The Christian Clinician

Dr. Tanya Paynter
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

The Christian Clinician explores faith, physiology, and the nervous system—how biblical practices impact anxiety, sleep, stress physiology, hormones, and emotional resilience. Hosted by Dr. Tanya Paynter, a licensed naturopathic physician with a master's in Christian apologetics, this podcast connects Scripture with evidence-based physiology to help Christian women understand how our relationship with God shapes our physical and emotional health. Episodes include highlighting current research around biblical practices such as prayer or gratitude, testimonies, and thoughtful interviews with practitioners, theologians, and authors —all grounded in biblical truth and clinical insight. Explore how to pursue health without separating the body from the spirit or treating faith as an afterthought.

  1. 4d ago

    When Faith Feels Like Duty: How to Awaken Delight in God Again with Stephanie Rousselle (S3E26)

    Is your Christian life full of activity but missing delight? Many Christians are doing the right things: going to church, studying Scripture, serving, praying, listening to podcasts, and trying to live faithfully. But underneath it all, they feel tired, distracted, spiritually dry, or disconnected from the deep delight they once had in God. In this episode of The Christian Clinician, Dr. Tanya Paynter talks with Stephanie Roussel, author of Awaken Delight. Stephanie shares her story of growing up as an atheist in France, coming to faith through the witness of an American Christian family, and eventually building a ministry around helping weary Christians rediscover delight in God. This conversation explores why delight in God may be one of the missing pieces in Western Christianity. Stephanie and Dr. Paynter discuss chronic pain, migraines, suffering, busyness, self-sufficiency, and the painful but gracious ways God uses trials to prune what is good in order to make room for what is best. They also talk about the “counterfeit flavors” that steal delight: anxiety, guilt, shame, fear, overwhelm, addiction, busyness, and the distractions that can masquerade as something meaningful while leaving the soul empty. True delight in God is not shallow happiness, self-help, or pretending life is easy. It is a deep relational orientation toward God that can hold us steady even in pain. If you feel like Jesus has slipped to the edges of your life, if faith has started to feel more like duty than delight, or if suffering has left you wondering how to experience God’s goodness again, this episode offers a thoughtful and hope-filled invitation back to the joy of knowing Him. In this episode, you’ll exploreWhy delight in God may be the missing piece in many Christians’ faithHow Stephanie Roussel came to Christ after growing up as an atheist in FranceWhy chronic pain and suffering can deepen trust in GodHow God uses trials to prune good things so better fruit can growWhy busyness, anxiety, guilt, shame, fear, and overwhelm often counterfeit delightHow delight in God changes the way we approach our daily to-do listsWhy Jesus modeled delight in the Father by regularly withdrawing to be with HimThe difference between self-help and asking God to awaken delightWhy knowing the true Jesus of Scripture is essential for real relationship with GodThree practices for awakening delight Episode Timestamps00:00 Why this episode may bring an unexpected “aha” moment 01:32 From atheist in France to follower of Christ 04:37 Why Gospel Spice began and who Stephanie serves 06:48 Is delight in God the missing piece in Western Christianity? 07:57 Chronic pain, migraines, and learning to trust God in suffering 10:50 Philippians 3:10 and fellowship in Christ’s sufferings 13:14 Pain, self-sufficiency, surrender, and God’s cleansing work 17:14 The gardener, pruning, and why God cuts even good branches 21:32 What plants and suffering teach us about strength and fruit 23:34 Counterfeit delight: busyness, anxiety, guilt, shame, fear, and overwhelm 26:33 The expulsive power of a new affection 27:20 Sabbath, delight, and relational time with God 30:52 When your to-do list is not the list God gave you 33:27 Why divine delight must be remembered daily 39:31 Three steps to awaken delight in God 51:10 Where to find Stephanie Roussel and Awaken Delight Join The Christian Clinician Facebook GroupChristian Women Health and Wellness: Support for Anxiety, Hormones, and Faith Join us for encouragement, practical health conversations, and weekly discussion tied to the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianwomenhealthandwellness Resources MentionedAwaken Delight by Stephanie Roussel and Gospel Spice Ministrieshttps://www.amazon.com/dp/1514013584?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallbackhttps://www.gospelspice.com/Free 5-day digital devotional from Gospel Spicehttps://www.gospelspice.com/freeBible ReferencesPhilippians 3:10John 15Psalm 37:4A.W. Tozer quote: “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”Tozer, A.W. The Knowledge of the Holy. New York: Harper & Row, 1961.C.S. Lewis, The Problem of PainThomas Chalmers: “The Expulsive Power of a New Affection”https://www.amazon.com/s?k=expulsive+power+of+a+new+affection&i=stripbooks&hvadid=694414042713&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9033785&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=15656855367537345453--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=15656855367537345453&hvtargid=kwd-377306261441&hydadcr=22595_13531227&mcid=eeb453d0cbbf381d941b31c2fa271784&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_39xz77npm2_e_p67 About the GuestStephanie Roussel is a Bible teacher, speaker, host of the Gospel Spice podcast, and founder of Gospel Spice Ministries. Born and raised in France, Stephanie grew up as an atheist before coming to faith in Christ as a foreign exchange student in the United States. Her life motto is now “God’s glory, our delight.” Having lived in four countries, Stephanie now lives with her family in Pennsylvania and helps weary Christians rediscover the beauty, depth, and delight of knowing God. Connect with Stephanie Roussel: Website: https://gospelspice.com Book website: https://awakenedelight.net Podcast: Gospel Spice About the HostDr. Tanya Paynter is the host of The Christian Clinician, a podcast built on the belief that true whole-person health rests on five pillars: physical health, mental health, emotional health, relationship with God, and Christian fellowship — all connected and communicated through the nervous system. As a licensed naturopathic physician, Dr. Paynter bridges biblical truth and clinical science — helping Christians understand how our relationship with God and faith practices like worship, prayer, Sabbath, and community shape stress physiology, nervous system health, and long-term wellbeing. If you're searching for a faith-based functional medicine approach to health that addresses body, mind, spirit, and community together, The Christian Clinician was recorded with you in mind. Where to Find Dr. Tanya PaynterLearn more at www.psalmmedical.com Visit the podcast webpage at https://www.psalmmedical.com/podcast Follow The Christian Clinician on Social MediaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thechristianclinician Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChristianClinician Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianwomenhealthandwellness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianclinician/

