Strong Tower Mental Health Podcast

Heidi Mortenson, MA, LMFT
  • 4.9 (77)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

Strong Tower Mental Health is an authentic and encouraging podcast hosted by Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Heidi Mortenson. Get ready for heaven to be unlocked in your soul with real life stories, skills, and amazing guests who will inspire you. Topics on this podcast include vulnerability, authenticity, how to have difficult conversations, keeping healthy boundaries with others, marriage, depression, anxiety, addiction, co-dependency and more. You will learn how to pull the gold from yourself and others, and walk in freedom no matter the circumstances surrounding you. Learn more at https://heidimortensonlmft.com/

  1. 3d ago

    257. Mental Health & the Unseen Realm with Dr. Natalie Atwell

    What if some of what we're seeing in mental health can't be fully understood through a psychological lens alone? In this episode of the Strong Tower Mental Health Podcast, Heidi sits down with Dr. Natalie Atwell, licensed clinical mental health counselor and author of Humanity Under Siege, for a thought-provoking conversation about mental health, spiritual warfare, and the unseen realm. After encountering the biblical scholarship of Dr. Michael Heiser, Natalie began looking more deeply at what Scripture says about the spiritual world—and how that understanding might inform her work with clients. Rather than replacing good clinical care with spiritual explanations, Natalie developed an approach that considers the whole person: psychological, physical, relational, and spiritual. Together, Heidi and Natalie discuss: How Michael Heiser's work on the unseen realm changed Natalie's approach to mental health How clinicians can explore spiritual concerns ethically, including the importance of assessment and informed consent Why Christians need discernment around New Age and other spiritual practices increasingly appearing in mental health spaces How to distinguish psychological and trauma-related patterns from possible spiritual influences—without assuming everything is spiritual How biblical truth, trauma-informed care, CBT, prayer, and spiritual assessment can work together while remaining within appropriate clinical boundaries Natalie also shares why she believes Christian therapists shouldn't have to hide their faith to practice ethically—and why both courage and humility are needed when addressing areas we cannot always see. This conversation is ultimately about hope. We don't have to fear the unseen realm, and we don't have to choose between sound mental health care and a biblical worldview. We can pursue truth, wisdom, discernment, and excellent care while continually pointing people toward the hope found in Jesus. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." — Ephesians 6:12 NKJV Learn more about Dr. Natalie Atwell and her work at Mental Warrior Consulting, and find her book, Humanity Under Siege, wherever books are sold. Natalie's website: https://mentalwarriorconsulting.com/ Purchase Natalie's book Humanity Under Siege: https://a.co/d/000TlgOl Find more about Heidi: www.heidimortensonlmft.com Schedule a FREE 15-minute clarity call with Heidi: https://calendly.com/heidimortenson/15min Join my mailing list: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t5u2y5 If you are in crisis, help is available by call or text 1-800-273-8255 24/7. You can also visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. You are loved!

    257. Mental Health & the Unseen Realm with Dr. Natalie Atwell

  2. 3d ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: No Magic Pill with Blake Mycoskie

