The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast with Sovann Pen

Jake Doberenz is a certified polymath, identifying as a writer, teacher, minister, coach, and creative thinker. Jake founded Theophany Media, a Christian entertainment and education company exploring the intersection of Christ and creativity. He holds two degrees from Oklahoma Christian University: a Master's of Theological Studies and a Bachelor’s in Bible with a minor in Communication Studies. His published work includes plays, non-fiction books, and novels, and he has produced podcasts such as Creatively Christian.

“I tell stories that help us rethink the way we relate to the wider world - oh, and that make us laugh!”

Links 

This episode looks at the painful cycle of blame and criticism and how it destroys connection in marriage and relationships.

It also briefly touches on the Four pillars of Secure Attachment: Secure, Safe, Soothed, Seen.

You can watch this episode and others on my YouTube channel here:

Mark Pollock is my guest for episodes 75 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast.

Mark Pollock is my guest for episodes 74 and 75 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast.

Mark Pollock is a retired Mental Health Therapist and Pastor recently transitioning from Oregon to South Carolina where he lives with his wife Robyn and near his two sons and their families. His primary areas of experience have centered around the support of at-risk youth and helping the local church grow in its healthy spiritual development.

He is currently receiving training through the Soul Shepherding Institute to serve as a Spiritual Director with a focus on care for pastors and other church leaders, inner healing and congregational unity and maturation."

You can read the outline of his Peace Plan here:

Sarah L. Sanderson is a writer, speaker, and teacher who believes in the life-giving freedom found in radical honesty. Her work has appeared at PBS NewsHour, Blackpast, Christianity Today, Fathom, The Unmooring, Christ and Pop Culture, The Other Journal, Motherly, Relief, Stark and Main, and Brain, Child, among others. She is also a monthly contributor to Three-Fifths.
She studied English and Philosophy at Wheaton College, and holds a Master in Teaching degree from Seattle University and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction from Seattle Pacific University. As a creative writing teacher, she has worked with every age, from preschool through adults.

My guest is Jake Anderson.

"I’m a singer-songwriter, DJ, and fitness fanatic based out of Redding, CA. I’ve spent the latter part of my 20’s and early 30’s working on emotional health and stabilizing my life. I like to tell my story through the songs I write and I enjoy seeing people connect with them. In my free time, I enjoy movies, reading, and hanging with my friends."

You can watch this episode and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube.

Summer Krause is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor III and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional who began using Seeking Safety in 2005 at a residential treatment center for youth and continues to use the model in her Portland, Oregon counseling practice. Summer is married with two children. She was inspired to enter the counseling field after volunteering as a chaplain in juvenile detention centers for many years. In partnership with Seeking Safety author, Dr. Lisa Najavits, Summer provides training and consultation in treatment for trauma and addiction.

She has also co-authored the Seeking Safety Christian Faith-Based Guide with Risa Hobson LPC.

My special guest for this episode is my daughter Grace!

We had a lot of fun preparing to do this episode.

I'm trying to convince her to do more. (We talked about doing a separate podcast about learning psychology and ministry. )

Grace grew up in Portland. She is getting ready to go to college in Seattle in two weeks so it is really meaningful to spend time with her.

Of course, I think she is amazing and I am proud of her. I love how kind she is, she's a loyal friend. Of my kids she probably most shares my sense of humor, and interest in Marvel movies and is the most verbal processor.

She likes to play the violin, read, K-POP music, and sing in church.

We've spent a lot of time at the library, movies, and coffee shops together when she was growing up.

You can learn more about NOE International here:

My guest is Danielle Bernock.

"Danielle Bernock is a multiple childhood trauma survivor who turned her pain into purpose as an international, award-winning author, dynamic speaker, host of Victorious Souls Podcast, trauma-informed self-love coach, and founder of 4F Media.  

For years Danielle has been helping men, women, and organizations EMERGE with a clear vision of their value, TAKE ownership of their choices, and CHART a path to their promise, becoming Victorious Souls who embrace the change from survive to thrive, through the power of the love of God using her proven process S.E.L.F.

Her mantra is “love yourself from survive to thrive” and she’s known as “that lady on the internet who loves you.” Danielle enjoys life with her husband Michael, in Michigan, near their adult children and grandchildren. Her books include: Emerging With Wings, A Bird Named Payn, Love’s Manifesto, and Because You Matter. 

