Being Human

Welcome to Episode 87 of the Being Human Podcast: Hell is Not Other People, w/ Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace (Certification Series: Part 4 of 12) Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace join Dr. Greg again this week to break open the themes present in the Level 2 Anthropology course of our new Certification! With the conversation focusing around the individual person embedded in a world of relationships, this episode explores various aspects of the ways we connect and commune with others.  Discussed in this episode: What does John Paul II have to say about being in relationship with others?  The paradox of finding oneself through a gift of oneself to others in relationship;  How I become a better “me” because I’m interacting with “you”; Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development; How we learn that people are not objects for our use or means to an end; What’s missing in the antiquated morality of the “marital debt” in relation to conjugal intimacy; The difference between friendship and romantic relationships;  What we can learn about self-gift through our friendships;  How we are made for infinite relationships within the communion of saints;  The contrasting ways both friendship and marriage are foretastes of heaven;  Resources mentioned or relevant:  At the Center of the Human Drama: The Philosophy of Karol Wojtyla/Pope John Paul II by Kenneth Schmitz Person and Community: Selected Essays by Karol Wojtyla (Pope St. John Paul II)  Love & Responsibility by Karol Wotjtyla (Pope St. John Paul II) The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis Episode #85: The New Psych 101 w/ Dr. Bryan Violette & Amy Grace Miller (Certification Series: Part 2 of 12) Episode #61: Being Single (And Not Bitter About It) w/ Amy Grace Miller;  Register for our free Open House to learn more about the new certification! Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment; Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you!  Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych; Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more! Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more; Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available.   Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you! Rate, review, and subscribe Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends. Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings. For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show! If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Welcome to Episode 86 of the Being Human Podcast: How Catholic is Your Spirituality? (Certification Series: Part 3 of 12) This week, Dr. Greg introduces the first course on spirituality in our new Certification, breaking open the topic of integration and its importance in the work of accompaniment.  Discussed in this episode: How can this Certification help someone to become a spiritual director?  Errors of Cartesian dualism and its impact on both secular psychology and our modern culture;  Integration as the healing medicine for the disease affecting not only modern culture but the Church as well; An introduction to Fr. Benedict Groeschel and how his writings influenced the development of the CatholicPsych model; The overlap between not only spirituality and psychology but biology as well;  How the anxiety or peace we feel in this life is directly related to our spiritual life;  The danger of presenting objective truth in a way that is divorced from subjective experience; Catholic Mindfulness as a practical way to integrate spirituality and psychology.  Resources mentioned or relevant:  The Mindful Catholic: Finding God One Moment at a Time by Dr. Gregory Bottaro; Spiritual Passages: The Psychology of Spiritual Development by Fr. Benedict Groeschel;  The Art of Existential Counseling by Adrian Van Kaam; The Poco a Poco Podcast with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal;   Theology of the Body Institute courses;   Past podcast episode on integration - Episode #41: What Is Integration Anyway? w/ Fr. Louis Merosne; Register for our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP Certification! Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych; Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment; Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you! Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more; Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more! Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available.   Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you! Rate, review, and subscribe Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends. Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings. For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show! If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Dr. Bryan Violette, Clinical Director at CatholicPsych Institute, and Amy Grace Miller, Content Director there, engage in a thought-provoking discussion on the integration of psychological theories and Catholic anthropology. They highlight the philosophical gaps in current psychology and advocate for a deeper understanding of human connection. Topics like childhood relational templates and the work of pioneers like Harry Stack Sullivan are explored, alongside ethical responsibilities in therapy and the importance of self-awareness for mental health professionals.

