Soul Sense with Mark Verkler, LMFT

Samaritan's Well
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Christianity
  • 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. 1d ago

    The Three Sources of Depression (a Christian Perspective)

    Depression can have many layers. In this episode of Soul Sense, Mark explores three potential sources of depression through decades of counseling experience and biblical wisdom: 1. Unresolved grief — Losses we haven't fully acknowledged or mourned. 2. Anger turned inward — Unforgiveness toward others, ourselves, or God. 3. A spirit of heaviness — A spiritual perspective on depression explored through Isaiah 61 and James 4. Mark discusses the stages of grief, the power of presence, forgiveness, and finding freedom through faith. He also acknowledges the role of physiological factors in depression. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Why presence matters when someone is grieving01:24 – Three sources of depression02:02 – Source 1: Unresolved grief04:45 – The five stages of grief08:25 – The power of presence08:59 – A pastor's story of walking through loss11:04 – What do you still need to grieve?13:20 – Source 2: Anger turned inward14:20 – Job, Jeremiah, and John the Baptist18:26 – Honesty, humility, and releasing offense19:04 – Forgiving others and ourselves21:07 – Confession, grace, and forgiveness23:23 – Source 3: A spirit of heaviness24:37 – Isaiah 61 and the garment of praise25:26 – Submit to God and resist the devil27:00 – Derek Prince's spiritual breakthrough27:56 – The role of physiological factors28:32 – Bringing the three sources together ABOUT SOUL SENSE Soul Sense is a podcast from Samaritan's Well Counseling in Richardson, Texas, exploring faith, emotional health, and the life of the soul through Scripture, psychology, neuroscience, and real-life stories. 🌐 Counseling and resources: 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 FOLLOW SAMARITAN'S WELL Instagram: 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 Subscribe for more conversations about faith, emotional health, relationships, and becoming whole people. #SoulSense #Depression #GriefAndHealing #FaithAndMentalHealth #ChristianCounseling

  2. Oct 16

    When the Life You Imagined Falls Apart | Rachel Kerr Schneider

    When life takes an unexpected turn, how do you grieve, care for your family, and hold on to faith? Mark Verkler talks with author Rachel Kerr Schneider about losing her husband to ALS, parenting through grief, navigating addiction, and finding hope in God amid heartbreak. Rachel shares lessons on preparing children for loss, supporting loved ones through addiction and recovery, seeking community, and surrendering to God when life unfolds differently than expected. 📖 Books: The Widow Chose Red? My Journey with Jesus, John and ALS and The Boys, The Bible and The Battles 🌐 Connect with Rachel: https://www.spiritedprosperity.com/ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction03:06 Rachel’s story and family10:43 John’s ALS diagnosis13:14 Anticipatory grief and talking with children24:21 Hospice and saying goodbye30:33 Helping children process loss36:11 Grief, risky behavior, and addiction44:10 Rehab and parenting an adult child47:18 Recovery, fatherhood, and hope49:00 Prayer, friendship, and writing51:11 Caring for your soul in a crisis53:44 Surrendering to God through grief More resources Counseling: https://samaritanswell.com Free Christian Emotional Health Guide: https://samaritanswell.thinkific.com/products/digital_downloads/Christian-Emotional-Health-Guide Newsletter: https://samaritan-s-well-counseling.kit.com/0033ce428e Subscribe to Soul Sense for conversations about faith, emotional health, and the life of the soul, combining biblical wisdom, psychology, neuroscience, and real-life stories. #SoulSense #GriefAndHealing #FaithAndMentalHealth #AddictionRecovery

  3. Oct 8

    Caring for Aging Parents: How to Love Them While Learning to Let Go | Ingrid Hanson-Popp

    What happens when the roles begin to reverse, and the parents who cared for us begin to need our care? In this episode of Soul Sense, Mark talks with author Ingrid Hansen-Popp about Becoming an Orphan: A Caregiver’s Guide to Lovingly Letting Our Parents Go. They explore the emotional, practical, and spiritual realities of caring for aging parents—including dementia, difficult conversations, legal preparation, grief, and protecting a parent’s dignity. Ingrid also shares one of her biggest regrets: realizing that her mother didn’t primarily need another task completed—she simply wanted more time with her daughter. If you’re caring for an aging parent—or preparing for that season—this conversation offers practical wisdom and a reminder to slow down, listen, ask for help, and simply be present. Timestamps: 02:41 – How Becoming an Orphan began07:27 – What caregivers are facing10:24 – Preparing before a crisis13:35 – Listening with your heart16:56 – When parents resist help18:44 – Difficult conversations about aging21:20 – Protecting a parent’s dignity22:01 – The emotional shift into caregiving25:13 – The slow grief of dementia26:32 – Why caregivers need support28:02 – Why the book is called Becoming an Orphan30:23 – Psalm 27:10 and God’s care31:31 – Sorting through a parent’s belongings33:48 – “You can always get rid of it later”39:56 – The biggest lesson about loving and letting go40:20 – Mom wanted more time, not another task42:09 – You don’t have to do caregiving alone43:38 – “Just go sit with Mom”45:04 – Final thoughts Find Ingrid's resources here: https://www.droppedpencil.com/becoming-an-orphan For counseling and resources: samaritanswell.com 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

