Moved By Grace Counseling Radio

Anna Valentine
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Mental Health
  • Biweekly

This podcast supplies nuggets of information regarding innovative and somatic approaches to mental health treatment. In just 10 minutes, you will learn about topics such as creative therapies, neuroscience and play, mind/body connection and alternative approaches to psychotherapy.

  1. 2d ago

    Becoming Whole in 26.2 Miles Part 3: The Courage to Feel it All- Perseverance, & Purpose in the Pain

    What if the most meaningful part of the journey isn’t crossing the finish line, but who we become along the way? In Part Three of Becoming Whole in 26.2 Miles, I’m sharing three of the biggest lessons I took away from running the 2026 Chicago Marathon. And while these lessons came from running 26.2 miles, I believe they apply to so much more—our faith, our mental health, our relationships, and the difficult seasons we all walk through. In this episode, I’m talking about: ​Let there be no doubt. Why I believe we have to approach life’s challenges with faith and confidence, even when we don’t know exactly how things will unfold.​Be in it for the long haul. Why the journey matters just as much as the destination, and how God often does His greatest work in us during the process.​The courage to feel it all. Why pain and discomfort aren’t always things we need to escape, and what psychology teaches us about emotional avoidance, numbing, and learning to sit with difficult experiences.I also share some reflections from race day, including what I noticed about the different ways people cope with physical discomfort and how that reminded me of the ways we sometimes try to numb emotional pain in everyday life. As a counselor, I’ve seen how easy it is to want to avoid uncomfortable feelings. But as a Christian, I’m continually reminded that God doesn’t promise us a life without suffering. He promises to be with us through it. Scripture for this episode: “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus.” — Hebrews 12:1–2 My hope is that this episode encourages you to keep showing up, trust God with the process, and remember that you don’t have to rush through or numb the difficult parts of life. Whether you’re training for a race, navigating motherhood, walking through grief, or simply trying to make it through a challenging season, I hope you’ll remember that there is purpose in the process. You don’t have to love every mile. But you can allow every mile to shape you. Thank you for being here and continuing this journey with me!

    Becoming Whole in 26.2 Miles Part 3: The Courage to Feel it All- Perseverance, & Purpose in the Pain

  2. Oct 25

    Becoming Whole in 26.2 Miles Part 2: Training, Resilience, and the Strength to Finish

    In Part Two of Becoming Whole in 26.2 Miles, I’m taking you behind the scenes of training for and completing the 2026 Chicago Marathon—just six months postpartum. From an overwhelming eight-mile training run that made me question whether I could do this, to navigating breastfeeding and pumping on race day, this journey challenged me physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I share the unexpected obstacles, the anxiety, the importance of nervous system regulation, and what it looked like to keep moving forward even when I wanted to stop. And then there was the finish line. After 26.2 miles, I was overcome with emotion. The tears weren’t just about finishing a marathon. They represented months of perseverance, sacrifice, growth, and God’s faithfulness through it all. In this episode, we explore the difference between pushing ourselves to prove our worth and challenging ourselves from a place of self-compassion and purpose. Because sometimes strength isn’t about going faster or pushing harder. Sometimes it’s simply choosing to keep moving forward. Whether you’re training for a race, navigating motherhood, facing anxiety, or walking through a difficult season, I hope this episode reminds you that you are capable of more than you realize—and that you don’t have to rely on your own strength alone. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” — Philippians 4:13 Connect with me: Moved by Grace Counseling
www.movedbygracecounseling.com

    Becoming Whole in 26.2 Miles Part 2: Training, Resilience, and the Strength to Finish

  3. Oct 18

    Becoming Whole in 26.2 Miles Part 1: Rediscovering Identity during Matrescence

    Six months postpartum and six days after completing my first Chicago Marathon, I’m reflecting on a journey that became about so much more than running 26.2 miles. In Part 1 of this four-part series, I share my experience navigating an unexpected C-section, postpartum anxiety, the shifting identity of new motherhood, and the process of reconnecting with my body and myself. Together, we’ll explore the concept of matrescence, the mind-body connection, and how God uses unexpected seasons to shape us into who He created us to be. Because sometimes the goal isn’t to get back to who we were before motherhood, but to embrace who we’re becoming. You are more than what you accomplish, and your identity has always been rooted in something greater. Learn more about counseling, Christian yoga, and mind-body wellness at: 🌿 https://www.movedbygracecounseling.com

    Becoming Whole in 26.2 Miles Part 1: Rediscovering Identity during Matrescence

  4. Sep 26

    3 Practical Ways to Slow Down & Realign

    In this episode of the Moved by Grace Counseling Podcast, we talk about what it looks like to pursue peace without pretending differences don’t exist. Inspired by Ephesians 2:15, we explore connection, conflict, emotional regulation, and how we can stop seeing people as “us versus them.” We also talk about the importance of slowing down before reacting, staying grounded during difficult conversations, and remembering that reconciliation doesn’t always mean agreement. Whether you’re navigating tension in your marriage, family, friendships, workplace, or community, this episode is an invitation to consider: What would it look like for me to be a person who creates peace instead of adding to the division? Learn more about Dr. Anna Valentine and Moved by Grace Counseling:
Moved by Grace Counseling⁠ “For he himself is our peace…” — Ephesians 2:14

