Care to Change Counseling - Practical Solutions for Positive Change

Care to Change Counseling
  • 4.7 (15)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Experienced professionals talking about real life issues and relevant topics. Find hope and practical solutions for positive change. 

  1. Building Strong Communities: The Role of Faith Leaders in Creating Safe Places Where People Can Flourish

    6d ago

    Building Strong Communities: The Role of Faith Leaders in Creating Safe Places Where People Can Flourish

    What makes a church community feel truly safe? After exploring church hurt, healing, and healthy leadership throughout this series, we turn our attention toward hope. In this episode, host Mac Zambrano is joined by Jean Crane, therapist at Care to Change, and Pastor Ron Merrell of Connection Pointe Church to discuss what it actually takes to build communities where people experience safety, trust, growth, and belonging. Together, they unpack the qualities that foster healthy faith communities, the role of authentic leadership, and practical ways every person can help create environments where people feel known, welcomed, and free to be honest. In This Episode Why authentic vulnerability is the foundation of trustThe difference between physical, emotional, and spiritual safetyHow healthy communities are built through consistency over timeWhy warmth and hospitality matter more than we often realizeBalancing grace and truth in healthy relationshipsGreen flags to look for in churches and small groupsHow curiosity and listening create emotional safetyPractical ways every believer can contribute to a healthier church cultureHope for those rebuilding trust after experiencing church hurtMemorable Quotes "The goal isn't just to avoid harm. It's to create communities where people can actually experience safety, growth, and connection.""Safety is built over time. Trust is built over time.""When one person is vulnerable, it opens the door for someone else to be vulnerable.""Consistency over time builds trust." Resources Mentioned The Anatomy of the Soul by Dr. Curt ThompsonConnection Pointe ChurchCare to Change Counseling CenterConnect With Care to Change If you're navigating church hurt, struggling to trust again, or simply looking for support as you pursue healing, we're here to help. Visit www.caretochange.org to learn more about counseling services, resources, and upcoming podcasts. If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could use a reminder that healthy community is possible.

    52 min
  2. How Church Leaders Can Prevent Church Hurt

    Jun 17

    How Church Leaders Can Prevent Church Hurt

    Church hurt can leave lasting wounds, but what if we focused not only on healing, but also on prevention? In this episode of the Care to Change Podcast, host Mac Zambrano sits down with therapist Kyle Hopkins to discuss how pastors, ministry leaders, and church staff can cultivate healthier, safer church environments. Together, they explore common leadership blind spots, the role of accountability, and practical ways leaders can respond when harm has already occurred. Rather than approaching church hurt through blame or fear, this conversation focuses on stewardship, humility, and intentional leadership that reflects the heart of Christ. In This Episode we discuss... Common leadership blind spots that can contribute to church hurtWhy communication and transparency matter more than leaders often realizeWhat emotionally safe church cultures look likeHow leaders can respond when harm has already happenedThe difference between intent and impactHealthy accountability practices for church leadersTrauma-informed approaches to ministryPractical steps leaders can take to create safer environmentsResources for continued growth and learningResources Mentioned 📖 Church Hurt Is the Worst Hurt by Herbert Williams IV and Natasha Williams📖 After Church Hurt by Timothy St. John🎙️ The Bible ProjectAbout Care to Change At Care to Change, we are passionate about helping individuals, families, churches, and leaders experience healing and growth. Whether you're navigating church hurt, seeking support for your congregation, or looking for training and consultation, our team is here to help. Connect With Us If this episode encouraged you, share it with a pastor, ministry leader, or friend. Together, we can create church environments that are safe, healthy, and life-giving.

    28 min
  3. Healing From Church Hurt

    Jun 13

    Healing From Church Hurt

    Church hurt can leave deep wounds that impact trust, relationships, and faith. In this episode, counselor and previous pastor, Mac Zambrano and Sherry Follett, Life Coach and prior church staff member, share practical insight on the healing process, including the role of grief, common misconceptions about recovery, and how to begin rebuilding trust with God and others. You'll learn why healing takes time, the difference between forgiveness and trust, how spiritual bypassing can cause additional harm, and three practical steps to begin moving forward. If you've experienced spiritual wounds, this conversation offers hope, encouragement, and a reminder that healing is possible. Resources Mentioned: The Lord Is My Courage by K.J. RamseyGentle and Lowly by Dane OrtlundWhen the Church Harms God's People by Diane LangbergLearn more at Care to Change.

