sits down for part 2 of her conversation with marriage and family therapist Zion Montgomery to explore the groundbreaking research behind the Gottman Method—decades of study that reveal why some couples make it and others don’t. From the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” that signal danger in a relationship, to the surprising myth that conflict means a marriage is doomed, you’ll hear what science has uncovered about the true markers of lasting love. Together they dig into what this means in real life: what this can say about your own relationship, what tools can help partners move forward, and what hope looks like even in the face of big challenges like addiction, betrayal, or destructive anger. Whether your marriage is struggling or you simply want to strengthen your relationship, this conversation will give you practical insights and encouragement grounded in both research and biblically-based hope. Check out the two different packages available for the Marriage Healing Kit, and decide which one is right for you. You can connect with Zion Motgomery on her website. And if you have questions, Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message for her here.

What difference does faith really make in your marriage? Is it just about praying harder when things get tough, or is there something deeper God invites us into? In this episode, Dr. Carol sits down with marriage and family therapist Zion Montgomery to talk about the real challenges couples face—misplaced expectations, communication struggles, questions about submission and control, and the temptation to blame our spouse for everything that feels wrong. Together they unpack why prayer is more than asking God to “fix” your partner, and how it can become a pathway to intimacy, healing, and transformation. You’ll hear why God is truly for your marriage, and what it looks like to invite His presence into your daily life together. From setting healthy boundaries to re-centering your relationship on purpose and partnership, this conversation is both practical and deeply hopeful. Whether your marriage feels strong or stretched thin, you’ll come away encouraged with fresh vision for how faith can bring connection, growth, and lasting joy into your relationship. Check out the two different packages available for the Marriage Healing Kit, and decide which one is right for you. You can connect with Zion Motgomery on her website. And if you have questions, Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message for her here.

How healthy is your marriage—really? Maybe things look fine on the outside, but inside you feel more like roommates than soulmates. Maybe the arguments never seem to end, or the silence feels even louder. You might be carrying the weight of disappointment, betrayal, or loneliness and wondering if there’s any way forward. If that’s where you are, you’re not alone—and your story isn’t over. In this episode, Dr. Carol comes alongside you with honesty and hope. She shares why so many marriages, even Christian ones, end up struggling or in crisis, and what can begin to change that story. You’ll also hear about the Marriage Healing Kit, a Christ-centered journey designed to help couples reconnect emotionally, spiritually, and physically. This group of resources blends biblical truth, proven psychological principles, and decades of ministry experience to help couples rediscover joy, connection, and intimacy.  Whether you’re dealing with silence, conflict, or broken trust, you’ll find a pathway toward restoration and a marriage that is truly Fully Alive. If you’re longing for more than just “getting by,” this will encourage you that God’s design for marriage is joy, intimacy, and connection. And it’s not too late for you to experience that. Check out the two different packages available for the Marriage Healing Kit. And if you have questions, Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message for her here.

Today’s kids are growing up in a digital world filled with hidden threats including pornography, predators, and pressures that most adults never faced at their age. In this episode, Dr. Carol talks with Sarah Siegand, co-founder of Parents Who Fight, about what it really takes to protect our children from online dangers. This is more than a tech issue; it’s a spiritual battle for the hearts and futures of the next generation. Sarah shares practical, grace-filled insight for parents, pastors, and church leaders who want to be both informed and empowered. From setting healthy boundaries to having ongoing conversations about sexuality, Sarah unpacks how we can partner together to raise emotionally resilient and spiritually grounded kids. This conversation offers hope, strategy, and strength for the fight, especially through the power of banding together to impact the micro-culture your kids encounter. Connect with Sarah Siegand and Parents Who Fight on their website, Facebook, X, or Instagram. Find Sarah's new book available for preorder; Next Gen Tech Reset. And enter the discount code LEADER to get the book for only $5! For some powerful resources to address your own inner life around intimacy, sexuality, and relationships, check out our YourSexpectations hub: articles, the book, the online course, and more. Find out more about Dr. Carol Ministries in-person intensives - a safe place to unpack your story around intimacy and relationships, and experience Jesus coming into your story to bring healing and wholeness. Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can send a confidential message here.

Purity culture promised protection and blessing, but for many it left a legacy of shame, confusion, and even distance from God. In this episode, we sit down with licensed psychologist Dr. Camden Morgante who knows the struggle firsthand, both personally and professionally. She shares her own story of growing up in purity culture, the myths that shaped her faith, and the painful ways those messages got tangled with her sense of identity and sexuality. Together, we unpack what it looks like to heal from toxic beliefs while holding onto a faith that is life-giving, embodied, and whole. You’ll hear how she helps clients disentangle shame from sexuality in a distinctly Christian context, and how she found freedom herself while still embracing a traditional Christian sexual ethic but without the weight of fear and condemnation. If you’ve ever wrestled with purity culture’s ideas or impact, this conversation offers a hopeful, grace-filled path forward. Connect with Dr. Camden Morgante on her website, substack, Facebook, or Instagram. Find Dr. Morgante's book Recovering from Purity Culture: Dismantle the Myths, Reject Shame-Based Sexuality, and Move Forward in Your Faith    For some powerful resources to address your own inner life around intimacy, sexuality, and relationships, check out our YourSexpectations hub: articles, the book, the online course, and more. Find out more about Dr. Carol Ministries in-person intensives - a safe place to unpack your story around intimacy and relationships, and experience Jesus coming into your story to bring healing and wholeness. Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can send a confidential message here.