The Christian Clinician

Dr. Tanya Paynter
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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, this podcast connects Scripture with evidence-informed physiology to help Christians understand how prayer, gratitude, forgiveness, and surrender affect whole-person restoration. Episodes include teaching, testimonies, and thoughtful interviews—grounded in biblical truth and clinical insight—so you can pursue health without separating the body from the soul or treating faith as an afterthought.

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

    3D AGO

    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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. Biblical Practices and the Nervous System: Mid-Season Recap

    APR 8

    Biblical Practices and the Nervous System: Mid-Season Recap

    Welcome to a mid-season recap of The Christian Clinician. In this mid-season recap of The Christian Clinician, Dr. Tanya Paynter steps back to look at the bigger picture of Season 3 and why this season has been centered on biblical practices and physiology—how prayer, gratitude, and forgiveness shape the nervous system, retrain the brain, and help deactivate chronic fight-or-flight responses. So far this season, we’ve covered three practices: prayer, gratitude, and forgiveness. In each series, the goal has been twofold: to deepen our relationship with God and to understand how these practices shape physiology over time—helping retrain the brain, reduce stress reactivity, and create steadier emotional regulation. This episode is also a mid-season reset. If you’re new to the podcast, this is the best place to start. If you’ve been listening for a while, it’s a chance to revisit these practices with fresh perspective and remember why this season matters. Dr. Paynter also previews what’s coming next: two author interviews and an opportunity to catch up on episodes you may have missed while the season continues forward. In this episode, you’ll explore • The big picture purpose of Season 3 and why it focuses on physiology • The three practices covered so far: prayer, gratitude, and forgiveness • Why spiritual practices impact stress physiology, brain patterns, and fight-or-flight • How deepening relationship with God supports emotional regulation over time • What’s coming next in the season (author interviews and continued practice focus) Episode Timestamps (Mid-season recap episodes under ~20 minutes → 5–7 timestamps; here are 7) 00:00 Welcome and what The Christian Clinician is about 00:29 Why this mid-season recap matters 01:11 Prayer, gratitude, forgiveness: what we’ve covered so far 02:05 Why biblical practices shape physiology and the nervous system 05:10 The goal: deeper relationship with God and reduced fight-or-flight 08:40 Catch up suggestions for new and returning listeners 11:05 What’s coming next: author interviews and the next stretch of the season Resources Mentioned • Season 3 resources and downloads: https://www.psalmmedical.com/ccseason3-signup • Podcast webpage (episode list): https://www.psalmmedical.com/cc-podcast 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/

    23 min
  5. God in the Desert: How Painful Seasons Heal Us Spiritually and Emotionally with Dr. Noel Forlini Burt (Book Review) S3E12

    APR 1

    God in the Desert: How Painful Seasons Heal Us Spiritually and Emotionally with Dr. Noel Forlini Burt (Book Review) S3E12