    When Faith Feels Like Duty: How to Awaken Delight in God Again with Stephanie Rousselle (S3E26)

  2. Jul 9

    When Evangelism Feels Like a Dirty Word: The Psychology of Sharing Your Faith with Dr. Mark Teasdale (S3E25)

    What if the reason sharing your faith feels so hard isn't a character flaw — it's actually completely understandable, and there's a name for it? For many Christians, evangelism doesn't feel joyful or natural. It feels intimidating, shame-loaded, confrontational, or even manipulative. Maybe you were taught that evangelism meant knocking on doors, handing out tracts, arguing someone into belief, or reporting whether you "saved any souls" that week. If that sounds familiar, it makes complete sense that the word evangelism still carries anxiety, guilt, or dread. In this episode of The Christian Clinician, Dr. Tanya Paynter talks with Dr. Mark Teasdale — President of United Theological Seminary and author of Socially Awkward Evangelism — about why sharing your faith can feel so uncomfortable, what psychology tells us is actually happening beneath the surface, and what a more biblical, grace-filled approach actually looks like. Dr. Teasdale explains how fear of judgment, social anxiety, shame, fear of harming others, and deeply ingrained bad assumptions about evangelism can keep Christians silent. He and Dr. Paynter also unpack a fact that may change everything: research suggests it takes an average of 76 interactions with Christians before a non-Christian comes to faith. You are almost never closing the deal — you are one faithful link in a long chain. And the Holy Spirit is the one doing the converting. This conversation also explores how tools like body awareness, prayer, and acceptance-based practices can help you recognize fear without being ruled by it — and why miracles follow mission when we take even small, faithful steps. Note: Dr. Teasdale's publisher InterVarsity Press offers 14 free downloadable practice appendices from the book — including prayer and mindfulness exercises. No purchase required. Find them at the https://www.ivpress.com/Media/Default/Downloads/Excerpts-and-Samples/A1425-online-appendixes.pdf. In This Episode, You'll Explore: Why evangelism often feels awkward, shame-filled, or like a dirty word — and why that's understandableHow social anxiety and fear of judgment affect sharing your faithWhy some Christians fear harming others or coming across as pushy and judgmentalHow bad evangelism training creates pressure, guilt, and long-term avoidanceWhy evangelism is not about "saving souls" yourself — and who actually does the convertingThe 76 interactions research and what it means for how you share your faithHow prayer can be your first step when you're not ready to speakWhy body awareness and mindfulness can help you notice and move through fearHow to share your faith persuasively and ethically — without manipulationWhy different Christians witness differently — and all of it countsEpisode Timestamps: 00:00 — Evangelism shame and why you are not alone00:50 — Introducing Dr. Mark Teasdale and Socially Awkward Evangelism01:35 — Why evangelism can feel like a dirty word02:20 — Dr. Teasdale's background in evangelism and practical theology03:04 — How social anxiety shaped the book05:17 — Why de-churched culture makes evangelism harder07:01 — Fear of being judged vs. fear of harming others08:39 — Why this book is practical, not a psychology textbook09:55 — Free online practices and appendices from InterVarsity Press10:34 — Can Christians use mindfulness?12:09 — Why the body matters in fear, anxiety, and evangelism14:52 — Mindfulness as body awareness, not New Age spirituality16:17 — Social anxiety, shame, and sharing the gospel17:42 — Jesus calling people into socially uncomfortable witness20:10 — Persuasion without manipulation22:25 — Who actually converts people?23:55 — Faulty assumptions about evangelism26:38 — Shame from youth group evangelism training27:48 — Different evangelism styles and spiritual gifts30:04 — The 76 interactions idea and being one link in the chain32:31 — Evangelism through acts of love and service34:15 — Start with prayer before speaking36:00 — Asking God for courage over time38:26 — Miracles follow mission39:27 — Where to find Socially Awkward Evangelism and Dr. TeasdaleResources Mentioned: Socially Awkward Evangelism by Dr. Mark Teasdale (InterVarsity Press)https://www.amazon.com/s?k=socially+awkward+evangelism&hvadid=778082422458&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9033785&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=15095986227276099829--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=15095986227276099829&hvtargid=kwd-2481543952978&hydadcr=17809_13794547&mcid=229f3f4e12a933c3b56455ed6f4fdf1f&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_5qh8risejz_e_p67 Free downloadable appendices and practice exercises — https://www.ivpress.com/Media/Default/Downloads/Excerpts-and-Samples/A1425-online-appendixes.pdfAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Alan Hirsch and Tim Catchim's evangelism matrix (Permanent Revolution) Dr. Mark Teasdale's website: https://markteasdale.net/ About the Guest Dr. Mark Teasdale is President of United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, and previously served as the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. His work focuses on evangelism, practical theology, and how Christians can faithfully witness in today's cultural landscape. Socially Awkward Evangelism brings together psychology, social anxiety, persuasion theory, and Christian witness into one accessible, grace-filled guide. Join the Community  Are you a Christian woman navigating faith, anxiety, and whole-person health? Join Christian Women Health and Wellness: Support for Anxiety, Hormones, and Faith — a free Facebook group for encouragement, practical health conversations, and weekly discussion tied to the podcast. 👉 facebook.com/groups/christianwomenhealthandwellness About the Host Dr. Tanya Paynter is the host of The Christian Clinician, a podcast built on the belief that true whole-person health rests on five pillars: physical health, mental health, emotional health, relationship with God, and Christian fellowship — all connected and communicated through the nervous system. As a licensed naturopathic physician, Dr. Paynter bridges biblical truth and clinical science — helping Christians understand how faith practices like worship, prayer, Sabbath, and community shape stress physiology, nervous system health, and long-term wellbeing. If you're searching for a faith-based functional medicine approach to health that addresses body, mind, spirit, and community together, The Christian Clinician was recorded with you in mind. Connect with Dr. Tanya Paynter & The Christian Clinician: 🌐 www.psalmmedical.com🎙️ psalmmedical.com/podcast▶️ @thechristianclinician📘 TheChristianClinician👥 Christian Women Health and Wellness📸 @christianclinician

