Real Talk With Rachael Podcast

This month we aren’t in a specific series. Instead, I feel the Lord directing me to share what He puts on my heart for the week. Today’s word is “I Choose Joy”. As counterintuitive as it sounds, joy is not determined by our circumstances. Joy is a choice. It's a choice to be joyful despite our circumstances. When we look at the scripture, joy is a fruit of the spirit. It's what separates us as believers in Christ and draws people to Him. On the surface, joy might seem like it's about your circumstances, but in reality, it's a state of being rather than an emotion. It's a result of choice. Joy is a gift from God. We can’t always explain it, but just like any gift, we have to choose to accept it. Ask God today, "What area of my life do I need to choose joy?" Connect with Rachael: website | Instagram | Facebook

This month we aren’t in a specific series. Instead, I feel the Lord directing me to share what He puts on my heart for the week. Today’s word is “persistent prayer.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “never stop praying.” (NLT) other translations say, “pray without ceasing.” Something happens when we pray. What have you grown weary in praying for? The salvation of a loved one? Healing in your body? Restoration of a relationship? Marriage reconciliation? Financial breakthrough? Freedom from bondage? Take it to God in prayer today. Connect with Rachael: website | Instagram | Facebook

In this episode of Real Talk with Rachael I'm talking with Jennifer Tucker. Jennifer is an illustrator, graphic designer, and author of Breath as Prayer: Calm Your Anxiety, Focus Your Mind, and Renew Your Soul. She creates graphics and art for Ann Voskamp and works for various clients including DaySpring, HarperCollins, and Ink & Willow. Her personal art and work reflect her journey towards health and healing, and she creates art to remind her own soul that God is with us, that we are loved and held and never alone. She lives in central Georgia with her husband, Mark, and daughters Emma and Lilly. Jennifer is a devoted follower of Jesus and an advocate for mental health. Key Points from Our Conversation: Breath prayer has been around for centuries. It combines deep breathing (which calms our nervous system) and marries it with prayer (which connects our hearts to God). If you were raised in a Christian household, you may feel shame around anxiety stemming from not being able to "cast all our cares on Him

This is the last episode in our mini-series on Coping Skills to Calm your Nerves and Retrain your Brain. Our final episode happens to be airing on Halloween, so I felt led to discuss the power of worship and shifting the atmosphere in our hearts, home, and workplace. Worship is a weapon. Worship releases worry. Worship shifts the environment. Worship sends the enemy running.  Ways to worship: Praise and worship. Even if you can’t sing it, let it play quietly in the background. Words as worship. Thank God throughout the day. Actions as worship. What do you spend the most time and energy worshipping? Dance, workout, work, whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. Resources:Pre-order Image RESTored Connect with Rachael: website | Instagram | Facebook

So far in The Coping Series, we have discussed bilateral stimulation, verbal and written processing, and exercise to calm your nervous system and reign in the runaway brain. Please go back and listen if you missed any of those episodes. In this episode, we are discussing a coping skill that is a God-given way to cope with mental and emotional stress - Bible verse meditation. Damage is done when people receive the message “If you would just pray more…” or “Here is a Bible verse.” Let’s look at both sides of this coin. To the person giving the advice: Remember, this recipient is hurting. Listen first. Express empathy. Pray for them (no need to share you’re praying unless you feel led to). If you do bring up a verse, be sure it’s thoughtful and not condemning. To the person receiving: If the takeaway message is full of shame, remember that’s not from God. Whether the person did or didn’t intend to relay that message, you get to choose what you receive. God’s word and prayer are the most powerful coping tools we

This week on Real Talk with Rachael I'm talking with the author of A Little Goes a Long Way and host of The Love Offering podcast, Rachael Adams. Rachael hopes to help women realize their God-given purpose and significance. She and her husband, Bryan, run a family business and farm in Kentucky with their two children, Will and Kate, and two doodle dogs. Her work has been featured on Crosswalk, iBelieve, Today Parenting, and YouVersion.  Key Points from Our Conversation: Women in particular struggle with wondering if the mundane things they're doing actually matter. The truth is that we are inherently significant because God created us, not because of our works. Jesus did mundane things that significantly impacted the people around Him. We get to partner with Him to call out the gifts in the people around us and make mundane things extraordinary.  We tend to value the "highlight reels" of our lives and ignore the ordinary moments, but we often don't see the impact we have daily. Be faithful to do the little t

So far in our new mini-series on coping Skills to calm your nerves and retrain your brain we have discussed bilateral stimulation and verbal and written processing to calm your nervous system and reign in the runaway brain. Please go back and listen if you missed either of those episodes. This week we are reclaiming territory on a coping skill that is a God-given way to cope with mental and emotional stress - exercise. Benefits of Exercise Regular exercise can have a positive impact on depression, anxiety, and ADHD. It also relieves stress, improves memory, helps you sleep better, and boosts your overall mood. Exercise is a powerful depression fighter for several reasons. Most importantly, it promotes all kinds of changes in the brain, including neural growth, reduced inflammation, and new activity patterns that promote feelings of calm and well-being.  Exercise is a natural and effective anti-anxiety treatment. It relieves tension and stress, boosts physical and mental energy, and enhances well-being by re

