Imbetween Podcast On Marriage, Parenting, Faith, And Everything In Between

Jason VanRuler, a therapist and author, discusses the transformative power of facing one's past. He shares his personal journey from a troubled childhood to professional success, highlighting the importance of self-reflection and seeking help to overcome recurring life challenges. Daniel and Christina explore with Jason the various ways individuals can begin addressing their issues, whether through therapy, journaling, or simply talking to a trusted friend. Jason emphasizes that healing from the past involves changing our relationship with it, reducing its emotional intensity, and no longer allowing it to dictate our present and future.In This Episode, You'll Hear About The Following: Importance of confronting brokenness and the past Impact of childhood experiences on adult behaviour Promises individuals make to themselves that may keep them stuck Jason's personal journey from a challenging environment to becoming a therapist and author Why we need to address and change our relationship with the past Paths fo

Daniel and Christina discuss the importance of discipleship at home. They emphasize the need for parents to set an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, and discuss how children can sometimes guide and correct their parents. Sharing personal experiences, they explore the significance of aligning actions with words, as children learn more from what we do than what we say. They also discuss the importance of personal growth and helping children grow in these areas, and the role of spiritual disciplines in this process. They conclude by reflecting on the need for genuine faith and a consistent relationship with God.In this episode, you'll hear about the following: Importance of discipleship at home Setting an example for children in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity Grounding children in the truth of God's word Parents being open to their children as a source of guidance and correction Repairing relationships and apologizing to children Aligning actions with words Importance of personal gro

Canadian Certified Counsellor Nadine Crain discusses the impact of purity culture on parenthood. She explains the origins and effects of purity culture, highlighting how it emphasized abstinence and tied a person's worth to their sexual purity. Nadine emphasizes the need to develop a healthier relationship with our bodies. Also, she discusses the importance of communication with our bodies and how to navigate the tension between teaching a biblical ethic around sexuality while avoiding the harmful aspects of purity culture. In This Episode, You'll Hear About The Following: Impact of purity culture on parenthood Origins and long-term effects of purity culture on individuals How to develop a healthier relationship with our bodies Importance of recognizing and acknowledging our bodies Communication with our bodies and addressing past traumas Navigating the tension between biblical ethics and harmful aspects of purity culture in parenting Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Christian Counsellor's Network Nadin

We interview Dr. Bob Paul about the concept of intensive marriage therapy and how it differs from traditional counselling. Bob explains the advantages of intensive therapy, such as addressing core issues and providing a focused environment for couples to work through their challenges. He also discusses the person-centred approach of their program, prioritizing the well-being of individuals while building healthy relationships. Bob addresses the suitability of intensive therapy for couples and emphasizes the importance of investing in relationships.In This Episode, You'll Hear About The Following: Intensive marriage therapy vs traditional weekly counselling sessions Advantages of intensive therapy  Importance of individuals being whole and healthy for successful relationships Self-care and honouring God to bring the best selves to marriage and family Suitability for intensive therapy or traditional counselling The definition of a great marriage Resources, opportunities, and aftercare support provided by the p

Dannah Gresh shares her personal story of navigating her husband's addiction to pornography in their marriage. She discusses the impact it had on their relationship and the importance of seeking help and support. Dannah emphasizes the role of faith and the Holy Spirit in the healing process, highlighting the need for God's power in overcoming addiction. She also talks about the importance of forgiveness, trust, and the journey she and her husband took together to heal from the hurt and pain of infidelity.In This Episode, You'll Hear About: The Power of Honesty and Accountability: Dannah's emphasizes the importance of open discussions about struggles and establishing accountability. It's crucial to prevent addiction from becoming a source of comfort. The Role of Faith: Dannah's shares a powerful moment of divine intervention that led them to seek help. She underscores the importance of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God in the healing process, believing that without them, traditional therapy has limited eff

In Episode 173, we interview Christa Hardin about the Enneagram and how this tool can deepen the love you have for one another. We discuss the importance of individual work and creating a safe environment in relationships. Christa explains the concept of seasons in marriage, comparing them to the changing seasons in nature. She emphasizes the need for couples to engage in deeper relational work during challenging times. We also discuss Christa's book, "The Enneagram in Marriage," which explores the different pairings of Enneagram types and provides tips for navigating the shadows and afterglow stages of each pairing. She shares how the Enneagram can help couples identify their core fears and work on them together. In This Episode, You Will Hear About: Importance of doing individual work in relationships Creating a safe environment in relationships The concept of seasons in marriage Comparison of seasons in marriage to changing seasons in nature The stages and seasons of marriage as described in "The Enneagram