    When Evangelism Feels Like a Dirty Word: The Psychology of Sharing Your Faith with Dr. Mark Teasdale (S3E25)

  3. Jun 25

    Why the Church Is So Tired — Sabbath, Rest, and the Science of Stress with Dr. Amy Erickson and Dr. Gregory Wagenfuhr

    Why does the church feel so tired? Many Christians know they need rest, but even after a day off, a vacation, or a slower weekend, the deeper restlessness often remains. In this episode of The Christian Clinician, Dr. Tanya Paynter talks with Dr. Amy Erickson and Dr. Gregory Wagenfuhr about their book Sabbath Gospel and a renewed vision of Sabbath, work, rest, and the mission of the church. This conversation moves beyond Sabbath as a personal health practice or weekly day off. Dr. Erickson and Dr. Wagenfuhr explain Sabbath as a much larger gospel reality: God’s rest, God’s kingdom, and the household of God breaking into a restless world. They discuss why the church is weary, how Christians often try to create rest on their own terms, and why false versions of rest can leave us more anxious, self-focused, and disconnected from one another. Together, they explore the idea of the “dream home”—the personal, cultural, and institutional ways we try to control life enough to finally feel secure. But that kind of rest never satisfies for long. True Sabbath rest is not found in control, success, productivity, or self-protection. It is received from God and then lived out in community as we learn to carry one another’s burdens. This episode also connects Sabbath to stress physiology, nervous system health, and Christian formation. When we stop seeing church as only a worship event and begin seeing it as a formative household of God, rest becomes more than something we take for ourselves. It becomes something we receive, practice, and give. In this episode, you’ll exploreWhy the church feels tired, weary, and spiritually exhaustedHow Sabbath Gospel reframes Sabbath as more than a weekly day offThe difference between taking rest for yourself and giving rest to othersWhy trying to build your own “dream home” often leads to deeper restlessnessHow Sabbath exposes the false promise of control, success, and self-protectionWhy Sabbath is connected to God’s kingdom, not just personal wellnessHow the church can become a household of rest instead of another system of exhaustionWhy serving through your God-given gifts can become restful, life-giving workHow community, burden-bearing, and Christian fellowship shape stress physiology and formationEpisode Timestamps00:00 Sabbath, physiology, and why church forms us 00:45 Introducing Sabbath Gospel 01:38 Why write a book on Sabbath and the tired church? 04:12 Who this book is for: pastors, churches, and thoughtful Christians 06:14 Sacrifice, Christ’s blood, and Sabbath in the biblical story 10:02 The “dream home” and the false promise of control 13:53 Sin as something we commit and something we are caught in 16:26 Sabbath as more than a day off 18:14 Giving rest, not just taking rest 20:25 Sabbath as heart posture and practice 22:41 Sabbath, the Ten Commandments, Sabbath year, and Jubilee 26:40 The danger of using Sabbath only as a health practice 30:39 Why the church is tired: wrong work vs life-giving work 35:13 Church as a place of formation, not just a worship event 38:19 Practical questions for churches and communities 42:09 Where to find Sabbath Gospel and the authors Join The Christian Clinician Facebook GroupChristian Women Health and Wellness: Support for Anxiety, Hormones, and Faith Join us for encouragement, practical health conversations, and weekly discussion tied to the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianwomenhealthandwellness Resources MentionedSabbath Gospel by Dr. Amy Erickson and Dr. Gregory Wagenfuhrhttps://www.amazon.com/Sabbath-Gospel-Narrative-Time-Church/dp/1514009544 Matthew 11: “Come to me, all who are weary…”1 Corinthians 12 and the body of ChristDr. Gregory Wagenfuhr: www.gpwagenfuhr.comDr. Amy Erickson: https://stmarks.edu.au/about-our-people-dr-amy-erickson/About the GuestsDr. Gregory Wagenfuhr is a pastor, theologian, and co-author of Sabbath Gospel. His work explores theology, church formation, Scripture, and the life of the church in a tired and restless age. Dr. Amy Erickson is a theologian, scholar, and co-author of Sabbath Gospel. She serves at St. Mark’s National Theological Centre in Canberra, Australia, and brings deep biblical and theological insight into Sabbath, rest, the household of God, and the work of the church. About the HostDr. Tanya Paynter is the host of The Christian Clinician, a podcast built on the belief that true whole-person health rests on five pillars: physical health, mental health, emotional health, relationship with God, and Christian fellowship — all connected and communicated through the nervous system. As a licensed naturopathic physician, Dr. Paynter bridges biblical truth and clinical science — helping Christians understand how our relationship with God and faith practices like worship, prayer, Sabbath, and community shape stress physiology, nervous system health, and long-term wellbeing. If you're searching for a faith-based functional medicine approach to health that addresses body, mind, spirit, and community together, The Christian Clinician was recorded with you in mind. Where to Find Dr. Tanya PaynterLearn more at www.psalmmedical.com Visit the podcast webpage at https://www.psalmmedical.com/podcast Follow The Christian Clinician on Social MediaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thechristianclinician Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChristianClinician Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianwomenhealthandwellness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianclinician/

    Why the Church Is So Tired — Sabbath, Rest, and the Science of Stress with Dr. Amy Erickson and Dr. Gregory Wagenfuhr

  4. Jun 18

    Why You Never Feel Like You Have Enough Time: Sabbath Reset Busy Christians Need (S3E23)