We are in a new mini-series on coping skills to calm your nerves and retrain your brain. In the last episode, I introduced the concept of bilateral stimulation to calm your nervous system and reign in the runaway brain. Please go back and listen if you missed it because I will reference that more throughout this series. This week I want to bring up the most underrated coping skill - verbal and written processing. Why processing through journaling or talking is powerful: It gets it up and out. If you can’t talk about it, it owns you. When we stuff emotions, they find their way out somewhere. Bottling up your emotions can drain your physical energy. Your organs, tissues, muscles, endocrine glands, and skin are receptive to your emotional experiences, causing memories to be stored in your brain and your body. It helps you spot inaccurate thoughts. Sometimes just saying or writing it, we recognize it’s not true. It lets God and trusted loved ones into our struggle. It grows our faith to look back on old journal

This week on Real Talk with Rachael, I'm talking with the author of Take Back Your Joy: Fighting for Purpose When Life Is More Than You Can Handle, Nicole Jacobsmeyer. Through her authenticity and the sharing of her own struggles, Nicole encourages women to keep going when all seems lost. She believes that it’s possible to find lasting joy and purpose in Christ and that He is good no matter what life brings our way. She and her husband Andrew have 4 kids and reside in NC. They love being outdoors, baking chocolate chip cookies, and playing sports. Key Points from Our Conversation: Finding joy is a process. Nicole found healing from her brokenness through serving others. Your brokenness doesn't disqualify you, it enables you to help other broken people.  We often don't share our deepest pains, so we feel isolated. The Bible calls us to share in one another's sufferings. When we are honest, people experiencing pain around us feel seen and we can heal together.  Sometimes you won't be able to find joy and that'

This month we are starting a new mini-series on coping skills to calm your nerves and retrain your brain. In this series, I will teach practical coping skills you can implement into your daily routine. I encourage you to try them, even if they feel silly. Figuring out which coping skills work for you might take time and experimentation. I am not your counselor; these are simply ideas, so be sure to talk with your counselor about which coping skills are right for you. As an EMDR-trained therapist, incorporating bilateral stimulation with coping skills is one of my favorite things to do with my patients. In this episode, I want to teach you how to use butterfly hugs to calm your nervous system and reign in the runaway brain. Butterfly hugs explained: Place your right hand on the left side of your chest and your left hand on the right side of your chest. Begin to tap, slowly and gently, right and left on your chest. Focus on taking deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. If you’re able to,

REBROADCAST: Did you know that you have the power to control your thoughts? In this episode of Talk Therapy, I'm talking about changing the channel in your mind because our thoughts control our feelings and our feelings control our actions.  2 Corinthians 10:5, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." The Battlefield of the Mind Devotional Connect with Rachael on the website, Instagram and/or Facebook.

This week on Real Talk with Rachael features a very special guest, my daughter, Ellie. Ellie Gilbert is a sophomore in high school who loves using her voice wherever God plants her. She loves to cheer, compete in speech and debate tournaments, and preach the gospel at youth events. In her downtime, you can find her working on her latest crochet project. Key Points from Our Conversation: Creating a safe space for teens to have open conversations with their kids about hard topics means they're not relying on the internet and peers to be the authority in their lives. It gives the child the ability to ask more questions to find true understanding. Awkwardness keeps teens from feeling safe to have hard conversations with their parents. Allow them to say it "wrong," then help them find the right words to express their thoughts and feelings. It's hard for teens to bring up an opinion or thought that may not align with their parents. Teens should approach these sensitive topics with respect and feel comfortable aski

REBROADCAST: In this episode of Talk Therapy, I'm talking about the one thing that may be missing from your life - Jesus. If you're a follower of Christ, I encourage you to lean into Jesus more this week. There is power in His name. Whether it's a work situation, a struggling marriage, or a health challenge - whatever it is you're facing, say the name of Jesus. He is our counselor, our healer, and our peace. If you don't know Jesus, at the end of this episode I offer a simple prayer to invite Him into your heart. If you make that decision or have more questions, please reach out to me. I'd love to welcome you into the body of Christ and get you connected with more resources! One Minute Pause app Connect with Rachael on her website, Instagram and/or Facebook.

