Mental Health Matters for Christians

A Pastor’s Double Life: The Sex Addiction That Nearly Destroyed Him | Dr. Mike Courtney

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:55:00 +0000

What happens when a pastor secretly battles shame, addiction, and a double life?

In this powerful episode of Mental Health Matters for Christians, Dr. Mike Courtney shares his raw and honest story—from growing up in a broken home to becoming a successful pastor… while hiding deep struggles with shame and sexual addiction. After years of secrecy, everything came crashing down—costing him his family, his ministry, and his reputation.

But that wasn’t the end of his story.

At rock bottom, Mike encountered the truth of God’s love in a way that changed everything. What followed was a long, humbling journey of healing, restoration, and redemption—including the rebuilding of his marriage and relationships with his sons, and the creation of a thriving Christian counseling ministry helping thousands each year.

This conversation dives deep into:

The roots of shame and addiction
Why pastors (and Christians) hide their struggles
The connection between faith and mental health
What real healing actually looks like
How God redeems even our worst failures

If you’ve ever struggled with shame, hidden sin, addiction, or feeling like you’re beyond redemption—this episode is for you.

Guest: Dr. Mike Courtney

Clinical psychologist, former pastor
Founder of a nonprofit Christian counseling center, Branches in Murfreesboro, TN
Author of Failure and How I Achieved It
Connect with Mike

Website: https://www.branches.org/

Connect with Christine

Website: https://www.worthycreations.org/

From Military Sexual Trauma to Healing | Angie Monroe

Tue, 7 Apr 2026 10:32:27 +0000

In this powerful episode of Mental Health Matters for Christians, Christine sits down with Angie Monroe—author, speaker, and advocate for survivors of military sexual trauma—to share a story that is both heartbreaking and deeply hopeful.

After experiencing a brutal assault while serving in the military, Angie was pressured to stay silent and left to carry the weight of trauma alone. What followed was years of suppressed pain, shame, and emotional struggle—until a breaking point forced her to confront what she had buried.

In this conversation, Angie opens up about her journey from silence to healing, how unprocessed trauma impacted her mental health, and how God ultimately restored her voice and purpose. Her story is a powerful reminder that healing is possible—and that your past does not define your worth. If you’ve ever struggled with trauma, shame, or feeling unseen, this episode will encourage you, equip you, and remind you that freedom is possible.

Why Christians Get Feelings WRONG (and Why They Matter So Much)

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:47:00 +0000

In this episode of Mental Health Matters for Christians, Christine and co-host Tim Long dive into a question many believers struggle with: Why are feelings important—and what do we do with them?

For many of us, we were taught that emotions are unreliable, dangerous, or even sinful. But what if ignoring your feelings is actually keeping you stuck?

Tim shares his powerful story of growing up disconnected from emotions—despite spiritual discipline and success—and how that led to cycles of shame and addiction. Christine opens up about learning to suppress sadness and turn to anger (and even food) instead.

Together, they unpack:

Why feelings were never meant to be ignored
How emotional suppression leads to addiction and shame cycles
The difference between feeling your feelings and being controlled by them
Why sadness is actually essential for connection and healing
What the Bible really says about emotions (including the Beatitudes)

This conversation will challenge the way you think about emotions—and help you see them as a God-given pathway to healing, not a threat to your faith.

Connect with Tim

Website: https://www.kainoschristiantherapy.com/

From Trauma to Freedom: Rescuing Trafficked Women with Becky Dymond

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:30:52 +0000

In this powerful opening episode, Christine sits down with Becky Dymond—a licensed mental health counselor and founder of Lighthouse PBC—who is on the front lines rescuing trafficked women through radical acts of love, relationship building and consistency. By meeting women at laundromats, building trust, and offering real pathways to freedom, Becky shares what it actually takes to walk someone out of trauma, addiction, and exploitation into healing and restoration.

Becky also opens up about her own story of abandonment, addiction, and deep emotional wounds, revealing how God met her in those broken places and brought lasting freedom. This conversation is a raw and hope-filled reminder that your past doesn’t disqualify you—it equips you. If you’ve ever struggled with shame, trauma, or wondering if healing is possible, this episode will show you that transformation is real and your story can help set others free.

Mental Health Matters for Christians

A Pastor’s Double Life: The Sex Addiction That Nearly Destroyed Him | Dr. Mike Courtney

Guest: Dr. Mike Courtney

Connect with Mike

Connect with Christine

From Military Sexual Trauma to Healing | Angie Monroe

Why Christians Get Feelings WRONG (and Why They Matter So Much)

Connect with Tim

From Trauma to Freedom: Rescuing Trafficked Women with Becky Dymond

Connect with Becky

Website: https://lighthousepbc.org/