    Many Christians know what “wilderness” feels like, even if we never use that word. Seasons where God feels absent and where we find ourselves near the end of our strength. In this episode of The Christian Clinician, Dr. Tanya Paynter sits down with Dr. Noel Forlini Burt to discuss her upcoming book, God in the Desert: How God Uses Painful Seasons to Heal Us Spiritually and Emotionally. Together, they explore the biblical wilderness as more than a place of hardship—it is also a place of formation, confession, surrender, and encounter with God. This conversation addresses the parts of Scripture that can feel confusing or even jarring in painful seasons: a God who leads Israel into the wilderness, a God who is both self-revealing and self-concealing, a God whose holiness confronts our desire for control. Dr. Forlini Burt also speaks to spiritual formation through the Old Testament and why wilderness experiences often bring complexity and “gray” into faith that we wish were simple. As we leave our study on forgiveness, we explore how the desert may feel like desolation, but it can also be the place where God is making us whole. This episode is especially for you if you are in a painful season, wrestling with God’s character, struggling with feeling far from Him, or trying to understand what God might be forming in you through the wilderness. In this episode, you’ll explore • Why the wilderness is just a negative place, but often a place of encounter with God • “In the struggle is the formation”: why hardship often becomes the means of growth • How wilderness experiences confront our control and expose the “false self” • Why the Old Testament helps us read painful seasons with more clarity and honesty • Why surrender can be frightening—and also freeing • How Scripture portrays God’s holiness and mystery in hard seasons Episode Timestamps 00:00 A jarring picture of God in the wilderness 01:28 Introducing God in the Desert (release date + focus) 01:58 Why Dr. Burt wrote this book 07:42 The Hagar chapter and reading Scripture with adult honesty 12:46 Wilderness as encounter and formation, not only hardship 23:12 Discernment: testing mystics and everything against Scripture 30:01 Letting go of control and surrender in the desert 35:11 Where to find Dr. Noel Forlini Burt and her work Resources Mentioned • God in the Desert: How God Uses Painful Seasons to Heal Us Spiritually and Emotionally — Dr. Noel Forlini Burt (releases April 14, 2026) • Hope in the Wilderness: Spiritual Reflections for When God Feels Far Away — Dr. Noel Forlini Burt • Encounters in the Dark: Identity Formation in the Jacob Story — Dr. Noel Forlini Burt • Hearing God — Dallas Willard (referenced in conversation) • Themes referenced: Exodus 13; Deuteronomy 8; wilderness formation About the Guest Dr. Noel Forlini Burt teaches on biblical studies and spiritual formation. She is the author of Hope in the Wilderness: Spiritual Reflections for When God Feels Far Away and Encounters in the Dark: Identity Formation in the Jacob Story. She is also certified as a spiritual director through Truett Seminary and the Upper Room Academy for Spiritual Formation. Connect with Dr. Noel Forlini Burt • Instagram: @noelforliniburt • Facebook: Noel Forlini Burt • Book and author pages: https://www.amazon.com/God-Desert-Spiritual-Wilderness-Testament/dp/1514010305 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 spiritual priorities 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/

    28 min
  6. Forgiveness Is a Process: Practical Steps to Let Go and Heal (S3E11)

    MAR 25

    Forgiveness Is a Process: Practical Steps to Let Go and Heal (S3E11)

    Forgiveness is not about pretending an offense didn’t matter or even about reconciliation. Instead, it is a releasing of anger and the need for vengeance. This will be a repeated practice, something we often have to choose again and again as memories resurface and emotions return. In this episode of The Christian Clinician, Dr. Tanya Paynter shares practical ways to begin practicing forgiveness, combining Scripture, stress physiology, and evidence-based forgiveness research. She explains why the brain stores emotional meaning alongside painful events, why offenses replay, and how repeated forgiveness can retrain the nervous system so the memory no longer triggers a threat response. This episode also addresses church hurt and spiritual betrayal, the identity layer that can keep people stuck (“I was the one who was wronged”), and the important distinction between forgiveness and becoming a doormat. Boundaries and justice matter but bitterness and vengeance do us no favors. Not only do they separate us from relationship with God and with others but they can keep the body locked in a chronic stress cycle. If you’ve wanted to forgive but don’t know how, or you feel stuck in anger that keeps resurfacing, this episode gives you a clear starting path. In this episode, you’ll explore • What forgiveness is (and what it is not) • Why forgiveness is a repeated practice—not a one-and-done event (Matthew 18) • How emotional memories are stored and why offenses replay (consolidation and reconsolidation) • Why unresolved offenses keep the nervous system stuck in a threat loop • Church hurt and spiritual betrayal: why it can feel so hard to separate the wound from God • The identity trap: when “being wronged” becomes part of who you are You’ll also be guided through • A structured forgiveness model (REACH) as a starting framework • A Christian practice of forgiveness • Repeating forgiveness in real time when memories resurface • Moving toward peace and reduced reactivity over time Episode Timestamps 00:00 Why forgiveness can feel impossible 01:58 What forgiveness is not 02:41 Forgiveness as a repeated practice (Matthew 18) 03:27 Romans 12: forgiveness as worship and renewal of the mind 05:25 Why offenses replay: emotional consolidation and reconsolidation 07:45 Church hurt and spiritual betrayal 11:19 When offense becomes identity (and why therapy may be needed) 14:20 REACH model (Worthington) + Christian practice steps 18:01 Practical steps: name it, pray, release, repeat 24:21 Physiologic changes over time: reduced threat response 25:24 Forgiveness and the cross (Ephesians 4) Resources Mentioned • REACH Forgiveness Model — Dr. Everett Worthington https://www.evworthington-forgiveness.com/reach-forgiveness-of-others • Matthew 18:21–22 • Romans 12 • Mark 11:25 • Ephesians 4:31–32 • Season 3 resources: https://www.psalmmedical.com/ccseason3-signup 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 forgiveness, gratitude, and prayer 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/

