Relationship Prescriptions with Dr. Carol

Sobriety is not enough. There are many men who have found sobriety from problematic sexual behaviors, but their relationships are still in tatters. And many women say something like, "My husband doesn't know how to love me." What's missing? Dr. Eddie Capparucci answers these questions in this episode with Dr. Carol, addressing the underlying reasons many men struggle with addiction, sex, and intimacy, and how they can overcome these blind spots. If you want to move beyond stopping bad behavior and experience a truly healthy relationship, this is for you. Check out Dr. Eddie Capparucci's Inner Child Model of addressing sex addiction, including the video series he mentioned in this episode. Connect with Dr. Capparucci on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Check out Dr. Capparucci's books: Going Deeper: How the Inner Child Impacts Your Sexual Addiction Why Men Struggle to Love: Overcoming Relational Blind Spots Understanding Your Inner Child and Overcoming Addiction Browse Dr. Carol's resources on relationships and marriage on our Relationships page. Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message here.

Who hasn't felt knocked down, held back, or left out? Perhaps you feel that way now. Whether your problems stem from your own choices and behaviors, or whether you've been harmed by others, there is a pathway back to goodness and a life full of purpose. That pathway involves cooperating with God in changing your mindset and taking positive action. Kimberly Jones, better known as Real Talk Kim, talks with Dr. Carol on this episode about places in her life where she felt stuck, and how she changed her mindset and her actions in becoming the hugely successful person she is now. Hear important keys you can learn that will empower your own comeback regardless of how far down you feel now. Connect with Real Talk Kim on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Youtube. Find her book You Gotta Get Up: Grab Hold of Your Life After Being Knocked Down, Held Back, and Left Out Get Dr. Carol's free downloadable 7 Keys to Living Fully Alive Dr. Carol loves to hear from you; you can leave her a confidential message here.

Most of us human beings try to live beyond the limitations of our time, energy, and responsibilities. We see limits as a bad thing. But God doesn't. Might our very limits be part of God's gifts to us? And how might understanding the humanity of Jesus help us navigate these questions? In this episode Dr. Carol talks with Dr. Kelly Kapic about our nature as created beings, and how our limits are actually good news. They discuss what Jesus becoming a human being might imply about our bodies and our sexuality, and how we can embrace our humanity in experiencing the process of transformation God is working in us. Find Kelly Kapic's book You're Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God's Design and Why That's Good News Find out more about Dr. Kelly Kapic on his professor page Dr. Carol would love to hear from you; leave a confidential comment, question, or suggestion here.

Too often narcissism seems to thrive in our churches as well as in some Christian homes. Navigating out of the pain and dysfunction involved is hard. And Chuck DeGroat has been helping churches, individuals, couples, and church systems address these issues for over 20 years. On this episode Dr. Carol talks with Chuck DeGroat about some of the deeper personal and church system factors that can lead to narcissism, and what's required to find healing both personally and in the church. If you've been harmed by narcissistic abuse you will find this insightful and healing. Connect with Chuck DeGroat on his website, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Find Chuck's book When Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing Your Community From Emotional and Spiritual Abuse Check out Dr. Carol's articles: - Is My Marriage Toxic? - Good or Not-so-Good Reasons to Leave Your Church Need some personal help? Consider coaching with Dr. Carol.

Someone sitting beside you at church, at work, or at school has experienced sexual abuse or exploitation. Perhaps that's even you. Unfortuately, the Christian community's response has not always been effective. Drawing from her own story makes Trish Propson – chaplain, author, speaker, and advocate – a sensitive and engaging voice in bringing hope and healing to those who need to be set free. On this episode Dr. Carol talks with Trish to shine the light on how sexual abuse and exploitation are affecting members of the Christian community, and what the church can do about it. Connect with Trish Proposon on her website or Facebook. Additional resources from Dr. Carol: - article How to Experience God in Your Past Trauma - podcast episode with Dr. Diane Langberg What God Hates: Abuse and Trauma in the Name of God Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave her a confidential comment here.

