What No One Tells You About Sex and Marriage
Relationship Prescriptions with Dr. Carol
Release Date: 09/23/2025
The Good News of Christmas
Relationship Prescriptions with Dr. Carol
On the night Jesus was born the angel told the shepherds, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." The Christmas season may not always feel like good news. Busyness, difficult circumstances, emotional struggles, and more can make this time feel like anything but good news. This brief Christmas meditation shares how the angels' declaration of good news applies to everyone, even you, even in the difficulties of real life right now. Merry Christmas from all of us at Dr. Carol Ministries! Dr. Carol loves to hear from you! You can...
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The God Stories That Happen When Jesus Shows Up
Relationship Prescriptions with Dr. Carol
This episode takes you inside the heart of an Intensive at Transformation Place and gives you a glimpse of what this unique experience is like. Here people confront the barriers holding them back, encounter God in deeply personal ways, and experience the kind of change they may have sought for years but struggled to find on their own. You’ll hear five individuals who courageously share their own “God stories.” Each one describes how the Intensive met them right where they were—whether stuck, hurting, confused, or hungry for more—and how God worked in ways they didn’t expect. Their...
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Looking for Christmas: Finding Hope and Joy in the Story Behind the Story
Relationship Prescriptions with Dr. Carol
In this episode, we sit down with author Donna VanLiere to explore the rich, often overlooked details of the biblical nativity story, and why they matter for us today. From the unlikely cast of characters to the humble setting of Jesus’ birth, we look at how each part of the story speaks meaning and purpose into our own lives, especially as we enter the Christmas season. Our guest helps us see how the first Christmas wasn’t polished, serene, or ideal, but messy and real, much like our own lives. We talk about how Christmas is truly for everyone, and perhaps most especially for those who...
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Pain and Experiencing the Presence of God
Relationship Prescriptions with Dr. Carol
What could it look like to follow Jesus not only after the pain ends, but right in the midst of it? In this conversation, tenured psychology professor, author, and pastor Dr. Joshua Knabb helps us rethink the way we understand distress, challenging the modern tendency to pathologize every struggle. We explore the difference between pain and disorder, and why recognizing that distinction can open the door to greater agency, deeper compassion, and more grounded spiritual formation. Together we also look at the contemplative practices that build resilience and intimacy with God: why they...
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Made for Connection: God’s Design and the Healing of Intimacy
Relationship Prescriptions with Dr. Carol
Many people find themselves longing for intimacy but pulling away or sabotaging if it comes close. Today Dr. Carol explores what it means to have an “intimacy disorder.” You’ll hear real-life vignettes of people struggling in this way, and we’ll unpack how early experiences, attachment wounds, and the brain’s survival wiring shape our capacity for connection. We’ll look at what neuroscience reveals about how these pathways form, and how they can be rewired and healed. Theology and brain science together tell a remarkable story. We were created in the image of a relational God,...
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Your Questions Answered About Sex, Marriage, Same-Sex Attraction, and God
Relationship Prescriptions with Dr. Carol
You ask questions! And Dr. Carol loves to respond. In today's episode, Dr. Carol's addresses some of the most difficult questions about sex, love, marriage, same-sex attraction and more. These were sent in from real listeners just like you. Here are the resources Dr. Carol mentiones on thsi episode: Article Article Article Article Article Article Find out more about , or check out . Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can send a confidential message .
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Rebuilding Us: The Path to Restoring Intimacy and Trust After Betrayal
Relationship Prescriptions with Dr. Carol
In today's episode, Dr. Carol is joined by Dana Che, marriage coach, speaker, and host of the Rebuilding Us podcast. She knows firsthand what it’s like to feel angry, hurt, and hopeless in marriage marred by infidelity, yet find her way to healing and restored connection. She now helps couples move from “I can’t stand you” to “I still do,” guiding them through the real work of rebuilding trust and intimacy after betrayal. Together, they unpack what forgiveness truly means (and what it doesn’t), why healthy boundaries are not unspiritual but are essential, and how couples can...
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Why Sexual Addiction Is Really an Intimacy Disorder, and Finding Healing
Relationship Prescriptions with Dr. Carol
In this episode, we sit down with Greg and Stacey Oliver. Greg was a worship pastor and his wife Stacey grew up in the mission field. But that did not prevent their difficult journey of Greg's hidden sexual addiction and Stacey's deep insecurity and people-pleasing. However, their redemptive journey led to healing, freedom, and restored intimacy. What began as an exhausting struggle became the doorway to discovering that sexual addiction isn’t ultimately about sex; it's really an intimacy disorder. Now as the founders of Awaken, a faith-based recovery ministry, they help others find...
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Why Sexual Addiction Is Really an Intimacy Disorder, and the Path to Healing
Relationship Prescriptions with Dr. Carol
In this episode, we sit down with Greg and Stacey Oliver. Greg was a worship pastor and his wife Stacey grew up in the mission field. But that did not prevent their difficult journey of Greg's hidden sexual addiction and Stacey's deep insecurity and people-pleasing. However, their redemptive journey led to healing, freedom, and restored intimacy. What began as an exhausting struggle became the doorway to discovering that sexual addiction isn’t ultimately about sex; it's really an intimacy disorder. Now as the founders of Awaken, a faith-based recovery ministry, they help others find...
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The Fire of Jesus That Transforms
Relationship Prescriptions with Dr. Carol
What if the fire Jesus came to bring isn’t about fear or destruction, but about freedom? In this episode, we explore how the fire of God doesn’t just warm or comfort; it also burns away what keeps us from becoming whole, fully alive, and truly like Jesus. This isn’t about trying harder or piling on more spiritual “shoulds.” It’s about letting Jesus consume what holds us back so we can live with undivided hearts before Him. We’ll talk about three things that need to be burned up—people-pleasing, idols, and sin—and why this is actually very good news. Along the way, you’ll...
info_outlineTogether they unpack the common myths couples believe about sex, why intimacy can feel so complicated, and the surprising ways love and faith intersect in the bedroom. You’ll hear practical wisdom, biblical perspective, and real-life insights that can help you and your spouse build a marriage that is both deeply connected and joyfully intimate. Whether you’re facing challenges or simply want to grow closer, this conversation will encourage and equip you with tools for a stronger, more vibrant marriage.
Connect with Dr. Sytsma on his website, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Find the book by Dr. Sytsma and Shaunti Feldhein Secrets of Sex and Marriage: 8 Surprises That Make all the Difference, and related resources
Check out the two different packages available for the Marriage Healing Kit, and decide which one is right for you.
And if you have questions, Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message for her here.