After working as a therapist in an inpatient treatment center for eating disorders, Travis Steward realized that rejecting shame with his clients was the way to break the pattern of a compulsive behavior. In this installment of "Stories in the Weeds", Austin and Travis discuss what it takes to surrender self-destructive patterns and give up your personal strategies for making life work apart from God. Loosening your grip on habits that make you feel powerful and comfortable may feel...

"How do I know the difference between bad therapy and good therapy?" This listener wanted to know our hot take on the new book "Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up" by Abigail Shrier. As counselors who believe in the power of the therapeutic relationship, we were curious to find out what this author had to say about therapy. Some of the concerns Shrier raises are: - the over diagnosing of children with mental health disorders - therapeutic practices that have an unhelpful focus...

We want to help you fight your spiritual battles with a powerful prayer! Listen as Lynn Roush guides you through a prayer to cover your mind, body and heart. Download your copy of this prayer at withyouintheweeds.com so you can use this written prayer as often as you need, and share it with a friend. We are praying with you! The WYITW Team: John Tinnin, Mdiv, MFT Lynn Roush, LPC Shay Roush, Mdiv Austin Conner, Mdiv, PLPC Subscribe to our newsletter at withyouintheweeds.com and follow...

Do you want to pray but don't know what to say? "A Powerful Prayer" was written just for you based on our Fighting Your Spiritual Battles series! Go to withyouintheweeds.com for your copy of this prayer over your mind, body and heart. In Ephesians 6:10 we are told to: "Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might". In this episode we want to address what you will need to stay strong as you fight your spiritual battles. Knowing how this battle ultimately ends is the first step in...

As counselors, we know that everyone is walking around with hurts, wounds, injuries, fears, losses, and traumas as a result of living under the curse of sin. And whether you know it or not, or want to admit it or not, your heart has been wounded. Your story contains scenes of heartache and pain, and your sense of being loved by God has been disrupted in some way that is unique to you. In this episode John & Lynn make the case that: unless you know the terrain of your story, and where...

Your body is the "turf" on which your spiritual battles are fought, which means you can't escape this warfare no matter how hard you try. Given this reality, it's no wonder that the enemy will take your natural and unavoidable physical appetites and use them to lure you towards one extreme or another: self-worship or self-contempt. The design and complexity of your body declares the goodness, glory and beauty of God's image, so what you believe about your body will either empower or weaken...

Are you aware of the doors in your mind that the enemy will try to open? In this third episode of our "Fighting Your Spiritual Battles" series, John Tinnin and Shay Roush take a look at the two moves that the enemy uses to try and cut us off from God's love: Temptation and Accusation. The battle for your mind is of utmost importance, as it is the primary force that drives all of your beliefs, emotions and actions, so this is an area where knowledge and discernment are critical. When you...

As Sun Tzu, the ancient Chinese military strategist states, "If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt." Knowing your enemy starts with understanding the origin of his name, the catastrophic decision he made, and his most effective tactics to deceive you. In this second episode of our Fighting Your Spiritual Battles series Lynn Roush, LPC and Shay Roush, Mdiv will look back at the biblical account of where this battle began and the primary arenas where...

We constantly hear our clients wrestling with whether or not God really loves them. Have you considered that there is a powerful force persistently working to pull you as far away from God's love as possible? The Bible explains that there is an unseen, spiritual battle hidden in plain sight that directly impacts your daily life. The enemy, described as "the father of lies", likes to prey on your thoughts, feelings, beliefs and sense of security. The enemy will relentlessly go after your...

Every addiction revolves around the same lie: "I am in control." In this edition of "Stories in the Weeds", Scotty shares how his successful radio career was threatened when alcohol took over his life. Despite being on an award winning broadcasting team with prestigious trophies from the Academy of Country Music, Scotty's life was on hold until he finally broke through the illusion of control and faced the painful reality that he needed help to stop drinking. Yet as difficult as it was,...

You asked and we answered! We John, Lynn and Austin address these three listener questions: 1. How do I help my daughter in an abusive marriage? What about the grandkids? 2. How do I deal with a family member who tries to manipulate me with guilt trips? 3. How do I know if my child has ADHD? If they do, what steps can I take to help them? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter at withyouintheweeds.com, follow us on Instagram & Facebook @withyouintheweeds. If you liked this episode, text...

In your experience, this term may feel like an oxymoron. But we believe that there are indeed blessings that come from cultivating and being a part of a healthy Christian family. Since we live in a (western) culture where Christianity often gets a bad rap and is frequently the butt of jokes and unflattering caricatures, we thought it was worth slowing down and reflecting on the lasting impact that a healthy Christian family can have on future generations. Austin, John, and Shay discuss...

