The Christian Clinician

Dr. Tanya Paynter
  • 5.0 (4)
  • 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. Breaking Patterns of Anxiety, Insomnia, and Burn Out with Dr. Natasha Tubbs (S3E21)

    3d ago

    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/

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

    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/

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

    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/

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

    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

    23 min
  5. How Worship Calms Stress: Community, Scripture Meditation, and the Fight-or-Flight Response (Part 2) S3E17

    May 14

    How Worship Calms Stress: Community, Scripture Meditation, and the Fight-or-Flight Response (Part 2) S3E17

    Worship is not only singing. It’s a whole-life response to God—and Scripture shows that worship can be practiced in many forms that shape both spiritual life and stress physiology. In this episode of The Christian Clinician, Dr. Tanya Paynter continues the teaching on worship and the body by focusing on two worship categories that often get overlooked: corporate worship and fellowship, and meditation on Scripture as a worshipful act. She explains why community is one of the strongest protective factors for emotional health and why communal worship tends to have stronger effects than private practice alone. She also explores Scripture meditation as a focused, Christian form of attention that supports nervous system regulation by reducing rumination, reorienting the mind toward God’s truth, and reinforcing Romans 12:2 “renewing the mind” patterns. This episode also includes an important caution: not all religious practice is automatically regulating. Worship rooted in fear, shame, performance, or distorted theology can increase stress and intensify fight-or-flight. The benefits are strongest when worship is grounded in trust, truth, gratitude, surrender, and a secure relationship with God. If worship has felt limited to Sunday singing—or if you’ve wondered why your body responds to some “spiritual” experiences with stress rather than peace—this episode offers a bigger, more biblical picture of worship and why it matters for the nervous system. In this episode, you’ll explore • Why corporate worship and fellowship are part of a worshiping life—not optional extras • Why community and group prayer can reduce isolation and improve emotional health • How worship practices shape stress physiology and fight-or-flight reactivity over time • Scripture meditation as worship: focused attention, reduced rumination, and renewing the mind • Why worship isn’t about personality type or enjoyment, but can be sacrificial worship • A caution on fear-based religion: how bad theology can increase stress • Why worship “works” because we were made for God—our bodies respond by design Episode Timestamps 00:00 When worship increases stress (important caution) 01:14 Corporate worship and fellowship as worship (Acts 2; Hebrews 10) 05:06 Community and health outcomes (social support, isolation, shared meaning) 05:44 Singing, vagus nerve, and the parasympathetic shift 06:09 Scripture meditation as worship (Nehemiah 8; Isaiah 66) 09:02 How worship practices regulate attention, rumination, and stress appraisal 11:45 Fear-based worship vs trust-based worship + invitation to expand worship this week 16:56 Why worship heals by design + gospel moment (John 4) 18:51 Closing and review request (Numbers 6) Resources Mentioned • Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:24–25 (community and gathering) • Nehemiah 8:5–6; Isaiah 66:2 (receiving God’s Word as worship) • Romans 12:1–2 (living sacrifice; renewing the mind) • John 4:23–24 (worship in spirit and truth) • Numbers 6:24–26 (closing blessing) • Research referenced: VanderWeele, T. Invited Commentary: Religious Service Attendance and Implications for Clinical Care, Community Participation, and Public Health (2022) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33977296/ Shanshan, Li et al. Religious Service Attendance and Mortality in Women (2017) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5503841/ About the Host Dr. Tanya Paynter is the host of The Christian Clinician, a podcast exploring the intersection of Christian faith, physiology, and whole-person health. As a licensed naturopathic physician, she helps Christians understand how biblical practices—like worship, prayer, gratitude, and forgiveness—shape stress physiology, nervous system regulation, emotional resilience, and physical health over time. Where to Find Dr. Tanya Paynter Learn more at www.psalmmedical.com Visit the podcast webpage at https://www.psalmmedical.com/cc-podcast Follow The Christian Clinician on Social Media YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thechristianclinician Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChristianClinician Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianclinician/

    20 min
  6. What Worship Actually Means—And Why It Physically Heals Your Body (S3E16)

