Mental Health Monday

Luke Merrill
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Mental Health Monday is a faith-based podcast hosted by Luke Merrill, LCPC. Each episode offers practical mental health tools, biblical encouragement, and honest conversations to support emotional and spiritual growth. New episodes every Monday.

  1. May 4

    Parenting Episode 3: Boundaries That Build (Not Break) Your Kids

    Happy Mental Health Monday 😊 Episode Summary:
In this episode, we wrap up the parenting series by talking about why boundaries are essential for raising emotionally healthy kids. When your child pushes back, it doesn’t mean you’re failing—it means the boundary matters. We explore how giving in might feel like peace in the moment but actually creates anxiety over time. This conversation will help you understand how to hold boundaries with both confidence and compassion, so your kids feel secure, not controlled. Key Takeaways: * Structure creates security—consistency builds trust and reduces anxiety * Empathy + limits = healthy discipline (firm AND loving) * Boundaries prepare your kids for real life and future responsibility Listen + Follow:
New episodes drop every week. You can find more resources, counseling support, and content at:
👉 lukemerrill.me

    13 min

  2. Apr 19

    Parenting Episode 2: What They See Is Who They Become

    Happy Mental Health Monday 😊 Episode Summary:
In this episode, we talk about the powerful role of modeling in parenting and how your daily behaviors shape your child’s emotional world. We explore how kids imitate the way you handle stress, why apologizing builds trust instead of weakening authority, and how growth matters more than perfection. This conversation is designed to help you become more aware of the example you're setting and give you practical ways to model emotional health in your home. Whether you're feeling the pressure to “get it right” as a parent or simply want to raise emotionally healthy kids, this episode will help you lead with intention, humility, and growth. Key Takeaways: * Your response to stress becomes your child’s blueprint for handling life * Apologizing models emotional maturity and builds trust * Growth and consistency matter more than being a perfect parent Listen + Follow:
New episodes drop every week. 
You can find more resources, counseling support, and content at:
👉 lukemerrill.me

    13 min

  3. Mar 29

    Raising Healthy Kids: Calm Over Control

    Happy Mental Health Monday 😊 🎙️ Raising Healthy Kids: What Actually Works (and What Doesn’t)
Episode 1: Calm Over Control: Why Regulation Changes Everything Most parents feel pressure to fix behavior in the moment. But during a meltdown, your child doesn’t need control—they need calm. In this episode, we unpack how co-regulation, emotional awareness, and your own steady presence shape your child’s ability to regulate. In This Episode: * Why co-regulation comes before self-regulation * How “Name it to Tame it” reduces emotional overwhelm * The powerful role you play as your child’s emotional “thermostat” Faith Connection:
“ The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” – Psalm 103:8 
God meets us with calm and compassion—and we’re called to reflect that to our kids. Practical Takeaway:
Pause before reacting. Take a breath. Regulate yourself first—your calm is the pathway to their calm. 
🌐 Website: https://lukemerrill.me

    12 min

  4. Mar 23

    The PEPPERS Checklist: 7 habits for better mental health

    Happy Mental Health Monday 😊 Feeling stuck, unmotivated, or just off? This episode introduces a simple but powerful tool I use in counseling and in my own life: the PEPPERS Checklist. It’s a practical way to identify what might be missing in your daily rhythms when your mental health starts to slip. Rooted in 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, we’re reminded that caring for your mental health is also a way of honoring God with your body. Healing isn’t just spiritual or emotional. It’s deeply connected to the small, consistent choices you make each day. The PEPPERS framework walks through seven key areas that support mental wellness. From connection with others, to movement, to rediscovering purpose, to rest and serving others, each piece plays a role in helping you move forward when you feel stuck. You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. You just need one small, intentional step in the right direction. Key Takeaways: * Isolation fuels depression, but connection helps break it * Small actions build momentum and challenge negative beliefs * Your purpose isn’t gone, even if it feels unclear right now * Taking care of your body is part of honoring God * Serving others can gently lift you out of inward-focused struggles * Take a moment today to reflect: which part of the PEPPERS checklist has been missing in your life lately? Start there. Keep it simple. One step is enough. Start your week off with confidence. Listen now.🎧 www.lukemerrill.me

