Relationship Prescriptions with Dr. Carol

What could it look like to follow Jesus not only after the pain ends, but right in the midst of it? In this conversation, tenured psychology professor, author, and pastor Dr. Joshua Knabb helps us rethink the way we understand distress, challenging the modern tendency to pathologize every struggle. We explore the difference between pain and disorder, and why recognizing that distinction can open the door to greater agency, deeper compassion, and more grounded spiritual formation. Together we also look at the contemplative practices that build resilience and intimacy with God: why they matter, what gets in the way, and how to start. Dr. Knabb shares his favorite go-to spiritual practice that help people meet Jesus right where they are, and why it's helpful. You'll hear how engaging these practices can transform not only your connection with God, but also the way you show up in relationships with others. This episode will show you how psychology and discipleship are connected in following Jesus. Connect more with Dr. Joshua Knabb and his work on his website. Check out Dr. Knabb's podcast The Christian Psychologist 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. Find out more about individual coaching with Dr. Carol Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can send a confidential message here.

Many people find themselves longing for intimacy but pulling away or sabotaging if it comes close. Today Dr. Carol explores what it means to have an "intimacy disorder." You'll hear real-life vignettes of people struggling in this way, and we'll unpack how early experiences, attachment wounds, and the brain's survival wiring shape our capacity for connection. We'll look at what neuroscience reveals about how these pathways form, and how they can be rewired and healed. Theology and brain science together tell a remarkable story. We were created in the image of a relational God, made for connection that reflects His nature. As we face the broken stories in our sexual and relational histories, and as God's presence meets us there, the old patterns that once protected us can begin to transform. Discover what sexual and relational goodness can look like when intimacy becomes healed and whole. Find out more about Dr. Carol Ministries in-person intensives, or check out individual coaching with Dr. Carol.

You ask questions! And Dr. Carol loves to respond. In today's episode, Dr. Carol's addresses some of the most difficult questions about sex, love, marriage, same-sex attraction and more. These were sent in from real listeners just like you. Here are the resources Dr. Carol mentiones on thsi episode: Article Sex WIthout Pain Article Where to Start if Your Marriage Lacks Intimacy Article How to Stop Hiding From Your Spouse Article The Key to Filling Your Empty Soul Article How to Consecrate THAT Part of You to Jesus Article Is God Good? Healing Your Connection With God 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 today's episode, Dr. Carol is joined by Dana Che, marriage coach, speaker, and host of the Rebuilding Us podcast. She knows firsthand what it's like to feel angry, hurt, and hopeless in marriage marred by infidelity, yet find her way to healing and restored connection. She now helps couples move from "I can't stand you" to "I still do," guiding them through the real work of rebuilding trust and intimacy after betrayal. Together, they unpack what forgiveness truly means (and what it doesn't), why healthy boundaries are not unspiritual but are essential, and how couples can take honest, grace-filled steps toward restoration. If you've ever wondered how to rebuild intimacy when trust has been broken, or how faith meets the messy realities of hurt, broken trust, and healing, this conversation offers wisdom, practical steps, and hope for your journey. Connect with Dana Che on her website, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube. 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 episode, we sit down with Greg and Stacey Oliver. Greg was a worship pastor and his wife Stacey grew up in the mission field. But that did not prevent their difficult journey of Greg's hidden sexual addiction and Stacey's deep insecurity and people-pleasing. However, their redemptive journey led to healing, freedom, and restored intimacy. What began as an exhausting struggle became the doorway to discovering that sexual addiction isn't ultimately about sex; it's really an intimacy disorder. Now as the founders of Awaken, a faith-based recovery ministry, they help others find the same hope and transformation they've experienced. Together we explore where sexual addiction and related struggles often begin, how shame and unmet emotional needs play a role, and what it looks like to pursue recovery that's both Gospel-centered and therapeutically wise. Their story offers not only honesty and hope but also a powerful reminder that true freedom comes when we let God meet us in our deepest places of need. Find out more about Greg and Stacey Oliver and connect with them at Awaken Recovery website, Facebook, X, Instagram, or their What We Really Want podcast.

What if the fire Jesus came to bring isn't about fear or destruction, but about freedom? In this episode, we explore how the fire of God doesn't just warm or comfort; it also burns away what keeps us from becoming whole, fully alive, and truly like Jesus. This isn't about trying harder or piling on more spiritual "shoulds." It's about letting Jesus consume what holds us back so we can live with undivided hearts before Him. We'll talk about three things that need to be burned up—people-pleasing, idols, and sin—and why this is actually very good news. Along the way, you'll hear why living for an "audience of One" frees you from false peace, how even good things can become idols that need dethroning, and what real transformation beyond behavior change looks like. Most of all, you'll see how Jesus is both scandalously safe and scandalously dangerous: welcoming us as we are, yet making it possible for us to become truly transformed and whole. 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.

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.