Have you ever been in a construction zone? It's messy and chaotic, and you can't wait for the project to be finished. Building your blended family is a bit like being in an ongoing construction zone. The timeline is longer than you had predicted, and the progress you had hoped for seems to be at a standstill. This episode covers the territory of the challenges that a blended family may face. If you are a child in a blended family, or in a remarriage yourself, you will want to listen as...

The story of the prodigal son is the emotional journey of a child who has gone away, reached the bottom, and eventually returned to his father's loving embrace. Yet many prodigal stories do not seem to carry the hope of reunification. If you love someone who has gone away but not yet returned, then the pain of loss that you feel is very real and runs very deep. This episode explores a topic that may hit a nerve: what to do when someone you love is no longer in your life because they've...

Before we dive into sibling relationships, we want to invite you to an Open House on Friday, March 1st for a fun evening with John, Lynn, Shay & Austin. We'd love to meet you! Now here's a look at today's episode: Difficult, strained or broken relationships among siblings are more common than you think. The root of these conflicts can seem elusive, but it's actually not a mystery. If you've ever wondered, 'Why do they get that much of the inheritance?" or thought, "I’ll speak to her...

Have you ever spoken honestly about your mom, only to wonder if she heard what you said, and worry what the consequences might be? Over the years in counseling, we've noticed that your mom takes up a significant amount of real estate in your head. Whether it's things she has said or done, you may notice that your relationship with your mom has left a lasting impression on you for good or bad. In this episode Lynn and Austin first address the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to...

What role has your father played in shaping who you are today? It's an important question to ask yourself, especially if you have grown up with a difficult father. This episodes explores "the good, the bad and the ugly" when it comes to fathering. There are dads with good intentions who aren't perfect, but there are also bad fathers whose actions hurt and wound their children in powerful ways. In this episode, John Shay and Austin explore the difference between good fathers, bad fathers,...

You're ready to break free from hurtful patterns in your family, but where do you begin? John, Lynn & Austin talk through 5 practical steps you can take to forge new patterns in your family: F igure out what’s going on O wn your own stuff R ealistic expectations G et help E stablish healthy boundaries Listen as they provide examples of each step and how these might look in your everyday experience. Taking these steps isn't easy, but is the path to freedom from destructive family...

Do you feel frustrated, hurt or misunderstood in your family? Do you have family relationships that are strained or broken? There may be some underlying forces at work in your family that you didn't even know were there. The 3 rules that guide the interactions of a dysfunctional family are: - Don't Talk - Don't Trust - Don't Feel These rules may not be posted on the refrigerator for all to see, but they are actively at work behind the scenes. This first episode in our new series Managing...

Happy New Year! We know that emotions tend to run high around the holidays, so we decided to recast our most popular episode, "Your Emotional Dashboard" because we've heard first hand how much this information has helped our listeners. This episode contains the foundational principles for Managing Your Emotions, which is something that requires a lot of practice and needs to be rehearsed over and over again. To follow along with this episode, we now have a FREE DOWNLOAD called Managing...

Hiring a financial advisor to help you make good investments for your future is praiseworthy and encouraged. So when your relationship is in trouble, why is seeking advice often looked down upon? Daniel & Alex Moore knew their marriage was in trouble when they were arguing at 3:00am about "whose life is harder". Knowing that they were stuck in a bad pattern pushed them to take the plunge into marriage counseling. What they found was that being honest about their struggles and learning...

This episode is about answering your questions on the topic of parenting! The "Becoming a Whole Person" series addressed many aspects of parenting and child development, but these listener questions will go deeper in the weeds on the following topics: 1) Logical Consequences: What are they? How do I implement them? Ideas for teens? 2) Sibling Rivalry: What's normal? How do I manage it? Ideas to minimize it? 3) School Agendas: How should I navigate agendas in my child's school that...

Many parents are imprisoned by the pressure to be perfect, and have all the right answers and responses.  But the reality is that every parent and caregiver makes mistakes and fails their kids.  John and Austin discuss the 4 biggest mistakes they see from parents: 1) Trying to control your kids 2) Ignoring your kids needs 3) Avoiding vulnerability & ownership 4) Inconsistency & unpredictability Each of these mistakes brings misunderstanding, frustration and hurt. So what can you do...

Parenting can feel like walking blindfolded on a greased tightrope over a frightening chasm. Having firm anchoring points along the way can ease your fears and help you know how to take the next step. Many parents fall off the tightrope by either "under" or "over" disciplining, which can strain relationships or cause future pain. This "true confessions" episode with Austin, Shay and Lynn will encourage you to keep going on your parenting journey and keep you focused on where you want to...