The Best of You

Jan 30 2025 144 ep. 46 mins 316
The Best of You Podcast artwork

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.

  Health & Fitness
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Episode 140: If You Struggle with Guilt and Second-Guessing Yourself, This Will Set You Free – How to Stop Blaming Yourself for Things That Aren’t Your Fault

Jan 30 2025 46 mins  
Do you feel guilty for not doing enough—or take responsibility for things that aren’t yours to own? Today Dr. Alison tackles the complex feelings of guilt and self-doubt—what guilt truly is, why it can feel so crushing, and how it often stems from taking responsibility for things that aren’t yours to own. She shares from her own journey of overcoming excessive guilt and the

Episode 139: IFS, the 12 Steps, and A Way to Heal When You’re Tempted to Numb Your Pain with Ian Morgan Cron

Jan 23 2025 52 mins  
What if the behaviors you turn to for comfort—whether it’s overworking, people-pleasing, or numbing out—aren’t the real problem, but rather a signal from a part of you that’s desperately trying to help? In this powerful and delightful episode, I sit down with Ian Morgan Cron—bestselling author and renowned Enneagram expert—to explore the fascinating intersections bet

Episode 138: Breaking Free from Overfunctioning—Discover the Hidden Costs of Always Being 'The Responsible One’

Jan 16 2025 39 mins  
Are you always the one taking care of and fixing problems for everyone else? Today, I'm taking a deep dive into the heart of overfunctioning—exploring why so many of us feel compelled to take on excessive responsibilities, often at the cost of our own well-being. I delve into parentification, which I believe often lies at the root of overfunctioning. I also share how understandi

Episode 137: The Mindful Marriage—Overcome Pain Cycles and Discover the Surprising Secret to Lasting Love with Ron and Nan Deal

Jan 09 2025 64 mins  
What’s the secret to healing marriage struggles and fostering deep connection? In this heartfelt and incredibly vulnerable conversation, Ron and Nan Deal share their journey of rebuilding a marriage that almost unraveled. Drawing from their new book, The Mindful Marriage, they reveal how understanding and managing your own pain cycles can transform relationships. Whether you’r

Episode 136: Sacred Attachment—Escaping Spiritual Exhaustion and Trusting in Divine Love with Michael John Cusick

Jan 02 2025 55 mins  
How do you experience loving attachment when trauma leaves you feeling shattered? In this incredibly profound and insightful episode, therapist and author of the brand new book, Sacred Attachment, Michael Cusick joins us to explore how our darkest moments of brokenness are not just moments of pain, but pivotal opportunities for forming a deeper, more secure attachment with God. Mi

Episode 135: Tackling the Holiday Hangover—Recognizing Holiday People Pleasing and Setting the Stage for an Emotionally Healthy New Year

Dec 26 2024 44 mins  
Feeling exhaustion or post-holiday blues? How can we step into the New Year feeling refreshed and empowered? ‍ In this honest and vulnerable conversation, spiritual director and author Anjuli Paschall and I unpack our own journeys through holiday people-pleasing and how to reset for the New Year. As we close out the year, many of us grapple with a mix of relief and disappointment

Episode 134: Bridging Mysticism and Science—A Personal Journey Through OCD with Therapist Ryan Kuja

Dec 19 2024 54 mins  
Are you curious about how science and spirituality intersect in understanding and treating mental health conditions like OCD? This week, therapist and spiritual director Ryan Kuja shares his incredible journey through the complex world of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). From a young age, Ryan battled intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors. Feeling isolated and overwhelme

Episode 133: From Feeling Numb to Meaning-Making — Navigating the 6 Stages of Grief with Renowned Grief Expert David Kessler

Dec 12 2024 47 mins  
How do you move from feeling stuck to finding meaning and healing in your grief? In today’s episode, I’m honored to speak with David Kessler, one of the world’s foremost experts on grief and the author who expanded Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s original five stages of grief by adding a sixth stage: meaning. We explore how common reactions like avoidance, blame, and bargaining a

Episode 132: Caring for Everyone but Yourself? 3 Strategies for Managing Overwhelm and Emotional Stress in the Sandwich Generation

Dec 05 2024 42 mins  
Do you feel like you’re constantly caring for others, whether it’s aging parents, your kids, or even your career—and there’s little time left for you? Women in the sandwich generation, particularly those aged 35-54, report higher stress levels than any other age group. If you’re juggling a heavy load of responsibilities as you care for others, you’re not alone. In this

Episode 131: Navigating Holiday Emotions—An Honest, Heartfelt Conversation About Guilt, Nostalgia, and Exhaustion with Author & Spiritual Director Anjuli Paschall

Nov 28 2024 42 mins  
Do the holidays bring a mix of joy and complicated emotions for you? We're supposed to feel grateful, and parts of us do. But other parts of us feel nostalgic, driven by guilt, exhausted, or even angry. In this honest, vulnerable conversation, author and spiritual director Anjuli Paschall joins me to explore the emotions that surface during the holiday season. We talk about how to