 It was at a young age that Danielle's walk with the Lord began, but trauma made a mess of it. Steeped in pain, and without support, her life spiraled out of control. But God understood her pain and pursued her with His love, bringing her back to Himself, and healing her heart. He has commissioned her to share the love she's come to know and empower others to embrace their God-given greatness. "

Links:

My guest is Arthur Boers.

As well as walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain and the Bruce Trail in Ontario, Arthur pastored in urban, suburban, rural, and inner city settings in Ontario and the Midwest. He also taught at several seminaries. A priest in the Anglican Church of Canada, he is a Benedictine oblate.

 In the last thirty years, he authored or edited a dozen books addressing the intersection of faithfulness and daily life. His award-winning books include The Way is Made by Walking: A Pilgrimage Along the Camino de Santiago, Never Call Them Jerks: Healthy Responses to Difficult Behavior, and Living into Focus: Choosing What Matters in an Age of Distractions. Arthur loves to study and holds a half dozen academic degrees, his favorite the MFA in Creative Writing from Seattle-Pacific University that he completed in his seventh decade. 

 The oldest son of Dutch immigrants, English is his second language; he learned how to pronounce his name in kindergarten. He has been married to Lorna McDougall for over four decades and they are the proud parents of two adults, both married, and grandfather to the incomparable Norah. He is crazy about his cat Fraser (aka Phraserblade of Fraserburgh). On his best days, he navigates currents – by canoe, kayak, or paddleboard – on the South Branch of the Muskoka River. To get him dancing, play Chicago blues.

For more info:

Episode 66 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast is with Terry Weaver, a business coach, author, podcaster, and speaker.

"Terry is a speaker, author, and ideapreneur who has invested his life in others to giving them the tools to live life alive; whether through helping others see their dreams become reality, traveling around the world challenging young leaders to change the world, leading teams of people to do more together than they could alone, or hanging out with Mickey Mouse.Over the last 20 years, Terry has spoken to hundreds of thousands of young leaders, worked with entrepreneurs to take their idea from a thought around the fire to a six-figure business, and partnered with creatives to expand their platform from their garage to the stage of the Grammy Awards."

Episode 64 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast is on three challenges to marriage - distance, disconnection and distraction. 

I talk about how to decide if marriage counseling would be helpful. 

And share from a blog on being hopeful or deciding to have a great marriage again. 

This solo episode of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast is on getting motivated, unstuck, or getting started on something new here at the start of 2023.

You can watch this episode on YouTube: 

Joseph Lalonde is my guest for this episode 62 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast.  

Joseph Lalonde is an award-winning leadership blogger. But he had a problem. He loved learning about personal growth, leadership, and more, only to hear that successful people don't indulge in entertainment. That never settled well with him but it all changed one day when he watched a movie and saw all of the leadership and life lessons hidden within the film. Now, he helps leaders and everyday Joe's not only enjoy entertainment but to find the value within movies, television shows, and more.  

Marc Alan Schelske is my guest to talk about Journaling for Spiritual Growth his newest book.

My guest for this episode is Tami Stackelhouse.

Tami Stackelhouse is doing all she can to give fibromyalgia patients the knowledge, care, and support they need to thrive. A fibromyalgia patient herself, Tami has gone from disabled to having her fibromyalgia in remission. For more than a decade, her compassion, gentle support, and fun coaching style have helped fibromyalgia patients all over the world take back control of their lives. She is the executive producer of the fibromyalgia documentary, Invisible, and founder of the International Fibromyalgia Coaching Institute, where she teaches her Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® training program. You will find Tami sharing her joy and expertise on her Fibromyalgia Podcast® and through her award-winning books, Take Back Your Life and The Fibromyalgia Coach.

Traci Rhoades is my guest for episode 59 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast.  

About Traci "Traci Rhoades is a writer and Bible teacher, who lives with her family outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is the author of the award-winning Not All Who Wander (Spiritually) Are Lost. Her next offering, Shaky Ground: What to do After the Bottom Drops Out is written for Christians and the spiritually curious, who wonder how a life built on Christ’s solid ground can make a real difference in our own lives, and in our communities and churches." 