    20 min
  4. What Does Church Hurt Really Look Like?

    Jun 2

    What Does Church Hurt Really Look Like?

    Church hurt is a phrase we hear often, but what does it actually mean? For many people, the pain goes far beyond a difficult church experience. It can involve betrayal, spiritual manipulation, rejection, abuse of authority, or wounds that impact someone's relationship with faith, community, and even God. In this episode, Mac Zambrano and April Bordeau explore what church hurt really looks like, why spiritual wounds can cut so deeply, and how people can begin healing without minimizing their experiences. Whether you've personally experienced church hurt or want to better understand someone who has, this conversation offers insight, validation, and hope. Key Takeaways Church hurt is real, and its impact can extend far beyond a specific congregation or leader. Healing often begins by honestly naming the wound, seeking safe support, and allowing space to process the pain without shame or pressure. While harmful experiences can distort a person's view of faith and community, healing and restoration remain possible. Resources If you are struggling with the effects of church hurt, spiritual abuse, or faith-related trauma, reaching out to a licensed mental health professional can be an important step toward healing. Learn more about Care to Change and connect with a counselor at: www.caretochange.org Connect With Us If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may benefit from the conversation. Because healing begins when we know we're not alone.

    29 min
  5. Faith Practices for Whole-Person Renewal

    May 25

    Faith Practices for Whole-Person Renewal

    What if spiritual practices are about more than obligation or routine? What if they are actually part of how we experience renewal, resilience, peace, and emotional healing? In this episode, April Bordeau is joined by therapist Jean Crane to close out our May Mental Health Awareness Month series on whole-person wellness. Together, they explore how faith practices impact the body, mind, and spirit and why spiritual rhythms are an important part of emotional wellbeing and renewal. This conversation explores: How faith practices support mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual healthThe connection between prayer, worship, gratitude, creativity, and nervous system regulationWhy silence, solitude, and rest matter for emotional wellbeingHow spiritual practices can reduce stress, anxiety, and emotional overwhelmThe role of Sabbath, stillness, and slowing down in a culture of constant productivityWhy faith practices are meant to bring connection and renewal rather than pressure or performanceHow spiritual rhythms help build resilience before difficult seasons comeNavigating faith practices during seasons of doubt, grief, spiritual struggle, or church hurtPractical ways to begin incorporating life-giving spiritual rhythms into daily lifeApril and Jean also discuss how spiritual practices can become legalistic or emotionally exhausting when disconnected from relationship, grace, and renewal, and they offer compassionate encouragement for those who feel spiritually tired, disconnected, or overwhelmed. Whether you are in a season of burnout, emotional fatigue, grief, anxiety, spiritual questioning, or simply longing for greater peace and connection, this episode offers practical encouragement and hope for caring for your whole self. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Spiritual Practices for the Brain by Anne Kertz KernionEmbracing Rhythms of Work and Rest by Ruth Haley BartonRelated Topics: Prayer and nervous system regulationSilence and solitudeGratitude and emotional wellnessWorship and connectionSabbath and restCreativity and emotional healingAt Care to Change, we believe healing happens when we care for the whole person: body, mind, and spirit. Our hope is that this conversation encourages you to create intentional space for renewal, connection, rest, and hope in your everyday life.

    39 min
  6. Movement & Emotional Well-Being: How Distressing Events Impact the Body