    May 7

    What Worship Actually Means—And Why It Physically Heals Your Body (S3E16)

    What if worship was one of the most healing things you could do for your body? Most of us grew up thinking worship meant the singing portion of a Sunday service. But the Bible's picture of worship is far bigger than music—and the science of healing maps almost perfectly onto that wider picture. In this episode of The Christian Clinician, Dr. Tanya Paynter walks through the major categories of biblical worship and examines what the research shows each one actually does inside your body. From prayer and gratitude to forgiveness, surrender, and service, she connects the commands of Scripture directly to the physiology of stress regulation, inflammation, and long-term health. This is part one of a two-part episode exploring worship as a whole-life healing practice. You'll come away with a completely new way of thinking about what it means to worship God with your whole self—and why it matters far beyond Sunday mornings. In This Episode, You'll Explore Why the Bible's definition of worship includes your body, your will, your emotions, and your daily routinesHow prayer, when rooted in trust rather than fear, shifts your nervous system from sympathetic to parasympatheticThe neuroscience of gratitude—including how it releases oxytocin, deepens your relationship with God, and reduces amygdala activationWhy forgiveness is an act of worship that interrupts the brain's chronic threat loopHow surrender and trust in God produce measurable physiological effects—even before the conscious mind catches upWhy obedience and service—even household chores—can become acts of worship that reduce stress, increase meaning, and strengthen relational bondsThe critical difference between worship-based healing and secular practices like meditation Scriptures Referenced Matthew 4:10 | Romans 12:1, 12:19–21 | Psalm 141:2 | Psalm 100:4 | Colossians 3:17, 3:23–24 | Psalm 56:3–4 | 1 Samuel 15:22 | Romans 4:20–21 Episodes Mentioned Episode 1: Does Prayer Work?Episode 3: When Prayer Feels Like a ChoreEpisodes 5 & 7: Biblical Gratitude SeriesEpisode 9: How Unforgiveness Affects Your BodyEpisode 11: Forgiveness Is a Process — Practical Steps to Let Go and Heal Timestamps  00:00 – Why worship isn't just about Sunday singing 01:23 – Building a biblical definition of worship 02:54 – Why nervous system healing requires more than coping techniques 03:38 – The difference between worship and meditation 04:38 – Defining worship from Scripture 05:59 – Category 1: Prayer and contemplative prayer 07:36 – Category 2: Gratitude 10:54 – Category 3: Forgiveness as worship 13:24 – Category 4: Surrender and trust 15:21 – The physiology of religious coping 19:02 – Category 5: Obedience and service 22:06 – The health benefits of pro-social behavior 23:33 – Closing thoughts and Part 2 preview About the Host Dr. Tanya Paynter is the host of The Christian Clinician, a podcast exploring how Christian faith and human physiology intersect. As a licensed naturopathic physician, she is especially interested in how spiritual practices such as worship, forgiveness, gratitude, and prayer influence stress regulation, emotional resilience, and long-term health. Through thoughtful teaching and clinical insight, she helps listeners understand how the body reflects the design of its Creator. Where to Find Dr. Tanya Paynter  🌐 Website: www.psalmmedical.com  🎙️ Podcast: https://www.psalmmedical.com/cc-podcast  ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thechristianclinician  📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChristianClinician  📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianclinician/

    24 min
  7. When You Need Spiritual First Aid: Praying Scripture for Anxiety, Peace, and Protection (with Stephanie Esposito) S3E15

    Apr 29

    When You Need Spiritual First Aid: Praying Scripture for Anxiety, Peace, and Protection (with Stephanie Esposito) S3E15

    In hard seasons, many Christians don’t stop believing in God—but they do start doubting whether His Word applies to their real life. When fear is loud, when your child is sick, when you’re exhausted, it’s easy to feel like prayer becomes a desperate scramble for the right words. In this episode of The Christian Clinician, Dr. Tanya Paynter interviews Stephanie Esposito, author of The Covering: Spiritual First Aid for Families. Stephanie shares the story that led to the book: a season of desperation when her son was very sick and she had to decide whether the God she grew up knowing about still heals and still keeps His promises today. Together, they talk about what keeps many Christians stuck in prayer—emotions, intentions, disappointment, and the labels we place on God when life does not go the way we expected. Stephanie also explains a key distinction she teaches in the book: the difference between God’s promises and covenant responsibilities, and why confusion here can create unnecessary discouragement in prayer. Much of The Covering is designed to be a practical tool: scripture organized by topic so families can pray God’s Word in moments of fear, anxiety, and need. The conversation also touches on renewing the mind, gratitude and forgiveness as core practices, and why we can use tools like counseling, medication, and supplements without becoming dependent on them or making them a substitute for God. This episode is especially for you if you’ve ever felt stuck in prayer, needed “spiritual first aid” in a crisis, or want a simple way to pray scripture with confidence. In this episode, you’ll explore • What “spiritual first aid” looks like in real life and why Stephanie wrote The Covering • Why emotions, intentions, and disappointment can quietly reshape how we see God • The difference between a promise and a covenant, and why that matters for prayer • How scripture-based declarations can help in anxiety, fear, and desperate moments • Renewing the mind through repeated truth, gratitude, and forgiveness • Using counseling, medication, and supplements wisely without making them an idol Episode Timestamps 00:00 Why this book was born from desperation 01:12 Meet Stephanie Esposito and what The Covering is 03:23 Scripture declarations organized by topic (a practical tool) 04:40 Promise vs covenant: what’s the difference? 09:56 Renewing the mind: gratitude, forgiveness, and repeated truth 12:06 Philippians 4 and choosing focus when the world feels heavy 16:32 Redemption vs restoration and “walking in the fullness” 23:45 Tools vs idols: supplements, counseling, medication, and dependence 28:18 Where to find Stephanie and the book (Amazon, Audible, more) Resources Mentioned • The Covering: Spiritual First Aid for Families (Stephanie Esposito) • Scriptures referenced: Philippians 4; Hebrews 6:18; Titus 1:2; John 10:10; Jeremiah (new covenant) • Prior episodes referenced: Gratitude cycle and Forgiveness cycle (for physiology + implementation) About the Guest Stephanie Esposito is a former TV news reporter for Fox 29’s Good Day Philadelphia, whose work aired nationally on Fox News. She is now a voiceover artist and the author of The Covering: Spiritual First Aid for Families, created to help families pray God’s Word with confidence and walk boldly in God’s promises. Connect with Stephanie Esposito • Website: stephanieesposito.com • Social media: Stephanie Esposito • Book availability: Amazon, Barnes & Noble online, Walmart online The Covering: Spiritual First Aid for Families https://www.amazon.com/Covering-Spiritual-First-Aid-Families/dp/B0F81XR8XP • Audiobook: Audible About the Host Dr. Tanya Paynter is the host of The Christian Clinician, a podcast exploring the intersection of Christian faith, physiology, and whole-person health. As a licensed naturopathic physician, she helps Christians understand how spiritual practices like prayer, gratitude, and forgiveness shape stress physiology, emotional resilience, and long-term health. Where to Find Dr. Tanya Paynter Learn more at www.psalmmedical.com Visit the podcast webpage at https://www.psalmmedical.com/cc-podcast Follow The Christian Clinician on Social Media YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thechristianclinician Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChristianClinician Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianclinician/

    30 min
  8. The Reconstruction Project: Answering Objections and Rebuilding Faith (with Drs. Shepardson and Dr. Travis) S3E14

    Apr 15

    The Reconstruction Project: Answering Objections and Rebuilding Faith (with Drs. Shepardson and Dr. Travis) S3E14