Bonnie Gray knows a thing or two about being stressed. During the first year of the pandemic, Bonnie's once full, black hair began falling out. Overwhelmed by the exhaustion of disrupted routines and pressure to meet expectations at work, parenting, ministry and a bottomless checklist of To Do's, Bonnie focused on meeting everyone else's needs at the expense of neglecting her well-being. With her usual coping mechanisms stripped away, she was drained by worries, stress, and anxiety. On Episode 172, Bonnie describes how using soul care and breath prayers can create healthy habits with God to help restore peace and joy in your life.You'll Hear About: The concept of soul care and the four areas of wellness The importance of social wellness and building meaningful relationships The impact of negative emotions on our bodies and the importance of naming and discussing them Tips for managing burnout and improving sleep quality The practice of breath prayer and its impact on managing stress Resources Mentioned In Th

Anyone feeling tired, stressed, and overwhelmed? Are you looking for a tool to simplify your life and bring back the calm, peace, fun, and love in your home? Us too! In this episode, you will discover how brain science can increase the connection with your spouse and your children. We interview author and speaker Cherilyn Orr on the stoplight approach. You will discover the link between brain science and the Bible, and how you can use this knowledge to cultivate a connected and thriving "green home."In this episode, you'll hear about the following: Explanation of the stoplight approach (red, yellow, green brain states) Connection between the stoplight approach and marriage and parenting Comparison of the stoplight approach to traditional parenting techniques like timeouts Description of a "green home" and its pillars (safety, mutual respect, responsibility) Importance of skill-building and empathy in teaching responsibility Application of the stoplight approach to teenagers and the decision-making process Mee

In this episode, you will learn about the benefits of couples therapy and discover practical steps to inspire your spouse to attend therapy. You will also learn how to approach your spouse who may be resistant to attending therapy, and how you can present therapy as an opportunity rather than an obligation. Overall, this episode emphasizes the importance of communication, understanding, and patience in working through relationship issues.For the full show notes, including discussion prompts for you as a couple about this episode, go to IMbetween.org/episode170Connect with us on:Facebook | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What is an affair, how do they start, and how can you affair proof your marriage? In Episode 169, we interview Braden and Kristen Hafner on common reasons marriages are susceptible to affairs, the role of trust in affair-proofing your marriage, how to identify potential vulnerabilities in your marriage, and how to rebuild trust and recover from infidelity if it has already occurred in your marriage.Meet Braden and Kristen Hafner:Since their parents are friends and they grew up in the same church, Braden and Kristen joke that their marriage was arranged. But the truth is Kristen found Braden to have too much hockey hair for her liking. So Braden cut off his luscious locks and the rest is history. Kristen, a former high school science teacher, and Braden an ordained pastor, have been married for 15 years and live in Edmonton. Together they are the Regional Directors of Alberta for FamilyLife Canada. They run Starting Marriage Strong, FamilyLife's pre-marriage course, and Braden co-hosts Pure Victory Podcast hel

Divorce is a complex and emotional experience and not a "fuzzy feeling" topic. No one wants to think about the possibility of their marriage ending in separation or divorce. However, understanding the potential factors that may contribute to a marital breakdown can help you work to strengthen your relationship and avoid potential pitfalls. In this episode, you will discover the 5 divorce-predicting factors you must watch out for.For the full show notes, including questions and journal prompts about this episode, go to IMbetween.org/episode168Connect with us on:Facebook | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever felt like you're constantly pushing yourself to change, but it never seems to stick? Maybe you've been told that you'll finally see the results you want if you try harder. But what if that's not the case? In Episode 167, we interview Neal and Carly Samudre about what happens when you start with joy. They will challenge the idea that pushing through blood, sweat, and tears is the only way to achieve lasting change in your life. Drawing on insights from the Bible and the latest research in positive psychology, they'll explore the power of joy as a driving force for transformation.They believe that focusing on joy can create positive change in your life without resorting to shame, guilt, or fear. Instead, you'll discover how to cultivate a sense of fun and playfulness that makes the process of change actually enjoyable!Throughout the podcast, Neal and Carly will explore topics such as the difference between happiness and joy, why shame, guilt, and fear aren't good motivators for change, how therapy