    Introducing Blake Mycoskie: The Depression That Changed How I See Success from No Magic Pill with Blake Mycoskie. Follow the show: No Magic Pill with Blake Mycoskie In this episode of No Magic Pill, Blake Mycoskie is not the host, but instead the guest.  Ariane de Bonvoisin of The Spirit Collective Podcast sits down with Blake Mycoskie for a raw conversation about his TOMS success, the depression that followed, redefining self-worth, and how he found purpose beyond achievement. Blake reflects on the lifelong feeling of not being enough that drove his success, the struggles he faced after selling TOMS, and the journey that ultimately helped him build a life from a place of wholeness rather than lack. This conversation originally appeared on The Spirit Collective Podcast with Ariane de Bonvoisin #NoMagicPill #BlakeMycoskie #ArianeDeBonvoisin #TheSpiritCollective Enough Foundation's mission is to spread reminders in every form — bracelets, messages, actions, community — until feeling ENOUGH becomes the cultural default. To learn more, visit weareenough.co.  Produced, Directed, and Cinematography by Wubetu Shimelash / IG: Wubetu Shimelashcff Disclaimer: No purchase necessary. While supplies last. Visit http://www.weareenough.co/rules for full terms. More information on Blake’s other projects here:  Morning Water  Morning Water is a daily hydration formula that restores energy, balance, and performance with essential electrolytes, minerals, and nutrients in one simple routine.  To learn more, visit morningwater.co and use code NOMAGICPILL for 25% off your first order. SONIA  Sonia is a conversational AI companion designed for emotional support. Through voice and text, it offers guided wellbeing sessions, including meditations, journaling, personalized recommendations, and practical exercises. To learn more, visit www.soniahealth.com and download it on the App Store. MOOVLAB At MOOVLAB, we bring health and wellness to your workday.  MOOVLAB - the answer to sitting is moving.  To learn more, visit www.moovlab.com Follow Blake on Instagram and stay up to date with Lemonada on Facebook and Instagram. For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at lemonadapremium.com. Subscribe to Spotify Premium to watch ad-free video. Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical questions or concerns you may have. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

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  3. Sep 7

    256. You Can't Counsel a Demon: When Mental Health Meets Spiritual Warfare

    Can mental health symptoms have psychological, trauma-related, physical and spiritual components? And how do we discern what we're actually dealing with without spiritualizing everything—or leaving God completely out of the conversation? In this episode, Heidi shares some of her biggest takeaways from the Mental Health & Deliverance Conference and why clinicians, ministry leaders, and believers need wisdom, humility, and discernment when caring for people. One phrase captures the tension: "You can't cast out a person, and you can't counsel a demon." In this episode, you'll discover: • Why not everything is a demon—and not everything is psychological • Why trauma-informed care matters in deliverance ministry • What "you can't counsel a demon, and you can't cast out a person" really means • How to stay in your lane without leaving the Holy Spirit outside the room • Why we need more collaboration between clinicians and ministry leaders We don't have to choose between taking mental health seriously and taking the spiritual realm seriously. We can learn to hold both with wisdom, ethics, compassion, and biblical discernment. "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God…" — 1 John 4:1   Schedule a FREE 15-minute clarity call: https://calendly.com/heidimortenson/15min Release what isn't yours free guide: https://subscribepage.io/IAqSlkIf Heidi's website: www.heidimortenson.com Join Heidi's mailing list: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t5u2y5 If you are in crisis, help is available by call or text 1-800-273-8255 24/7. You can also visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. You are loved!

  4. Aug 31

    255. Discerning Spiritual Mixture With Dr. Jessica Stone

    What if some of the confusion you've experienced in your faith isn't because God is unclear—but because truth has become mixed with other voices? In this thought-provoking episode, Heidi sits down with therapist, teacher, and author Dr. Jessica Stone to unpack one of the greatest challenges facing Christians today: spiritual mixture. Together they explore what happens when biblical truth becomes blended with personal experiences, emotional reasoning, cultural influences, or teachings that aren't rooted in Scripture. Rather than living from formulas, other people's testimonies, or emotional highs, God invites us into something far deeper—a personal relationship with Him and a Kingdom mindset that brings clarity, freedom, and peace. In this episode, you'll discover: Why spiritual mixture creates confusion and keeps believers stuck. How to discern God's voice from emotions, experiences, and human opinions. Why the simplicity of the Gospel is still the pathway to freedom. How testimonies can inspire without becoming unrealistic expectations. Practical ways to build a Kingdom mindset rooted in Scripture instead of spiritual trends. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2 (NIV) Dr. Jessica also shares resources from her Kingdom Mindset Masterclass and discusses how believers can grow in biblical discernment while cultivating a deeper, more authentic relationship with Jesus. Dr. Jessica Stone's website: https://www.kingdommindset.global/ Find more about Heidi: www.heidimortensonlmft.com Join my mailing list: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t5u2y5 If you are in crisis, help is available by call or text 1-800-273-8255 24/7. You can also visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. You are loved!