    What if anxiety, poor sleep, and mood shifts are your body's way of telling you something about your relationship with God? In this episode of The Christian Clinician, Dr. Tanya Paynter closes the Sabbath series with a deeply personal application episode — sharing her own story of taking a priority assessment that revealed her actual life looked nothing like the priorities she believed she held. God, family, health, and business were ordered one way in her mind. Where she focused her time and resources told a completely different story. This episode is about the gap between the priorities we believe we hold and the ones our daily lives actually reflect — and what to do about it. Dr. Paynter explains how anxiety, disrupted sleep, irritability, and mood shifts can serve as early warning signals that our Godward orientation has drifted, and that we may be substituting learning about God for actually spending relational time with Him. From there, she walks through four practical, grace-filled steps to begin building micro-Sabbath habits into everyday life — small, sustainable ways to reorient your day around God rather than fitting God around your day. This episode is especially for you if you feel like you never have enough time, struggle to make God your first priority, find yourself substituting theology podcasts and worship music for actual conversation with Him, or notice stress and anxiety rising as your days get fuller. In This Episode, You'll Explore: Why Sabbath rest is a daily orientation, not just a weekly practiceHow your actual priorities — revealed by how you spend your time and resources — may differ from the ones you believe you holdWhy anxiety, poor sleep, irritability, and mood shifts can signal spiritual and relational driftThe difference between learning about God and spending relational time with HimHow to include God in ordinary daily tasksHow stress, sleep changes, and mood shifts become your early-warning system for spiritual driftHow we can use a small daily sacrifice of time as our worship to Him Episode Timestamps: 00:00 — When your stated priorities don't match your actual life 00:53 — Practicing Sabbath as a daily habit with God 02:10 — The priority test that exposed what was really first 05:02 — What your time and money reveal about your true priorities 06:42 — Learning about God vs. spending relational time with God 08:33 — Anxiety as a warning signal that something is off 10:13 — Bringing God into the ordinary tasks 11:29 — Practical Step 1: Evaluate 18:37 — Practical Step 2: Invite 19:22 — Practical Step 3: Remind 23:22 — Practical Step 4: Dedicate 26:23 — Recognizing stress, sleep changes, and mood shifts as signals 28:17 — Closing encouragement Join The Christian Clinician Facebook GroupChristian Women Health and Wellness: Support for Anxiety, Hormones, and Faith Join us for encouragement, practical health conversations, and weekly discussion tied to the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianwomenhealthandwellness Scripture Referenced: Romans 12:1–2 — living sacrifice; renewing the mindPsalm 1 — meditating on the Word day and night About the HostDr. Tanya Paynter is the host of The Christian Clinician, a podcast built on the belief that true whole-person health rests on five pillars: physical health, mental health, emotional health, relationship with God, and Christian fellowship — all connected and communicated through the nervous system. As a licensed naturopathic physician, Dr. Paynter bridges biblical truth and clinical science — helping Christians understand how faith practices like worship, prayer, Sabbath, and community shape stress physiology, nervous system health, and long-term wellbeing. If you're searching for a faith-based functional medicine approach to health that addresses body, mind, spirit, and community together, The Christian Clinician was made for you. Where to Find Dr. Tanya PaynterLearn more at www.psalmmedical.com Visit the podcast webpage at https://www.psalmmedical.com/podcast Follow The Christian Clinician on Social MediaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thechristianclinician Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChristianClinician Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianwomenhealthandwellness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianclinician/

    Why You Never Feel Like You Have Enough Time: Sabbath Reset Busy Christians Need (S3E23)

  5. Jun 11