Welcome to Episode 84 of the Being Human Podcast: What Does Catholic Anthropology Even Mean? w/ Dr. Bryan Violette (Certification Series: Part 1 of 12) Dr. Greg frequently refers to the importance of grounding our understanding of psychology in a Catholic anthropology. But what exactly does that term mean? And why is it a necessary foundation for the study of psychology? In this episode - the first of a 12-part series geared towards introducing each course of our new certification - Dr. Greg welcomes Dr. Bryan Violette back to the show to unpack these questions and more!  Discussed in this episode: Defining Catholic anthropology and how it can help us understand what it means to be human;   The way experiences in our family of origin impact our psychological development;  Pope St. John Paul II’s personalism as an integration of phenomenology (a contemporary philosophy which emphasizes subjective experience) into objective Thomistic thought; Differences between Thomistic philosophy and Pope St. John Paul II’s personalism; Catholic anthropology as an essential foundation to working and walking with people in an authentically Catholic way;  The role the unconscious plays in our thoughts and patterns of behavior;  The first step of the commandment to love according to Pope St. John Paul II;  The weight of responsibility carried by mental health professionals and the need for proper preparation, training, and personal development to provide ethical care.  Resources mentioned or relevant:   Register for our free Open House to learn more about the new certification! Watch What is Theology of the Body? presented by Christopher West  Theology of the Body for Beginners by Christopher West Love and Responsibility by Karol Wojtyla (Pope St. John Paul II) Greatest Love of All - Whitney Houston song referenced by Dr. Bryan; Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych; Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our model of accompaniment; Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you! Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more! Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more; Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available.   Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!   Rate, review, and subscribe Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends. Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings. For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show! If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Welcome to Episode 83 of the Being Human Podcast: Ask Dr. Greg! (Q&A, w/ Amy Grace Miller) In this episode, Dr. Greg is joined by the CatholicPsych content and community manager, Amy Grace Miller, to field questions from the community! How do I overcome sloth? Is it okay that my therapist is using CBT to treat my OCD/scrupulosity? Should Catholics abandon the field of psychology altogether? How do I talk to loved ones who admit to experiencing gender confusion? Plus, more information about how Dr. Greg’s new certification can benefit you!  Discussed in this episode: Answering questions from the community related to sloth, the field of secular psychology, what it means to be a Catholic therapist, gender confusion, and more;  The importance of viewing questions through a lens of integration, and why it’s difficult to give simple answers to particular questions;   The psychological dimension of our humanity as overlapping both our material and our spiritual being; Are certain psychological theories and/or forms of treatment (i.e. CBT, attachment theory, etc.) okay to use? Clarififying what specifically is anti-Catholic about the field of psychology;  Why an education in psychology alone is not enough for mental health professionals;  The importance of grounding our education in how to walk with others in the philosophy of Pope St. John Paul II  The Church as a field hospital in the midst of the current culture war, and the need for individuals trained in how to adequately care for victims of this battle;  How the certification offered through CatholicPsych can benefit those in various fields and vocations.  Resources mentioned or relevant:  Register for our free Open House to learn more about the new certification! Instagram post about integration (referenced in this episode);  Hear more about the new certification in last week’s episode: Ep. #82 Changing the Rules: Creating a Catholic Standard for Mental Health;   Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych; Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment; Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you! Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!  Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more; Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available.   Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!   Rate, review, and subscribe Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends. Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings. For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show! If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Welcome to Episode 82 of the Being Human Podcast: Changing the Rules: Creating a Catholic Standard for Mental Health In this episode, Dr. Greg officially introduces the brand new CatholicPsych certification program! He breaks open what it is, what it isn’t, who it’s for, and how it will provide a more effective way to help others carry their mental health burdens.  Discussed in this episode: Overview of the new CatholicPsych certification and invitation to the Open House; The certification as a model of integration with a goal to help others become healthier, holier, and happier;   Psychology as the intersection between our spiritual and physical lives; Why we need a blueprint for what it means to be human when it comes to helping people carry their mental health burdens;  The importance of Pope St. John Paul II’s anthropology of the human person;   The reason spiritual direction and psychotherapy should not actually be separate;   Resources mentioned or relevant:  Register for the free Open House to learn more about our new certification! Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our model of accompaniment; Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you! Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych; Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more! Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more; Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available.   Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!   Rate, review, and subscribe Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends. Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings. For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show! If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Welcome to Episode 81 of the Being Human Podcast: The Lies of the American Psychological Association In this episode, Dr. Greg tackles the problematic stance taken by the American Psychological Association (APA) on abortion; he also breaks open why it’s important for Catholic mental health professionals to practice from a place of integration, why most psychology programs cannot provide that kind of education, and what CatholicPsych is doing to help.  Discussed in this episode: How politics have taken precedence over scientific fact when it comes to the APA’s stance on abortion;  The validity and findings of scientific studies done about the mental health impact on women who have had an abortion;  Why practicing as a mental health professional under the APA guidelines is becoming untenable;  The importance of Catholic mental health professionals starting from a place of integration of psychology, theology, and anthropology; Reasons why even Catholic psychology programs are forced to separate Catholic philosophy and theology from the teaching of psychology; Announcement of the Open House to discuss CathoilcPsych’s new certification launching in the Fall of 2022. Resources mentioned or relevant:  Register for the free Open House to learn more about our new certification launching in the Fall! Meta-analysis on mental health risks associated with abortion: Coleman, P. (2011). Abortion and mental health: Quantitative synthesis and analysis of research published 1995–2009. British Journal of Psychiatry, 199(3), 180-186;  Visit the APA’s website: apa.org;  The Embrace of the Proabortion Turnaway Study (cites issues with the study the APA uses as proof for their claim that restricting access to abortion will worsen mental health outcomes);   Adverse Psychological Reactions After Abortion - Fact Sheet by Project Rachel Ministries;  Ministries offering resources for those struggling from a past abortion: Project Rachel, Sisters of Life, Entering Canaan     Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych; Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!  Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment; Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you! Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more; Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available.   Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!   Rate, review, and subscribe Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends. Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings. For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show! If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Welcome to Episode 80 of the Being Human Podcast: Gender Fluidity or Complementarity? (Part Four) One last episode to wrap up our series on gender and complementarity! This week, Dr. Greg addresses some of the questions and feedback received from earlier episodes in the series, and dives deeper into how we can understand “gender fluidity” from a Catholic perspective. Discussed in this episode: Addressing feedback and questions from the first three episodes in this series;  How words have meaning and why it’s important to continue using specific words even if they have been hijacked by the culture;   The hierarchy of the gift of self and our calling to be gift to all in our lives;  The importance of Christ being born into a family with both a mother and a father and its implications for us;  How we are influenced and formed through the gifts of others; Why we need to be formed by both a same-sex and opposite-sex parent in order to become the best version of ourselves. Resources mentioned or relevant:    Listen to the first episode in this series: Gender Fluidity or Complementarity?;  Check out the work of the International Institute of Culture and Gender Studies; Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych; Learn more about our new certification launching in the Fall! Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!   Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment; Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you!  Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;  Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available.  Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!   Rate, review, and subscribe Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends. Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings. For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show! If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!  

Welcome to Episode 79 of the Being Human Podcast: The Weight of Grief, w/ Brianne Edwards Dr. Greg welcomes author Brianne Edwards to the podcast this week to discuss her brand new book and the most recent publication of CatholicPsych Press: ‘A Thousand Pounds: Finding the Strength to Live and Love under the Weight of Unbearable Loss.’  Discussed in this episode: Background on the author and her reasons for sharing the story of her son’s unexpected death and its impact upon her; The role of reading others’ stories as a way to process grief and the desire of the author for her book to offer support for others in the midst of grief;   The difficulty of discussing grief with others and finding authentic support amid loss;  The author’s journey to get to a place of carrying the weight of grief comfortably;   Our desire to control and the difficulty in coming to terms with the reality of death as something that is uncontrollable;  Religious cliché as unhelpful in the midst of grief and loss and the author’s struggle in her relationship with God after the death of her son;  Re-creating the beauty of the resurrection through our own suffering by offering consolation to others following healing; The author’s purpose in writing her book and founding a nonprofit in honor of her son.  Resources mentioned or relevant:  A Thousand Pounds: Finding the Strength to Live and Love under the Weight of Unbearable Loss by Brianne Edwards;  Follow Bri on Instagram or Facebook: @LachsLegacy; Visit Lach’s Legacy Website, a resource for grieving parents; Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!   Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment; Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you!  Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;  Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;  Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available.  Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!   Rate, review, and subscribe Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends. Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings. For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show! If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Welcome to Episode 78 of the Being Human Podcast: Dating Well, w/ Dr. Mario Sacasa This week, Dr. Greg welcomes friend and colleague Dr. Mario Sacasa to the show for a conversation centered around the challenges of dating in our modern day! Topics of discussion include discernment in dating, developmental stages of a relationship, healthy boundaries, learning from rejection, and red flags to watch out for to avoid a narcissistic partner.  Discussed in this episode: Reasons why dating in our modern day has become so difficult;  Dating as an act of discernment;  Developmental process of a relationship (five stages of a relationship);  How to know when a relationship has potential, and red flags to watch out for while on a date; The importance of appropriate emotional and physical boundaries when dating;  Dr. Greg’s personal experiences in dating and how he met his wife; Being open to the experience of learning from rejection; How to view dating as an opportunity for personal growth and development of the virtue of courage.  Resources mentioned or relevant:  More on Dr. Mario Sacasa’s course Dating Well;   Follow Dr. Mario on Facebook or Instagram: @drmariosacasa; Listen to Always Hope, the podcast hosted by Dr. Mario;  The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt; Pew Research Center article: Key Takeaways on Americans’ Views Of and Experiences With Dating and Relationships;  Watch Dr. Greg’s Rules for Online Dating (with link in to a free downloadable .pdf!); Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, including Built to Last - a course on Marriage and Relationships;  Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment; Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you!  Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;  Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;  Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available.  Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!   Rate, review, and subscribe Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends. Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings. For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show! If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!