    May 19

    Movement & Emotional Well-Being: How Distressing Events Impact the Body

    What if movement is about more than physical health? In this episode, April Bordeau sits down with Brittany Gipson, Director of Clinical Services at Care to Change, to explore the powerful connection between movement, emotional wellness, stress, trauma, and the nervous system. Together, they discuss how distressing events impact the body, why stress and trauma are often stored physically, and how intentional movement can help the body release tension, regulate emotions, and restore a sense of safety. This conversation explores: What happens in the brain and body during stress and traumaHow the fight-or-flight response impacts emotional and physical wellbeingWhy the body stores cortisol and adrenalineThe connection between unresolved stress and chronic tensionHow trauma can become generalized in the body over timeWhy movement helps complete the stress cycleGentle ways to begin moving when feeling emotionally drained or overwhelmedHow body scans increase self-awareness and emotional regulationThe importance of working with your body instead of against itWhy healing requires caring for the body, mind, and spirit togetherBrittany also walks listeners through a simple body scan exercise and shares practical ways to support the nervous system through movement, breathing, stretching, prayer, grounding, and rest. Whether you are navigating chronic stress, emotional exhaustion, grief, anxiety, trauma, or simply feeling disconnected from your body, this episode offers practical tools and compassionate insight to help you move toward greater healing and emotional wellness. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: The Body Keeps the ScoreTry SofterWhat Happened to You?Overcoming Trauma Through YogaRelated Resources: Care to Change also offers trauma-informed yoga, life coaching, counseling, and other whole-person wellness services designed to support emotional healing and nervous system regulation. If you are feeling overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or carrying the effects of past distressing experiences in your body, we want you to know there is hope. Healing happens when we create space to listen to the body, care for the whole person, and move forward one step at a time. Connect with us.

    30 min
  7. Grief and the Body

    May 14

    Grief and the Body

    Grief is not only emotional. It is physical, spiritual, relational, and deeply personal. In this episode, April Bordeau sits down with therapist, Teresa Land to explore how grief is experienced and stored in the body, and why understanding that connection matters for healing. Together, they discuss the physical effects of grief, including brain fog, fatigue, body aches, sleep disruption, anxiety, overwhelm, and nervous system dysregulation. Teresa explains how stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline impact the body after loss and why grief often feels like a roller coaster, tornado, and voyage all at once. This conversation also explores: Why grief has no timelineHow the body responds to both expected and unexpected lossThe “firsts” that make grief feel ongoing throughout the first yearGentle ways to support the body during griefGrounding and breathing practices that calm the nervous systemThe “Five Rs” exercise for moving out of emotional freezeThe spiritual practice of lament and bringing honest pain before GodHow hope and healing can coexist with sorrowWhether your grief comes from the loss of a loved one, a relationship, a life transition, retirement, empty nesting, or another unexpected change, this episode offers practical insight, compassion, and encouragement for the journey. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Transforming Grief and LossDark Clouds, Deep MercyThe Garden WithinSpiritual Practices for the BrainRelated Episode: Want to learn more about the different types of grief? Listen to our previous episode focused on understanding grief and the grieving process. If you are struggling with grief, feeling overwhelmed, or noticing how stress and loss are impacting your body, we want you to know you do not have to navigate it alone. Our team is here to create space for hope, healing, and support as you move forward.

    37 min
  8. The Mind-Body Connection: Why Your Body Is Talking to You

    May 6

    The Mind-Body Connection: Why Your Body Is Talking to You

    In this episode, April and Jared explore the powerful connection between mental and physical health and why wellness is about far more than diet and exercise. We discuss how stress, anxiety, trauma, and burnout show up physically in the body and how healing often involves both the mind and nervous system. You’ll learn: How the brain and body constantly communicateWhy emotions are biological, not just mentalHow chronic stress impacts the bodyWhat fight, flight, and freeze responses look likeWhy symptoms can be signals instead of failuresWe also break down common wellness myths, including: “If I look healthy, I must be healthy”“Stress is just part of life”“Mental and physical health are separate”“Strong people shouldn’t need support”Plus, we share simple practical tools listeners can try immediately: Breathing exercises for nervous system regulationLearning where stress sits in the bodyUsing movement and nature to support emotional healthOne of the biggest reminders from this conversation: The body often speaks when the mind cannot. Your body is not working against you. It may be trying to protect you. Quotes From This Episode “Your body is not just reacting to your life. It is participating in it.”“Wellness is not just what we do with our bodies. It’s how we listen to them.”“Mental health and physical health are two languages describing the same story.”If you are struggling to make peace with your body or you are having unexplainable aches and pains, call us today. 317-790–9396. Or check out our website.

    38 min
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4.7
out of 5
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Experienced professionals talking about real life issues and relevant topics. Find hope and practical solutions for positive change. 

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