    Breaking Patterns of Anxiety, Insomnia, and Burn Out with Dr. Natasha Tubbs (S3E21)

    Sabbath often gets reduced to "a day off." But what if Sabbath isn't just stopping work — what if it's a whole way of life that exposes anxiety, reshapes identity, and restores the nervous system over time? In this episode of The Christian Clinician, Dr. Tanya Paynter sits down with Dr. Natasha Tubbs to explore how practicing Sabbath as a way of life helped resolve debilitating anxiety, restore sleep, and reduce chronic pain and inflammation. Natasha shares her journey through burnout, overwhelming anxiety, and a nerve condition that affected her ability to speak and work — and what shifted when God revealed she was confusing capability with grace: saying yes to everything because she could, while her body was clearly saying no. Together, they unpack Sabbath not as self-care, not as a catch-up day, and not as something you earn by finishing your to-do list — but as worship. Natasha explains how a weekly 24-hour Sabbath reshaped the other six days of her week, helping her live from rest instead of crashing into it. The results were measurable: anxiety resolved, mental clarity returned, sleep improved, and pain and inflammation decreased. This episode is especially for the high-achieving Christian woman who feels like rest is irresponsible, who ties her worth to productivity, or who has tried "time off" but still doesn't feel restored. In This Episode, You'll Explore: Why Sabbath is more than a day off — it's a way of life that reshapes the other six daysHow anxiety can be rooted in identity, worth, and chronic over-functioningCapability vs. grace: why you can do more than you were ever meant to carryWhy Sabbath is worship, not self-care — and why catch-up days don't restore the nervous systemHow micro-Sabbath habits build rest throughout the weekHow Sabbath practice can improve sleep, mental clarity, and stress reactivity over timeWhy Sabbath exposes the "doing over being" problem and invites deeper trust in God Episode Timestamps:  00:00 — Sabbath exposes anxiety and the "doing over being" pattern01:33 — Introducing Dr. Natasha Tubbs02:37 — Burnout, nerve pain, and anxiety: what life looked like before Sabbath05:36 — Capability vs. grace: why "yes to everything" breaks the body07:22 — Sabbath as a way of life, not just one day09:55 — What Sabbath looks like practically in different seasons12:25 — Sabbath vs. self-care vs. catch-up day17:28 — Worth, performance, and why anxiety grows20:12 — What changed: anxiety resolved, sleep restored, pain and inflammation reduced23:22 — Micro-habits to start: put away the list, practice presence, build slowly29:25 — Where to find Dr. Tubbs  Join The Christian Clinician Facebook Group Christian Women Health and Wellness: Support for Anxiety, Hormones, and Faith Join us for encouragement, practical health conversations, and weekly discussion tied to the podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianwomenhealthandwellness Resources Mentioned Psalm 46:10 (be still and know)Mark 2:27 (Sabbath made for man)James 2 (faith and works)Rich Villodas (quoted about Sabbath and worth)Dr. Natasha Tubbs’ website: sabbathandshalom.comAbout the Guest Dr. Natasha Tubbs is an adjunct professor specializing in apologetics and leadership at Manna University in North Carolina. She is a writer with Women in Apologetics and contributes to ethical training in religious studies for AI. She is also transitioning into UX design and Python programming to help develop human-centered, ethically informed AI tools. Connect with Dr. Natasha Tubbs: Website: https://sabbathandshalom.com Instagram/Facebook: Natasha Tubbs About the Host Dr. Tanya Paynter is the host of The Christian Clinician, a podcast exploring faith, physiology, and the nervous system—how biblical practices shape stress response, emotional resilience, and long-term physical health. As a licensed naturopathic physician, she helps Christians pursue health without separating the body from the soul. Where to Find Dr. Tanya Paynter Learn more at www.psalmmedical.com Visit the podcast webpage at https://www.psalmmedical.com/podcast Follow The Christian Clinician on Social Media YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thechristianclinician Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChristianClinician Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianwomenhealthandwellness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianclinician/

