Ep. 57 - Healing from Church Hurt with Neuroscience & Grace: Christian Mental Health Tools That Actually Work with Joe Padilla from Mental Health Grace Alliance
Release Date: 05/21/2025
Ep. 68 - Is It Autism or Trauma? Diagnosing Adults on the Spectrum with Dr. Benson Fox, Psy.D.
The Holistic Counselor
What does it really mean to be “on the spectrum”—and why are so many adults just now getting diagnosed? In this powerful and heartfelt conversation, Diana sits down with Dr. Benson Fox, Psy.D., an Orthodox Jewish psychologist, school counselor, professor, and group leader of Adulting on the Spectrum, to explore the truths, myths, and real-life challenges of navigating adult life as a neurodivergent person. They unpack the confusion around late diagnoses, the overlap with trauma, and how stigma shows up—especially in faith-based, immigrant, and culturally...
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Ep. 67 - Psychiatric Deprescribing & Women’s Mental Health: A Holistic Approach with Dr. Amy O’Donnell, M.D.
The Holistic Counselor
Feeling stuck on psychiatric meds and wondering if there's another way? This episode will change the game. Today I’m joined by Dr. Amy O’Donnell, a brilliant integrative psychiatrist who specializes in psychiatric deprescribing and women’s mental health. She’s helping clients move from surviving on scripts to thriving in mind, body, and spirit. Amy and I get real about the limits of traditional psychiatry, the risks of long-term medication use, and how integrative care offers hope and healing—especially for women navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, and...
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Ep. 66 - Escaping Spiritual Abuse & Church Trauma: Healing After High-Control Religion w/ Sowania Germain, LMHC-D, PMHC
The Holistic Counselor
Hello there, fearfully and wonderfully made human—and welcome to another episode of The Holistic Counselor Podcast. I’m your host, Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP, CTP, QS—founder of and . Today’s guest is the powerful and compassionate Sowania Germain, LMHC-D, PMHC—also known as The Mama Therapist. Sowania joins us to share her courageous story of escaping a spiritually abusive, cult-like church and how her healing journey led her to become a trauma-informed therapist and ministry leader. We unpack how faith can be weaponized, the signs...
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Special Episode: When the Unthinkable Happens — Mental Health Support After Tragedy
The Holistic Counselor
Host: Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP, Qualified Supervisor Moderator & Founder: Through the Valley Therapy & Transformed Mind Consulting and Coaching Release Date: July 21, 2025 Event: A live webinar hosted by , created in response to the devastating Central Texas flood and sudden loss of a beloved colleague in a hit-and-run. Episode Experts: (D.Min., LMHC, QS) — Featured in Episode 10: “Untangling the Threads: Insights on Biblical and Clinical Healing” (LMHC, QS; Certified Addiction Professional; EMDR Consultant)...
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Ep. 65 - Healing Trauma Through Faith: How to Reclaim Identity and Hope with Rebecca Medina Stewart, Author of "SEEN"
The Holistic Counselor
Content Warning: This episode includes sensitive discussions around sexual assault, suicidal ideation, religious trauma, and faith deconstruction. Please listen with care and refer to the support resources listed below if needed. In this powerful and heartfelt episode of The Holistic Counselor Podcast, host Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP, CTP, QS welcomes Emmy Award-nominated journalist and author Rebecca Medina Stewart, whose devotional book SEEN: Experiencing God’s Tenderness After Trauma offers survivors of sexual assault, grief, depression, and addiction a...
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Ep. 64 - Dr. Corey Keyes on Languishing, Flourishing, and the Mental Health Continuum: Redefining What It Means to Be Mentally Well
The Holistic Counselor
In this powerful conversation, host Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP, sits down with renowned sociologist and author Dr. Corey Keyes — the pioneer who coined the term languishing. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the fog between burnout and depression but weren’t sure how to name it, this episode is a must-listen. Dr. Keyes unpacks the groundbreaking Mental Health Continuum model and the five daily “vitamins” of flourishing — evidence-based habits that promote resilience, emotional healing, and a renewed sense of purpose. Diana and Dr. Keyes dive into the role...
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Ep. 63 - Why You Crave Junk Food When You're Stressed: The Gut-Brain Link Behind Anxiety & Emotional Eating with Sarah Weiss, RD, LDN, IFNCP
The Holistic Counselor
Welcome back, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made friend! In this powerful episode, I sit down with functional dietitian Sarah Weiss, founder of Weiss Choices, to explore the often-overlooked connection between food, mood, and emotional well-being. Sarah shares her personal journey of emotional eating, healing her gut, and leaving behind a high-stress career as a stockbroker to help others reclaim their health through functional nutrition. We break down the gut-brain axis, emotional eating cycles, blood sugar crashes, and the inflammation-anxiety link—plus share real-life...
