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. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. When Relationships Hurt: Church Hurt and Spiritual Bypassing

    Apr 29

    When Relationships Hurt: Church Hurt and Spiritual Bypassing

    Church should be a place of safety, connection, and healing. For many, it has also been a place of deep pain. In this episode, April Bordeau and Jean Crane explore the reality of church hurt and the often-overlooked role of spiritual bypassing. We talk about what happens when faith language is used to silence pain instead of support healing, and why experiences in spiritual spaces can feel especially confusing, isolating, and shame-filled. This conversation creates space for honesty. It offers language for what many have felt but struggled to name, and gentle direction for those trying to heal, rebuild trust, and reconnect with their faith in a meaningful way. Whether you’ve personally experienced church hurt or want to better support others, this episode invites a more compassionate and grounded approach to faith and emotional health. In This Episode, We Discuss: What “church hurt” really means and why it can run so deep How spiritual bypassing shows up in everyday faith conversations The difference between encouragement and emotional avoidance Common experiences that leave lasting wounds in spiritual spaces Why acknowledging church hurt can feel confusing or even shameful Practical steps toward healing and emotional clarity How churches and leaders can respond in healthier, more responsible ways What it looks like to rebuild trust in yourself, others, and your faithKey Takeaways: Pain experienced in spiritual settings often impacts both emotional and spiritual identity Spiritual bypassing can sound supportive on the surface while actually dismissing real pain Naming your experience is a powerful first step toward healing Healthy faith makes space for grief, questions, and emotional honesty Rebuilding trust takes time, intention, and safe relationshipsA Gentle Reminder: If you’ve been hurt in a church or spiritual setting, your experience matters. You are allowed to feel what you feel. Healing does not require you to minimize your story. Resources & Support: If this episode resonates with you, consider reaching out to us. Healing often happens in safe, relational spaces where your story can be fully heard. Connect With Us: Care to Change Counseling Helping you care for your mental and emotional health with compassion and clarity 🧡

    30 min
  7. When Relationship Hurts: Betrayal and Knowing When to End Relationships

    Apr 22

    When Relationship Hurts: Betrayal and Knowing When to End Relationships

    Betrayal isn’t always obvious. It often shows up through repeated disappointments, broken trust, or subtle patterns that leave you feeling unsettled. In this episode, we explore how to recognize true betrayal, what it does internally, and how to discern whether a relationship can be repaired or needs to end. Join April Bordeau as she talks through the difference between mistakes and patterns, what real trust repair requires, and how to tell if someone is genuinely changing or simply avoiding consequences. We also unpack the important distinction between forgiveness and reconciliation. For those feeling stuck, we offer guidance on how to move from confusion to clarity, including the role of boundaries and how to stop holding onto potential instead of reality. We also name the fears that keep people in unhealthy relationships and how to begin trusting yourself again. Key Takeaways: Betrayal is often about patterns, not just one moment.Trust is rebuilt through consistent action over time.Forgiveness does not always mean staying in a relationship.Clarity comes from accepting reality, not hoping for change.Closing Thought: Clarity can feel painful, but it’s also what makes healing possible. Reach out to Care to Change to discuss more or to have someone walk this difficult decision making process.

    48 min
  8. When Relationships Hurt: Understanding Gaslighting

    Apr 14

    When Relationships Hurt: Understanding Gaslighting

    Have you ever walked away from a conversation questioning yourself… wondering if you were the problem, even when something didn’t feel right? In this episode, Larry sits down with therapist Teresa Land to unpack the reality of gaslighting, a subtle but powerful form of emotional harm that can leave you doubting your thoughts, your feelings, and even your sense of reality. They explore how it shows up in everyday relationships, why it’s so hard to recognize, and how it slowly erodes confidence over time. You’ll also hear practical, compassionate steps for finding your footing again, setting boundaries, and getting the support you deserve. Whether you’re navigating this personally or simply want to better understand relationship dynamics, this conversation will help you put words to what you may have been feeling for a long time. Resources: The Gaslight Effect by Dr. Robin Stern Learn more at caretochange.org

    39 min
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4.7
out of 5
15 Ratings

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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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