In this week's Talk Therapy episode, I want to talk to you about something I've wrestled with for much of my life - fear of man. It’s another layer of image. “What do they think of me?” Not just appearance, but the root question is, “Am I enough?” “If we look beneath the surface of the fear of man (a.k.a. people pleasing), we often find pride, false humility, and an obsession with self-image. Verses to stand on: Proverbs 29:25: Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” Psalm 25:15: My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only He will release my feet from the snare.” Resource: I want to invite you to join our JOYmail community. Once a month, I send a brief newsletter with faith-filled encouragement, my favorite finds, and therapy resources. Go to rachaelgilbert.com to join or click the link in today’s show notes. Connect with Rachael: website | Instagram | Facebook

This week on Real Talk with Rachael, I'm talking with Anthony Evans about his book When Faith Meets Therapy. For two decades, Anthony has voiced the gospel with a melodic, thought-provoking style, and has emerged as one of Christian music’s premier worship leaders and singers. Along the way, Anthony has released ten solo projects (the last two climbing all the way to #1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Album charts), released his first two books (Unexpected Places and Divine Disruption), produced numerous music videos, acted in four movies, and even performed as “Beast” in Disney’s Hollywood Bowl production of Beauty and the Beast. In addition, he has created inspirational events in collaboration with his father, beloved pastor and international speaker, Dr. Tony Evans; his sisters, Priscilla Shirer and Chrystal Evans Hurst; and his brother, author and speaker Jonathan Evans. In more recent years, Anthony has been working and producing in Los Angeles, where he appeared on NBC’s The Voice. His time on the show led to

Usually each month I start a new series, but for this episode, I felt the Lord ask me to pivot to a message focused on taking action. Are you in or out? Hot or cold? Yes or no? God has been convicting me to stop spewing lukewarm water. I’m so afraid of offending that I’ve stopped standing up boldly for Christ. This in and out wreaks havoc on our mental health. The back and forth is exhausting and causes confusion within us. Reflect: Are you in or out? What area is God calling you to stand up and say, “I’m in”? Resource: For more resources on grace, faith, and therapy visit rachaelgilbert.com. There you will find free downloads, resources, and information about my counseling services. Connect with Rachael: website | Instagram | Facebook

This is the final episode in my mini-series all about faith and mental health and this time I'm discussing diagnosis versus identity. "Mental illness is a diagnosis, not an identity or destiny." - Holley Gerth The purpose of a diagnosis is to establish a treatment plan. Otherwise, we are just throwing darts at a board that we can’t see. But the diagnosis is NOT an identity or a destiny. In fact, faith and mental health mean hope and a future. The enemy gives a snapshot of the now and says “this is it” while God sees the whole, big picture and says, “look up child, it’s not over.” Reflect: Have you received a mental diagnosis that left you feeling shame or hopeless? Have you extended grace to someone in your life who received a mental diagnosis? Please remember to approach this subject with grace, humility, and surrender to the Trinity. Healing comes through wisdom, understanding, doctors, therapy, medications, natural supplements, AND Jesus, scripture, and prayer. It’s not an either/or, it’s a both/and. Resou

This week on Real Talk with Rachael, I'm talking with my friend, Karen Harmon. Karen is a wife, homeschool mom, business owner, physical therapist, speaker, and writer who also serves her local church on the worship team, as a leader over several small groups, and in the media department doing on-camera work and voiceovers. She owns Function360 which provides specialized physical rehabilitation and wellness consultations for a variety of patients. Karen has spoken at conferences and seminars and has sat on several live events and curriculum panels discussing anything from leadership to motherhood to ministry. She has also contributed several articles for various publications and websites. With transparency and humor, Karen loves to encourage and empower women to passionately pursue Jesus and their God-given dreams and callings through all their many roles. Key Points from Our Conversation: Being multi-passionate about things doesn’t mean you do everything at the same time. Instead of balancing, ask what it l

In the first week of this series, we discussed how faith is your foundation for solid mental health. Last week our topic was grace-based faith and your mental health. Today our topic is learning how to activate the trinity. Our cognitive triangle and the Holy Trinity reflect one another -  Cognitive triangle: your thoughts affect your feelings, and feelings affect your behaviors. Trinity effect: Father (the foundation), Son (shame carrier; grace), and Holy Spirit (our helper). Three in one, yet each plays a unique role in our lives. "The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace." Romans 8:6 Reflect: What part of the trinity do you need to activate in your mental health? Resource: For more resources on grace, faith, and therapy visit rachaelgilbert.com. There you will find free downloads, resources, and information about my counseling services. Connect with Rachael: website | Instagram | Facebook

Last week we discussed how faith is your foundation for solid mental health. This week our topic is grace-based faith and your mental health. Faith without grace will wreak havoc on your mental, emotional, and spiritual health. In Ephesians, the Bible reminds us that we're saved by grace through faith so that no one can boast. Beware of boasting that points the glory back to you. If I take the shame when I fall I will also take the credit when I stand. God is the only one worthy of honor. It is by grace through our faith that we are able to stand. May we never lose sight of that. Reflect: What’s your definition of grace? What’s the Bible’s definition of grace? Resource: For more resources on grace, faith, and therapy visit rachaelgilbert.com. There you will find free downloads, resources, and information about my counseling services. Connect with Rachael: website | Instagram | Facebook