    28 min
  7. Forgiveness and Healing: From Multiple Medications to None (with Kathy Afzali) S3E10

    MAR 18

    Forgiveness and Healing: From Multiple Medications to None (with Kathy Afzali) S3E10

    Can forgiveness really change your health? What if it meant going from multiple medications to none? In this episode of The Christian Clinician, Dr. Tanya Paynter sits down with Kathy Afzali to share her forgiveness testimony. Kathy describes years of unresolved pain, chronic stress, and a season of physical sickness that left her barely functioning. She knew unforgiveness was part of what was making her sick, but she didn’t know how to forgive—and she didn’t want to. Then something happened that made the assignment unavoidable. Kathy made a list of more than fifty people she believed she needed to forgive. Within a week, she was asked to teach a forgiveness class to men in a recovery program. That moment began a long process. It didn’t happen overnight. It took about three years for Kathy to say she had fully forgiven everyone on her list. Over time, her health changed in measurable ways. She eventually came off three medications, including one prescribed for insomnia, and describes a steadier mental and physical wellbeing that she did not have before. This conversation also makes an important distinction: forgiveness is not being a doormat. It does not remove boundaries, eliminate consequences, or prevent the pursuit of appropriate justice. But it does change what bitterness, vengeance, and ongoing anger continue to do inside your body and in your relationship with God. If you want to forgive but don’t know how—or you’re tired of carrying anger that keeps resurfacing—this episode gives a clear, honest picture of what forgiveness can look like in real life. In this episode, you’ll explore: • How unforgiveness and chronic stress can show up physically, including sleep disruption and medication dependence • What it looked like to make a real forgiveness list and begin working through it • Why forgiveness often takes time and must be practiced repeatedly • How teaching forgiveness became part of Kathy’s healing process You’ll also be guided through: • How unforgiveness and chronic stress can show up physically (including sleep and medication dependence) • Reasons why forgiveness is commanded by Jesus outside of moral command • The difference between forgiveness and being a doormat: boundaries, justice, and checking your motives • Why many Christians want to forgive but don’t know how—and what helped Kathy begin Timestamps00:00 Introducing Kathy Afzali 02:25 Unforgiveness leading to unresolved pain, stress, and chronic illness 07:07 Kathy's "list of enemies" 08:12 God's sense of humor 09:27 The class, the men’s stories, and the turning point 11:13 Forgiveness as a three-year process and coming off medications 20:20 Forgiveness in your walk with God 30:46 Forgiveness is not being a doormat: boundaries, justice, and motives 35:16 Where to find Kathy Resources Mentioned Book Mentioned by Kathy - Total Forgiveness by R.T. Kendall You Can Handle the Truth episode with Dr. Tanya Paynter - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NITtT6Lh6ZM About the GuestKathy Afzali is a former Broadway performer and former Maryland state legislator who served until her retirement from politics in 2018. She now focuses on ministry through her podcast, You Can Handle the Truth, and currently serves on the board of directors of the Frederick Rescue Mission in Maryland. She is married, has two daughters, and is hoping to become a grandmother soon. Connect with Kathi Afzali: You Can Handle the Truth — https://www.youtube.com/@YCHT_Podcast Frederick Rescue Mission — https://therescuemission.org/  About the HostDr. Tanya Paynter is a naturopathic physician, migraine specialist, and Christian apologist. Through The Christian Clinician, she helps Christians understand how their relationship with God shapes stress physiology, emotional health, and whole-body healing—integrating clinical insight with biblical truth. She is the founder of the Christian Women’s Health Fellowship, where she helps women move from chronic stress and exhaustion toward greater stability, clarity, and energy through faith-informed care. A small, daily moment that makes her smile: the way her pre-teen son rolls over and gives her a hug when she wakes him up for school each morning. Where to Find Dr. Tanya PaynterWebsite: https://www.psalmmedical.com Podcast: 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