    3 Practical Ways to Slow Down & Realign

  5. Sep 11

    From FEAR to Freedom: Breaking the Cycles that Keep Us Stuck

    In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Todd Burstain to talk about fear—how it shapes our thoughts, choices, relationships, and willingness to move forward. We explore what keeps us stuck and how greater awareness, faith, and intentional action can help us move toward freedom. Connect with Dr. Todd Burstain:
https://drtoddburstain.com Connect with Dr. Anna Valentine:
https://www.movedbygracecounseling.com Beautiful Ashes Ministries:
https://www.beautifulashesministries.org September Christian Yoga Class:
Join us at March Christian Counseling for movement, Scripture, nervous-system regulation, and time in God’s presence. To sign up, call March Christian Counseling: 601-268-8796

    From FEAR to Freedom: Breaking the Cycles that Keep Us Stuck

  6. Sep 1

    Finding Healing in the Ashes, Exile and Everyday

    Finding Healing in the In-Between What does healing look like when life doesn’t look the way we expected? In this episode, Dr. Anna Valentine reflects on finding God’s presence in the “in-between” seasons—the places of waiting, uncertainty, transition, grief, and change. She also shares several meaningful opportunities and resources for cultivating healing, hope, and a deeper connection with God. 🌿 Beautiful Ashes Ministries Learn more about Beautiful Ashes Ministries and their Christ-centered retreats designed to help women step away from the noise of everyday life, reconnect with Jesus, and experience hope, healing, and community. Beautiful Ashes Ministries 📖 Even in Exile: Rediscovering Hope and Joy When Your World Turns Upside Down Rev. Susan Eaton’s newest book offers encouragement for anyone walking through disappointment, loss, uncertainty, unanswered prayers, or a season that simply doesn’t look the way they imagined. Learn more about Susan Eaton and Even in Exile 🎙️ Embodied Holiness Podcast I recently joined Rev. Susan Eaton and Cliff Burris on the Embodied Holiness Podcast for a conversation about Susan’s new book, Even in Exile, and what it means to rediscover hope and joy when your world turns upside down. Listen to the Embodied Holiness Podcast 🧘‍♀️ Monthly Christian Yoga Classes Join me for monthly Christian yoga classes combining Scripture, intentional movement, breath, prayer, and nervous-system regulation. These classes are designed to create space to slow down, reconnect with your body, turn your attention toward God, and experience His presence in a deeper way. View the upcoming Christian Yoga Facebook Event 🌿 Connect with Dr. Anna Valentine Learn more about counseling, Christian mind-body wellness, books, speaking, and upcoming offerings: Moved by Grace Counseling Wherever you find yourself today—in the waiting, the wilderness, the ashes, or the in-between—remember that healing doesn’t always require us to get to the other side first. God meets us here, too.

    Finding Healing in the Ashes, Exile and Everyday

  7. Aug 18

    The Stories We Carry: How Drama Therapy Helps Healing

    In this episode, I’m reflecting on Netflix’s Don’t Say Good Luck and the ways theater, storytelling, and our everyday roles can help us better understand ourselves. I’ll share a little of my own story, explain what drama therapy is, and talk about three ways I integrate drama therapy into traditional psychotherapy: Role Sort, the Hero’s Journey, and storytelling/externalization. This is a gentle conversation about identity, healing, the stories we carry, and what can happen when we give ourselves permission to see our lives from a different perspective. 🎭💛 Connect with me:
🌿 Website: www.movedbygracecounseling.com
📷 Instagram: @movedbygracecounseling
💌 Email: movedbygracetherapy@gmail.com Come as you are. There’s room for your whole story here.

    The Stories We Carry: How Drama Therapy Helps Healing

  8. Aug 5

    Releasing Your Burdens is Not Just Mental, It’s Physical

    Hi friends! Have you ever wondered why it’s so hard to “just give it to God”? In this episode, we explore how God designed our minds, bodies, and spirits to work together—and why surrender is more than a spiritual concept; it’s a daily practice. In this episode: ​Why your body holds onto stress​Why uncertainty feels so exhausting​What Scripture teaches about surrender​How to recognize when you’re carrying more than God intendedScripture ​1 Peter 5:7​Matthew 11:28–30​Psalm 46:10 Dr. Herbert Benson of Harvard Medical School spent decades studying the Relaxation Response, finding that practices such as prayer, repeating meaningful Scripture, and slow breathing can help calm the body’s stress response by lowering heart rate and blood pressure and activating the body’s natural relaxation system. His research reminds us that the God who invites us to pray also designed our bodies to respond to stillness and His presence. Learn more: Harvard Health: https://www.health.harvard.edu ​The Relaxation Response by Dr. Herbert Benson Join Me This September! Im honored to be teaching at the Beautiful Ashes Ministries Women’s Retreat on September 18–20, 2026, where I’ll be sharing practical, Christ-centered tools for nervous system regulation and whole-person healing. Learn more or register:https://www.beautifulashesministries.org/retreat/ (Beautiful Ashes) Connect with Me🌿 Website: https://www.movedbygracecounseling.com If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need this reminder today: You don’t have to carry what Christ has already invited you to release.

    Releasing Your Burdens is Not Just Mental, It’s Physical
See All (171)

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

This podcast supplies nuggets of information regarding innovative and somatic approaches to mental health treatment. In just 10 minutes, you will learn about topics such as creative therapies, neuroscience and play, mind/body connection and alternative approaches to psychotherapy.

Information

  • Creator
    Anna Valentine
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    171
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Anna Valentine