The Place We Find Ourselves

I am joined today by Dr. Hillary McBride to discuss excerpts from her new book titled, “Practices for Embodied Living.” Topics covered include: how to feel your feelings, being alive in your body (eroticism), and the story of your relationship to your sensuality and sexuality. Finally, I ask Hillary about her beautiful claim that we often find the Holy precisely in the places we were told not to look (including in our bodies).  

Pastor and counselor Mike Boland shares a story from when he was 15 years old. It’s a story about the interplay of longing for connection and, at the same time, dreading what will be required of him in return. We talk about grooming, and the war of ambivalence that rages in one’s body in the midst of abuse. You can find out more about Mike’s work at therestinitiative.org.

Exploration of how trauma heals through connecting with others, highlighting the vital role of relationships in recovery. Emphasis on the power of human connection, sharing one's story, and seeking supportive communities for healing and emotional regulation.

Discover how your body communicates with you through affect and impulses, providing valuable insights into your present environment and past story. Explore triggers, bodily impulses, and posture, connecting them to past experiences for healing and self-reflection. Uncover the importance of listening to your body for understanding personal stories and promoting healing.

Dan Allender and Cathy Loerzel discuss the healing power of understanding your story, exploring the impact of family of origin on thoughts, feelings, and actions. They talk about being story bound and the struggle to overcome, unlocking memories and finding healing, the importance of seeking support, and the transformative power of understanding one's past. They also highlight the upcoming Story Work Conference where they will explore these topics further.

Explore how tuning into your body's signals can lead to healing and personal development. Learn why it's important to listen to your body as a trustworthy prophet from within. Uncover hidden truths by allowing your body to speak and tap into emotional truths for healing and growth.

Friend and fellow therapist Matthias Roberts joins me today to share a very vulnerable story involving triangulation with his mother. How does an adolescent boy answer his Mom’s questions about his homosexuality when Mom is disgusted by it? This is a story about Matthias’ deep love for God… and the torment he felt as a result. We talk about Matthias’ immense hope that God would “heal” his sexuality and how he came to feel God’s blessing rather than shame. Support the podcast

Therapist and fellow podcaster Vanessa Sadler shares a story from when she was 11 years old. As children, all of us needed to belong—to feel “a part of.” If we did not receive sufficient attunement from our primary caregivers, we likely experienced high levels of loneliness. The dilemma is that it may not have felt like loneliness because it was such a normal part of your life. Vanessa talks candidly about her loneliness growing up, as well as how she came to experience significant healing from that loneliness. You can follow Vanessa on Instagram @abidinginstory. Support the show

I am joined today by therapist Jenny McGrath who is passionate about helping people heal from the damage of purity culture. One byproduct of purity culture is a disconnection from your body and a distrust of your body. If you feel shame about your body, or especially shame about your sexuality, this episode will hopefully help you. For those who want to dive deeper into these things, please consider signing up for Jenny’s Embodied Sexuality course. You can use coupon code “PLACEWEFIND” to save $60 off the cost of the course.  Support the podcast

Matthias Roberts joins me today to talk about his book Holy Runaways: Rediscovering Faith After Being Burned By Religion. Topics covered include: why belonging is so crucial for each of us, how to trust when you’ve been betrayed by others so many times before, and why it’s hard to open ourselves to actually receive care when it is available.  Support the podcast