    Breaking Patterns of Anxiety, Insomnia, and Burn Out with Dr. Natasha Tubbs (S3E21)

  6. Jun 4

    Sabbath Isn't Just a Day Off: Rest in Christ, Stress Recovery, and Burnout Prevention (S3E20)

    Sabbath is one of the most misunderstood practices in the Christian life — and one of the most healing ones, physically and spiritually. In this teaching episode, Dr. Tanya Paynter walks through the biblical foundation of Sabbath from creation through the Ten Commandments, then shows how Sabbath ultimately points to Jesus — our true rest — under the New Covenant. This is not a legalistic rule to follow. It's an invitation into something deeper. Dr. Paynter also connects Sabbath to stress physiology and nervous system recovery. A weekend off does not automatically produce real rest if your body is still carrying chronic stress, low control, and unresolved strain. True Sabbath rest reorients your mind and attention toward God in a way that actually calms the stress response and allows the body to recover over time. This episode also introduces a new, yet Biblical, concept — Sabbath doesn’t have to be an entire day. It can include “micro-Sabbath” moments—short, intentional pauses throughout the day to step out of task-to-task pressure, check in with God, and let recovery accumulate even when a full day of rest feels impossible. If you feel exhausted even after time off, struggle to truly rest, or have wondered what Sabbath really means for Christian women today — this episode gives you a clearer, more freeing picture. In this episode, you’ll exploreWhy Sabbath is more than “a day off” and what Scripture says about how it’s tied to relationship with GodSabbath in Genesis and the Ten Commandments: why it’s grouped with God-relationship commandsHow Sabbath points to Jesus and the finished work of Christ (rest under the New Covenant)Why a day off doesn’t always restore the body when stress remains highWhat research suggests about Sabbath, burnout, wellbeing, and recoveryHow micro-breaks and “mini Sabbaths” can reduce stress reactivity during the weekHow Sabbath becomes reorientation—resting in God, not just resting from work Episode Timestamps 00:00 Sabbath isn’t just a day off 01:40 Sabbath in Genesis: creation and ongoing rest 03:17 Sabbath in the Ten Commandments and why it matters 06:10 Sabbath under the New Covenant: rest in Christ (Colossians 2; Hebrews 4) 09:03 What Sabbath looks like practically: worship, connection, delight 11:31 What research says: Sabbath, wellbeing, burnout, recovery 14:32 Why a day off doesn’t always equal recovery (stress load + control) 16:54 Micro-Sabbath breaks: rest throughout the day 18:50 Key takeaway: reorientation toward God, not just stopping 22:48 Invitation: micro-Sabbath throughout your day + next steps Join the Facebook Group!Join us for encouragement, practical health conversations, and weekly discussion tied to the podcast. Christian Women Health and Wellness: Support for Anxiety, Hormones, and Faith https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianwomenhealthandwellness Resources MentionedExodus 20:8–11 (Sabbath command)Colossians 2:16–17 (Sabbaths as shadow; Christ the substance)Hebrews 4 (rest in Christ)Ezekiel 20:12 (Sabbath as a covenental sign)Mark 2:27 (Sabbath made for man)Commentary referenced: Enduring Word by David Guzikhttps://enduringword.com/ ResearchSpeedling BB. Celebrating Sabbath as a Holistic Health Practice: The Transformative Power of a Sanctuary in Time. J Relig Health. 2019 Aug;58(4):1382-1400. doi: 10.1007/s10943-019-00799-6. PMID: 30972608.Cheng A, Lee MH, Djita R. A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Relationship Between Sabbath Practices and US, Canadian, Indonesian, and Paraguayan Teachers' Burnout. J Relig Health. 2023 Apr;62(2):1090-1113. doi: 10.1007/s10943-022-01647-w. Epub 2022 Sep 1. PMID: 36048354; PMCID: PMC9434070.Tsuchiya M, Takahashi M, Miki K, Kubo T, Izawa S. Cross-sectional associations between daily rest periods during weekdays and psychological distress, non-restorative sleep, fatigue, and work performance among information technology workers. Ind Health. 2017 Apr 7;55(2):173-179. doi: 10.2486/indhealth.2016-0140. Epub 2016 Dec 24. PMID: 28025423; PMCID: PMC5383414.Albulescu P, Macsinga I, Rusu A, Sulea C, Bodnaru A, Tulbure BT. "Give me a break!" A systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of micro-breaks for increasing well-being and performance. PLoS One. 2022 Aug 31;17(8):e0272460. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272460. PMID: 36044424; PMCID: PMC9432722.Aziz S, Meier B, Wuensch K, Dolbier C. Take a break! Leisure participation moderates the workaholism-work stress relationship. Career Dev Q. 2023 Dec;71(4):315-329. doi: 10.1002/cdq.12336. Epub 2023 Oct 17. PMID: 38390370; PMCID: PMC10883458. About the HostDr. Tanya Paynter is the host of The Christian Clinician, a podcast exploring faith, physiology, and the nervous system—how biblical practices shape stress response, emotional resilience, and long-term physical health. As a licensed naturopathic physician, she helps Christians understand how spiritual health affects both physical and emotional wellbeing, without separating the body from the soul. Where to Find Dr. Tanya PaynterLearn more at www.psalmmedical.com Visit the podcast webpage at https://www.psalmmedical.com/podcast Follow The Christian Clinician on Social MediaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thechristianclinician Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChristianClinician Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianwomenhealthandwellness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianclinician/

