Soul Sense with Mark Verkler, LMFT

Samaritan's Well
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

Most of us were never taught how faith and emotional health actually work together. Grief reshapes you. Trauma lingers. Anxiety lies. And loss doesn't just hurt — it fractures your relationships, your sense of self, and sometimes your faith. Soul Sense is for Christians who want Biblical wisdom, emotional healing, and honest conversation about the hard stuff. Hosted by Mark Verkler, LMFT and founder of Samaritan's Well — drawing on three decades of Christian counseling to explore what it really means to heal: spirit, mind, and body.

  1. 4d ago

    Emotions,the Bible,and Becoming Emotionally Healthy | Dr. David Pendergrass

    What does emotional maturity actually look like for a Christian? In this episode of Soul Sense, Dr. David Pendergrass—pastor, biblical scholar, counselor, author, and leadership consultant—joins Mark to explore what Scripture teaches about emotions, anger, grief, and spiritual maturity. David explains how Christians can listen to their emotions without assuming every feeling tells the truth. They discuss the difference between experiencing an emotion and responding to it, how past wounds shape our reactions, and why emotional maturity is an essential part of discipleship. The conversation goes deep into anger: when it points to genuine injustice, when it protects deeper emotions like fear or grief, what Jesus' anger teaches us, and how to respond without becoming destructive or bitter. They also explore unresolved grief, why Christians need spaces where sadness is welcome, and how bringing buried wounds into safe relationships can open the door to healing. Finally, David challenges the idea that biblical knowledge automatically produces spiritual maturity. What might change if churches treated emotional and relational maturity as essential parts of following Jesus? TIMESTAMPS00:05 — Introducing Dr. David Pendergrass00:52 — David's journey to ministry and biblical studies05:23 — What does the Bible teach about emotions?06:53 — Emotions as information, not commands09:28 — "Don't trust your feelings; listen to your feelings"10:06 — Anger, righteousness, and bitterness15:43 — Why anger can become our "one tool in the toolbox"18:01 — Looking beneath anger for grief and fear19:33 — Did Jesus get angry?23:37 — Anger vs. expressions of anger27:07 — What to do when emotions take over28:10 — The pause: breathe, identify, label, choose29:45 — Healthy boundaries and loving responses34:07 — Frustration tolerance and Christian maturity35:38 — Meekness as controlled strength39:00 — Unresolved grief and why it matters41:43 — Creating safety for buried grief46:00 — "Weeping with those who weep"48:32 — Welcoming the full range of human emotion49:06 — Spiritual maturity and emotional maturity51:15 — Why knowing Jesus' commands isn't always enough53:52 — Creating churches where grief and struggle are welcome55:11 — Emotions as gifts that can lead us toward God55:53 — David's books and resources56:43 — Closing thoughts If this conversation resonated with you, like, subscribe, share, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. For counseling and resources: samaritanswell.com | info@samaritanswell.com CONNECT WITH USInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/samaritanswell/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samaritanswelldallaSLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/samaritan%E2%80%99s-well/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samaritanswellcounseling 🎁 Free Guide: Christian Emotional Health Guidehttps://samaritanswell.thinkific.com/products/digital_downloads/Christian-Emotional-Health-Guide 🗞️ Join Our Newsletter:https://samaritan-s-well-counseling.kit.com/0033ce428e

  2. Sep 11

    Retraining Your Nervous System for Rest and Connection | Rochelle Walsh

    What if burnout isn’t simply a problem of having too much to do—but a nervous system that has learned to find safety in doing, performing, pleasing, or staying in control? In this episode of Soul Sense, Mark Verkler talks with Rochelle Walsh, LCSW, founder of Joyful and Present, about the connection between faith, neuroscience, trauma, and the nervous system. They explore why highly capable people can struggle to rest, why knowing what we “should” do doesn’t always change how our bodies respond to stress, and how our early experiences can shape the patterns we carry into adulthood. Rochelle and Mark discuss performance-based safety, the inner critic, shame and guilt, parentification, EMDR and complex trauma, spiritual formation, co-regulation, relationships, and what it looks like to retrain the nervous system for greater safety, rest, connection, and presence. The goal isn’t to become less capable or productive. It’s to learn how to live and serve from a place of safety and freedom rather than fear and survival. Rochelle Walsh, LCSW, is the founder of Joyful and Present, where she helps Christian women address burnout and overwhelm through the intersection of faith, neuroscience, and emotional health. Learn more about Rochelle and Joyful and Present: joyfulandpresent.com For more information about Samaritan’s Well Counseling and our resources, visit samaritanswell.com or email info@samaritanswell.com. Stay connected with Samaritan’s Well:Instagram: instagram.com/samaritanswellFacebook: facebook.com/samaritanswelldallasLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/samaritan’s-wellTikTok: tiktok.com/@samaritanswellcounseling Free Guide: Learn Keys to Christian Emotional Healthsamaritanswell.thinkific.com/products/digital_downloads/Christian-Emotional-Health-Guide Join the Samaritan’s Well Newsletter:samaritan-s-well-counseling.kit.com/0033ce428e

