Strong Tower Mental Health Podcast

Heidi Mortenson, MA, LMFT
  • 4.9 (78)
  • Christianity
  • 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

    267. Finding Your Voice and Healing in Christ with Kasha Jankowski

    What happens when God takes a life marked by trauma, abuse, and brokenness and transforms it into a testimony of healing, freedom, and purpose? In this episode of the Strong Tower Mental Health Podcast, Heidi sits down with Kasha, founder of Ebed Ministries, to hear her remarkable journey from growing up in post-communist Poland to discovering Jesus, finding her voice, and stepping into a calling to help others experience God's healing. Growing up surrounded by abuse, alcoholism, and emotional pain, Kasha experienced deep trauma that shaped her identity and understanding of the world. At just 18 years old, she arrived in America with only $100 and a Bible, unaware of how dramatically her life would change. Through encounters with God, marriage, years spent living in Africa, and a long journey of emotional and spiritual healing, Kasha discovered that restoration is often a process rather than a single moment. In this episode, we discuss: 1.      Growing up with trauma: How childhood abuse, alcoholism, and life in post-communist Poland impacted Kasha's identity and emotional well-being. 2.      Encountering Jesus: How God led Kasha to America and ultimately into a personal relationship with Him. 3.      Finding her voice: Kasha's testimony of physical healing and discovering the courage to use her voice for God's purposes. 4.      The journey of emotional and spiritual healing: How counseling, coaching, prayer, and encounters with God helped Kasha process years of trauma. 5.      Turning pain into purpose: How God led Kasha to establish Ebed Ministries and encourage others through prayer, spiritual growth, and discovering their calling. Kasha also shares about her Prayer Lab and closes the episode with a heartfelt prayer for listeners. Whether you're navigating past trauma, waiting for healing, or wondering how God could use your story, this conversation is a reminder that your past does not have to define your future. "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." — Psalm 147:3 (NKJV) Kasha's website: https://www.kasha-ministries.com/ 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!

    267. Finding Your Voice and Healing in Christ with Kasha Jankowski

  2. Oct 26

    263. The Hidden Fear Behind People-Pleasing

    What if your desire to make everyone happy isn't actually coming from love—but from fear? Sometimes what looks like kindness, selflessness, and putting others first is actually rooted in fear of rejection, disappointment, conflict, or losing control. In this episode of the Strong Tower Mental Health Podcast, Heidi explores the biblical story of Mary and Martha, the psychology behind people-pleasing, and how Jesus invites us to move from fear-driven striving into freedom. In this episode, you'll discover: How people-pleasing can disguise itself as love and selflessness Why childhood experiences, trauma, and fear can lead us to feel responsible for others' happiness What Mary and Martha teach us about worry, striving, and being with Jesus How to recognize and break agreement with lies that keep us trapped in fear Biblical truths to declare over your identity, worth, and relationships You can love people deeply without being responsible for their happiness. Freedom begins when you stop looking to others for your worth and start looking to Jesus. Key Scripture — Psalm 34:4 (ESV) "I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears." Additional Scriptures: Luke 10:38–42, Luke 11:39–42, Galatians 1:10, Psalm 139:14. 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!

    263. The Hidden Fear Behind People-Pleasing

  3. Oct 19

    262. Surrender Changes Everything With Joyce Erickson

    What does it look like to truly put God first—and allow Him to use your life for His purposes? In this episode of the Strong Tower Mental Health Podcast, Heidi sits down with Bible teacher, ministry leader, and Impactors for Christ podcast host Joyce Erickson. Joyce shares her powerful testimony—from encountering Jesus as a teenager, through years of living with one foot in the world, to fully surrendering her life to God and stepping into a calling she never could have planned for herself. Joyce shares how God led her from studying and teaching the Bible to developing a Christian college program, serving as its president, and eventually encouraging others to use their gifts to impact the world for Christ. In this episode, you'll discover: Why putting God first can change the direction of your life How surrender and obedience can open doors you never expected Biblical ways to discern God's voice Why Scripture must remain the foundation for dreams, visions, and spiritual experiences How God can use your unique gifts and story to impact others for Christ Joyce's story is a beautiful reminder that you don't have to have your entire calling figured out—you simply need to be willing to follow God one step at a time. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." — Proverbs 3:5–6 NKJV Life starts to have purpose when you put God first You start to respect yourself and you stop focusing on what the other person is doing and you start to have purpose in life. Joyce's Website: Believersbibleschool.com Impactors For Christ Podcast – Youtube Tiktok Reve Joyce Erickson 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!

    262. Surrender Changes Everything With Joyce Erickson

  4. Oct 12

    261. Does Trauma Stop Revival? When Hunger, Healing & Discernment Collide

    Does trauma stop revival? Can God genuinely move in a church where leaders—or the people experiencing Him—are carrying unresolved trauma? And does an intense hunger for God always mean a community is spiritually healthy? In this episode, Heidi explores the complicated intersection of revival, trauma, spiritual hunger, emotional health, leadership, and discernment. From Samson's supernatural gifting alongside profound character struggles to the differences between charismatic expressions of hunger and the quiet faithfulness often seen in more traditional churches, this conversation asks an important question: How do we recognize a healthy move of God? In this episode, you'll discover: • Why unresolved trauma doesn't necessarily prevent God from moving—but can affect how we perceive and steward what He is doing • How to distinguish spiritual gifts, emotional intensity, and manifestations from the fruit of the Spirit • Why a quiet, faithful Christian may be just as hungry for God as someone pursuing revival meetings and supernatural encounters • What Samson teaches us about the difference between gifting and character • Practical markers of healthy revival, including truth, accountability, humility, safety, repentance, rest, and lasting fruit "Test everything; hold fast what is good." — 1 Thessalonians 5:21 You don't have to be afraid of the supernatural, and you don't have to turn off discernment to pursue it. We can hunger for everything God has for us while remaining grounded in Scripture, wisdom, emotional health, and the fruit of the Spirit. 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!