About the book: "New ways to heal the spirit during the most challenging times.  Traci Rhoades, the author of Not All Who Wander (Spiritually) Are Lost, continues to find profound beauty and endless insights in her spiritual wanderings among church traditions. In this new book, Rhoades encourages readers to explore practices – some ancient and others unconventional – that offer solace for those times when ‘the bottom drops out.’  Sharing what she’s learned about God, Rhoades shakes off the limits of denominational boundaries, making this book particularly valuable for younger Christians or those who are longing to take a deeper dive into their faith."  

This episode is on seven ways Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can help you with life and relationships. 

Even if you aren't interested in BJJ or mixed martial arts I think you'll find this episode helpful.  

Vito Tassone is my guest for episode 57 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast. Vito shares his story of struggling with addiction, how it impacted his family and how he got help to heal and recover from it. 

We discuss has gone on to help many others heal and get free from addiction through founding 449 Recover, a mental health treatment group in Mission Viejo, CA.  

You can learn more about recovery and get resources for help or info to help loved ones at their site: 

Mandy Thompson is my guest for episode 56 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast.  

Mandy is an artist who has found life and sanity through her journal practice. She shares journaling with those of us searching for a way to weave self-care and soul-care into our daily lives.  

We talk about how the difference between journaling and art journaling, how art and journaling can help with anxiety and grief. We also talk about creativity, art as problem-solving, how it reflects the truth about God and life, and how the pandemic can affect creativity.

You can connect with Mandy here:

Aaron Smith is my guest for episode 55 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast.  

We talk about him growing up Christian in Utah, living with diagnosed bipolar disorder II, experiencing church hurt, and how he made the decision to get help. We discuss how starting therapy can bring up grief, his writing about mental illness since 2007, emotional health impacts spiritual health, marriage and family, being a part of an Anglican church, and his thoughts on a spirituality of being human and suffering as part of the human condition.

We had some mic issues on this interview (especially between around 23:00 and 29:20) but we resolved it.  

Aaron J. Smith is a father, writer, nerd, and coffee drinker. He hates writing about himself. It’s the worst. Aaron is deeply drawn to theology and liturgy, believing that a spirituality of being human is what religion should strive for. He also likes cookies. Aaron lives just outside of Portland, OR with his wife, two boys, dog, and cat. He has been featured on several prominent websites and published anthologies.  

Mark Sowersby is my guest for episode 54 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast.   

In this episode, we talk about his book, Forgiving the Nightmare Book, on forgiveness and healing from childhood neglect & abuse.   Mark Sowersby has been married to his wonderful wife Jennifer for 18 years and is the father of four children.  Mark has been an ordained minister with the Assembly of God for over 25 years and is currently the Pastor of  Calvary Community Church in Dudley, Massachusetts.    Mark holds a BA in theology from Zion Bible College/Northpoint Bible College.    

Chris Morris is my guest for episode 53 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast. 

Chris is a mental health advocate for the church. He isn't a psychiatrist or a social worker, but he knows what it means to struggle through days, wondering if things will get better. Chris specializes in sourcing hope for people who are missing it in their lives. He does believe the Bible has answers for today's problems, but you'll never hear him quote a Scripture as the definitive answer without an explanation or a breaking down of how that Bible verse actually helps in the day-to-day of life. Chris is the editor of the book Whispers in the Pews: Voices on Mental Illness in the Church and has written Perfectly Abnormal: Uncovering the Image of God in Chronic Illness. He believes that we're all a little abnormal, but God loves us desperately anyway. 

In this episode, Chris shares his experience of struggling with bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety and the different messages he received from church leaders about his mental illness. We talk about how mental illness impacted his relationship with friends and family. 

Content warning: Chris also shares about suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.

Chris Bolinger author of Daily Strength For Men devotional is my guest for Episode 52 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast.  

Chris shares the story of how he wrote his devotional and how a men's group - CLC- helped him open up and connect with other men on a deeper level than ever before. We explore how it affected his marriage and parenting and why male friendships in church can be so difficult.  

After a 27-year career in high tech, Chris left the tech world to focus on providing resources to Christians. He started Revitalize Ministries to help small church leaders and was an executive producer of the film "The Song". Revitalize Ministries failed, and “The Song” was a box-office bomb.  