  3. Sep 3

    The God Who Delights in You | Dr. Bill Senyard

    What if the Christian life isn’t about becoming “good enough,” but learning to experience how deeply God already loves and delights in you? In this episode of Soul Sense, Mark sits down with Dr. Bill Senyard, author of Good Enough Christian, Good Enough Parent, and Before the Couch. Bill explores why Christians can believe the gospel intellectually yet struggle to actually experience God’s love. Drawing from Scripture, neuroscience, attachment theory, and decades of counseling and ministry, he discusses shame, trauma, the Holy Spirit, awe and wonder, parenting, marriage, and the “dancing Father.” If you’ve ever wondered whether you’ve repented enough, whether God is disappointed in you, or whether you’re really “good enough,” this conversation offers a different way of seeing the gospel. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Introduction to Dr. Bill Senyard01:03 — Why “Good Enough” Christianity?02:41 — Seven Hindrances to Experiencing God’s Love05:01 — Why We All Have “Daddy Issues”05:54 — The Forgotten Member of the Trinity: The Holy Spirit07:03 — How Our Brains Protect Us From Love09:20 — Experiencing God’s Delight13:13 — The Prodigal Son & the Dancing Father15:24 — What We Miss About the Gospel16:42 — Awe, Wonder & the Mystery of God20:57 — Thomas, Doubt & Experiencing Jesus27:50 — The “Simple and Poetic Gospel”29:09 — A Prayer for Experiencing God’s Love31:25 — The Power of the Gospel to Rewire Us33:29 — Experiencing Christ’s Love in Marriage35:18 — The Father & Son Who Laugh and Dance36:33 — Does God’s Delight Enable Sin?37:50 — The Holy Spirit’s Role in Experiencing God’s Love42:07 — Good Enough Parent & Helping Teens Know They Are Loved47:19 — Experiencing God’s Delight in Marriage50:24 — Before the Couch: When Marriage Needs a Miracle51:53 — “God Does His Best Work With Dead Things”52:46 — Bill’s Resources54:06 — Final Thoughts 📚 BOOKS DISCUSSEDGood Enough ChristianGood Enough ParentBefore the Couch Find Dr. Bill Senyard’s resources at gospel-app.com. For counseling and resources, visit samaritanswell.com or email info@samaritanswell.com. Follow Samaritan’s Well:Instagram: @samaritanswellFacebook: Samaritan’s Well CounselingLinkedIn: Samaritan’s Well CounselingTikTok: @samaritanswellcounseling 🎁 Free Guide: Christian Emotional Health Guide🗞️ Join the Samaritan’s Well Newsletter

  4. Aug 28

    The Lost Art of Being Still | Dr. Joshua Knabb

    What if silence isn’t the absence of God—but the place where we learn to recognize His presence? In this episode of Soul Sense, Mark sits down with Dr. Joshua Knabb, board-certified clinical psychologist, professor, researcher, author, and therapist, to explore Christian meditation, contemplation, stillness, and rest. Drawing from Scripture, the Desert Christian tradition, Christian mysticism, Compassion-Focused Therapy, and research on Christian meditation, Dr. Knabb explores how ancient Christian practices can help us respond to anxiety, rumination, distraction, and our constantly connected culture. They discuss the difference between meditation and contemplation, why we shouldn’t try to force distracting thoughts away, how to cultivate stillness, and how the Jesus Prayer—“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me”—can help us surrender worry and rest in God's loving presence. Dr. Knabb also shares a deeply personal story about learning to associate silence with abandonment and how discovering silence as the presence of God opened up a new experience of rest. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — When silence feels like God's absence01:09 — Why Dr. Knabb began studying Christian meditation03:45 — The Desert Christians and the psychology of stillness06:01 — Hesychia: stillness, silence, and concentration09:34 — The danger, drive, and contentment systems14:15 — The Cloud of Unknowing and Christian contemplation16:08 — Meditation vs. contemplation20:25 — Rumination and getting stuck in our thoughts22:08 — Shifting attention instead of fighting thoughts23:26 — What to do when your mind wanders during prayer25:14 — A thousand opportunities to return to God's presence27:22 — Watchfulness and the snow globe metaphor29:44 — How contemplation can change your whole day30:25 — Fruit of the Spirit meditation33:52 — What does it mean to “enter into rest”?34:01 — Smartphones, distraction, and the drive system35:29 — When silence becomes frightening36:14 — Discovering silence as God's presence39:21 — “Be still” as laying down our weapons41:10 — Christian contemplation and chronic worry42:54 — Worry as an illusion of control43:19 — What is “loving silence”?43:30 — Resting in God's enduring love45:13 — God's love that nourishes and cherishes46:52 — The Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me”47:33 — Jesus as the one who soothes our wounds48:21 — Using the Jesus Prayer throughout the day49:39 — Finding Dr. Knabb's work Learn more about Dr. Joshua Knabb: joshuaknabb.com For counseling and resources: samaritanswell.com Follow Soul Sense and Samaritan’s Well Counseling for more conversations about faith, emotional health, relationships, and spiritual formation.

