222. Faith in the Wilderness: When God Turns Pain into Purpose with Melanie Cox
Strong Tower Mental Health with Heidi Mortenson
Release Date: 01/12/2026
237. When Faith Gets Complicated With Dusty May Taylor
Strong Tower Mental Health with Heidi Mortenson
What happens when deep trauma, spiritual experiences, and faith collide? In this powerful episode of the Strong Tower Mental Health Podcast, Heidi sits down with Dusty May Taylor to share an honest and courageous story of survival, healing, and spiritual discernment. Dusty opens up about her childhood trauma, dissociation, encounters with the occult, and the path that eventually led her to healing through therapy, faith, and deliverance. She also speaks candidly about her experiences within charismatic church spaces, including concerns about certain spiritual practices and the importance of...
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236. 5 Skills Emotionally Healthy Christians Practice
Strong Tower Mental Health with Heidi Mortenson
Why do so many Christians know the right theology—but still struggle emotionally? We learned how to pray, serve, and believe… but not always how to regulate emotions, repair relationships, or set healthy boundaries. In this episode, we explore five emotional skills that mark spiritually mature believers and why emotional maturity is essential for a healthy Christian life. You’ll learn how to: • Recognize and process emotions without shame • Stay rooted in Christ instead of hijacked by cultural noise • Disagree with others without losing connection • Set healthy boundaries...
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235. From Charismatic to Orthodox: A Psychologist’s Journey of Faith and Discernment With Dr. Anita Marchesani
Strong Tower Mental Health with Heidi Mortenson
What if true healing isn’t found in chasing spiritual experiences—but in deeply knowing Christ? In this episode, Heidi sits down with Psychologist Dr. Anita Marchesani to explore her journey from charismatic Protestant spaces into the historic faith of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Together, they unpack spiritual discernment in a time when supernatural experiences are increasing—and often misunderstood. This conversation brings clarity to what’s truly from God, and how humility, suffering, and surrender shape real transformation. This conversation opens the door to important...
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234. Discernment & Mental Health: When Spirituality Overlooks Pain
Strong Tower Mental Health with Heidi Mortenson
What if spiritual maturity isn’t measured by how powerful an encounter feels… but by how we love the person right in front of us? In this episode, Heidi shares a personal reflection on her faith being refined—learning to hold both the gifts of the Spirit and a deeper commitment to Scripture, discernment, and emotional health. As conversations around revival, deliverance, and spiritual experiences continue to grow, there is an important question we must ask: Are we missing the person right in front of us? Are we overlooking the hurting in pursuit of the miraculous? Through both a...
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233. Counterfeit vs. Holy Spirit: How to Discern What’s Real with Riaan Swiegelaar
Strong Tower Mental Health with Heidi Mortenson
What happens when someone deeply embedded in darkness encounters the real Jesus? In this powerful episode, Heidi sits down with Riaan Swiegelaar, former co-founder and leader of the South African Satanic Church, who shares his radical transformation after encountering the love and truth of Christ. Together, they unpack the difference between true discernment and a critical spirit, the dangers of counterfeit spiritual practices, and why many believers are missing the power of a genuine relationship with the Holy Spirit. This conversation will challenge, stretch, and strengthen your...
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232. Release What Isn’t Yours to Carry
Strong Tower Mental Health with Heidi Mortenson
Are you carrying emotional or spiritual weight that may not actually belong to you? In this episode, Heidi shares how to recognize and release burdens God never asked you to hold. If you're feeling overwhelmed by others’ expectations, ministry pressures, or leadership responsibilities, this conversation will help you return to peace and clarity. In this episode you’ll learn: • How to recognize the difference between compassion and responsibility • Why your nervous system signals when you're carrying too much • A biblical framework for releasing anxiety and emotional burdens •...
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231. Discerning God’s Voice With Pamela Mertz
Strong Tower Mental Health with Heidi Mortenson
How do you actually know when God is speaking? Pam shares her personal story of walking with God through family dysfunction, deep loss, and healing, and how those experiences taught her to depend on the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Together Heidi and Pam explore four levels of listening—listening to, listening for, listening with, and listening in—and how these help believers grow in discerning God’s voice in everyday life. In this conversation you’ll learn: • How to recognize God’s voice vs. your own thoughts • How to identify the enemy’s accusations and lies • Why slowing...