    Sabbath Isn't Just a Day Off: Rest in Christ, Stress Recovery, and Burnout Prevention (S3E20)

  7. May 28

    Why You Feel Guilty for Resting — and How God Designed You for Play w/ Brianna Lambert (Created To Play Book Review) (S3E19)

    Do you feel guilty for enjoying your hobbies? Like reading, baking, or camping somehow pulls you away from God instead of toward him? In this episode, Dr. Tanya Paynter sits down with Brianna Lambert — author of Created to Play: How Taking Hobbies Seriously Grows Us Spiritually — to talk about why Christians so often compartmentalize their faith from the things they love, and why that divide was never meant to exist. Brianna shares how she once felt deep guilt over the activities she enjoyed most, and how understanding God's character as the source of all beauty, goodness, and creativity changed everything. They explore how hobbies are not a distraction from worship — they are an opportunity for it. In this episode, you’ll explore• Why the secular/spiritual divide in our daily lives is a false one • How play and hobbies connect us to our identity as image bearers of God • The difference between rest that restores and escapism • How shared hobbies build relationships — and open doors to the gospel • Practical ways to start small and find God in your ordinary, everyday moments Episode Timestamps 00:00 Why hobbies and shared activities build real relationships 03:26 Guilt, “secular vs spiritual,” and learning to receive good gifts from God 06:46 Rest vs escapism: how to discern the difference 07:50 A better definition of idleness: not doing what you were created to do 11:27 Redefining worship beyond singing and guilt about “not enjoying worship” 23:47 Play in community: family hobbies, church life, and everyday evangelism 31:30 The 10 “titles” of play + deep joys and temptations 35:13 What it means to take hobbies seriously (without turning them into performance) 41:36 Practical steps to start small and release productivity guilt Resources MentionedCreated to Play: How Taking Hobbies Seriously Grows Us Spiritually — Brianna LambertStuart Brown (play and lifelong development)The “scholastics” framing of idleness/laziness (concept discussed) About the GuestBrianna Lambert is a writer and author from a rural community outside Indianapolis. Her articles and essays have appeared in Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Common Good, and Mere Orthodoxy. She serves on staff at Gospel Centered Discipleship and in the women’s ministry at her local church. She is the author of Created to Play: How Taking Hobbies Seriously Grows Us Spiritually. Connect with Brianna Lambert: Website: https://briannalambert.comSubstack: https://briannalambert.substack.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannalambertauthorBook availability mentioned: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart (online) About the HostDr. Tanya Paynter is the host of The Christian Clinician, a podcast exploring faith, physiology, and the nervous system—how biblical practices shape stress response, emotional resilience, and long-term physical health. She is a licensed naturopathic physician. Where to Find Dr. Tanya PaynterLearn more at www.psalmmedical.com Visit the podcast webpage at https://www.psalmmedical.com/cc-podcast Follow The Christian Clinician on Social MediaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thechristianclinician Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChristianClinician Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianclinician/