The loneliness epidemic is real, and has a larger impact on physical and mental health than most people realize. But friendship is hard and messy, perhaps more so in our culture today than ever before. Are ongoing authentic friendships really possible? And are they worth the effort and the risks? Lawyer, author, and speaker Justin Whitmel Earley joins Dr. Carol on this episode to talk about how we are all Made for People and the concept of covenant friendship. He talks vulnerably about the difficulties and risks of such friendship, but also about how this is possible regardless of your relationship status or past history. Connect with Justin Whitmel Earley on his website, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Find Justin's book Made for People: Why We Drift into Loneliness and How to Fight for a Life of Friendship Check out Dr. Carol's article How to Find Your People When You Need Help Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential comment here.

Teens and young people today are swimming in, drowning in, an unhealthy culture especially around issues of sexuality and gender. Holy sexuality often seems outdated or impossible. But these questions and challenges are not new. Dr. Christopher Yuan joins Dr. Carol in this deep and empowering episode to address holy sexuality - what it is, how it differs from the contemporary mindset, where these challenges come from, and how teens and young people can be discipled to embrace a gospel-centered lifestyle and worldview around issues of sexuality and gender. Check out The Holy Sexuality Project, especially if you're a parent, grandparent, or even a church leader. Check out the previous podcast episode with Dr. Yuan, where he shares his testimony in much more detail. Find Dr. Christopher Yuan on his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Youtube. Find Dr. Yuan's book Holy Sexuality and the Gospel: Sex, Desire, and Relationships Shaped by God's Grand Story Check out Dr. Carol's articles: - Practical Ways to Pursue Intimacy with God - Being the Family of God Regardless of Earthly Family - Parents, Kids, Technology – and Sex Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave her a confidential message here.

"Meaningless. Meaningless. Everything is meaningless." Those depressing words are actually from the Bible. If your life and marriage are messed up and meaningless, is there any way to find growth and meaning for yourself and for your relationship? Jeff and Tami Allen say Yes. On this week's podcast they talk with Dr. Carol about their tumultuous, even traumatic, early years together, and the long journey to finding true goodness and meaning. You'll see Jeff's extremely popular comedy with a whole new perspective after hearing their story. Get Jeff's book Are We There Yet?: My Journey from a Messed Up to Meaningful Life Connect with Jeff Allen on his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Youtube. Get our free download: 7 Keys to Living Fully Alive Dr. Carol loves to hear from you! You can leave her a confidential message here.

Issues around same-sex relationships are "hot topics" both in culture and in the Christian church. And what about same-sex marriage in particular? What does the Bible really say about same-sex marriage? And how should we even go about addressing these kinds of questions? On this no-holds-barred episode Dr. Carol talks with Preston Sprinkle from the Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender, about what the Bible has to say about what marriage IS and how that impacts our conversations around LGB issues. They address how followers of Jesus should both think and behave in theologically faithful and personally compassionate ways. Find Preston Sprinkle on his website, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Check out his podcast Theology in the Raw Find Preston's book Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage?: 21 Conversations from a Historically Christian View Check out Dr. Carol's article Disentangling the Connection Between Sex and Intimacy Dr. Carol loves to hear from you! You can leave her a confidential message here.

Narcissism can be an unfounded accusation, and it can also lead to marriage trauma. How do you know if you're living with a narcissist? And what if you might be one? Narcissism creates challenges for any relationship, but especially in the most intimate relationship of marriage. In this episode Dr. Carol talks with Dr. Jake Porter, relational psychotherapist, about the nuances of narcissism, why we all need a bit of it and when it becomes a problem, and some practical things you need to know if you're living with such a person. There's more hope than you may have thought possible. You can connect with Dr. Jake Porter at his personal website, the practice website, or on Facebook or Instagram. Check out his webinar Complexity: When Narcissistic, Borderline, and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorders Co-Occur with Sex Addiction and Betrayal Trauma. Use the promo code DRCAROL for 50% off the already-low price. Check out our Dr. Carol Ministries Relationships page for additional helpful resources. And Dr. Carol would love to hear from you. You can leave a confidential comment or question here.