So Chris decided to write a daily devotional that would encourage men. Much to his surprise, and that of his publisher, Daily Strength for Men has done very well, selling over 200,000 copies. The book now is the foundation of a major men's ministry curriculum.  Chris is a competitive tennis player and enjoys singing in choral groups. A native of Akron who moved back to northeast Ohio in 1999, Chris is a lifelong fan of Cleveland pro sports teams, so he says, "Wait 'til next year!" a lot.  

Episode 51 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast is for anyone who feels stuck and unmotivated, confused or unsure about what to do next in life, paralyzed by procrastination perfectionism, or regrets.  

Or feeling exhausted, isolated or disappointed in yourself and worried about the direction you are heading.  

I hope you're hopeful and excited about the new year but if you need some help with getting the year off to a good start grab a notebook or journal and make some time to work through this episode.  

My guest for episode 50 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast is my friend and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach Gustavo "Banzai" Bessa. I've trained with Gus for over 10 years.  

We talk about his background, moving to the US from Brazil with his family, wrestling, lessons from his MMA career, recovering from the pandemic and from open heart surgery at just 31 years old, how he has managed and grown his gym Brazilian Top Team Happy Valley, opening a 2nd gym in Oregon City. We also discuss the benefits of BJJ for adults and children, how parents can encourage and support their kids in training jiu jitsu and how to get motivated to stick with and start with BJJ or any other hard things in life or this year.  

If you're local or visit Portland, I hope we get a chance to train with you sometime.   

Connect with Gus and Brazilian Top Team here: 

For episode 49 I recap the first year of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast touching on some highlights from each episode.
The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast launched March 30th, 2021.

Geoff Whiteman ThM, LMFT is my guest for episode 48 of the Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast.  

Geoff Whiteman, ThM, LMFT is passionate about helping people and communities connect their life’s purpose with God’s mission in the world.     Geoff is a licensed marriage and family therapist in Kentucky, a mission specialist with Orthodox Christian Mission Center (Care + Training), and resilience researcher and speaker.  Together with Kriss, his wife of 18 years, he has been engaged in vocational ministry since 2000 and supporting those in cross-cultural ministry since 2007.  Geoff spent some of his formative years as a TCK in the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong, and Singapore.    Those experiences piqued his interest in understanding how Christian global workers could persevere with joy.  That's what led him to study and then research resilience.  

This solo episode is episode 46 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast.

I talk about seven areas that can help couples get off to a good start in marriage. One I'd add since making this video a few years ago is understanding personality styles, attachment, and the impact of your family of origin on meaning, roles, and expectations.  

I wrote a blog to accompany this video that summarizes the areas (not a transcription): 

Connie Baker LPC is my guest for episode 45 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast.  

Aynsley Silva LMHC from Fircrest Behavioral Health is my guest for episode 44 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast.  

We talked about his time in grad school studying to become a therapist, his experience in community mental health as an "Angry Boy Whisperer", some advice for parents, listening to your child's big emotions, emotional intelligence, creating a life you don't want to check out from, Functional Family Therapy and Neurofeedback.   

From his website: "Aynsley graduated from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon with a master’s degree in clinical counseling in 2011.  He began his post-graduate work at LifeWorks Northwest, in Portland Oregon, where he was a member of their Intensive Community-based Treatment Services (ICTS) team, providing crisis intervention for children and their families. While at LifeWorks, he further developed his clinical skills and a passion for doing work with men, children, and their families. Aynsley was Certified in Function Family Therapy (FFT) while contracting with The Department of Youth, Child, And Family services as well as Clark County Juvenile Justice. 

In addition to talk therapy, Aynsley provides Biofeedback and Neurofeedback to his clients. These techniques use specialized equipment to monitor and change your responses related to various mental health issues.  

In his free time, Aynsley can be found exercising and exploring the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. He enjoys hiking, rock climbing, football, and a new found hobby: 1920’s-1940’s style swing dancing (Lindy Hop/Jitterbug)  

You can connect with him:  

https://www.fircrestbh.com/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aynsley-silva-3526a148/

The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast launched March 30th, 2021.

Jill Johnson-Young is my guest for episode 43 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast. 

Jill is a Grieftalker, an expert on grief and has written books for children and adults about grief and loss. 

