Jesus and Your Mental Health

S2 E21: Parenting Help Pt. 4 - Letting Go Without Losing It: Parenting Late Teens to Young Adults (17-20)

Parenting part 4 explores the challenges and transitions of parenting late teenagers into adulthood, covering identity formation, responsibility, faith development, and practical boundaries around dating, work, and finances.
Rebecca Maxwell and Jonathan Vinke share real-life examples, explore mental health signs to watch for, and suggest strategies for mentoring rather than controlling. You'll be encouraged to remember the importance of community, prayer, and maintaining your own identity beyond parenting.For more information on Rebecca Maxwell and her practice, please visit jesusandyourmentalhealth.com

S2 E20: Parenting Help Pt. 3 When Kids Become Teens: Navigating Identity, Hormones, and Boundaries (12-16)

In part 3 of our parenting series, we explore parenting during the volatile middle-school-to-high-school years (roughly ages 12–16), covering brain development, puberty, identity formation, and the growing importance of peers. We discuss effective approaches to discipline (authoritative vs. authoritarian), maintaining connection, friendship circles, privacy and phone/social media boundaries, and how to coach rather than control.
You'll be encouraged to stay present, set clear values and boundaries, involve teens in consequences, protect face-to-face relationships over screens, and don’t give up—this stage is intense but temporary and shapeable with steady, loving guidance.For more information on Rebecca Maxwell and her practice, please visit jesusandyourmentalhealth.comFind the book Brainstorm on Amazon here.

S2 E19: Parenting Help Pt. 2 - Raising Elementary Kids to be Rooted, Resilient, and Confident (6-12)

Welcome to part two of our multi-part series on parenting. This episode explores parenting elementary-aged children (roughly 6–12). We explore a range of topics, including building resilience and confidence, setting consistent discipline tied to family values, managing friendships and bullying, handling technology and screen limits, making schooling and extracurricular choices, and guiding spiritual formation including conversations about baptism.
We want you to gain practical wisdom centered on relationship-building, staying steady through boundary-pushing, and preparing kids for future independence.
For more information on Rebecca and her practice, please visit Jesusandyourmentalhealth.com

S2 E18: Parenting Help Pt. 1 - The Crucial Early Years (0–5)

Welcome to part one of our multi-part series on parenting. This episode focuses on parenting children ages 0–5, emphasizing how rapid brain development and early attachments shape trust, safety, and emotional growth.
Rebecca Maxwell and Jonathan Vinke discuss practical approaches to soothing, teaching self-regulation, setting balanced consequences, the role of play and routine, and concerns about screen distraction—offering realistic guidance rather than perfectionism.
Our hope is that as you listen you'll receive encouragement, ideas for community support, and a reminder that consistency, presence, and grace help parents steward these formative years.
 
For more information on Rebecca Maxwell and her practice, please visit jesusandyourmentalhealth.com

S2 E17: BONUS - ADHD, Identity & Shame: Reclaiming Who You Are feat. Julie Norman

Rebecca Maxwell and her guest Julie Norman explore how ADHD’s dopamine-sensitive nervous system affects motivation and executive function, and how those challenges often become misread as laziness or moral failure. They introduce the "three C's"—capable, chaotic, critical—and explain how regulation and compassion protect identity from shame.
If today’s conversation about ADHD, identity, and emotional regulation resonated with you, there are a few ways to go deeper. Julie has created a Task Initiation infographic that explains why starting tasks can feel so hard for ADHD brains—and what actually helps.
You can also join Structure Without Shame, my upcoming course on emotional regulation and sustainable structure for real life, designed for both neurodivergent and neurotypical adults who want more calm and clarity in how they live and work. And if you simply need accountability to get things done, you’re welcome to join our free Friday Body Doubling / Parallel Play sessions at 9am Central for two focused Pomodoro work blocks.
For more information on Julie Norman and her practice, go to https://peaceregardless.com/
For more information on Rebecca Maxwell and her practice, go to https://www.jesusandyourmentalhealth.com/

S2 E16: Surrender, Sobriety, and Salvation: A 12‑Step Journey with Steve & Val Crooks

In today's episode, Rebecca talks with Steve and Val Crooks about their decades-long recovery through a 12-step program. This important conversation covers the moment they knew they needed help, and how surrender and community transformed their lives.
Hear how faith and practical daily practices—meetings, sponsors, prayer, and accountability—intersect with recovery and offer concrete steps for anyone wondering if they need help.
This episode shares real stories of hope, encouragement to reach out, and the message that healing is possible when honesty replaces secrecy and surrender replaces self-reliance.For more information on Rebecca and her practice, please visit Jesusandyourmentalhealth.comIf you would like help or information on finding a 12-step program in your area, go to https://www.aa.org/find-aa or dial 988 from any phone. 

S2 E15: Biblical Acceptance and Peace - Finding Shalom in the Serenity Prayer

In this episode, Rebecca Maxwell and Jonathan Vinke explore the Serenity Prayer and its roots in faith-based recovery, exploring what biblical acceptance really means and how to balance accepting what you cannot change with courage to change what you can. 
Gain practical steps for finding peace including identifying controllables vs. uncontrollables, surrendering burdens to God, journaling to clarify choices, seeking wise counsel, and taking daily, present-focused actions to grow in peace and purpose.
 
For more information on Rebecca and her book, go to jesusandyourmentalhealth.com

S2 E14: Stop This Train - Embracing Age, Grief, and God

This episode explores how aging changes the brain, body, relationships, and faith, and how grief and loss shape emotional and spiritual maturity.
Rebecca Maxwell and Jonathan Vinke discuss practical ways to tend to mind, body, and relationships, embrace new seasons, and find purpose and hope in growing older through a life rooted in Christ.
See Arthur C. Brooks' book From Strength to Strength here.
For more information on Rebecca Maxwell and her practice, go to Jesusandyourmentalhealth.com

S2 E13: Christian Prayer and the Transforming Power of God's Word

Rebecca Maxwell and Pastor Jonathan Vinke explore how prayer shapes our minds, soothes the nervous system, and anchors our identity in Christ.
Explore the differences between Christian prayer and secular mindfulness, prayer’s role as a secure attachment to God, and find practical tips to grow a deeper, more transformational prayer life.
See Dr. Tim Keller's book on prayer here.For more information about Rebecca Maxwell and her practice, go to Jesusandyourmentalhealth.com

S2 E12: The Brave Encourager: Faith, Counseling, and Restored Marriage with Heidi Mortenson, LMFT

On today's bonus episode, licensed therapist and coach Heidi Mortensen shares her dramatic spiritual turnaround—from a lukewarm faith to full surrender—how the Holy Spirit made Scripture come alive, and how that transformation reshaped her marriage, business, and clinical work.
Heidi explains blending therapy, coaching, and a prophetic sensitivity, discusses biblical deliverance, dreams, and discernment, and talks about her book "The Brave Encourager" and her podcast "Strong Tower Mental Health."
For more on Heidi, visit:
https://www.heidimortensonlmft.com
 
Podcast - Strong Tower Mental Health https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strong-tower-mental-health-podcast/id1584417090
 
Book - The Brave Encourager https://a.co/d/6nQWGAF
For more information on Rebecca Maxwell and her practice, visit Jesusandyourmentalhealth.com