Join therapist and author, Dr. Alison Cook, as she guides you through some of your toughest challenges with wisdom, kindness, and grace. Together with friends and experts we'll unpack the best of psychology from a faith-based perspective. You’ll discover how to break free from painful patterns, mend your past, and discover what brings out the best of you.
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Données mises à jour le 07/11/2026
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How to Find Inner Strength Through the Armor of God
vendredi 6 novembre 2026 • Durée 06:58
Today's Scripture: Ephesians 6:10–18
How do you become stronger on the inside when fear, doubt, or temptation threatens to pull you off course? In today's episode, we explore Paul's powerful image of the armor of God—and what it means to develop inner strength without relying on willpower alone.
We explore:
What it really means to be strong in God
The surprising connection between our choices and God's power
How to understand spiritual warfare without becoming fixated
What helps us stand firm when life feels overwhelming
Go Deeper:
Read: The Secure Soul and The Secure Soul Companion Guide
Connect with Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook
Join 80,000+ Soul Menders in Dr. Alison’s free email community for ongoing reflection and support.
While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
233: The Paradox of Surrender—How Letting Go of Control Makes Us More Free with Dr. Anna Lembke
jeudi 5 novembre 2026 • Durée 01:01:42
Would we rather be in control than happy?
What happens when science, therapy, and sheer determination can't fix what's broken? Is there another way forward?
Dr. Anna Lembke, Stanford psychiatrist and bestselling author of Dopamine Nation, joins us for a fascinating conversation about her new book, Radical Surrender: Letting Go in a World Addicted to Control.
Anna shares how profound personal loss challenged everything she believed about control, accomplishment, and her place in the world—and led her to an unexpected spiritual awakening.
We explore:
Why our best efforts sometimes aren't enough
When control becomes a substitute for faith
The surprising connection between surrender and transformation
How to let go of control without giving up our agency
How surrender changes us and our relationships
How prayer can become a practice of surrender
Together, Dr. Alison and Dr. Lembke explore the surprising intersection of psychology, neuroscience, and spirituality.
About Dr. Anna Lembke:
Dr. Anna Lembke is a professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine and Chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. An internationally recognized expert in addiction medicine, she has published more than 100 scholarly works. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence.
Get Dr. Anna Lembke’s new book: Radical Surrender: Letting Go in a World Addicted to Control
Learn more about Dr. Anna Lembke here.
Get exclusive access to the first 2 chapters of Dr. Alison’s newest book, The Secure Soul.
Connect further with @dralisoncook on Instagram
📖 Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here
Don't forget to browse this week's sponsors, who make it possible for me to bring you these resources for free + provide you with additional discounts!
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Quince - How you dress affects your mood and you can trust that Quince has you covered in every day sustainable wardrobe staples. Go to Quince.com/bestofyou for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!
*Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
When Your Anger Takes Over: How to Let Go Without Letting Injustice Win
mercredi 4 novembre 2026 • Durée 09:39
Today's Scripture: Jonah 4:1–11
What happens when your anger is justified—but begins to take over? Anger can alert us to injustice, protect us from harm, and help us recognize what matters. But it can also keep us trapped in our own perspective. Through the surprising story of Jonah, we explore what happens when anger becomes entitlement—and how to find a wiser way forward.
We explore:
The difference between feeling anger and becoming consumed by it
Why needing to be "right" can keep us stuck
What anger reveals about our need for control
How to honor anger without losing perspective
Go Deeper:
Read Boundaries for Your Soul
Connect with Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook
Join 80,000+ Soul Menders in Dr. Alison’s free email community for ongoing reflection and support.
While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How to Recognize Religious Manipulation and Spiritual Abuse
mardi 3 novembre 2026 • Durée 10:57
Today's Scripture: Luke 12:1–7
What happens when the people who are supposed to represent God's love use fear, shame, or control instead? Jesus has some surprisingly strong words for religious leaders who misuse their influence. Today, we explore what happens when religious hypocrisy distorts our view of God—and how to begin finding our way back to what is true.
We explore:
The hidden danger of religious hypocrisy
When spiritual authority becomes manipulation
Why questioning a leader can feel so threatening
What Jesus says to those who've been hurt
Go Deeper:
Read The Best of You: Breaking Free from Painful Patterns, Mending the Past, and Discovering Your True Self in God
Connect with Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook
Join 80,000+ Soul Menders in Dr. Alison’s free email community for ongoing reflection and support.
While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How to Be Content When You're Lonely—Without Giving Up Hope
lundi 2 novembre 2026 • Durée 09:16
Today's Scripture: Psalm 142:1–5
How do you learn to be content when you're lonely and longing for companionship? Inspired by a listener's heartfelt question, today's episode explores how to honor the ache of loneliness without letting fear determine the rest of your story.
We explore:
Why loneliness isn't a failure of faith
What to do with the fear of being alone forever
What contentment really means
How to hold both longing and hope
Go Deeper:
Ryan Kuja's post
Episode 134: A Personal Journey Through OCD with Therapist Ryan Kuja
Connect with Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook
Join 80,000+ Soul Menders in Dr. Alison’s free email community for ongoing reflection and support.