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230. When Ministry Hurts: Healing Without Losing Faith with Jeremy Butrous
Strong Tower Mental Health with Heidi Mortenson
What happens when deep faith collides with deep hurt? In this powerful and nuanced conversation, Heidi Mortenson sits down with Jeremy Butros to explore his journey through church hurt, ministry trauma, and personal healing. Jeremy openly shares his experiences of childhood verbal abuse and the trauma he says he endured while working in ministry contexts connected to Bob Hartley and Shawn Bolz. Rather than offering sensationalism or blame, this episode dives into the complexity of navigating spiritual leadership, boundary violations, forgiveness, and personal responsibility. Jeremy reflects on...
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229. Healing After Ministry Trauma: Protecting the Sheep
Strong Tower Mental Health with Heidi Mortenson
What do you do when the Church feels unstable? When ministries you respected face exposure… When leadership disappoints you… When questions shake what once felt certain… In this honest and pastoral episode, Heidi Mortenson speaks directly to the sheep — not just about leaders, but about how to stay rooted in God when confusion rises. This conversation explores how to discern without becoming cynical, how to separate Jesus from human systems, and how to mature spiritually without losing tenderness. Heidi reflects on governance gaps and leadership responsibility, but the deeper focus...
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228. From Addiction to Deliverance and Freedom with Michael DeJung
Strong Tower Mental Health with Heidi Mortenson
What happens when God interrupts a life headed for destruction? What happens when addiction, depression, identity confusion, and trauma collide with the power of Jesus? In this raw and powerful episode of the Strong Tower Mental Health Podcast, Heidi sits down with Pastor Michael to talk about deliverance, healing, spiritual warfare, and what real freedom actually looks like. Michael shares his testimony — from growing up in church to addiction, pornography, depression, and medication dependence — and how an encounter with Jesus rewrote his story. Together, they explore: • How God...
info_outlineHave you felt stuck and that you couldn’t keep doing? This episode is a tender yet bold encouragement to anyone who feels stuck, unseen, or uncertain. Heidi and Melanie bring the listener back to the truth of God’s goodness, His faithfulness in hardship, and His purpose even in our pain.
Despite early technical difficulties, God’s presence filled the conversation as Melanie shared her powerful testimony—from infertility and miraculous birth stories to deep loss and renewed hope. Through her journey, she reminds us that Christ in us truly is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27) and that we are called to live as salt and light in the world, carrying the kingdom of God wherever we go.
In this heartfelt and Holy Spirit–led conversation, Heidi Mortenson, MA, LMFT, sits down with author and speaker Melanie, whose debut book “You Have to Know” became a bestseller and Christlight Award winner. Together, they explore the journey of faith through adversity, healing through identity, and finding purpose in the wilderness seasons of life.
✨ What You’ll Receive from This Episode
- 💖 Renewed Faith: See how God’s love meets you in the wilderness seasons and turns pain into purpose.
- 🕊️ Healing for the Heart: Learn how to release false beliefs about God as the author of suffering and instead encounter Him as the giver of life and abundance.
- 🔥 Spiritual Confidence: Discover what it means to walk in divine identity as salt and light—carrying Christ’s presence wherever you go.
- 👑 Purpose and Calling: Be inspired to embrace your unique role in God’s kingdom and overcome fear or doubt that holds you back.
- 🙏 A Personal Blessing: End the episode with a powerful prayer of encouragement and impartation for listeners seeking truth, hope, and renewed vision.
“Which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” ~Colossians 1:27
Melanie’s website: https://melaniecox.org/
Follow Melanie on social media: @itsmelaniecox
Melanie’s book You Have To Know
Find more about Heidi: www.heidimortensonlmft.com
Join my mailing list: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t5u2y5
If you are in crisis, help is available by call or text 1-800-273-8255 24/7. You can also visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. You are loved!