    17 min

  5. Mar 16

    Depression Episode 3: Hope Is a Muscle

    Happy Mental Health Monday 😊 Depression Series – Episode 3: Hope Is a Muscle Start your week off with confidence. Depression often steals one thing first: hope. When everything feels gray, it can feel impossible to imagine things getting better. But hope isn’t just a feeling that appears when life improves. Hope is something we practice and strengthen. Psalm 42:5 says, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him.” 
Notice that word “yet.” The psalmist acknowledges the pain but still chooses to anchor himself in God. Depression can dampen the brain’s reward system, which is why things that once brought joy can feel flat. Practicing gratitude, focusing on God’s promises, and taking small steps forward can slowly begin to reignite hope. Sometimes we also borrow hope from others. Community matters. When your faith feels weak, the people around you can remind you of God’s goodness and help carry you through the darkness. Reflection Exercise: The “Yet” Practice Draw a line down the middle of a page. On the left side, write an honest struggle:
“I feel anxious.”
“I don’t see change.” On the right side, respond with a faith-based “yet”:
“Yet I trust God is with me.”
“Yet I will take one healthy step today.” You’re not denying the struggle. You’re anchoring it to truth. Sometimes the smallest word in the room, “yet,” becomes the strongest. For more resources on faith and mental health, visit lukemerrill.me.

    16 min

  6. Mar 2

    Depression Episode 2: Walking Through the Valley

    Happy Mental Health Monday 😊 Episode Title: Depression Episode 2: Walking Through the Valley Episode Summary:
What do you do when depression lingers and you feel stuck in the valley? In today’s episode, we explore the slow, heavy terrain of depression and how healing often happens through small, intentional steps rather than giant leaps. If you feel like life is moving in slow motion, this conversation will remind you that even in the mud, you are still moving forward and you are not walking alone. Key Verse:
Psalm 23:4 — “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” Big Idea:
Depression wires the brain for shutdown, not motivation. The way through the valley is not by forcing yourself to sprint but by taking small, faithful steps, trusting that God walks with you in the slow and heavy places. In This Episode, We Cover: 1. The Neuroscience of the Valley
Depression impacts the brain’s motivation and planning center, making everyday tasks feel overwhelming. This is not laziness or a moral failure but a biological reality. Understanding this helps reduce shame and invites compassion for yourself as you move through the valley. 2. Small Steps, Big Impact
Healing often begins with tiny, manageable actions. Standing up, taking a shower, or drinking water can help gently re-engage the brain and restore a sense of agency. Galatians 6:2 reminds us to carry one another’s burdens, and sometimes that support looks like simple encouragement from a friend. 3. Your Feelings Aren’t the Full Truth
Depression can distort perspective and whisper lies of hopelessness. Feelings are real but not always factual. God sees beyond the valley and walks with you through it. Holding onto His promises helps anchor you when your emotions feel overwhelming. Stay Connected: New episodes release every week on Mental Health Monday. To connect, learn more about counseling, or access additional resources, visit: Lukemerrill.me

    14 min

  7. Feb 23

    Episode 5: Depression Isn’t a Faith Failure

    Happy Mental Health Monday 😊 Hook
Depression is not a faith failure. God draws near to you in the middle of it. Episode Summary
In this episode, we talk about the connection between faith and depression. Many believers quietly wonder if their sadness means they’re spiritually weak. This conversation reframes that lie with truth and hope. Depression is real, common, and treatable. More importantly, it does not separate you from God. We explore what depression actually is, how Scripture shows faithful people experiencing deep sorrow, and how God provides both comfort and practical support through community and care. Verse Anchor
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 34:18 In This Episode, You’ll Learn * Why depression is more than just feeling sad * How faithful believers in Scripture experienced deep emotional pain * Why depression is not a spiritual failure * Practical ways God brings healing through support, therapy, and daily rhythms Key Takeaway
Your struggle with depression does not disqualify you from God’s love or presence. He is especially close to you in it. Reflection Question
What heavy feeling are you carrying right now, and what might God want to speak into that place? Connect
Visit: lukemerrill.me
New episodes every Monday.

    15 min

  8. Feb 16

    God still heals today

    Happy Mental Health Monday 😊 Hook
God still heals, still speaks, and is still with you. Episode Summary
In this episode, we sit in the middle of real pain and real hope. If you’ve been walking through conversations on anxiety and depression, this message meets you there. We talk about three steady truths: God still heals today, God still speaks today, and God is still with you. Healing does not always look instant or easy, but hope is still alive and present. Verse Anchor
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 34:18 In This Episode, You’ll Learn * Why God’s healing power did not stop in biblical times * How God continues to guide, comfort, and speak today * Why healing can be instant, gradual, or layered * How God’s presence remains even when healing takes time Key Takeaway
We believe in a God who can heal in an instant and trust a God who stays when healing takes time. Reflection Question
Where might God be bringing healing, speaking gently, or reminding you of His presence right now? Connect
Visit: lukemerrill.me New episodes every Monday.

    12 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Mental Health Monday is a faith-based podcast hosted by Luke Merrill, LCPC. Each episode offers practical mental health tools, biblical encouragement, and honest conversations to support emotional and spiritual growth. New episodes every Monday.

Information

  • Creator
    Luke Merrill
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Luke Merrill
  • Show Website
    Mental Health Monday