    Many apologetics resources focus on making a positive case for Christianity—but real conversations often start with an accusation. Christians are hypocrites. Christianity is anti-LGBTQ. The Bible supports slavery. The church is abusive. God is cruel. In this episode of The Christian Clinician, Dr. Tanya Paynter interviews Dr. Andrew “Ike” Shepardson and Dr. Melissa Cain Travis about their book The Reconstruction Project: Recovering Truth and Rebuilding Faith. They explain why they wrote this book as a work of negative apologetics—not to win arguments, but to remove roadblocks that keep people from even considering Christianity as true and good. Together, they discuss how apologetics has shifted over the last decade: objections are often less about whether Christianity is true and more about whether it is morally good. They also talk candidly about the places the church has failed, why honesty matters when addressing historical and moral objections, and why every apologetic conversation should ultimately point back to Jesus and the gospel. This episode is especially for Christians who want to engage hard questions with clarity, humility, and confidence—and for anyone who feels stuck between honest objections and the desire to rebuild faith on solid ground. In this episode, you’ll explore • Why apologetics conversations often begin with an accusation rather than a question • What “negative apologetics” is and why it matters for deconstruction conversations • Why many objections today focus on whether Christianity is good, not just true • How naturalism undermines meaning, free will, and rationality • How the problem of evil connects to objective moral claims and a moral lawgiver • How Jesus dignifies women (Mary, the Samaritan woman, resurrection witnesses) • Why honesty about church failures is essential to credible apologetics • How to use the book chapter-by-chapter as a practical reference tool Episode Timestamps 01:08 Introducing Dr. Andrew Ike Shepardson and Dr. Melissa Cain Travis + the book 02:34 Why they wrote The Reconstruction Project (negative apologetics) 09:42 Is Christianity good? 11:45 Diving into the book 14:29 The hardest chapters to write (abuse, abortion, crusades) 22:29 Naturalism and meaning: why “create your own meaning” falls short 31:10 The problem of evil, free will, and moral objectivity 42:16 Christianity and women: how Jesus dignifies women 47:59 Companion resources and how to use this book practically 51:18 Where to find the authors and their work Resources Mentioned • The Reconstruction Project: Recovering Truth and Rebuilding Faith — Dr. Andrew Ike Shepardson & Dr. Melissa Cain Travis https://www.amazon.com/Reconstruction-Project-Recovering-Truth-Rebuilding/dp/1430088389 Examples of positive apologetics books • Reasonable Faith William Lane Craig https://www.amazon.com/Reasonable-Faith-Christian-Truth-Apologetics/dp/1433501155 • On Guard — William Lane Craig https://www.amazon.com/Guard-Defending-Faith-Reason-Precision/dp/1434764885 • Christian Apologetics — Douglas Groothuis https://www.amazon.com/Christian-Apologetics-Comprehensive-Biblical-Faith/dp/0830839356 • Knowledge of God in the World and the Word — Andrew Ike Shpardson & Douglas Groothuis https://www.amazon.com/Knowledge-God-World-Word-Introduction/dp/0310113075 About the Guests Dr. Andrew “Ike” Shepardson is Chief of Christian Integration and Discovery at Valor Christian High School and leads the Master’s program in Christian Apologetics at Colorado Christian University. Dr. Melissa Cain Travis serves as Assistant Professor of Apologetics at Houston Christian University. She is a Fellow at the Discovery Institute Center for Science and Culture and writes for Shadowlands Dispatch, a Substack magazine dedicated to cultural apologetics. Connect with the Authors • Dr. Andrew “Ike” Shepardson: ikeshepherdson.com • Dr. Melissa Cain Travis: melissacanetravis.com • Substack: Music of the Spheres (Melissa Cain Travis) • Shadowlands Dispatch (Substack publication) • Discovery Institute Center for Science and Culture (Melissa Cain Travis, Fellow) About the Host Dr. Tanya Paynter is the host of The Christian Clinician, a podcast exploring the intersection of Christian faith, physiology, and whole-person health. As a licensed naturopathic physician, she helps Christians understand how spiritual practices and theological beliefs shape stress physiology, emotional resilience, and long-term health. Where to Find Dr. Tanya Paynter Learn more at www.psalmmedical.com Visit the podcast webpage at https://www.psalmmedical.com/cc-podcast Follow The Christian Clinician on Social Media YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thechristianclinician Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChristianClinician Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianclinician/

    54 min
See All (48)

Trailers

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

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
    48
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Psalm Medical 2026
  • Show Website
    The Christian Clinician

You Might Also Like