    255. Discerning Spiritual Mixture With Dr. Jessica Stone

  5. Aug 24

    254. When Surrender Is Really Control

    Have you ever "surrendered" something to God—while secretly hoping your surrender would finally make Him change the situation? Sometimes control doesn't look like control. It looks like helping. Fixing. Praying harder. Being extra kind. Trying to say exactly the right thing. Or even telling God, "I give this completely to You," while quietly expecting a particular outcome in return. In this episode of the Strong Tower Mental Health Podcast, Heidi explores the difference between true biblical surrender and spiritualized control—and why trauma, relational pain, and a dysregulated nervous system can make letting go feel so difficult. Using a simple dream about mowing someone else's lawn, Heidi asks a powerful question: Am I tending what God has actually given me to tend—or am I trying to manage something that belongs to someone else? In this episode, you'll learn: How control can disguise itself as love, helping, prayer, or surrender Why trauma and nervous-system activation can make control feel like safety How to distinguish what belongs to God, what belongs to you, and what belongs to another person Why trusting God does not require blindly trusting people How to carry hope for someone's transformation without making yourself responsible for producing it "Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, 'But Lord, what about this man?' Jesus said to him, 'If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.'" ~ John 21:21–22 (NKJV) Surrender isn't trusting God to give me the outcome I want. Surrender is trusting God with the outcome. Sign up for the FREE Mental Health & Deliverance Conference: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1997857590835?aff=oddtdtcreator Schedule a FREE 15-minute clarity call: https://calendly.com/heidimortenson/15min Release what isn't yours free guide: https://subscribepage.io/IAqSlkIf Heidi's website: www.heidimortenson.com ·        Join my mailing list: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t5u2y5 ·        If you are in crisis, help is available by call or text 1-800-273-8255 24/7. You can also visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. You are loved!

    254. When Surrender Is Really Control

  6. Aug 17

    253. When Trauma Meets Deliverance With Adele Vrey

    Can someone survive extreme trauma, ritual abuse, and generational Satanism—and not only find freedom, but dedicate their life to helping others heal? In one of the most powerful conversations on the Strong Tower Mental Health Podcast, Heidi sits down with Adele Vrey from South Africa to hear her remarkable testimony of redemption. Adele shares her journey out of generational Satanism, the devastating effects of ritual trauma and dissociation, and the years-long healing process that included counseling, deliverance, inner healing, prayer, and God's miraculous restoration. Together, Heidi and Adele tackle one of the most important conversations facing the Church today: How do we wisely discern the difference between trauma, mental illness, and spiritual oppression? They discuss why the Church needs both biblical discernment and trauma-informed care—and why no single tool is enough. In this episode you'll discover: How severe trauma can impact the brain, body, and spirit. Why healing often requires counseling, deliverance, prayer, and community—not just one approach. How to discern between psychological, physical, and spiritual causes of suffering. Why trauma-informed ministry is essential for today's Church. The incredible hope that Jesus brings, no matter how dark your past has been. "He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners." — Isaiah 61:1 Connect with Adele Vrey To learn more about Adele and Riaan Swiegelaar's ministry, counseling, training, and resources, visit: https://www.deliverance4me.com/ Join Us at the Mental Health & Deliverance Conference Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mental-health-deliverance-conference-tickets-1997857590835 If this conversation resonates with you, we'd love to have you join us August 26–27, 2026, at Truth and Freedom Church (Minnesota) for the Mental Health & Deliverance Conference featuring Adele Vrey, Rafe Ronning, and Heidi Mortenson. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mental-health-deliverance-conference-tickets-1997857590835 Whether you're a therapist, ministry leader, pastor, or someone pursuing healing, this conference will equip you with practical tools, biblical wisdom, and greater discernment for walking with people toward freedom. Find more about Heidi: www.heidimortensonlmft.com Join my mailing list: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t5u2y5 If you are in crisis, help is available by call or text 1-800-273-8255 24/7. You can also visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. You are loved!