  5. Aug 20

    Neuroscience, Scripture & the Path to Healing From Trauma | Dr. Deborah Gold

    What if the patterns you’ve come to see as “just who I am” are actually trauma responses your brain learned for survival? In this episode of SoulSense, Mark sits down with Dr. Deborah Gold, author of Wired for Redemption, to explore trauma, neuroscience, Scripture, and Christian healing. Dr. Gold draws on nearly 30 years of trauma work to explore how trauma can shape identity, relationships, thought patterns, and our ability to trust and hope. They discuss Peter, Thomas, the woman at the well, Joshua and Caleb, neuroplasticity, taking thoughts captive, gratitude, and the process of renewing the mind. They also discuss Neil Anderson’s Who I Am in Christ declarations and the importance of repeatedly speaking biblical truth over ourselves: • I am a child of God.• I am accepted, forgiven, and no longer condemned.• I am chosen and loved by God.• I belong to Christ.• I am God’s workmanship, created for a purpose.• I am not defined by my past or my trauma.• I have been given power, love, and a sound mind.• God calls me by name.• My identity is found in Christ, not in what happened to me. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction02:15 – Trauma wires us for survival; God wired us for redemption07:30 – Peter, the charcoal fire, and trauma14:10 – Thomas and the fear of hoping again24:00 – When trauma becomes mistaken for identity30:00 – “Name it to tame it”33:00 – Speaking truth and biblical declarations36:30 – Neil Anderson’s Who I Am in Christ42:00 – Trauma recovery and reprocessing49:00 – Neuroplasticity and renewal55:00 – Gratitude and repeated practices58:00 – Trauma, shame, and the Garden of Eden1:04:00 – Why unhealthy relationships can feel familiar1:08:00 – Israel, trauma, and learning to trust1:12:00 – Joshua and Caleb: fear and identity1:15:00 – Jesus restores dignity before demanding performance1:18:00 – No condemnation and the woman at the well1:24:00 – Healing through small, repeated practices1:27:00 – Power, love, and a sound mind1:30:00 – Final encouragement 📖 Dr. Deborah Gold — Wired for Redemptionhttps://drdebgold.com For counseling and resources:https://samaritanswell.com 📚 Free Guide: Christian Emotional Healthhttps://samaritanswell.thinkific.com/products/digital_downloads/Christian-Emotional-Health-Guide #SoulSense #TraumaHealing #ChristianCounseling #ChristianMentalHealth #Neuroplasticity #TraumaRecovery #FaithAndMentalHealth #WiredForRedemption #IdentityInChrist #RenewYourMind

  6. Aug 13

    Am I an Addict? Recognizing the Signs of Addiction | Carolyn Dunegan

    In this episode of Soul Sense, Mark Verkler and Carolyn Dunegan explore the progression of addiction—from recreational use to problematic use, dependence, and addiction. Drawing from decades of experience in chemical dependency treatment, Carolyn explains how addiction affects relationships, identity, priorities, and spiritual life. They discuss denial, comparison, isolation, secrecy, withdrawal, and why recovery requires community, humility, honesty, and bringing what is hidden “into the light.” From a Christian perspective, they explore how addiction can become a stronghold that competes with relationships, community, and allegiance to God. The episode also offers practical guidance for anyone concerned about their own substance use or the addiction of someone they love. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Introduction01:29 — The Stages of Addiction03:32 — Recreational vs. Problematic Use06:23 — Emotional & Physical Dependence08:20 — Relational Consequences10:06 — How Addiction Changes Your Social Life12:44 — When the Substance Becomes a Relationship14:01 — Addiction as an Idol16:24 — The Double Life of Addiction18:18 — Why Functioning Doesn’t Mean Healthy19:12 — Denial & Comparison22:12 — The Absence of Consequences Isn’t Permission23:39 — The Later Stages of Addiction26:23 — Isolation & Addiction27:43 — Understanding Withdrawal29:08 — What Early Sobriety Feels Like30:19 — Why Community Matters31:06 — Why Therapy Alone May Not Be Enough32:19 — Secrecy, Shame & Control35:00 — Coming Into the Light35:27 — 1 John 1 & Walking in the Light36:20 — Honesty, Humility & Recovery40:14 — Isolation, Pride & Being Known41:20 — The Brutality of Addiction’s End Stages43:11 — The First Step Toward Recovery45:06 — Next Episode: Addiction & the Family47:23 — Humility, Grace & Freedom48:08 — Closing For counseling and resources: samaritanswell.com Free Guide: Christian Emotional Health Guidehttps://samaritanswell.thinkific.com/products/digital_downloads/Christian-Emotional-Health-Guide Connect with Samaritan’s Well:Instagram: @samaritanswellFacebook: @samaritanswelldallasLinkedIn: Samaritan’s Well CounselingTikTok: @samaritanswellcounseling #SoulSense #AddictionRecovery #ChristianCounseling #Recovery #MentalHealth #FaithAndMentalHealth