    261. Does Trauma Stop Revival? When Hunger, Healing & Discernment Collide

  5. Oct 5

    260. Psychosis or Demonic? With Pastor Rafe Ronning

    Psychosis or Demonic? Discerning Mental Health and Spiritual Warfare Is it psychosis, demonic influence—or could there be more than one thing happening at the same time? In this episode of the Strong Tower Mental Health Podcast, Heidi sits down with Rafe Ronning to continue the conversation from the Mental Health & Deliverance Conference. Together, they explore one of the most challenging areas of discernment: distinguishing symptoms of mental illness from possible spiritual oppression. Heidi and Rafe also discuss the Lindsay Clancy trial and case, including reports surrounding her mental state and alleged experiences of hearing a voice, and consider the questions her story raises about psychosis, spiritual warfare, and the importance of careful discernment. They do not attempt to diagnose Clancy or claim certainty about the spiritual causes of her actions. In this episode, you'll hear: How psychosis and spiritual oppression can sometimes appear similar Rafe's personal testimony of deliverance and spiritual freedom Why Christians disagree about whether believers can experience demonic oppression How to approach voices, intrusive thoughts, and unusual experiences with both spiritual and clinical discernment Why seeking appropriate help, staying grounded in Scripture, and following the Holy Spirit matter when navigating complex symptoms This conversation isn't about labeling every mental health struggle as demonic—or dismissing the spiritual realm altogether. It's about learning to discern wisely, remain grounded in truth, and recognize when someone may need clinical care, spiritual support, or both. "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God." — 1 John 4:1 NKJV "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." — 1 Peter 5:8 NKJV "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." — 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV Rafe's website: https://www.truthandfreedomchurch.com/ 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!

    260. Psychosis or Demonic? With Pastor Rafe Ronning

  6. Sep 28

    259. When the Future Feels Uncertain: Choosing Faith Over Fear with Heidi Lee Anderson

    What do you do when the future you imagined suddenly feels uncertain? In this powerful and hope-filled conversation, Heidi Mortenson sits down with Christian author and speaker Heidi Lee Anderson, who shares how a cancer diagnosis at just 23 years old changed the trajectory of her life—and deepened her understanding of what it really means to trust God when you don't know what comes next. Heidi Lee shares her journey through Hodgkin's lymphoma, chemotherapy and radiation, fears about infertility and long-term health complications, and the unexpected ways God met her in the middle of it all—including meeting her future husband during treatment and later becoming a mom to four children. Years later, new health concerns brought Heidi back to a familiar crossroads: Would she live consumed by the "what ifs," or trust the God who had already proven faithful? That journey became the foundation for her 100-day devotional, All in All Yours. In this episode, you'll discover: How to fight the spiral of "what if?" when fear and uncertainty take over Why faith doesn't require denying difficult circumstances—it means learning where to place your trust in the middle of them How God can be working behind the scenes even when your circumstances look nothing like you hoped The powerful role prayer and community can play when you're walking through suffering How to choose joy, surrender, and hope when you can't control what happens next "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." — Joshua 1:9 (NIV) If you're walking through a diagnosis, an uncertain future, unanswered prayer, or simply a season where fear keeps whispering "What if?"—this conversation is a reminder that God is already present in the places you're afraid to go. Your circumstances may feel uncertain, but your God is not. Heidi Lee Anderson's website: HeidiLeeAndersonMinistries.com Purchase Heidi Lee Anderson's 100-day devotional: https://a.co/d/0aCuDka8 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!

    259. When the Future Feels Uncertain: Choosing Faith Over Fear with Heidi Lee Anderson

  7. Sep 21

    258. Is That Really You? Discernment & Your Authority in Christ

    What if every thought going through your mind isn't actually something you need to agree with? Following my conversation with Dr. Natalie Atwell, I want to go deeper into spiritual discernment—and why understanding both the psychological and spiritual realms matters for our mental health. As a mental health therapist and Christian, I believe we can fall into two extremes: seeing a demon behind every struggle or explaining everything psychologically and forgetting that Scripture says spiritual warfare is real. In this episode, you'll learn: How to recognize when a thought doesn't line up with God's truth Why Scripture tells us both to take thoughts captive and resist the enemy What the Bible says about our authority over demonic spirits Why Christians disagree about whether a believer can "have a demon" Practical steps for growing in discernment and walking in your authority in Christ The goal isn't to become demon-focused. It's to know Jesus, know His Word, and become increasingly able to recognize what is true—and what isn't. "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." ~2 Corinthians 10:4–5 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." ~ James 4:7 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!

    258. Is That Really You? Discernment & Your Authority in Christ

  8. Sep 14

    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
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4.9
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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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