While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Why You Keep Doing What You Don't Want to Do (And How to Change)
vendredi 30 octobre 2026 • Durée 09:41
Today's Scripture: Romans 7:15
Have you ever wondered why you keep repeating a behavior you genuinely want to change? Sometimes it feels like there's a whole committee meeting inside your mind, with different parts of you pulling in different directions. Understanding these inner tensions can help you break free from old patterns without getting caught in shame and self-criticism.
Why different parts of you can want conflicting things
What's underneath the habits you can't seem to break
How curiosity and compassion create room for change
What Paul's words about grace teach us about inner transformation
Go Deeper:
For more on understanding and caring for the different parts of your soul, read Boundaries for Your Soul and The Secure Soul
Connect with Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook
Join 80,000+ Soul Menders in Dr. Alison’s free email community for ongoing reflection and support.
While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
232: When You Believe God Loves You, But Still Feel Like You Have to Earn It with Stasi Eldredge
jeudi 29 octobre 2026 • Durée 52:33
What happens when you believe God loves you, but deep down, you still feel like you have to earn it?
For many of us, the way we experienced love growing up shapes the way we relate to God. We may know the right things about his love, yet find ourselves striving to be good enough, serve enough, or do enough to deserve it.
In today's conversation, Dr. Alison is joined by beloved author and speaker Stasi Eldredge, whose new book, The Ladder of Love, explores the many ways Scripture invites us into a deeper, more intimate relationship with God.
We explore:
*How your childhood experiences shape the way you see God
*Why knowing you're loved and feeling loved can be so different
*7 surprising ways Scripture describes our relationship with God
*What it looks like to grow closer to God in everyday life
*What Stasi wishes she'd known about God's love years ago
Stasi shares her own remarkable journey—from encountering Jesus as a young woman, to struggling with depression and wounds from her childhood, to discovering a relationship with God as Father that transformed how she understood herself and his love.
About Stasi Eldredge:
Stasi Eldredge is an author and speaker passionate about helping women experience the goodness of God and the transforming love of Jesus. With a background in sociology and decades of ministry experience spanning youth, women, children, and crisis pregnancy support, she is dedicated to helping others grow deeper in their faith and discover the freedom found in Christ.
More Resources:
Get Stasi’s new book: Ladder of Love.
Learn more about Stasi Eldredge here.
Get exclusive access to the first 2 chapters of Dr. Alison’s newest book, The Secure Soul.
Connect further with @dralisoncook on Instagram
📖 Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here
Don't forget to browse this week's sponsors, who make it possible for me to bring you these resources for free + provide you with additional discounts!
Quince - How you dress affects your mood and you can trust that Quince has you covered in every day sustainable wardrobe staples. Go to Quince.com/bestofyou for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!
*Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How to Trust God When the Future Feels Uncertain
mercredi 28 octobre 2026 • Durée 09:48
Today's Scripture: Exodus 16:4, 16, 19
When you're facing an uncertain future, it's natural to want a plan, some reassurance, or a glimpse of how everything will turn out. But what happens when God doesn't give you the clarity you're hoping for? The Israelites' experience in the wilderness offers a surprising lesson about uncertainty, daily provision, and learning to trust God one day at a time.
We explore:
Why uncertainty can make us long for the familiarity of the past
The difference between wise planning and trying to control the future
What the Israelites' daily manna teaches us about trusting God
How to recognize what's yours to do today—and what isn't yours to control
Go Deeper:
Episode 208 Spiritual Dryness, Burnout, and the Desert Seasons of Faith with Tish Harrison Warren
Read I Shouldn't Feel This Way
Connect with Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook
Join 80,000+ Soul Menders in Dr. Alison’s free email community for ongoing reflection and support.
While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Difference Between Sacrificial Love and Self-Abandonment
mardi 27 octobre 2026 • Durée 10:16
Today's Scripture: John 15:12–13
Jesus calls us to love sacrificially. But how do you know when you're making a healthy sacrifice for someone you love—and when you're slowly losing yourself in the process? The distinction matters, especially when you've learned to equate being a good Christian with always putting yourself last.
We explore:
What Jesus' own sense of belovedness teaches us about sacrificial love
The subtle difference between healthy sacrifice and over-functioning
Why denying yourself doesn't mean abandoning yourself
How to discern what love is actually asking of you in a relationship
Go Deeper:
For more on loving others without losing yourself, read The Best of You
Connect with Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook
Join 80,000+ Soul Menders in Dr. Alison’s free email community for ongoing reflection and support.
While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Why You Can't Stop People-Pleasing (Even When You Want To)
lundi 26 octobre 2026 • Durée 09:50
Today's Scripture: Proverbs 29:25
Have you ever said yes when you wanted to say no—or agreed with someone just to avoid conflict? People-pleasing can become an automatic response, especially when you've learned that keeping others happy is the safest way to maintain connection. But you can begin to change this pattern without losing your compassion for others.
We explore:
Why people-pleasing can feel almost impossible to stop
What fawning reveals about your fear of disappointing others
How to find security beyond someone else's approval
Small ways to practice saying no without guilt
Go Deeper:
For more on how to recognize protective patterns and retrain your soul to find security in God's love, explore The Secure Soul and The Secure Soul Companion Guide
Connect with Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook
Join 80,000+ Soul Menders in Dr. Alison’s free email community for ongoing reflection and support.
While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Détails sur The Best of You, podcast de Dr. Alison Cook