  7. Aug 7

    What Actually Helps People Change in Christian Recovery? | Rose Ann Forte

    In this episode of Soul Sense, Mark sits down with Rose Ann Forte, international bestselling author, addiction and behavioral habits specialist, and creator of the Choose Freedom® Program. Rose Ann shares her journey from alcohol addiction to freedom and explores how neuroscience, Scripture, and spiritual transformation work together to help people break free from harmful thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. They discuss habit formation, shame, accountability, renewing the mind, overcoming temptation, and practical tools for lasting change — including Rose Ann’s L.I.E. method: Look, Intercept, Explore. Learn more about Rose Ann and Choose Freedom:https://choosefreedom.today Books:• The Plans He Has for Me• Prepare to Quit 00:00 Introduction00:47 Rose Ann’s addiction journey06:03 Alcohol, deception, and renewing the mind10:32 How habits form in the brain17:30 Creating new neural pathways20:24 The L.I.E. method21:52 Shame, church culture, and addiction27:08 Romans 12:2 and transformation35:19 Encouragement for those struggling38:17 Choose Freedom resources #AddictionRecovery #ChristianCounseling #MentalHealth #FaithAndMentalHealth #Neuroscience #SoulSense #SamaritansWellCounseling For counseling resources, visit samaritanswell.com.

  8. Jul 31

    Healing Shame Through the Love of the Father | Tom Anderson

    What if the biggest obstacle to healing isn't your circumstances—but what you believe about yourself? In this episode of the Soul Sense Podcast, Mark Verkler sits down with author and speaker Tom Anderson for an honest conversation about moving from fear, shame, and striving into the freedom of living as God's beloved son or daughter. Drawing from more than 50 years of marriage, counseling, and personal transformation, Tom shares how God reshaped his identity through seasons of struggle, wilderness, and faith. Together they explore why so many Christians wrestle with shame, why healing often takes time, and how the gospel changes the way we see ourselves. In this episode, you'll learn:• Why God often gives a promise before the trial• The difference between living as a fearful servant and a beloved child• How toxic shame keeps us stuck• Why healing begins by believing what God has already accomplished• Three practical ways to remain rooted in God's love• How relationships expose—and help heal—our brokenness• What it means to live from God's acceptance instead of striving to earn it Guest: Tom AndersonWebsite: https://tomanderson.in Episode Chapters00:00 Introduction00:13 Meet Tom Anderson00:53 Eight Difficult Years of Marriage03:00 God's Word in the Wilderness05:10 Why God Tests His Promises07:00 Living as a Beloved Son or Daughter11:54 From Fearful Servant to Beloved Child16:25 Understanding Toxic Shame22:27 Three Ways to Remain in God's Love26:05 From Self-Focus to Loving Others30:05 Overcoming Condemnation34:45 Where to Begin When You Feel Like You're Failing God37:10 A Common Misconception About Healing40:10 Final Encouragement40:54 Tom's Books & Resources42:26 Closing Thoughts If this episode encouraged you, please follow the podcast, leave a rating or review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and share it with someone who could use this message. Learn more about Samaritan's Well Counseling:https://samaritanswell.com 📖 Free Christian Emotional Health Guide:https://samaritanswell.thinkific.com/products/digital_downloads/Christian-Emotional-Health-Guide 📬 Join our newsletter:https://samaritan-s-well-counseling.kit.com/0033ce428e Connect with Samaritan's Well:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samaritanswell/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samaritanswelldallasLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/samaritans-well/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samaritanswellcounseling

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About

Most of us were never taught how faith and emotional health actually work together. Grief reshapes you. Trauma lingers. Anxiety lies. And loss doesn't just hurt — it fractures your relationships, your sense of self, and sometimes your faith. Soul Sense is for Christians who want Biblical wisdom, emotional healing, and honest conversation about the hard stuff. Hosted by Mark Verkler, LMFT and founder of Samaritan's Well — drawing on three decades of Christian counseling to explore what it really means to heal: spirit, mind, and body.

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