  4. Oct 1

    The Power of Patient Love: Helping Troubled Kids Find Hope | Brian Gray

    What if the messages we believe about ourselves can shape the course of our lives—and what happens when those messages are replaced with truth? On this episode of Soul Sense, Mark sits down with Brian Gray, author of Rap Sheet to Resume: Finding Blessing in Brokenness. Brian shares his story of childhood trauma, addiction, incarceration, recovery, faith, and more than two decades of ministry with vulnerable youth and adults. Brian explores how painful experiences shape the beliefs we carry about ourselves—and how faith, truth, healthy relationships, and renewed thinking can lead to transformation. He also shares practical wisdom for working with traumatized children and teenagers, including the importance of boundaries, consistency, patience, emotional regulation, and learning to look beneath difficult behavior. In this episode:00:00 – Faithfulness vs. Success02:48 – Brian Gray: From Trauma to Redemption03:52 – “Go Fight Your Own Battles”08:00 – “You Are the Stupidest Boy I Ever Met”10:08 – Addiction, the Marines, and a Life Unraveling11:41 – The Moment Everything Changed13:19 – Freedom After 20 Years of Addiction16:18 – Replacing Lies With Truth20:07 – “I Thought I Was an Eagle, but I Was Actually a Zygote”21:00 – How Brian Met His Wife25:01 – Discipline, Boundaries, and Predictability29:11 – Don’t Take Their Behavior Personally32:47 – What Troubled Kids Taught Brian About the Father’s Heart35:17 – “Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life”36:21 – The Teenager Who Took Three Years to Change40:02 – Faithfulness Is Not the Same as Success41:22 – Stop Asking “Why?”43:24 – When Hopelessness Becomes an Identity44:20 – Transformation Happens in the Chaos45:54 – The Story Behind Rap Sheet to Resume48:00 – Practical Tools for Helping Traumatized People51:27 – Enduring in Love52:16 – “Write Me a Check for the Kids”53:47 – Finding Blessing in Brokenness55:00 – Becoming Like Jesus Through Suffering Learn more about Samaritan’s Well Counseling:samaritanswell.com Follow Samaritan’s Well:Instagram: 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

  5. Sep 24

    What Neurodivergence Taught Me About Following Jesus | Dr. Amanda Wilson

    What does it look like to follow Jesus when you experience the world differently? In this episode of Soul Sense, Mark talks with Dr. Amanda Wilson—an orthodontist, entrepreneur, and Christian who discovered later in life that she is neurodivergent. Amanda shares her journey from atheism to faith, from people-pleasing to healthy boundaries, and from constantly pushing through life to learning how to pause and let Jesus lead. Together, they explore neurodivergence and the church, sensory overwhelm, finding community, biblical boundaries, and the surprising connection between peace and the presence of Jesus. Amanda also shares how a devastating hurricane in Hawaii prompted a deeper spiritual realignment—and why she now considers this her “year of pause.” CHAPTERS 00:00 How Amanda Discerns God's Leading00:56 Meet Dr. Amanda Wilson02:02 From Atheism to Faith05:07 Understanding Neurodivergence06:10 Learning to Stop Pushing Through07:36 Letting Jesus Lead08:16 Biblical Boundaries09:18 Breaking Free From People-Pleasing12:07 Neurodivergence and the Church14:22 Is Peace an Emotion—or a Person?16:26 Finding God After a Hurricane17:49 What Churches Should Understand19:37 Discerning God's Leading20:06 The Power of the Pause21:11 Learning to Love Yourself Too22:27 Final Encouragement24:17 Faith Is a Relationship, Not a Transaction If this conversation resonated with you, follow Soul Sense, share this episode with someone who might benefit from it, and leave us a review. COUNSELING & RESOURCES Samaritan's Well Counselinginfo@samaritanswell.com CONNECT WITH US InstagramFacebookLinkedInTikTok 🎁 FREE GUIDE: Christian Emotional Health GuideDownload the Christian Emotional Health Guide 🗞️ JOIN OUR NEWSLETTERSign up for the Samaritan's Well newsletter

  6. Sep 17

    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

  7. 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

  8. 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

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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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