Relationship Prescriptions with Dr. Carol

Behaviors matter. Sexual behaviors matter. But at least as if not more important are the underlying matters of the heart, such as broken needs for intimacy, isolation, and believing lies about the world, self, and God. Maria Nistri, Dr. Carol's guest on the podcast today, serves as executive director of Exchange Ministries. Here she shares her story of what she describes as "struggle and victory over same-sex attractions" and the role that an intimate daily relationship with Jesus has played in her journey.  Find out more about Exchange Ministries on their website. Check out our 5-Part Prescription for Sexual Healing – God's Way You can leave me a confidential message here. 

Many in the Christian church see singleness as a condition of deficit, focused on what a single person doesn't have. The culture and ministries of many churches give the subliminal message that marriage and children are a higher spiritual state than singleness. That's not a Biblical - or a historically Christian perspective. Listen as Dr. Carol talks with Dr. Dani Treweek, author, adjunct professor, and ordained Anglican deacon, about the meaning of singleness. This conversation "goes there" - about a theology of singleness, struggles have with intimacy, loneliness, and sex, and what singleness can and should mean for the body of Christ. Connect with Dr. Dani Treweek on her website, Facebook, or Twitter.  Find her book The Meaning of Singleness: Retrieving an Eschatological Vision for the Contemporary Church Check out Dr. Carol's article Feeling on the Outside as a Single Christian Dr. Carol loves to hear from you! Leave her a confidential message here.

Why does it matter that God created humans as sexual beings? What does that tell us about ourselves, and more importantly about God? How do we make sense of all the harm sex/sexuality has brought to many people in light of what God originally intended to be good? In this deep and encouraging conversation Dr. Carol talks with John Stonestreet, President of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, about bringing what God reveals in Scripture about these topics into this cultural moment even when it brings controversy. Find more about the Colson Center for Christian Worldview Check out the article Sex as Sacred: What a Twitter Maelstrom Reveals About Us Find John Stonestreet on Facebook or Twitter My podcast episode with Joshua Butler: How God's Vision for Sex Challenge's Today's Culture Check out this 5-Part Prescription for Sexual Healing – God's Way You can get in touch with me personally by leaving a confidential message here. 

We hear from many of you asking questions about difficult situations involving sexuality, relationships, and intimacy. In this episode Dr. Carol addresses a number of your questions around these challenging issues. Issues she addresses include sexual betrayal in marriage, shame around masturbation, struggles to break free from pornography, and long-standing disconnect around sexual intimacy between husband and wife.  Check these resources Dr. Carol mentioned:  Ways to Pray About Your Troubled Marriage Free download 5-part Prescription for Sexual Healing–God's Way Online course Fully Alive Marriage Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. Leave a question or confidential message here.

Happily ever after - does that even happen? Not for most couples. Beyond behaviors (which matter), what do you do with the messed-up, hijacked, and broken matters of the heart when a marriage is wounded? Bob and Dannah Gresh are both ministry leaders and authors in their own rights. But in this vulnerable episode they talk with Dr. Carol about the process God used to redeem their own wounded marriage and what that looked like for both of their hearts. Check out the Happily Even After podcast. Find Dannah Gresh on her website, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Connect with Bob and Dannah's organizations True Girl and Born to be Brave Find Dannah's book Happily Even After: Let God Redeem Your Marriage       Check out Dr. Carol's article Pornography and Your Christian Marriage    Check out our online course Fully Alive Marriage You can leave Dr. Carol a confidential message here. 

What's the big deal about sex? Why does God care? What does God's original vision around sex say about Him and His design and plans for us? Dr. Carol talks with Joshua Ryan Butler, author and pastor, about seeing God's vision for sex as a window into God's story of redemption, and a validating guide to living with authentic love in a changing culture. Some of these ideas may sound controversial. Listen through the lens of seeking to understand what God has had in mind from the beginning. Check out Joshua Ryan Butler on his website, Twitter, or Instagram. Find Josh's book Beautiful Union: How God's Vision for Sex Points Us to the Good, Unlocks the True, and (Sort of) Explains Everything        Do you need to address your sexual story? Our Sexpectations course can help you do that. Dr. Carol loves to hear from you! You can connect with Dr. Carol confidentially here.

Both culture and the church in recent years have seen too many examples of male sexuality gone wrong. But what's the alternative? In this provocative episode Dr. Carol's talks with writer, research, and ordained minister Zachary Wagner, as he critiques purity culture, shares his vulnerable story, and offers a view of non-toxic Christian masculinity.  Connect with Zachary Wagner on his website or Twitter. Find Zach's book Non-Toxic Masculinity: Recovering Healthy Male Sexuality      Check out Dr. Carol's article When the Church Hurts a Woman’s Relationship with God  Dr. Carol loves to hear from you! Leave a confidential comment here. 

The toughest seasons of life often highlight the ways in which we've searched for hope in places and people that let us down. These hard times always challenge your relationship with God. Can your faith in Him remain intact? Or can it even grow? In an honest and uplifting conversation Dr. Carol talks with international speaker, Bible teacher, and author Michele Cushatt about simple, surprising, and practical ways to build your faith when your world is falling apart. And then they apply these ideas to what to do when your relationships are what's falling apart. Find Michele Cushatt on her website, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram Find Michele's latest book A Faith That Will Not Fail: 10 Practices to Build Up Your Faith When Your World Is Falling Apart Check out Dr. Carol's articles: - How to Experience God's Presence in Your Past Trauma - How to Experience God in Your Tomorrow You can leave Dr. Carol a confidential comment or question here. 

Nothing hurts more than feeling betrayed in your closest personal relationships such as your marriage. Although your story is yours alone, what you're feeling is not unique. Understanding the way your heart has been damaged and what is needed for healing will be a roadmap forward. In today's podcast, Dr. Carol talks with Lyschel Burket, founder of Hope Redefined, a ministry organization helping women take steps toward healing, about her own story of betrayal, the specifics of how she made it through, and what you need to know that will bring you your own healing. Find Lyschel Burket on her Hope Redefined website, Facebook, or Instagram. If you'd like some simple ideas about what to do when you feel you can't talk to anyone, request your free material here. You can leave Dr. Carol a confidential question or comment here. 

Sexual harm and abuse leaves deep wounds and toxic shame, so much so that many find it hard to believe healing is really possible. What's that process like? Is it worth it? How does God bring about that healing? What about if you're too angry with God to even want Him close? Dr. Carol talks with Mary Ann Otley about the many layers of healing her heart had to go through to find wholeness. Maryann shares in detail what it looks like to allow Jesus into the wounded places so He can minister healing. Connect with Mary Ann Otley on her website, Facebook, or Instagram. Find her book Love Triumphs: Rescued from the Deep Wounds and Dark Secrets of Childhood Sexual Abuse Check out Dr. Carol's article How to Develop a Healthy Internal Picture of God To leave a confidential message, or a question for Dr. Carol's upcoming Q&A episode around sex and intimacy, click here.