In this episode, we talk about her background in hospice, how to talk with kids about death, unmentioned grief, dementia, anticipatory grief, grief therapy and support, and more. One thing I loved about this conversation is Jill's experience helped this topic not seem so big and overwhelming.

From Jill's website, https://jilljohnsonyoung.com/

"Let me tell you a little about myself: I am based out of Riverside, California. I’ve been widowed. Twice. Before age fifty. I’ve faced down cancer with my first wife, who died ten years later cancer-free, but with pulmonary fibrosis and heart failure probably brought on by the chemo that gave us ten extra years. Not many years after I remarried following my first wife’s death, my second wife developed weird symptoms that no physician could seem to figure out. I finally did. That’s when we realized she had early-onset Lewy Body Dementia. She died only months after we finally got the diagnosis. 

I’ve had the honor of working with too many hospice families to count, helping patients prepare for their deaths, and families for the loss that was most certainly coming. I’ve had the honor to be present when many of those patients died. I’ve provided support groups for children in schools, adults, and for those who are terminally ill. Death really is not scary to me, or a subject I avoid. I’ve raised my kids to see death as a part of life. Now that I’m married to a funeral director, it really is part of our daily life. But that does not mean we can’t laugh, we can’t feel sunshine on happy days, or that life is negative. That’s not who I am. That’s not who I want anyone else to be.  

the technical stuff: my BA is from the University of California, Riverside, and my MSW comes from the University of South Florida, and I am licensed in the state of California as an LCSW. On top of being the CEO of Central Counseling Services allowing me to serve as a clinical therapist, I am also a certified Grief Recovery Facilitator."  

You can follow Jill:

https://www.instagram.com/jilljohnsonyounglcsw 

https://www.facebook.com/grieftalker/ 

https://mobile.twitter.com/jilljohnsonyou1 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jilljohnsonyoung/

The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast launched March 30th, 2021.

Priscilla Klockner is my guest for episode 42 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast. 

Priscilla is a graduate of Western Seminary, obtaining a Master of Arts in Counseling with a focus in Child and Adolescent Therapy. She is currently a registered intern with the State of Oregon, working towards licensure. Combined with her professional training and her experience as a parent, Priscilla helps families find solutions and growth in the areas where they and their children find themselves stuck.  Priscilla uses a family systems and cognitive behavioral approach to work with parents, children, and young adults on a variety of issues. She is a member of the Oregon Counseling Association (ORCA), Association of Play Therapy (APT), Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) and the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA). Priscilla is also a long-time volunteer with The Dougy Center for Grieving Children and Families.  

You can connect with Priscilla here:  

Sara Sery founder of Bad Christian Moms is my guest for episode 41 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast.  

Sara Sery's lifelong interest in spiritual formation, community and mental health motivated her to earn a Master's in Counseling from Portland's Western Seminary in 2012, pregnant with her 2nd baby boy. Shortly after starting a private practice, she got pregnant with her third baby boy and decided it was best to go all in on the SAHM gig. The joy and struggle of the next 5 years inspired her to start an online group coaching business, coaching moms who are wanting to transform their experience of motherhood from one riddled with shame, anger, guilt, resentment, boredom and marital discord into one more full of the joy and freedom offered to us in the gospel so that they can enjoy more connection with Jesus, with their husbands and with their kids now, and as they grow into adulthood.  Her free facebook community has quickly grown to over 7,000 members and her private coaching community has been a God-send to many an isolated and frustrated mama. 

Connect with Sara: 

Julia Garrison is my first returning guest for The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast Episode 40.   

We talk about her background and experience as a counselor for a local university, the work she does with her clients, her decision to start a private practice and some lessons she's learned. She also talks about two upcoming workshops she has coming up in November on Unoffendable and Creative Journaling.  Julia specializes in identity formation, relational trauma, and work-life balance. She has taught and built curriculum for university courses in the field of psychology and counseling as well as led workshops to equip university students, faculty, and staff in the areas of mental well-being. She currently coordinates local mental health educational conferences, process groups, and workshops. She has a passion for helping the helper and equipping others in the areas of mental and emotional well-being.   

To register or more info about the workshops or working with Julia: 

Phillip Stone is my guest for episode 39 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling podcast. 