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Ep. 62 - Breaking the Silence: Healing Porn Addiction, Shame, and Identity Loss in High-Functioning Men with Daniel Rubin, LMHC
The Holistic Counselor
In this powerful episode of The Holistic Counselor Podcast, host Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP, sits down with Daniel Rubin, LMHC, LPC, founder of Transcend Wellness IOP, for an unfiltered and deeply healing conversation about men’s mental health, emotional isolation, porn addiction recovery, and the impact of unresolved trauma. We explore the hidden struggles of high-performing men who silently carry shame, spiritual confusion, and emotional neglect. This episode is a call to wholeness, vulnerability, and kingdom-centered healing. Key Topics We Cover: The...
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Ep. 61 - Overcoming Fear of Success, Burnout, and Money Mindset Blocks as a Faith-Based Therapist or Coach with Laura Long, LMFT, MBA
The Holistic Counselor
In today's soul-stirring episode of The Holistic Counselor Podcast, host Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP, CTP, QS, sits down with her business coach, the dynamic Laura Long, LMFT, MBA. Together, they dive deep into topics that most entrepreneurs quietly wrestle with: the fear of success, financial mindset struggles (especially for faith-filled women), burnout recovery, and what it really takes to sustain a practice without losing your mind—or your mission. You'll hear raw truths, lots of laughter (and maybe a tear or two), and real-life tools you can start using today. Whether...
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Ep. 60 - Healing Trauma at the Root: EMDR, Addiction, and Shame with Brian Gong, LMHC
The Holistic Counselor
In this deeply personal and powerful episode, Diana welcomes Brian Gong, LMHC, EMDRIA-Approved Consultant and co-owner of Mangrove Therapy Group, to explore how trauma, shame, and addiction are intricately linked—and how EMDR therapy offers a pathway to healing for even the deepest wounds. Diana first heard Brian speak at the NSU/MSD Strong event in 2020—two years after the tragic Parkland shooting—and was so impacted by what he shared that she began her own EMDR journey. In this conversation, they dive into: The science and soul of EMDR therapy ...
info_outlineIn this transformative conversation, Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP, CTP, QS sits down with Joe Padilla, co-founder of Mental Health Grace Alliance, for a deeply enriching and spiritually grounded discussion on mental health recovery, neuroplasticity, and faith. Joe shares his raw and inspiring personal journey—from homelessness and adversity to ministry, marriage, and the co-creation of one of the most impactful Christian mental health nonprofits worldwide.
Together, they break down how neuroscience and Scripture align, the missteps of traditional therapy models, and why it's essential to meet people with grace rather than guilt. If you've ever wrestled with religious trauma, church hurt, or wondered how to integrate science and faith without compromising either—this episode is for you.
Key Topics Covered:
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Joe's powerful testimony of healing and resilience
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The origin story of Mental Health Grace Alliance
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The neuroscience behind trauma, anxiety, and the healing power of faith
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Why the Holy Spirit is more about comfort than conviction
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CBT, DBT, ACT, and the importance of using the right tool at the right time
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The dangers of spiritual bypassing and sin-consciousness in church culture
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The mental health implications of a loving vs. punitive view of God
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How Grace Alliance workbooks, groups, and free tools are changing lives
Memorable Quotes:
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“Right now, God is absolutely and completely satisfied with you.” — Joe Padilla
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“The brain is not a stimulus-response machine. It’s a predictive organ. It only changes through experience.” — Joe Padilla
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“Let’s stop making it Christianese. If there's grace, make it practical.” — Diana S. Rice
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“If you start with sin, you’re building a sin-consciousness. If you start with love, you build a grace-consciousness.” — Joe Padilla
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“We are not trying to avoid suffering—we are learning how to walk through it, equipped with tools and truth.” — Diana S. Rice
Featured Resources:
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Living Grace: for individuals with mental health struggles
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Family Grace: for families and caregivers
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Redefine Grace: for students
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Thrive Workbook: a 200-page neuroscience-informed workbook for holistic recovery
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Training to lead a group: Free and accessible for anyone
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Dr. Matthew Stanford's book: Grace for the Afflicted
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Dr. Lisa Miller: The Awakened Brain and her work on spirituality and neuroscience
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Andrew Huberman (Huberman Lab Podcast) on fight/flight/freeze states and the predictive brain
Connect with Joe Padilla & Mental Health Grace Alliance: Website: https://www.
Listen + Subscribe to The Holistic Counselor Podcast Hosted by Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP, CTP, QS
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Podcast Website: https://www.
throughthevalleytherapy.com/ holistic-counselor-podcast -
Instagram: @throughthevalleytherapy
Share + Review If this episode blessed you, please:
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Share it with a friend or faith community
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Tag us in your takeaways! #TheHolisticCounselorPodcast #ThroughTheValleyTherapy #MentalHealthGraceAlliance #FindingMeaning #FaithAndNeuroscience #LectioDivina
Let this episode remind you: God is not looking for perfect behavior. He’s calling you back to belonging.
Guard your heart. Renew your mind. You're not alone.