    253. When Trauma Meets Deliverance With Adele Vrey

  7. Aug 10

    252. Jesus and Your Nervous System

    What if the behaviors you feel ashamed of are not proof that you are weak—but evidence that your nervous system has been trying to protect you? In this episode, Heidi explores how faith, trauma, attachment, and neuroscience come together to explain why we sometimes overreact, shut down, people-please, strive, control, or feel uneasy when life is finally peaceful. You'll learn: • Why the brain predicts danger based on past experiences • Why familiar patterns can feel safer than healthy ones • How neuroplasticity allows the brain to form new pathways • Why safe relationships and co-regulation matter for healing • Five practical ways to retrain your nervous system with Jesus Drawing from basic neuroscience research on predictive processing, memory reconsolidation, emotional regulation, and attachment, Heidi explains that healing is not about ignoring the body or simply "having more faith." It is about allowing God's truth, the Holy Spirit, healthy relationships, and the way God designed the brain and body to work together. You'll also discover how to notice your reactions without shame, regulate before responding, identify old predictions, renew your mind with truth, and experience God as a secure place of attachment. "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless." — 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Schedule a FREE 15-minute clarity call: https://calendly.com/heidimortenson/15min Release what isn't yours free guide: https://subscribepage.io/IAqSlkIf Heidi's website: www.heidimortenson.com ·        Join my mailing list: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t5u2y5 ·        If you are in crisis, help is available by call or text 1-800-273-8255 24/7. You can also visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. You are loved!

    252. Jesus and Your Nervous System

  8. Aug 3

    251. Following God's Call into Difficult Places With Stephanie Page

    What if your everyday work could become a catalyst for freedom and healing? In this powerful conversation, Heidi sits down with Stephanie Page, founder of Stories Foundation, to discuss her journey of faith, obedience, and the mission to combat human trafficking right here in Minnesota. Stephanie shares how God led her to start a nonprofit café that not only serves coffee but also creates opportunities, support, and hope for survivors of exploitation and trafficking. Together, they unpack the realities of trafficking, the role manipulation and unhealthy relationships play in exploitation, and how communities can become part of the solution. Stephanie also shares how she stays grounded in God's heart while carrying the weight of such difficult work. In this episode you'll learn: ✔️ How human trafficking often begins through manipulation and unhealthy relationships ✔️ Warning signs of grooming, exploitation, and relational control ✔️ Practical ways to support survivors and raise awareness in your community ✔️ How obedience to God's calling can lead to greater impact than you ever imagined Whether you're a parent, leader, counselor, or simply someone who wants to make a difference, this conversation will equip and inspire you to bring light into some of the darkest places of our culture. "Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause." — Isaiah 1:17 (ESV) "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves." — Proverbs 31:8 To learn more, support the mission, or get involved, visit storiesfoundation.org. Steph's website: www.storiesfoundation.org Heidi's website: www.heidimortenson.com    Schedule a FREE 15-minute clarity call: https://calendly.com/heidimortenson/15min Release what isn't yours free guide: https://subscribepage.io/IAqSlkIf ·        Join my mailing list: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t5u2y5 ·        If you are in crisis, help is available by call or text 1-800-273-8255 24/7. You can also visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. You are loved!

    251. Following God's Call into Difficult Places With Stephanie Page
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4.9
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About

Strong Tower Mental Health is an authentic and encouraging podcast hosted by Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Heidi Mortenson. Get ready for heaven to be unlocked in your soul with real life stories, skills, and amazing guests who will inspire you. Topics on this podcast include vulnerability, authenticity, how to have difficult conversations, keeping healthy boundaries with others, marriage, depression, anxiety, addiction, co-dependency and more. You will learn how to pull the gold from yourself and others, and walk in freedom no matter the circumstances surrounding you. Learn more at https://heidimortensonlmft.com/

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