    Why You Feel Guilty for Resting — and How God Designed You for Play w/ Brianna Lambert (Created To Play Book Review) (S3E19)

  8. May 21

    Worship Is More Than Singing: 5 Surprising Ways to Worship God in Daily Life (S3E18)

    When most Christians hear the word worship, they think singing. And while singing is a biblical expression of worship, worship is far bigger than a Sunday morning moment. In this episode of The Christian Clinician, Dr. Tanya Paynter closes the worship series by reframing worship as the Godward orientation of your entire life — your body, your choices, your attention, your obedience, your resources, and your daily routines. She also shares a personal tension: she doesn't naturally enjoy singing, yet came to realize that worship isn't always about emotion or enjoyment. Sometimes worship is sacrificial — doing what honors God even when you don't feel spiritually moved. Dr. Paynter then walks through five practical ways to worship God in daily life — many of them built into responsibilities you already carry. She explains how these everyday worship practices also directly shape stress physiology: reducing rumination, retraining the nervous system, and lowering chronic fight-or-flight patterns over time by reorienting the mind and body toward trust, humility, and obedience. This episode is especially for you if: Worship has felt limited to a church service or a style of musicYou've felt guilty for not "feeling worshipful" during singingYou want a practical, faith-based approach to honoring God in the middle of ordinary lifeYou're a Christian dealing with chronic stress, anxiety, or nervous system dysregulation and want to understand how spiritual practices affect your physiology In This Episode, You'll Explore: Why worship is more than singing — it's a whole-life orientation toward GodWhy some worship is sacrificial (obedience and faithfulness when you don't feel it)Worship through daily work: excellence, chores, and ordinary faithfulness as spiritual practiceWorship through stewarding your body: movement, food choices, and physical discipline as honor to GodWorship through creating beauty: art, craftsmanship, meals, gardens, and generosityWorship through humility: asking for prayer, receiving help, and accepting your limitsWhy these practices retrain the stress response and reduce nervous system reactivity over time — and what the science says Episode Timestamps  00:00 — Why worship is more than singing01:29 — Singing as a sacrifice (when you don't enjoy it)02:58 — Defining worship as whole-life orientation toward God04:46 — 1) Worship through obedience when you don't feel like it06:36 — 2) Worship through excellence in ordinary work and chores08:52 — 3) Worship through stewardship of the body (movement, food, discipline)12:56 — 4) Worship through creating beauty with your gifts14:25 — 5) Worship through humility, asking for help, and accepting limits19:21 — Why chronic stress rises when we refuse limits21:50 — Closing: expanding your picture of worship Scripture References Ephesians 5 — psalms, hymns, and spiritual songsColossians 3:23–24 — work heartily as for the Lord1 Corinthians 10:31 — do all to the glory of God2 Corinthians 12:9–10 — power made perfect in weakness About the Host Dr. Tanya Paynter is the host of The Christian Clinician, a podcast built on the belief that true whole-person health rests on four pillars: physical health, mental and emotional health, relationship with God, and Christian fellowship. As a licensed naturopathic physician, Dr. Paynter bridges the gap between biblical truth and clinical science — helping Christians understand how practices like worship, prayer, gratitude, forgiveness, and community directly shape stress physiology, nervous system health, and long-term wellbeing. If you're looking for a whole-person, faith-rooted approach to health that goes far beyond symptom management and addresses body, mind, spirit, and community together, The Christian Clinician was made for you. Connect with Dr. Tanya Paynter & The Christian Clinician 🌐 Website: www.psalmmedical.com🎙️ Podcast Page: psalmmedical.com/cc-podcast▶️ YouTube: @thechristianclinician📘 Facebook: TheChristianClinician📸 Instagram: @christianclinician

    Worship Is More Than Singing: 5 Surprising Ways to Worship God in Daily Life (S3E18)
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About

The Christian Clinician explores faith, physiology, and the nervous system—how biblical practices impact anxiety, sleep, stress physiology, hormones, and emotional resilience. Hosted by Dr. Tanya Paynter, a licensed naturopathic physician with a master's in Christian apologetics, this podcast connects Scripture with evidence-based physiology to help Christian women understand how our relationship with God shapes our physical and emotional health. Episodes include highlighting current research around biblical practices such as prayer or gratitude, testimonies, and thoughtful interviews with practitioners, theologians, and authors —all grounded in biblical truth and clinical insight. Explore how to pursue health without separating the body from the spirit or treating faith as an afterthought.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Tanya Paynter
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    52
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Psalm Medical 2026
  • Show Website
    The Christian Clinician

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