Phillip was born in Georgia but resides with his wife in Portland, OR where he runs the two companies he founded: Southpaw Board Co. and The Iron Roots Designs. He began his musical journey at the age of 15 being taught by guitarist, Tom LaMattina. Though a multi-instrumentalist, his preferred instrument is his hand-built acoustic guitar modeled after the old blues guitars of the 1920s.   Phillip began writing songs and poems in high school as a much-needed means of expression. Fascinated by Folklore and fiction written to explain the world around us, Phillip writes music with a sense of lore and story. Stories and worlds created to process the struggles and emotions encountered in daily life.  

Dark Canyons: One such world is that of Dark Canyons: Phillip's debut album. The first in a planned series of three concept albums, Dark Canyons is a vast desert where those lost in it must fight the elements, the wild, and their waning hope.  With themes of thirst, desire, being hunted, and closing your eyes at the end of the world, the album is intended to be as encompassing as the Dark Canyons itself.

You can connect with Phillip here:  

Something a little different for this episode, I just share a bit about what's going on in my family's life.  And a list of books and audiobooks I'm enjoying and a few movie recommendations.  The audio is from a Facebook Live I did recently. 

Ryan O'Hara is my guest for episode 37 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast.  I met Ryan online years ago. One thing I've always appreciated about Ryan is his calming presence, he is a man and father who is grounded in his faith and in himself.  In this episode talk about his family's journey with infertility, foster care and adoption. He shares how foster care and adoption reflects the heart of God, how the challenges of parenting can impact marriage and how foster parenting and adoption has impacted his faith.  

Ryan O’Hara serves as the Content Director for Saint Paul’s Outreach, a national Catholic organization that ministers to college students on campus. He is passionate about seeing Catholics come alive in Christ, grow to spiritual maturity and become apostles to the people in their life. Ryan has a B.A. in History from William Jewell College and an M.A. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame. He and his wife Jill live in West St Paul, MN and are parents to four sons.  

You can connect with Ryan here: 

My guest for episode 36 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast is Angela Mize. 

Angela is a coach with the International Coaching Federation.  

Her bio: "I am an experienced and certified life coach with specific training in human resources, customer service, training, and counseling. I will help you create authentic, deeper friendships by improving your communication and interpersonal skills. I work with people who want to live life with intention and find that they want to strengthen their personal and professional relationships. I have developed coaching programs that will help you learn your personal strengths, values, and communication patterns. Through one-on-one coaching, support groups, and seminars, you will develop skills that will shape and design your life to be healthy, purposeful, and productive." 

In this episode, she shares how she decided to become a coach. She also talks about her experience becoming a caregiver for her husband and how she went through her own struggle with autoimmune disease.  Becoming ill prevented her from finishing her Master's in Counseling degree.  I like how Angela demonstrates her resilience and how it is positively influencing her son.  

You can sign up for a free workshop on Listening skills Angela is hosting this Wed at noon.  

My guest for episode 35 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast is my friend Ethan Morrow. 

Ethan Morrow, MA is a trained therapist, runner, home baker and cook. A true renaissance man, he is passionate about curiosity, exploration, and adventure. Ethan is always exploring ways to live life mindfully and enjoys inspiring others to find natural ways to do the same.  

In 2019, Ethan received his MA in Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy from Lewis and Clark College, as well as post-graduate training in Story-Informed Trauma Therapy. While receiving his clinical training, Ethan focused some of his studies on excessive technology use and family therapy interventions that can assist in navigating technology use struggles. For the last several years, Ethan has provided parent training groups and therapist trainings to support in treating this issue.  

In early 2021 Ethan began the process of transitioning out of clinical practice, and since then has been navigating the experiences of changing career identity, uncertainty, and his own mental health. Ethan is sharing his story with the hope that others might feel less alone and to help others realize that change is possible.  

You can connect with Ethan here: 

My guest for episode 34 of The Courage, Coaching, and Counseling Podcast is Kristen Hallinan.  This is part 2 of our interview.
You can listen to part 1 here. https://anchor.fm/couragecoachingcounseling/episodes/033-Kristen-Hallinan-On-Breaking-A-Bad-Family-Cycle--healing-from-the-past-and-lessons-15-yrs-of-marriage-Part-1-e16a7ps

I connected with Kristen over social media and asked her to share her story about Breaking A Bad Family Cycle.  

In this episode, she talks about raising her four kids and the process of her son being diagnosed with autism. We talk about dealing with parental shame, how counseling has been helpful. We also explore how this has affected relationships and marriage. And she shares her family's experience with church communities.

My guest for episode 33 of The Courage, Coaching, and Counseling Podcast is Kristen Hallinan.  

I connected with Kristen over social media and asked her to share her story about Breaking A Bad Family Cycle.  

My guest for episode 32 of the Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast is Sarah Sanderson.  

We talk about "Starting Over", writing, writing during a pandemic, postpartum mental illness, OCD, bipolar disorder, sexual abuse, teaching, and parenting.  

Sarah Sanderson is a freelance writer, speaker, teacher, pastor's wife, and mother of four. Currently teaching creative writing and public speaking to K-12 students near Portland, Oregon, she has also lectured undergraduate and graduate students at the university level. She speaks regularly to both church and secular audiences.  

Her writing has been featured in outlets including Christianity Today, Motherly, Fathom, The Other Journal, Bearings, and Brain, Child, among others.  Sarah holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative nonfiction from Seattle Pacific University, a Master in Teaching degree from Seattle University, and a Bachelor of English and Philosophy from Wheaton College.  

Sarah has written a memoir about her experiences with abuse and mental illness.  She is currently writing a book about repenting of racism.   

My guest for episode 30 of the Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast is Stephanie Alley. Stephanie is a counselor and coach with the International Coach Federation (ICF). 

I loved listening to Stephanie talk about how she works with her coaching and counseling clients in this interview!   

About Stephanie: 

"Stephanie Alley is a Licensed Professional Counselor Intern with a Master of Arts in Counseling from Western Seminary. She has experience with providing coaching, leadership, business marketing, and consulting services across several industries, including tech, mental health, and higher education.   She holds a BA from Oklahoma Christian University and is a Certified Professional Behavior and Motivations Analyst (CPBA, CPMA) who is trained in trauma intervention, team dynamics, and group processing.  

The former Adjunct Professor is passionate about employing her unique gifts to contribute to the development of youths and adults to make a positive impact on their communities."   

Her current areas of focus and strengths include: 

Grief & Loss 

Transitions 

Parenting 

Relationships 

Child & Youth 

Personal Growth 

Depression and more   

Stephanie is a life-long student of music, history, and literature. She currently lives in the Portland area with her husband and two little dogs. When she is not busy working, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, outdoors, scouting for elk, and foraging mushrooms in the hills of the Northwest.  

My guest for episode 30 of The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast is Adam Wade-Garrett.   

We talk about Geek Therapy. (or Nerd Counseling) Is that therapy for geeks or therapy when your therapist is a geek? You decide.   

We talk about Pokemon, Anime shows, D & D and role playing games, Harry Potter, identity, ADD, acceptance, relationships, anxiety and depression.  

Adam graduated from Western Seminary’s Portland Campus in Fall of 2020, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and received specialized training in working with issues relating to faith and spirituality.  

Since graduating, Adam has been employed with Columbia River Mental Health Services (CRMHS) where he has worked with individuals experiencing a great diversity of therapy needs, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, career indecision, identity development and spiritual issues. He has also received specialized training in working with ADHD, which he has utilized to notable success in the diagnosis and treatment of the disorder during his time at Columbia River.

Adam works with individuals ages 13 and older and prefers to take a brain-based, friendly and light-hearted approach to counseling.   

He is just as likely to tell someone that their low self-esteem comes from “chronic disruptions to 5-HTP utilization in the anterior cingulate gyrus” as he is to tell them that their view of themselves is “broken like a McDonald’s ice cream machine.” He particularly enjoys working with individuals who are actively seeking after a sense of meaning or purpose and there’s nothing in counseling that lights him up quite like watching someone discover and embrace “that thing” they were built to do.  

Forever a card-carrying geek (he actually does have a card, you should ask him to show it to you sometime), Adam prefers to spend his free time playing Magic: The Gathering or Dungeons & Dragons when he isn’t sampling his partner’s latest Keto concoction or overusing his toddler’s name to make up for the fact that he spent the first 11 months of his life jokingly calling him “Poopy Budrickson” and now he won’t respond to his actual name.   

My guests for episode 29 are Summer Krause and Risa Hobson.

We went international for the first time on the podcast, Risa joining us from Portugal.