Relationship Prescriptions with Dr. Carol

Behaviors matter. Sexual behaviors matter! But focusing most on behaviors leads to "trying harder" and failing, and stops short of addressing the deep heart changes needed for lasting transformation. In this episode Dr. Carol shares the core part of her message given at the Sexual Integrity Leadership Summit. This message shows how the "problem" is less of a sex problem and more of an intimacy problem. And she addresses God's plan for intimacy as the solution, and what you can do about it. Check out our free download A 5-Part Prescription for Sexual Healing – God's Way Some of the ministries offering small groups to support you in growing in sexual wholeness: Pure Desire Ministries, Be Broken Ministries, SHE Recovery, and Living Without Lust. Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave her a confidential message here.

Marriage always takes work. But what happens when mental health struggles get added to the mix? How can both partners experience intimacy and goodness when things get messy? In this eyeopening episode Dr. Carol talks with founder and president of The Veritas Creative, Jon Seidl and his wife, Brett, a business owner and interior designer. Jon lives with significant mental health diagnoses. However, in this conversation the couple discus how their marriage has not only survived but thrived, and how those in the body of Christ can help those challenged with mental illness. Connect with Jon Seidl at The Veritas Creative, his website, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram Connect with Brett Seidl on her interior design website Find Jon's books Finding Rest: A Survivor's Guide to Navigating the Valleys of Anxiety, Faith, and Life and Finding Rest Guiding Workbook: An Invitation to Go Deeper For personal help with mental health or marriage challenges, check out these courses from Dr. Carol Ministries: - Defeat Your Fear and Anxiety - Fully Alive Marriage Dr. Carol loves to hear from you! Leave her a confidential message here.

Loss is always possible when you love. But when emotional bankruptcy and loss happen repeatedly, regaining intimacy and love has even more challenges. In today's episode Dr. Carol talks with Rachel Faulkner Brown who describes herself as emotionally bankrupt during her first two marriages which both ended in death and grief. Hear how she found freedom, healing, true intimacy, and love again, and how she is now leveraging her story in helping thousands of hurting women. Connect with Rachel Faulkner Brown at Be Still Ministries and Never Alone Widows, or Facebook or Instagram. Get her Father's House Study, and enter promo code DrCarol25 for 25% off!! If you're walking through grief, you'll appreciate this 30-day email series The Christian's Journey Through Grief Dr. Carol loves to hear from you; you can leave her a confidential message here

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 Marriage5-part Prescription for Sexual Healing–God's WayFully 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.

The key to your freedom is sharing the things you'd prefer to hide, even the dark and ugly things of your sexual story. John Fort, Director of Training for Be Broken Ministries dicusses his sexual story which includes some very dark things that he experienced and also things he did to others. But more importantly, his story is a demonstration of how God has miraculously transformed his story into goodness for others. In this don't-miss episode you'll hear about the power of sharing your story, finding redemption and why it matters. Connect with Be Broken Ministries, and especially their Family Care Ministry. Find them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Youtube. Some of John Fort's books: Honest Talk: A new perspective on talking to your kids about sex, Father-Son Accountability: Integrity Through Relationships, and The Forbidden Scrolls: The Shadow of Black Rock Get our free 30-day email devotional series Toward Sexual Wholeness Check out our online course Sexpectations Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message here.

The topic of race relations can be emotionally-charged both in culture and in the church. What if those emotions could be part of the key to bridging the differences we often sense? How can principles of psychology and spiritual formation help us have conversations that make things better? Dr. Veola Vazquez, psychologist, professor, and author, talks with Dr. Carol about scientifically and biblically based ways to have healing conversations about race. And then the two doctors demonstrate such a healing conversation in a very vulnerable and emotional way. You may feel your own emotions stirred up as you listen. Connect with Dr. Veola Vazquez on her website or Twitter Find the book Healing Conversations on Race: Four Key Practices from Scripture and Psychology, and check out all the additional videos and information on this page. Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message here.

How did you learn about sex? Was it helpful? Perhaps your sex ed was lacking, or shame-filled, or not based on a Christian worldview. You want something better for your children, but aren't sure how to make that happen. In this conversation Dr. Carol has a challenging conversation with sex educator Kristen Miele. She believes YOU can be the sex ed teacher for your kids. This conversation addresses hard questions your children will certainly face, and you'll find some tools that can equip you to give your kids what they need. Connect with Kristen Miele on the Sex Ed Reclaimed website, Facebook, or Instagram. Check out Dr. Carol's article Parents, Kids, Technology - and Sex

"I can't tell anyone about this." That's shame talking. And it always ends in destruction. But how do you find someone to talk to? How do you find the courage to tell your story? What do you say? Guests Katie Griggs and Amanda Aanestad from The Victory Collective talk with Dr. Carol about their individual experiences with porn addiction, and the difference that came when they found the courage to tell each other. You might discover how you can tell your story too, and the difference that will make. Connect with Katie and Amanda at The Victory Collective website or Instagram To learn more about coaching with Dr. Carol, click here. For some thoughts from Dr. Carol about what to do when you can't talk to anyone, click here.

The most frequent question that brings people to our website is, "How can I make my spouse want more sex?" Research from The Intimacy Project gives some very encouraging and practical answers that will help you do just that. Dr. Carol talks with Dr. Michael Sytsma, ordained minister, licensed professional counselor, certified sex therapist, and professor about his 30 years as a sex therapist and the fascinating results of his research on married sex. You're certain to discover some ways to make your married sex life much better and more satisfying. Connect with Dr. Sytsma on his website, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Find the book by Dr. Sytsma and Shaunti Feldhein Secrets of Sex and Marriage: 8 Surprises That Make all the Difference, and related resources Check out these articles on our website: - 9 Possible Reasons Your Spouse Doesn't Want to Sleep with You - Having the Sex Talk With Your Spouse If you need individualized help, check out Dr. Carol's Coaching services

Pornography addiction affections Christian women too. And Dr. Carol's guest on this episode, Jessica Harris, believes we need to be talking about it. Jessica shares her story of porn addiction, overcoming sexual shame, and finding the lasting satisfaction, healing, and real grace , and the answer to the thirst many women struggle with in their soul. And listen to hear what she means by "indoor plumbing;" it's got nothing to do with anatomy. Find Jessica's book Quenched: Discovering God’s Abundant Grace for Women Struggling with Pornography and Sexual Shame Connect with Jessica Harris on her website, Facebook, or Instagram. Dr. Carol would love to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message here.

Nearly 1.8 million people attempt suicide in this country every year. If you're not affected personally you know someone who is. Mental health is an increasingly big problem in our culture. On this episode Dr. Carol talks with Heather Palacios, pastor's wife, suicide survivor, and founder of Wondherful, a venue dedicated to encouraging people with mental affliction through daily encouragement and LIFEBOX™s. Heather's story will inspire you. If you're in crisis right now, call the suicide hotline 988, or text GO to 741741. The call or text are free, and someone will connect with you live, right now. Connect with Heather Palacios on the Wondherful website, or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Dr. Carol would love to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message here.