    37 min
  8. How Unforgiveness Affects Your Body (S3E9)

    MAR 11

    How Unforgiveness Affects Your Body (S3E9)

    Forgiveness is one of the hardest commands Jesus gives. Many of us believe we’ve forgiven someone… until their name comes up, the memory resurfaces, and suddenly the anger, tension, or anxiety returns as if the event just happened yesterday. Why does that happen? In this episode of The Christian Clinician, Dr. Tanya Paynter explores what unforgiveness actually does to the body. Drawing on neuroscience, stress physiology, and Scripture, she explains how unresolved anger can keep the nervous system trapped in a threat response—raising cortisol, increasing inflammation, disrupting sleep, and gradually contributing to long-term health problems. But forgiveness isn’t just about emotional peace. Jesus commands forgiveness not only because it is morally right, but because it is profoundly protective for our bodies. You’ll also hear Dr. Paynter share a personal story about wrestling through forgiveness after a painful injustice in her own family—and why trusting God with justice was the turning point. This episode begins a new series on forgiveness that will include both powerful testimonies of healing and practical steps for learning how to forgive when it feels impossible. In This Episode, You’ll Explore • Why unforgiveness keeps the nervous system stuck in a stress response • How rumination and emotional memories repeatedly trigger the fight-or-flight system • The role of the amygdala, cortisol, and memory reconsolidation in replaying past offenses • Why anger can feel empowering—but ultimately harms long-term health • The biblical call to release vengeance and trust God with justice • Why forgiveness is both a spiritual command and a physiological healing practice Scriptures Referenced Matthew 18:21–22 Romans 12 Hebrews 10:30 Proverbs 20:22 Mark 11:25 Colossians 3:13 Matthew 11:28 Resources MentionedEpisode: Prayer and Physical Healing with Dr. Ingrid Faro Upcoming Episodes in the Forgiveness Series • Kathy Afzali – testimony of physical healing through forgiveness • Practical steps to begin the process of forgiveness Timestamps 00:00 – Why unforgiveness keeps coming back years later 01:14 – Why Jesus commands forgiveness 02:19 – A personal story of injustice and anger 03:39 – Letting God handle justice and vengeance 06:10 – The spiritual cost of refusing to forgive 08:25 – How the brain stores emotional memories 12:54 – Why rumination keeps the stress loop alive 15:35 – The health consequences of chronic anger 18:10 – Forgiveness as nervous system retraining 20:00 – The healing power of releasing control to God About the HostDr. 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 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 PaynterOfficial Website www.psalmmedical.com Podcast Page 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/

    23 min
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5
out of 5
3 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, this podcast connects Scripture with evidence-informed physiology to help Christians understand how prayer, gratitude, forgiveness, and surrender affect whole-person restoration. Episodes include teaching, testimonies, and thoughtful interviews—grounded in biblical truth and clinical insight—so you can pursue health without separating the body from the soul or treating faith as an afterthought.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Tanya Paynter
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Psalm Medical 2026
  • Show Website
    The Christian Clinician

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