Friendship can enrich your life in many ways. Good friends teach you about yourself and challenge you to be better. They encourage you to keep going when times get tough and celebrate your successes with you. But friends do a lot more than give you a shoulder to cry on; they also positively impact your health. Some research even says friendships are just as crucial to your well-being as eating right and exercising.If friendships are so impactful and beneficial to our lives, shouldn't we be talking about them more often? In episode 166, we talk about three relationships you can cultivate daily: friendship with Jesus, your spouse, and others. For the full show notes, including date night questions and journal prompts about this episode, go to IMbetween.org/episode166Connect with us on:Facebook | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A child dealing with anxiety can be a challenging and unpredictable experience, much like a rollercoaster ride with its ups and downs. Some days may feel manageable as their parent, while others may feel overwhelming. In Episode 165, we interview Licensed Profession Counselor Justine Froelker about how we can connect with our children who deal with anxiety. As parents, one of the most important things we can do is to provide a constant sense of reassurance, connection, and love to our child. We can help them find peace and security amid their struggles by reminding them of God's love. For the full show notes, including questions to ask your children to further the connection, go to IMbetween.org/episode165Connect with us on:Facebook | Instagram Meet Justine Froelker:Justine is a Licensed Professional Counselor with more than 20 years of experience in traditional mental health and personal and professional development. Justine has been certified in the work of Dr. Brené Brown for eight years. Justine is the au

We are going to give you a framework to be able to set your family's weekly rhythm. You can establish a routine for your family, despite how chaotic or busy your lives are. Just as you may create a family budget to direct where your money goes, you can establish family rhythms to direct where your time goes. If you do not take authority over your time, you risk living in the tornado of whatever events the day or the week throws your way. There is no room for moments, rest, or enjoyment in that kind of life. However, when you live by intentional rhythms, you can live the life God created for you. A life of learning to abide in Him.For the full show notes, including date night questions and journal prompts about this episode, go to IMbetween.org/episode164Connect with us on:Facebook | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No area of a couple's life offers more potential for embarrassment, hurt, and rejection than their sexual relationship. On the other hand, when everything is connected...when relational transparency and emotional honesty meet physical desire...wow...that’s a recipe for great sex. Great sex helps produce greater relational and emotional intimacy, and it just keeps snowballing in the best way possible. Emotional bonding is key to good sex; when couples feel emotionally connected, they become more likely to share their vulnerabilities, which naturally improves the quality of their sex. Lovers who feel confident in their emotional attachments can tune into one another’s feelings and experiences. This power enables them to notice if their partner is feeling excited, tense or relaxed, which proves highly useful in pleasuring each other sexually. In Episode 163, Daniel and Christina give you the four keys to long-term sexual satisfaction with your spouse. For the full show notes, go to IMbetween.org/episode163Connec

Are you raising kids who are kind and compassionate? It is critical to demonstrate to our children what it means to include others instead of excluding them. In episode 162, we share with you some ideas of how we can raise kids who are “includers” by modelling what that looks like. For the full show notes, including date night questions and journal prompts about this episode, go to IMbetween.org/episode162Connect with us on:Facebook | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Perhaps you are familiar with Dr. Gary Chapman's The 5 Love Languages. It has been revolutionary to individuals, couples, and families worldwide. Truity, a company that offers a variety of online personality quizzes, wanted to build on Dr. Chapman's work. They surveyed over 500 000 people about what makes them feel loved and discovered that there are seven distinct ways of showing and receiving love.In episode 161, Daniel and Christina break down the seven new love languages and give you four simple steps to get your love language heard. For the full show notes, including date night questions and journal prompts about this episode, go to IMbetween.org/episode161Connect with us on:Facebook | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We were recently asked about what advice we would give to younger couples, and so that’s what we want to unpack today. If we were to write a congratulations card to your wedding or sit down together to chat with you about those first precious years of your marriage, here’s what we would say…For the full show notes, including date night questions and journal prompts about this episode, go to IMbetween.org/episode160Connect with us on:Facebook | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hope can seem like such an elusive thing. In Episode 159, Drake Farmer unpacks for us what hope is, where we should put our hope when we are going through a difficult season, and how to be full of love, fueled by faith, and addicted to hope.For the full show notes, including personal journal prompts and discussion questions for you as a couple, go to IMbetween.org/episode159Connect with us on:Facebook | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices