Being Human

Episode 201: Is Leadership of the Family a Man's Job? with Special Guest Barbra Bottaro Nov 19, 2024

This week, Dr. Greg is joined by his wife, Barbra, to explore the often-misunderstood concept of mutual submission in marriage. Together, they share how they navigate leading their family—the joys, the messiness, and everything in between. Don’t miss this candid discussion tackling the question: “Is Leadership of the Family a Man’s Job?”

Discussed in this episode:

Dr. Greg and Barbra Bottaro’s candid discussion on mutual submission in marriage;
Common misunderstandings about leadership roles in Catholic families;
Exploring the question: “Is leadership of the family a man’s job?”
Reflecting on the traditional narrative of “man as the head” and what it means today;
What “mutual submission” really looks like when there’s conflict or big decisions;
Practical examples of how they apply mutual submission in everyday family life;
Why mutual submission in marriage isn’t just an ideal, but a daily practice;
The cultural challenges of viewing submission as a shared responsibility;
How we’re called to heal outdated, often misogynistic, views in marriage;
Why mutual trust and dialogue are essential in decision-making;
Why submission doesn’t mean “one person always gets the final say.”

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Being Human episode 200: Leaked Audio from a Groundbreaking Franciscan University Conference Keynote to Celebrate Our 200th Episode!
Further reading: The Catholic Genius of Integrated Masculinity and Femininity
Mulieris Dignitatem by Pope St. John Paul II
Flight from Woman by Karl Stern
Learn more about gender complementarity:
- Blog article: Celebrating the Differences of Men and Women
- Blog article: God Created Us to Need Each Other
- Episode 149: A New Approach to the Gender Crisis
- 4-part series on Gender Fluidity or Complementarity?
Need help? Schedule a free consultation to discuss your next best step;
Feeling called to help others? Learn more about our Certification program (CPMAP): CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicPsych
- Instagram: @catholicpsych
- X: @CatholicPsych

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 200: Leaked Audio from a Groundbreaking Franciscan University Conference Keynote to Celebrate Our 200th Episode! Nov 12, 2024

In celebration of the 200th episode, Dr. Greg shares exclusive audio from his recent keynote at Franciscan University’s Man and Woman conference. Dive into a fresh look at gender complementarity through the lens of John Paul II’s teachings, exploring the masculine and feminine genius, insights from marital therapy, and what it means to live fully in our God-given identity. Join Dr. Greg for this special milestone episode—a journey to create and a gift to share.

Discussed in this episode:

Dr. Greg’s reflections on reaching the 200th episode milestone;
Why the “Mars vs. Venus” mindset is a distortion that keeps us trapped in suspicion;
An exploration of John Paul II’s teachings on gender complementarity;
The concept of masculine and feminine genius and what it means for relationships;
A philosophical perspective on the role of men and women in God’s plan;
How gender differences contribute to personal growth and fulfillment;
How men and women are designed to be gifts to each other;
The importance of receiving the genius of the opposite gender;
Why thinking “she’d understand if she were a man” actually misses the entire gift of gender complementarity;
The science behind why men want to fix things and women seek empathy;
Why learning to “receive” the opposite gender’s gifts can lead to true joy;
The difference between rational and transrational thinking in male and female brains;
How relationships are like oxygen for the human person.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

The audio of this keynote is provided the courtesy of Franciscan University. Visit FUS to learn more about Man and Woman in the Order of Creation and other conferences.
Further reading: The Catholic Genius of Integrated Masculinity and Femininity
Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Collaboration of Men and Women in the Church and in the World (Cardinal Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict XVI)
Flight from Woman by Karl Stern
Learn more about gender complementarity:
- Blog article: Celebrating the Differences of Men and Women
- Blog article: God Created Us to Need Each Other
- Episode 149: A New Approach to the Gender Crisis
- 4-part series on Gender Fluidity or Complementarity?
Need help? Schedule a free consultation to discuss your next best step;
Feeling called to help others? Learn more about our Certification program (CPMAP): CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicPsych
- Instagram: @catholicpsych
- X: @CatholicPsych

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 199: Three Spiritual Diseases Plaguing Our Personhood Nov 05, 2024

Dr. Greg dives into a captivating conversation with leadership expert Alexandre Havard (calling in from Moscow!) about the '3 Spiritual Diseases'—rationalism, sentimentalism, and voluntarism—that could be influencing your life in hidden ways. Are you unknowingly living as a 'partial human being'? Tune in to learn how to avoid these traps - and discover what it takes to reclaim true wholeness.

Discussed in this episode:

The 3 spiritual diseases plaguing our culture – and why they matter;
How rationalism, sentimentalism, and voluntarism disconnect us from reality and human flourishing;
How “partial human beings” are created by separating heart, mind, and will;
How to recognize if you’re living under the influence of Descartes, Rousseau, or Nietzsche;
Why integration of heart, mind, and will is essential for true personal growth;
The influence of philosophers like Descartes, Rousseau, and Nietzsche on modern ideologies;
How gender ideology mirrors Nietzschean voluntarism;
How rationalism disconnects people from reality by over-prioritizing intellect;
The manipulation of sentimentalism in today’s “I feel, therefore I am” culture;
How voluntarism leads to a will-driven society, prone to ideological extremes;
What it means to have an “integrated heart” in today’s fractured world;
Why understanding spiritual diseases can help identify and avoid ideological traps;
Havard’s process of categorizing historical philosophers as “destroyers” or “builders”;
Dostoevsky, Pascal, and Soloviev as examples of integrated thinkers who inspire wholeness;
Alexandre’s latest book, Seven Prophets, and its call to unity of the person.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Learn more about the Alex Havard's books, resources, and courses: www.alexhavard.com
- Seven Prophets and the Culture War: Undoing the Philosophies of a World in Crisis
- Free Hearts: The Power of Human Harmony
Need help? Schedule a free consultation to discuss your next best step;
Feeling called to help others? Learn more about our Certification program (CPMAP): CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicPsych
- Instagram: @catholicpsych
- X: @CatholicPsych

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 198: A Bishop’s Raw Story of Anxiety and Depression: Why ‘Try Harder’ Doesn’t Work Oct 29, 2024

Bishop James Conley shares his raw and personal journey of battling anxiety and depression as a Church leader. He reveals the trap of “just try harder” and emphasizes that true healing comes only by breaking free from self-reliance. If you’ve ever felt the pressure to keep pushing through, this episode will challenge and encourage you to embrace authentic healing.

Discussed in this episode:

Bishop James Conley’s personal journey with anxiety, depression, and PTSD;
The surprising decision to take a leave of absence and publicly share his mental health struggles as a bishop;
Recognizing the trap of “try harder” and the American mentality of “ungodly self-reliance;”
Self-reliance deepening mental health struggles instead of relieving them;
Breaking free of the messages of “man up,” “work harder,” and “toughen it out” which led to a loss of joy;
The fears involved in admitting that “I can’t fix myself;”
How vulnerability and radical surrender became essential parts of his healing process;
How relying on our own talents gets in the way of Christ working through us to do great things;
The importance of a proper Catholic anthropology in addressing the modern mental health crisis;
The impact of technology on children’s mental health and the value of play-based learning;
How parents, schools, and the Church can work together to support children’s development;
Bishop Conley's call for a radical renewal in education and healthcare grounded in Christ-centered principles.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Pastoral letters by Most Reverend James D. Conley, STL, Bishop of Lincoln:
- A Future with Hope (on mental health)
- The Joy and Wonder of Catholic Education: Developing Authentically Catholic Schools
Resources recommended by Bishop Conley:
Familiaris Consortio (The Christian Family in the Modern World)
Ex Corde Ecclesiae (On Catholic Universities)
Need help? Schedule a free consultation to discuss your next best step;
Feeling called to help others? Learn more about our Certification program (CPMAP): CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicPsych
- Instagram: @catholicpsych
- X: @CatholicPsych

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 197: Correcting Aquinas: JP2’s Truth Bomb on Gender and Human Dignity Oct 22, 2024

Do you know the limitations of St. Thomas Aquinas’ “pre-microscope” view on gender, and how it is still influencing the Church today? In this special episode on the feast of Pope St. John Paul II, Dr. Greg unpacks why JP2’s teachings on gender, identity, and what it means to be human are exactly what the Church—and the world—needs right now.

Discussed in this episode:

The limitations of Aquinas’ “pre-microscope” view on gender and how it still influences erroneous views of gender roles;
The “truth bomb” of JP2 that reshapes our understanding of gender, identity, and the dignity of the human person;
The shift from a “pre-microscope” to “post-microscope” view of gender and why it matters;
JP2’s teachings as a foundational response to today’s trans and gender identity confusion;
Why mutual submission between men and women is essential to true equality;
How Protestant approaches to gender often swing between extremes: complementarianism vs. egalitarianism;
The Catholic response is a “both/and” approach in contrast to “either/or” pendulum swings;
How JP2’s insights into human dignity answer today’s questions on gender and identity;
Why Pope St. John Paul II is considered the most impactful Catholic psychologist of the 20th and 21st centuries;
Why JP2’s teachings serve as a lighthouse through today’s “isms” and ideological shifts;
Why understanding true human dignity is essential to addressing gender confusion.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

The Personalism of John Paul II by Dr. John Crosby
Person and Act by Pope St. John Paul II
Please share your feedback and questions: drgreg@catholicpsych.com
Previous podcast series on the psychology of JP2:
Learn more about gender complementarity:
- Blog article: Celebrating the Differences of Men and Women
- Blog article: God Created Us to Need Each Other
- Episode 149: A New Approach to the Gender Crisis
- 4-part series on Gender Fluidity or Complementarity?
Mulieris Dignitatem – JP2’s apostolic letter on the dignity and vocation of women
Witness to Hope by George Weigel – An in-depth biography exploring John Paul II’s life, influence, and vision
Learn more about the Theology of the Body:
- Man and Woman He Created Them (original text by JP2)
- Theology of the Body Explained by Christopher West
- TOB Books and Resources by Jason Evert
- Theology of the Body Institute
Need help? Schedule a free consultation to discuss your next best step;
Feeling called to help others? Learn more about our Certification program (CPMAP): CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicPsych
- Instagram: @catholicpsych
- X: @CatholicPsych

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 196: The Single Most Important Thing to Live a Holy Life Oct 15, 2024

In today’s episode, Dr. Greg and Fr. Louis Merosne dive into a powerful conversation on what it truly takes to live a holy life. They get real and vulnerable, peeling back layers on what it means to draw close to God—and what often holds us back.

Discussed in this episode:

A new approach to the Being Human podcast;
Bringing together psychological concepts with spiritual concepts through the lens of the liturgy;
What the story of the Rich Young Man reveals about our relationship with God;
How to identify what might be quietly holding you back from true holiness;
Personal struggles Dr. Greg and Fr. Louis have faced on their spiritual journeys;
The one thing that transforms faith from routine to radical;
Why some well-intentioned habits may not bring us closer to God;
The key challenge that every follower of Christ will face;
Common misconceptions about holiness and spiritual growth;
The essential thing needed to deepen your spiritual life and grow close to God;
Applying the Gospel to real-life challenges and decisions;
A fresh, vulnerable perspective on what it means to follow Christ authentically.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Readings for October 13, 2024 (Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time);
Story of the Rich Young Man from the Gospel of Mark (Mark 10:17-30);
More on how to train our brains to live out Abandonment to Divine Providence;
More on our call to stay close to the poor as an essential part of following Christ;
Support the mission of Fr. Louis Merosne in Haiti;
Would you like to hear more episodes like this one? Let us know so we can create resources that serve you best. Email your feedback to Dr. Greg at drgreg@catholicpsych.com or to the CatholicPsych team at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com
Need help? Schedule a free consultation to discuss your next best step;
Feeling called to help others? Learn more about our Certification program (CPMAP): CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicPsych
- Instagram: @catholicpsych
- X: @CatholicPsych

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 195: Live from Australia: Bridging Faith and Psychology Oct 08, 2024

In this special live-recorded episode from Australia, Dr. Greg and his guests explore the rich intersection of faith and mental health. Joined by spiritual director Katherine Stone, MGL, and CatholicPsych’s International Programs Director, Shawn van der Linden, the discussion weaves together personal stories, cultural insights, and thoughtful audience questions. Tune in to hear what Americans and Australians can learn from each other and gain a fresh perspective on faith’s role in mental health.

Discussed in this episode:

Dr. Greg Bottaro’s eye-opening experiences on his whirlwind three-week tour across Australia;
Surprising cultural differences between the U.S. and Australia when it comes to mental health and faith;
What Australians can teach us about staying anchored in faith in a secular society;
Personal stories of accompanying others through journeys of anxiety, doubt, and growth;
Katherine’s unique insights on the overlap of faith and mental health in spiritual direction;
Mental distress issues that Katherine sees come up often in spiritual direction;
Different ways scrupulosity manifests itself in the lives of dedicated Catholics;
Why the spiritual dimension of the person needs to be front and center for any Catholic utilizing mental health services;
Being created in God’s image means our core orientation is towards goodness and growth, despite any suffering or mental health challenges;
Relationships “clear the path” for us to rediscover our goodness and move toward wholeness;
Relationships in accompaniment provide individuals with a genuine sense of being deeply loved;
The ultimate goal of the healing relationship is to guide us toward a deeper, more profound relationship with God;
Why a deep understanding of Catholic anthropology matters in therapy;
Those providing accompaniment—whether in therapy, mentorship, or spiritual direction—need support, too;
The importance of having a support system and avoiding burnout by staying anchored;
The “one foot on shore, one foot in the water” approach: balancing immersion in others’ experiences with personal grounding;
Utilizing "parts work" to explore the various aspects of a person's identity, including the parts that hold anxiety or fear;
Acknowledging and welcoming these anxious parts is essential, rather than fighting against them;
Love and acceptance of each part of oneself facilitate a path toward greater wholeness and peace;
Why faith and psychology aren’t in opposition—and how they powerfully work together.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Podcast with Katherine Stone MGL: Contemplating Culture: A Missionary Walk through A Secular Age;
Learn more about Raphael Network, the Australian network of Catholic mental health care professionals;
Learn more about parts work:
- Episode 160: Healing through Parts Work
- Episode 179: Superheroes Within
Book recommendation for parts work: Litanies of the Heart by Dr. Gerry Crete;
Need help? Schedule a free consultation to discuss your next best step;
Feeling called to help others? Learn more about our Certification program (CPMAP): CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicPsych
- Instagram: @catholicpsych
- X: @CatholicPsych

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 194: Better Than Global Outreach? An Interview with CPMAP Graduate Jack Beers Oct 01, 2024

In today’s episode, Dr. Greg interviews Jack Beers—an amazing husband, father, and graduate of the CPMAP program. They chat about his journey from being a leader in mass evangelization to following his true calling in mentorship. Jack opens up about how the CPMAP program brought him closer to God, strengthened his family connections, and made him even better at what he loves—helping others.

Discussed in this episode:

Introduction to Jack Beers and his background with Dynamic Catholic;
Jack’s journey from mass evangelization to personal mentorship;
The transformative impact of the CPMAP certification on Jack’s life;
Insights into the challenges Jack faced during the CPMAP program;
The dramatic shift from mass evangelization to one-on-one accompaniment;
Jack’s experience in becoming a better husband and father through CPMAP;
Overcoming Cartesian Dualism through spiritual and psychological integration;
Jack’s favorite parts and key takeaways from the CPMAP program;
The role of supervision and mentorship in Jack’s growth as a mentor;
How CPMAP deepened Jack’s understanding of human dignity and personhood;
The impact of the CPMAP program on Jack’s professional and personal relationships;
The significance of embracing vulnerability and openness in personal transformation;
Jack’s 6-week spiritual bootcamp, RISE, and his current work as a Certified Mentor.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Feeling called to help others? Sign up for our Open House event! https://catholicpsych.com/openhouse
Need help? Schedule a free consultation with Jack Beers to discuss your next best step;
Check out Jack Beer’s website for additional information and to sign up for RISE: https://www.thecatholicmentor.com/
Connect with Jack Beers directly on LinkedIn or email (jack@catholicpsych.com);
Learn more about our Certification program (CPMAP): CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicPsych
- Instagram: @catholicpsych
- X: @CatholicPsych

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 193: From Missionary to Mentor: An Interview with CPMAP Graduate Mary Sutarik Sep 24, 2024

In this episode, Dr. Greg interviews Mary Sutarik, a graduate of the CatholicPsych certification program. Mary shares her journey from being a FOCUS missionary on college campuses to becoming a certified Catholic Mentor. They discuss the challenges she faced and the transformation she experienced through the program — and her work to now bring that transformation to others.

Discussed in this episode:

Mary's background as a FOCUS missionary and how it shaped her journey;
The mental health struggles Mary faced while on mission;
How Mary discovered CatholicPsych;
The key role of Mentorship (IDDM) in Mary's healing process;
Mary’s decision to pursue certification in the CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism;
The challenges Mary faced during her certification training;
Mary’s insights for those struggling with mental health issues in ministry;
The unique aspects of CPMAP compared to other mental health training options;
How Mary now mentors others using the CatholicPsych model;
The impact of CPMAP on Mary's personal and professional life;
The future of Mary’s work in mental health and ministry.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Feeling called to help others? Sign up for our Open House! https://catholicpsych.com/openhouse
Connect with Mary Sutarik directly on Instagram (@themoderncatholicmentor) or email (mary@catholicpsych.com);
Need help? Schedule a free consultation with Mary Sutarik to discuss your next best step;
Check out Mary’s website for more information and resources: https://www.themoderncatholicmentor.com/
Learn more about our Certification program (CPMAP): CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicPsych
- Instagram: @catholicpsych
- X: @CatholicPsych

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 192: Who's Ministering to the Ministers? An Interview with CPMAP Graduate Bobby Angel Sep 17, 2024

In today’s episode, Dr. Greg interviews Bobby Angel about his experience of the CPMAP certification program and how it has transformed his ministry. They discuss Bobby's journey through the program, the personal growth he underwent, and his amazing work to support ministry leaders through retreats focused on rest and integration.

Discussed in this episode:

The challenges faced by people in ministry roles;
Bobby's initial skepticism about the CPMAP program;
The personal growth Bobby experienced during the Certification process;
Combining personal growth with a call to serve others;
Bobby’s retreat for ministers: a space for rest, integration, and ministering to ministers;
How the CPMAP program isn’t just about learning or material regurgitation; it’s about transformation;
Bobby's use of CPMAP principles in his retreat program;
The impact of the CPMAP program on Bobby’s ministry work;
Bobby’s vision for the future of his ministry.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Feeling called to help others? Sign up for our Open House event! https://catholicpsych.com/openhouse
Need help? Schedule a free consultation with Bobby Angel to discuss your next best step;
Learn more about Bobby’s personal story in episode 163: Leading from Weakness: Authenticity in Fatherhood
Learn more about the REST Retreat, a retreat for frontline ministers, hosted by Bobby and Jackie Angel;
Visit Jackie and Bobby’s website for their books, podcast, blog, speaking engagements and more;
Watch Jackie and Bobby on Ascension Presents;
Learn more about our Certification program (CPMAP): CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicPsych
- Instagram: @catholicpsych
- X: @CatholicPsych

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 191: A Catholic Therapist Tells All: An Interview with CPMAP Graduate Julie Xistris Sep 10, 2024

In this episode, Dr. Greg interviews Julie Xistris, a licensed marriage and family therapist, about her journey through the CPMAP certification program. Julie shares her struggles with integrating her Catholic faith into her therapy practice and how the CatholicPsych training program provided her with the tools and freedom to align her work with her vocation.

Discussed in this episode:

The hidden struggles and pressures Catholic therapists face in a secular world;
The challenges of integrating faith into licensed therapy, especially when restricted by insurance or documentation requirements;
Julie’s journey from self-doubt to newfound confidence in her vocation;
Why traditional therapy methods weren't enough for her as a Catholic therapist;
The lack of effective supervision in Julie’s previous work experiences and how the CPMAP program provided life-changing guidance and support;
The importance of a supportive community and intentional supervision within the CPMAP program;
Julie’s passion for helping families and faith-based individuals, inspired by her own experiences and challenges within both Catholic and Protestant communities;
Julie’s plan with another CPMAP graduate to work together on addressing family, faith, and financial wounds, particularly in underserved communities;
How the CPMAP model continues to evolve based on the unique contributions of its graduates;
Why the CPMAP certification was a game-changer for Julie’s therapy practice.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Feeling called to help others? Sign up for our Open House event! https://catholicpsych.com/openhouse
Need help? Schedule a free consultation with Julie Xistris to discuss your next best step;
Connect with Julie Xistris directly on Instagram (@jdx_mentorship) or email (julie@catholicpsych.com);
Learn more about our Certification program (CPMAP): CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicPsych
- Instagram: @catholicpsych
- X: @CatholicPsych

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 190: Hope through Healing: An Interview with CPMAP Graduate Johnna Sullivan Sep 03, 2024

In today’s episode, Dr. Greg begins a series highlighting the experiences of graduates from the CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism (CPMAP) certification program. He interviews Johnna Sullivan, one of the original pilot students, who shares her journey through the program and her current work as a Certified Mentor.

Discussed in this episode:

Johnna’s journey from missionary work to becoming a Certified Mentor;
How CPMAP helped Johnna access and fulfill long-buried dreams;
Johnna’s struggle of balancing motherhood and personal dreams, and the gift of living inside God's will;
How CPMAP turned Johnna’s personal story of darkness into a light for others;
Johnna's fears about workload and financial stability when starting CPMAP;
How CPMAP helped Johnna confront deep-rooted grief and lost dreams;
The surprising amount of internal and academic work required in CPMAP;
Why the CPMAP program felt both safe and challenging for Johnna, and how it helped her take risks without fear of failure;
The moment Johnna realized she wanted to pursue a professional career as a Certified Mentor;
Why CPMAP offers a faster, more cost-effective path to a sustainable career;
Johnna’s financial journey and success after completing CPMAP.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Feeling called to help others? Sign up for our Open House event! https://catholicpsych.com/openhouse
Need help? Schedule a free consultation with Johnna Sullivan to discuss your next best step;
Learn more about Johnna’s personal story in episode 162: Unveiling Grace: A Journey of Redemption and Mercy
Connect with Johnna Sullivan directly for speaking engagements and additional resources: Johnna@catholicpsych.com;
Learn more about our Certification program (CPMAP): CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicPsych
- Instagram: @catholicpsych
- X: @CatholicPsych

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 189: Social Sabbatical: Join Our 31-Day Summer Challenge for Personal Growth! Jul 30, 2024

Welcome to Episode 189 of the Being Human Podcast: Social Sabbatical: Join Our 31-Day Summer Challenge for Personal Growth!

In this short episode, Dr. Greg introduces a 31-day social media fast challenge, inspired by his experiences as a Franciscan friar. He explains the importance of interior silence and invites listeners to join him and the CatholicPsych team in this social sabbatical.

Discussed in this episode:

Insights from Dr. Greg’s time as a Franciscan friar, including the cadence of prayer throughout the day and “Hermitage Day” each week;
The need for interior silence in personal and professional life;
Prioritizing the contemplative life of intimacy with God from which all charitable activity flows;
In some way, shape, or form, every single one of us baptized into Christ is called to develop intimacy with Him;
We all need to grow in intimacy with God, so we all need to cultivate interior silence;
An invitation and challenge to participate in CatholicPsych’s 31-day social media fast;
Why CatholicPsych is going dark for a month (August 2024), including pausing the Being Human podcast;
Dr. Greg’s personal commitment and sacrifice during this social media fast;
How to use this social media sabbatical to cultivate interior silence and intimacy with God.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Learn more about Catholic Mindfulness:
- Blog article: “Why Catholic Mindfulness?”
- Book: The Mindful Catholic
- 8-Week Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat
Need help? Schedule a free consultation with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Want to help others? Learn more about our Certification program (CPMAP): CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicPsych
- Instagram: @catholicpsych
- X: @CatholicPsych

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 188: Mailbag: Answering Everything From Abandonment to Offering it Up Jul 23, 2024

What does “offer it up” really mean? What is the Christocentric take on trauma? What does a holy and healthy life look like? In this mailbag episode, join us for a lively Q&A show where we answer these questions and more!

Discussed in this episode:

Healing abandonment wounds and overcoming negative psychological effects of being adopted;
Adoption in the light of the Holy Family (we’re all adopted!);
Every parent-child relationship involves being wounded, even with the greatest of parents;
The Christocentric take on trauma and the path of healing which is open to all;
Our traumas do not end our life: hope from a Christocentric life;
God takes our wounds and turns them into light and life;
3 phases of healing trauma, and the healing work of finding Jesus in our trauma;
How to discern which type of accompaniment to pursue (coaching, spiritual direction, therapy, mentorship);
How we project our parental experiences onto God;
Why the phrase “offer it up” is out of context and misused;
The real spiritual answer to another’s suffering;
The need for integration in spiritual direction;
A healthy understanding of mortification and aestheticism;
Discerning a healthy amount of social media use;
Announcement of CatholicPsych’s upcoming “social media fast.”

Resources mentioned or relevant:

If you enjoyed this mailbag episode, tune into The CatholicPsych Show which airs at 11am ET on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays;
Learn more about Catholic Mindfulness:
- Blog article: “Why Catholic Mindfulness?”
- Book: The Mindful Catholic
- 8-Week Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat
Need help? Schedule a free consultation with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Want to help others? Learn more about our Certification program (CPMAP): CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicPsych
- Instagram: @catholicpsych
- X: @CatholicPsych

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 187: The Key to Real Personal Development Jul 16, 2024

Let’s go beyond pop psychology and explore the path to authentic human flourishing! In this episode, Dr. Greg explains how to distinguish between good psychology and pop psychology. Also, find out why “attachment parenting” actually creates self-sabotaging anxiety.

Discussed in this episode:

How to distinguish between good psychology and pop psychology, and why that matters for human flourishing;
Dangers and benefits of pop psychology;
Most theories of the entire world of psychology are either atheist or agnostic;
How psychological adjustment interplays with spiritual growth;
Understanding the difference between spirituality and religion;
“Attachment parenting” as a fad of pop psychology;
Understanding what secure attachment actually is, and why attachment parenting causes self-sabotaging anxiety;
How anxiety responses differ between men (fight, flight or freeze) and women (connect or reject);
Can we pray away our anxiety?
Genuine inner peace as a mark both of spiritual growth and of psychological adjustment;
What does it mean to be self fulfilled? To be satisfied?
How defense mechanisms block our deep desires and our understanding of identity;
The dire consequences of not grounding our experimental perspective in revealed truth;
Insider access to a lecture from the Spirituality concentration of our Certification training program!
A Catholic mental health professional’s goal is not symptom reduction or to reduce suffering; instead, the goal is to increase peace.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Spiritual Passages: The Psychology of Spiritual Development by Fr. Benedict Groeschel;
Learn more about our Certification program (CPMAP): CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism
The Jeweler’s Shop by Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II)
Person and Psyche by Kenneth Schmitz
The Spiritual Child by Lisa Miller
Need help? Schedule a free consultation with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicPsych
- Instagram: @catholicpsych
- X: @CatholicPsych

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 186: Unpacking the Tragedy in Haiti Jul 09, 2024

In this special episode of the Being Human podcast, join Dr. Greg and Father Louis Merosne as they delve into the often-overlooked crises in Haiti, exploring the profound lessons for both Americans and Haitians, and opening up Christ’s call to stay close to the poor.

Discussed in this episode:

Haitian News Edition of The CatholicPsych Show
What Haitians can learn from Americans, and what Americans can learn from Haitians
The importance of tuning into current events outside the news cycle of mainstream media
Mind-blowing events unfolding in Haiti
Taking our vocation seriously to care for the plight of the poor
Our call to stay close to the poor
Ways to help the poor in Haiti

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Support the work of Fr. Louis Merosne at “Mission to the Beloved”: www.missiontothebeloved.com
Tune into The CatholicPsych Show which airs at 11am ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
Course created by Fr. Louis Merosne as a means of raising money to serve the poor in Haiti: “What Exorcisms Teach Us about the Spiritual Life” (all proceeds go to Fr. Louis’ Haiti Mission Fund)
Other Being Human podcast episodes with Fr. Louis Merosne:
- Episode 32: The Endless Mystery of the Human Person
- Episode 41: What Is Integration Anyway?
- Episode 45: Halloween, Haiti, and Spiritual Warfare
- Episode 53: Can Priests Do It All?
- Episode 120: Leading with Vulnerability
Need help? Schedule a free consultation with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you
Want to help? Learn more about our Certification program: CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicPsych
- Instagram: @catholicpsych
- X: @CatholicPsych

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 185: What Makes Families Strong? Jul 02, 2024

In this episode, Dr. Greg interviews Dr. Brad Wilcox, Catholic sociologist, professor and author of Get Married: Why Americans Should Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civilization. Learn about Dr. Brad’s sociological research on family dynamics, marriage, and parenting across different cultures, and his key findings on what makes families strong.

Discussed in this episode:

Dr. Brad’s amazing work bringing a foundation of Catholic faith to the world of sociology
The connection between family stability and societal health
Practical insights on building a strong, resilient family
The five pillars of a strong marriage: communion, children, commitment, cash and community
The importance of forging a “we before me” approach to marriage
The ways in which when marriages and families are strong, our country and communities are more likely to be flourishing
The importance of prioritizing a “family first” approach to life rather than a “me first” approach to life
Dr. Brad’s journey from the Episcopal Church to Catholicism
The gift of having a job where the work is actually improving one’s personal growth and vocation

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Get Married, Why Americans Should Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civilization by Dr. Brad Wilcox
Go to the Institute for Family Studies to learn more and to access Dr. Brad’s books, articles, social media, and podcast interviews
Gender and Parenthood: Biological and Social Scientific Perspectives by Dr. Brad Wilcox
Learn more about gender complementarity:
- Blog article: Celebrating the Differences of Men and Women
- Blog article: God Created Us to Need Each Other
- Episode 149: A New Approach to the Gender Crisis
- 4-part series on Gender Fluidity or Complementarity?
Need help? Schedule a free consultation with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you
Want to help? Learn more about our Certification program: CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicPsych
- Instagram: @catholicpsych
- X: @CatholicPsych

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 184: Secrets to Succeeding in Marriage (The Psychology of JP2, Part 4) Jun 25, 2024

What are the “secrets to success” for dating, marriages, and relationships? In this episode, Dr. Greg discusses the profound and practical wisdom in JP2’s book Love and Responsibility. Part 4 of our series on the psychology of Pope John Paul II.

Discussed in this episode:

Personalistic norm: the most misunderstood principle in marriages and family dynamics
A surprising and different way to understand love
Dating mistake: Why it is backwards to look for the right person with a list of checkboxes
The one question to ask during dating and the discernment of marriage
Why a spouse’s infidelity does not change your vow or “break the marriage”
Using a person as a means to an end vs loving a person
Sexual complementarity and the two dualist errors harming marriages: rigorism and libidinism
Tenderness: JP2 takes us a step further than empathy in relationships
The correct understanding of “marriage as a remedy of concupiscence”

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Love and Responsibility by Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II)
Series on the psychology of JP2:
Resources on dating and marriage:
- Marriage Mini-Course: A Free CatholicPsych Resource
- Episode 127: “I’m Gonna Want to Divorce You”
- Episode 131: The #1 Threat to Marriage
- Blog article: The One Most Important Quality to Look for in a Spouse
- Episode 122: There Is No Real Marriage Therapy
Learn more about gender complementarity:
- Blog article: Celebrating the Differences of Men and Women
- Blog article: God Created Us to Need Each Other
- Episode 149: A New Approach to the Gender Crisis
- 4-part series on Gender Fluidity or Complementarity?
How does the error of dualism impact your life?
- Blog article: You’re No Angel, But Neither Am I
- Blog article: Who Are We? And What Heals Us?
- Episode 41: What Is Integration Anyway?
Learn more about JP2’s Theology of the Body:
- Man and Woman He Created Them (original text by JP2)
- Theology of the Body Explained by Christopher West
- TOB Books and Resources by Jason Evert
- Theology of the Body Institute
Please share your feedback and questions (drgreg@catholicpsych.com) and share this podcast episode with Catholic mental health professionals
Need help? Schedule a free consultation with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you
Want to help? Learn more about our Certification program: CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicPsych
- Instagram: @catholicpsych
- X: @CatholicPsych

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 183: The Lead Domino Effect: Transformation Begins with a Blueprint Jun 18, 2024

A continuation of our series on the psychology of Pope John Paul II. In this episode, Dr. Greg discusses JP2’s blueprint of the human person and how it is the answer to all the problems we face today. When it comes to transforming our culture, this is the lead domino that will knock over every other domino.

Discussed in this episode:

What it means to have a blueprint of the human person
Every moment of our humanity is impacted by the teachings of Pope John Paul II (JP2)
JP2 answers the questions of contemporary man
For therapists and psychologists, the practical implications of having a blueprint of the human person
Why JP2 is the most important psychologist of the last 200 years (more important than Freud, Brene Brown, Jordan Peterson, and literally any other)
Catholic therapists have to be experts of consciousness
The proper understanding of the terms “self realization” and “self actualization”
The difference between self knowledge and self awareness
How addiction limits human freedom
The philosophy of JP2 as the most effective approach to a contemporary understanding of the human person
JP2’s work uniquely marries together two philosophical systems: Thomistic Philosophy and Phenomenology
Why the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas alone is not enough to convert most people today
Ways to join the mission to bring the psychology of JP2 to mainstream society

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Love and Responsibility by Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II)
Person and Act by Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II)
Writings, speeches, and encyclicals of Pope St. John Paul II
Setting the Stage: Early Plays of St. John Paul II
Series on the psychology of JP2 on the Being Human podcast:
- Episode 180: The Psychology of JP2: A Bold Proposal
- Episode 182: Delving Deep into the Human Experience
Gaudium et Spes
Theology of the Body:
- Man and Woman He Created Them (original text by JP2)
- Theology of the Body Explained by Christopher West
- TOB Books and Resources by Jason Evert
- Theology of the Body Institute
Please share your feedback and questions (drgreg@catholicpsych.com) and share this podcast episode with Catholic mental health professionals
If you are a Catholic mental health professional, join the waiting list for Fellowship, a practical way to deeply connect the dots between your identity as a therapist and a Catholic
Need help? Schedule a free consultation with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you
Want to help? Learn more about our Certification program: CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicPsych
- Instagram: @catholicpsych
- X: @CatholicPsych

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 182: Delving Deep into the Human Experience with Dr. John Crosby Jun 11, 2024

A continuation of our series on how the psychology of JP2 is the answer to our modern world gone sideways. In this episode, Dr. Greg Bottaro and philosopher Dr. John Crosby delve deep into the human experience through the lens of Dietrich von Hildebrand and Pope John Paul II.

Discussed in this episode:

Why a psychology of JP2 is what the world needs to move forward from the mess we’re in
What it means to “meet someone where they are”
The difference between our conscious and subconscious, and how this affects our human acts
The difference between reflective consciousness and reflexive consciousness
Reflexive consciousness as “an experience of myself from within” (interiority)
Without reflexive consciousness, an individual is a stranger or spectator to himself/herself
Self-determination vs the dangers of determinism even within one’s spiritual life
Coercion vs freedom and other parenting challenges in passing on the faith to our children
The importance of the philosophy and work of Dietrich von Hildebrand
Personal anecdotes of von Hildebrand as a professor of philosophy and a confessor of the faith
Phenomenology and the subjective experience of the person
The lived experience of one’s own subjectivity as an important dimension of the blueprint of the human person

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Learn more about the Hildebrand Project and the books, events, and resources available
Support the work of the Hildebrand Project
The Art of Living by Dietrich von Hildebrand with Alice von Hildebrand
Learn more about Alice von Hildebrand
Person and Act by Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II)
Past Being Human podcast episodes:
If you are a Catholic mental health professional, join the waiting list for Fellowship, a practical way to deeply connect the dots between your identity as a therapist and a Catholic
Need help? Schedule a free consultation with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you
Want to help? Learn more about our Certification program: CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicPsych
- Instagram: @catholicpsych
- X: @CatholicPsych

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 181: Harrison Butker’s Anger: Making Sense of Current Events Jun 04, 2024

Welcome to Episode 181 of the Being Human Podcast: Harrison Butker’s Anger: Making Sense of Current Events

This week, we’re announcing our newest project: a live call-in show during which Dr. Greg Bottaro and Dr. Bryan Violette try to make sense of the latest news headlines. Among other news headlines, this episode includes a discussion of the football commencement speech heard round the world (Harrison Butker’s controversial graduation address at Benedictine College).

Discussed in this episode:

The new live CatholicPsych Show
Harrison Butker’s commencement speech: the good, the not so great, and everything in between
Reactions from the public and media to Butker’s controversial statements
Context for Butker’s comment about homemakers, marriage, and motherhood
Butker’s angry and ineffective chastisements against bishops vs helping a person in leadership affect change
Butker’s immature and pejorative statement about Natural Family Planning as a form of birth control
Butker’s narrow mentality about the Latin Mass
The Latin Mass and reverence: Reverence has to do with the heart and with obedience, not in the externals.
President Joe Biden’s poor witness causing tremendous confusion about what it means to be Catholic
Misconfusions about the pro-life perspective

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Get notified when the CatholicPsych Show goes live!
Watch “The CatholicPsych Show” live on YouTube or catch the replay: @CatholicPsychInstitute
Email us your questions that we’ll answer on The CatholicPsych Show! Email mailbag@catholicpsych.com and put "mailbag" in the subject heading.
Need help? Schedule a free consultation with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you
Want to help? Learn more about our Certification program: CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicPsych
- Instagram: @catholicpsych
- X: @CatholicPsych

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 180: The Psychology of JP2: A Bold Proposal May 28, 2024

Welcome to Episode 180 of the Being Human Podcast: The Psychology of JP2: A Bold Proposal

In this week’s episode, Dr. Greg explores a bold new proposal for a Catholic standard of mental health rooted in the psychology of St. John Paul II. Dr. Greg entreats all Catholic psychologists and therapists to mine the treasures of JP2’s Personalism in order to offer hope, clarity, and healing in an increasingly confused and suffering world.

Discussed in this episode:

Why St. John Paul II’s psychology is more brilliant, effective and important to study than any other psychologist (including Freud)
The significance of human dignity and personhood in mental health care
How the teachings of JP2 can combat the modern mental health crises
Pitfalls of a solely scientific approach to mental health
The big difference between subjective criteria for mental health and a clear standard for mental health (and why there is no standard for mental health)
Being a Catholic psychologist does not mean simply being Catholic in the secular study of psychology
Anyone saying they are doing Catholic therapy should be an expert in both the science of psychology and the philosophy of psychology
How a model that integrates the spiritual and material dimensions of the human person offers deeper insights and more effective care compared to secular models
Find out how you can contribute to and benefit from a Catholic standard of mental health

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Please share your feedback (drgreg@catholicpsych.com) and share this podcast episode with Catholic mental health professionals
If you are a Catholic mental health professional, join the waiting list for Fellowship, a practical way to deeply connect the dots between your identity as a therapist and a Catholic
Person and Act by Karol Wojtyla
Person and Community by Karol Wojtyla
Writings, speeches, and encyclicals of Pope St. John Paul II
Setting the Stage: Early Plays of St. John Paul II
Past Being Human podcast episodes:
Read more on the CatholicPsych blog:
- What Does Catholic Psychology Mean?
- More on Catholic Psychology
Learn more about our Certification program: CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism
Need help? Schedule a free consultation with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 179: Superheroes Within: Parts Work and Inner Peace with Dr. Gerry Crete May 21, 2024

In this episode, Dr. Gerry Crete explores parts theory through the fascinating lens of Marvel superheroes, The Lord of the Rings, Scripture, and the saints. A master at leading people into their interior life, Dr. Gerry leads an experiential activity to connect the dots between parts work and inner peace.

Discussed in this episode:

What parts theory is (parts work, IFS, Internal Family Systems, Ego State Therapy)
How parts theory helps deepen our spiritual life
Within each human person, there is a multiplicity
Marvel’s “Avengers” movie as a portrayal of integration
We relate to the characters in the “Avengers” movie because in them we see something of ourselves
Parts work through the lens of The Lord of the Rings and the characters of Middle-earth
A guided experiential activity to make parts work practical and personal
What blending is and how unblending with parts gives access to our deep spiritual center
Insights of parts work from the writings of the saints and from Scripture
The sad reality that most people loathe themselves and how that limits love for others
The goal in therapeutic work is to experience inner harmony (when our parts are unburdened and integrated)

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Litanies of the Heart: Relieving Post-Traumatic Stress and Calming Anxiety Through Healing our Parts by Dr. Gerry Crete
Learn more about our Certification program: CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism
CatholicPsych’s annual Summit of Integration
Need help? Schedule a free consultation with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 178: The Last 70 Years in Psychology: Personal Reflections with Dr. Paul Vitz May 14, 2024

Welcome to Episode 178 of the Being Human Podcast: The Last 70 Years in Psychology: Personal Reflections with Dr. Paul Vitz

In this episode, Dr. Paul Vitz reflects on the last 70 years of psychology, from psychoanalysis to the emergence of humanistic psychology, interpersonal psychology, family therapy, emotion-focused therapy, cognitive and behavioral therapy, forgiveness therapy, positive therapy, and narrative psychotherapy. Dr. Vitz shares valuable insights for the future of psychology and mental health professionals today.

Discussed in this episode:

The fascinating development of psychology across seven decades
Why Dr. Paul Vitz became known in the 1960’s for criticizing humanistic psychology
The important contributions and pitfalls of new kinds of psychology as they emerged through the decades
The impact of positive psychology after 100 years of negative psychology (psychology of our pathologies)
The three theological premises for the Catholic Christian Meta-Model of the Person
The three vocations of each and every human person
Psychology through the decades as an intelligent search for the truth about the person, and our gratitude to those who have brought psychology to its current state
The challenges facing mental health professionals today
Encouragement to the “troops on the ground” to do to secular psychology what St. Thomas Aquinas did to secular philosophy
Hope and optimism for the future of psychology

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Psychology as Religion: The Cult of Self-Worship by Dr. Paul Vitz
A Catholic Christian Meta-Model of the Person: Integration with Psychology and Mental Health Practice
Learn more about our Certification program: CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism
Sign up for the annual Summit of Integration
Need help? Schedule a free consultation with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 177 - The Mystery of the Human Person with Dr. Peter Kreeft May 07, 2024

Welcome to Episode 177 of the Being Human Podcast: The Mystery of the Human Person with Dr. Peter Kreeft

In today’s episode, Dr. Greg had the opportunity to talk to Dr. Peter Kreeft, a convert to Roman Catholicism, and the author of over eighty books on Christian philosophy, theology and apologetics. Together they explore various topics such as psychology, philosophy, modern therapy, and the integration of spirituality. They talk about how modern societal challenges impact our understanding of human identity. Their discussion also addresses the importance of prioritizing truth and reason over feelings, the distinction between the mask people wear and the true person behind the mask, the balance between intellectual and spiritual pursuits, and the need for suffering in one's spiritual journey.

Discussed in this episode:

Understanding the concept of personalism and its potential to enhance our understanding of the human self and our relationship with God
Exploring the mystical and indefinable aspects of the human person and reflections on the self as an image of God and the inherent mysteries in defining the self
A discussion on modern societal challenges such as the rise of the experience machine, the increasing power of artificial intelligence, and the struggle to maintain human connection in an age of digital distractions
How the rise of pop psychology and modern therapy techniques have shifted societal values, perceptions of authority and family relationships
Reflections on the importance of acknowledging humanity in various psychological diagnoses
An emphasis on the importance of suffering and how it deepens our understanding of compassion and connection with others
Insights from John Paul II and others on the pursuit of truth and fulfillment, and how this impacts our understanding of the human self

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Know more about Dr. Peter Kreeft and his works

Bad Therapy: Why The Kids Aren’t Growing Up by Abigail Shrier

Episode 173 - Unmasking Disintegration: Examining the APA’s Stance on Gender Identity

Episode 174 - Healing or Harm? Unveiling the Truth About Bad Therapy

Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;

Learn more about our CPMAP Certification!

Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;

Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;

Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!

Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 176 - Human Suffering and Healing: A Roundtable Discussion with Dr. Paul Vitz, Dr. Gerry Crete and Mother Natalia Apr 30, 2024

Welcome to Episode 176 of the Being Human Podcast: Human Suffering and Healing: A Roundtable Discussion with Dr. Paul Vitz, Dr. Gerry Crete and Mother Natalia

In this episode, Dr. Greg had a great conversation with Dr. Paul Vitz, his professor from the Institute for Psychological Sciences, Mother Natalia from Christ the Bridegroom Monastery, and Dr. Gerry Crete, the author of Litanies of the Heart. Their discussion highlighted the deep interconnection between psychological and spiritual healing. They also critiqued contemporary psychology and cultural trends, challenging the dangers of individualism while promoting the importance of community and connection. By drawing parallels with Jesus' suffering on the cross, they reflected on the significance of relationships and compassion in navigating life's complexities.

Discussed in the episode:

A discussion on the significance of integrating psychology and faith to purify and strengthen one’s understanding of human suffering
Reflections on how suffering can serve as a common denominator that connects us all - how it brings us together, and how it provides us a path to deeper understanding of the human person
Recognizing the beauty of how wounded healers are capable of sharing a unique perspective from their own experiences of suffering and healing, and how through this, they are able to provide genuine support and guidance to others
Understanding the impact and dangers of today’s cultural emphasis on autonomy, and how this often leads people to isolation and anxiety
An exploration on how today’s culture teaches us to avoid the discomfort of “suffering with” others, resorting to quick fixes when it comes to healing and transformation
Insights on how one’s personal relationship with God and relationship with others is essential in the healing process, and how it is through this can one experience true freedom, healing and transformation

Resources mentioned or relevant:

You’re invited to CatholicPsych’s first-ever live event to celebrate the beauty and power of integration! Sign up for the Summit of Integration here

Learn more about our Certification program (CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism)!

Dr. Gerry Crete’s Book, “Litanies of the Heart

Dr. Paul Vitz’s Book, “Psychology as Religion: The Cult of Self-Worship”

Mother Natalia’s Podcast at “Pints With Aquinas”

Therapy of Spiritual Illnesses by Jean-Claude Larchet

Episode #174: Healing or Harm? (discussion of Abigail Shrier’s book Bad Therapy)

Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;

Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;

Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;

Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!

Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 175 - Rethinking Formation: Preparing Priests for the Future with Father Sam Kachuba Apr 23, 2024

Welcome to Episode 175 of the Being Human Podcast: Rethinking Formation: Preparing Priests for the Future with Father Sam Kachuba

In today’s episode, Dr. Greg had a conversation with Father Sam Kachuba, a pastor, a podcaster and one of our Partner Mentors at CatholicPsych. They share insights on priesthood formation and the significance of CatholicPsych’s Certification Program’s Capstone Project. They explore the differences between traditional academic programs and hands-on Certification. They also talk about the challenges that priests encounter, and their need for proper support and mentorship to guide them in their personal growth and healing, self-awareness, and emotional readiness. They emphasize the importance of providing priests with comprehensive formation programs that can develop their skills in pastoral ministry, spiritual direction and mental health support.

Discussed in the episode:

Father Sam’s witnessing on his personal experiences with CatholicPsych’s Certification Program and how it has impacted his personal growth and various aspects of his pastoral work as a priest
Exploring the gaps and challenges faced by new priests especially in their first assignments, the lack of formation and foundation among priests of today, and the difficulties priests face
Understanding the importance of proper mentorship, consistent guidance and a solid human formation in the life of seminarians and priests, and how these can have powerful impact on the effectiveness of pastoral and ministry work
Navigating the significant shifts in the Church since 2001 and their impact on seminarians and priests
Insights into the four pillars of seminary formation—human, intellectual, spiritual, and pastoral—and how they're essential for a well-rounded formation

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Summit of Integration: CatholicPsych’s live event to celebrate the beauty and power of integration!

Learn more about our Certification Program (CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism)!

Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;

Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;

Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;

Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!

Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 174 - Healing or Harm? Unveiling the Truth About Bad Therapy Apr 16, 2024

Welcome to Episode 174 of the Being Human Podcast: Healing or Harm? Unveiling the Truth About Bad Therapy

In this podcast episode, Dr. Greg delves into the controversial book, “Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up” by Abigail Shrier, which critiques modern psychotherapeutic practice, and exposes the dangers and ineffectiveness of current mental health trends. He talks about how mainstream psychology lacks integration of spiritual dimensions, and how this often leads to misguided treatments. He also discussed today's lack of certainty when it comes to mental health diagnoses and how current therapeutic interventions can worsen conditions.

Discussed in the episode:

Understanding how secular psychology often overlooks the spiritual aspect of human life, leading to incomplete diagnoses and treatments
A discussion on the concept of iatrogenesis and how misdiagnosis and incorrect interventions in therapy, and the lack of certainty in mental health practices, can lead to more harm than good
An exploration on the 10 principles of bad therapy discussed by Abigail Shrier in her book, and how these principles highlight the dangers of neglecting the holistic nature of human beings
A critique on the prevailing authority and weight assigned to therapists' judgments and diagnoses, emphasizing the need for greater humility and awareness in mental health practices
A reflection on the fundamental human longing for spiritual fulfillment and its relevance to psychological distress
An emphasis on the unpopular truth that only a holistic approach to therapy, grounded in a Catholic understanding of the human person, can provide deeper insights, more effective treatments strategies, leading individuals towards true healing and flourishing

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Bad Therapy: Why The Kids Aren’t Growing Up by Abigail Shrier

Psychology as Religion: The Cult of Self-Worship by Dr. Paul C. Vitz

You’re invited to CatholicPsych’s first-ever live event to celebrate the beauty and power of integration! Sign up for the Summit of Integration here

Learn more about our Certification program (CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism)!

Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;

Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;

Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;

Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!

Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 173 - Unmasking Disintegration: Examining the APA’s Stance on Gender Identity Apr 09, 2024

Welcome to Episode 173 of the Being Human Podcast: Unmasking Disintegration: Examining the APA’s Stance on Gender Identity

In this episode, Dr. Greg explores the importance of integration in dealing with complex societal matters. He stresses the need to integrate faith, reason, and science to understand and foster human development. Additionally, he addresses the troubling developments within the American Psychological Association, specifically its recent policy statement on transgender issues. The importance of a philosophical perspective that acknowledges the unity of body and personhood is highlighted, as well as advocating for hope, truth, and compassion in confronting societal challenges.

Discussed in the episode:

Understanding how the integration of faith, reason and science is essential for human flourishing and navigating complex issues effectively
Insights on how the recent policy statement from the American Psychological Association (APA) regarding transgender, gender diverse, and non-binary individuals raises significant concerns
A critical examination of the APA's policy, highlighting its departure from scientific rigor and promotion of ideologies undermining fundamental truths
Reflections on the recent developments towards a more holistic approach to understanding gender dysphoria, and the need for integration to provide compassionate care
The importance of advocating for hope, providing compassionate care and seeking the light of Christ in the pursuit of truth amidst societal complexities

Resources mentioned or relevant:

APA Policy Statement on Affirming Evidence-Based Inclusive Care for Transgender, Gender Diverse, and Nonbinary Individuals, Addressing Misinformation, and the Role of Psychological Practice and Science

Episode 149: A New Approach to the Gender Crisis

Episode 151: From Gender Dysphoria to Gender Integration: A Proposal

Episode 152: Towards a New Revolution of Gender Truth

Episode 153: How To Talk About Gender Issues

Episode 155: How To Help Those Suffering with Gender Confusion

Episode 157: For Those Holding the Line Between Two Extremes (A Gender Series Follow Up)

You’re invited to CatholicPsych’s first-ever live event to celebrate the beauty and power of integration! Sign up for the Summit of Integration here

Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;

Learn more about our CPMAP Certification!

Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;

Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;

Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!

Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 172 - A Journey through Faith and Music with John Michael Talbot Apr 02, 2024

Welcome to Episode 172 of the Being Human Podcast: A Journey through Faith and Music with John Michael Talbot

In this episode, Dr. Greg had a conversation with John Michael Talbot, a Catholic author, musician and the founder of Brothers and Sisters of Charity. He shares his inspiring conversion to Catholicism, and the impact of his faith on his music. They discuss the importance of the mystical and contemplative dimension in his life, emphasizing the need for artists to go deep in prayer and trust in Divine Providence. They also reflect on the challenges of community and individualism in today's world. Despite the uncertainties of the future, he encourages us all to remain faithful and to trust in God's plan.

Discussed in the episode:

How John experienced pivotal moments in his life that led to his conversion and his search for deeper spiritual truths, mysticism, contemplative prayer and the early Church Fathers
John’s story of conversion to Catholicism and the profound impact it had on his life and music
Understanding how contemplative prayer influences artistic expression and how true art arises from a deep union with God
John’s advice to artists to “mine the gold” of God’s special gift to them and “do well what you do well”
Recounting John’s life-changing mystical experience during a period of illness, where he encountered God’s forgiveness and mercy in a profound way
Exploring the challenges of individualism and the impact of technology in Western society and the importance of fostering authentic community grounded in love and faith
Reflections on navigating the uncertainties of the future with faith and trust in God’s providence, and emphasizing the importance of staying faithful

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Summit of Integration Event

John Michael Talbot’s Official Website

John Michael Talbot’s Youtube Channel

John Michael Talbot’s Books

Little Portion Hermitage and Monastery

Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;

Learn more about our CPMAP Certification!

Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;

Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;

Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!

Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 171 - Catholic Mindfulness on College Campus Mar 26, 2024

Welcome to Episode 171 of the Being Human Podcast: Catholic Mindfulness on College Campus

In this episode, the last of our six-part series for Lent, I had a conversation with Lily McGibbon – a sophomore at the University of Notre Dame (and granddaughter of Paul Vitz!) - to discuss the integration of Catholicism with psychology and mindfulness. Lily shares her perspective on the topics of mental health and gender ideology at Notre Dame as well as the changing attitudes towards marriage and relationships among college students. We also explore the relevance of incorporating Catholic mindfulness into daily life.

Discussed in the episode:

Exploring how the integration of Catholicism with psychology and mindfulness in gaining traction on college campuses nowadays
A discussion on how exposure to diverse perspectives and challenging environments can lead to personal growth and deeper understanding of one’s faith
Reflections on how attitudes towards marriage and relationships vary among college students, with some prioritizing career aspirations
Understanding that Catholic mindfulness often combines elements of Eastern philosophy and Catholic theology, emphasizing the importance of being present and filling oneself with grace and goodness
Discussion on how Catholicism is often misunderstood as unsympathetic towards mental health issues, and reflections on how Catholic faith actually does provide guidance and support in dealing with anxiety and depression
Understanding how faith plays a crucial role in mental life and how an active prayer life can provide support and understanding in how we receive God’s guidance and navigate the busyness of daily life
An emphasis on how adapting to changing circumstances and being present in the current moment is an important aspect of living a faithful life

Resources mentioned or relevant:

The Mindful Catholic: Finding God One Moment At A Time by Dr. Greg Bottaro

Episode 134: Catholic Mindfulness: Why It's Not Only Okay But Encouraged for Catholics to Practice

Buddhist vs Catholic Mindfulness

Is Mindfulness New Age?

Catholic Mindfulness Is Not Centering Prayer

The Catholic Guide to Mindfulness, or, Coffee - Satan’s Drink

You’re No Angel, but Neither Am I

Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn more about our CPMAP Certification!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych.
Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 170 - Navigating Mindfulness in Daily Living Mar 19, 2024

Welcome to Episode 170 of the Being Human Podcast: Navigating Mindfulness in Daily Living

In this episode, the fifth video of our six-part series for Lent, Dr. Greg had another conversation with his wife, Barbra Bottaro, and they explore the practical application of mindfulness in fostering a balanced approach to life’s complexities. They share their personal experiences to illustrate how mindfulness helps us navigate daily challenges like power outages, parenting dilemmas with a sense of calm and adaptability. They also reflect on the importance of prioritizing tasks like homeschooling amidst societal pressures and discuss the concept of abandonment to divine providence in trusting God's guidance.

Discussed in the episode:

Understanding the relevance of mindfulness in navigating challenges from personal anecdotes from a recent family road trip they had highlighting the challenges of balancing responsibilities, parenting, and unexpected circumstances
A discussion on insights into adapting to changing circumstances and reframing challenges through a mindful approach shared through personal experiences
The importance of mindset and flexibility in overcoming challenges, highlighting the potential for growth and learning in unexpected situation
Exploring the importance of prioritizing homeschooling amidst the chaos of daily life, and the how being simple daily schedules can lead to profound peace
Reflecting into the struggle of prioritizing self-care and embracing what truly matters, even when societal expectations suggest otherwise
Learning to release the pressure of perfectionism so we can truly trust and surrender in Divine providence and guidance, allowing room for unexpected blessings and outcomes

Resources mentioned or relevant:

The Mindful Catholic: Finding God One Moment At A Time by Dr. Greg Bottaro

Episode 134: Catholic Mindfulness: Why It's Not Only Okay But Encouraged for Catholics to Practice

Buddhist vs Catholic Mindfulness

Is Mindfulness New Age?

Catholic Mindfulness Is Not Centering Prayer

The Catholic Guide to Mindfulness, or, Coffee - Satan’s Drink

You’re No Angel, but Neither Am I

Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn more about our CPMAP Certification!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych.
Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 169 - Breaking Free From Unhealthy Mental Habits Mar 12, 2024

Welcome to Episode 169 of the Being Human Podcast: Breaking Free From Unhealthy Mental Habits

In this episode, the fourth video of our six-part series for Lent, we feature a part of Dr. Greg’s 8-week course entitled "Introduction to Catholic Mindfulness". He talks about how our interpretations of events shape our reactions and behaviors, using the ABC model of learning to illustrate this process. He emphasizes the role of mindfulness in breaking habitual thought patterns and empowering individuals to make conscious choices. By acknowledging self-critical thoughts without judgment and practicing mindfulness exercises like the sacramental pause, we can cultivate greater awareness and peace of mind. He also shares about the power of mindfulness as a tool to counteract negative thought patterns and promote personal growth.

Discussed in the episode:

Understanding one’s innate capacity for mindfulness and the importance of re-engaging with present experiences through awareness and mindful living
The transformative power of mindfulness in unraveling the mind's narrative and cultivating a deeper sense of awareness in daily life
A discussion on the ABC model of learning, how this affects our thoughts, and how interpretations can shift based on new information influences our reactions to events

Understanding how interpretations can be true, false, or a mix of both, and how they impact our reactions and responses

Exploring the repetitive nature of automatic thoughts and how mindfulness exercises can help disrupt our ingrained beliefs and assumptions

The significance of the "beginner's mind" approach and how recognizing distractions is key to deepening our mindfulness practice
Exploring our thoughts as mental events and the significance of learning to view them as mental noises to be heard without judgment or attachment

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Introduction to Catholic Mindfulness

Mindful Catholic Exercises

The Mindful Catholic: Finding God One Moment At A Time by Dr. Greg Bottaro

Episode 134: Catholic Mindfulness: Why It's Not Only Okay But Encouraged for Catholics to Practice

Buddhist vs Catholic Mindfulness

Is Mindfulness New Age?

Catholic Mindfulness Is Not Centering Prayer

The Catholic Guide to Mindfulness, or, Coffee - Satan’s Drink

You’re No Angel, but Neither Am I

Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn more about our CPMAP Certification!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych.
Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 168 - Catholic Mindfulness in Daily Living with Dr. Bryan Violette Mar 05, 2024

Welcome to Episode 168 of the Being Human Podcast: Catholic Mindfulness in Daily Living with Dr. Bryan Violette

In this episode, the third video of our six-part series on The Mindful Catholic, I had a conversation with a fellow Catholic psychologist and good friend of mine, Dr. Bryan Violette. We discuss the different dimensions of Catholic mindfulness and how it integrates with our personal experiences. We explore how reframing mindfulness serves as a tool for achieving our goals, enhancing our self-awareness and increasing our performance in our daily pursuits. We talk about the challenges of maintaining focus, and the value of being genuinely present in the moment. We also reflect about the spiritual aspect of mindfulness and how it can help us deepen our trust in Divine providence.

Discussed in the episode:

The relevance and power of being mindfully present in various aspects of one’s life - exploring on the applications of mindfulness in personal and professional contexts, particularly in balancing work and family life
A reflection on Dr. Greg’s feelings towards playing golf, tracing it back to his high school experiences and revealing deeper insights into his personal narratives and the intersection of mindfulness and sports
The relationship between competitiveness and mindfulness, and exploring whether they can coexist harmoniously or if they are inherently contradictory
The connection between mindfulness, focus, productivity, memory recall, and creativity, underscoring the potential benefits of cultivating a mindful approach in various aspects of life
The challenges of being mindful and maintaining presence when conversing with someone or during podcast interviews, especially when battling with our personal agendas or preconceptions
An emphasis on the truth that we always have enough time to accomplish what is necessary and the need for discernment in balancing mindfulness with the challenges of daily life
A discussion on the spiritual aspect of mindfulness and the concept of trusting in Divine providence amidst life’s uncertainties

Resources mentioned or relevant:

The Catholic Sinner Show - Dr. Bryan’s Youtube Channel

The Mindful Catholic: Finding God One Moment At A Time by Dr. Greg Bottaro

Episode 134: Catholic Mindfulness: Why It's Not Only Okay But Encouraged for Catholics to Practice

Buddhist vs Catholic Mindfulness

Is Mindfulness New Age?

Catholic Mindfulness Is Not Centering Prayer

The Catholic Guide to Mindfulness, or, Coffee - Satan’s Drink

You’re No Angel, but Neither Am I

Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn more about our CPMAP Certification!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych.
Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 167 - Mindful Birthing and Other Stories with My Wife Feb 27, 2024

Welcome to Episode 167 of the Being Human Podcast: Mindful Birthing and Other Stories with My Wife

In this episode, the second video of our six-part series on The Mindful Catholic, I had a meaningful conversation with my wife, Barbra Bottaro. We discuss the basics of mindfulness in the home and how we can use this in our daily lives. She shares with us the beautiful story of how one of our kids was born at home with the use of mindfulness and how transformative it can be when we learn how to truly be in the present moment. We unpack the dimensions of Catholic mindfulness and explore its practical and real-life applications. We also highlight the power of mindful and intentional living amidst challenges and joys and how this can powerfully change the way we journey through life.

Discussed in the episode:

How mindfulness played a pivotal role in Barbra’s journey through an unmedicated home birth with their fourth child, and how she found strength during moments of her intense labor despite her struggles with anxiety as she was able to fully align her intentions to God's will through the practice of being in the present moment
The importance of intentional living and its transformative impact in our faith journey
How mindfulness can serve as a powerful tool in enabling us to make better decisions and to handle difficult situations with clarity, character, and virtue
Understanding how mindfulness techniques can help us in managing feelings of overwhelm, stress, and anxiety, allowing us to better navigate through the complexities of daily life
The concept of the "doing mind" versus the "being mind" and how it influences our perception and response to challenges
How we often add unnecessary layers of anxiety and stress to our life struggles and how learning to strip away these layers through mindfulness can help us attain a sense of peace and empowerment
Exploring practical examples that illustrate how stepping back with mindfulness can increase our productivity, efficiency and mental clarity

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn more about our CPMAP Certification!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych.
Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 166 - How Catholic Mindfulness Makes You A Better Catholic Feb 20, 2024

Welcome to Episode 166 of the Being Human Podcast: How Catholic Mindfulness Makes You a Better Catholic

As we enter the season of Lent, join us for a special series where we unpack Dr. Greg’s book, The Mindful Catholic. Over the next six episodes, we will have insightful discussions along with beloved guests as we explore how mindfulness aligns with Catholic values and enhances our spiritual journey.

In this episode, Dr. Greg talks about the intersection of spirituality and psychology, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of how our minds work in relation to our spiritual journey. By embracing practices like mindfulness, we can cultivate a deeper connection with God and navigate life's challenges with greater resilience and peace. This holistic approach to spirituality offers a path towards an intimate union with God and fulfillment in our daily lives. May this Lenten series be a meaningful journey towards integration and a drawing closer to the Lord.

Discussed in the Episode:

The relevance of Catholic mindfulness and how it can help us grow deeper in living out our faith and understanding the presence of God in our lives
An exploration of the developmental nature of spirituality and how psychology and philosophy enriches our understanding of both our faith and human experience
How mindfulness-based techniques can empower us to deepen our spiritual journey while navigating life's complexities
The importance of constantly evolving in our understanding of human psychology to deepen our understanding of our self so we can live more authentically
The integration between intellect and the heart, and using this in the present moment to keep ourselves motivated and sustained in our faith journey
Examining the dynamics of acceptance and avoidance in facing life's difficulties, drawing parallels between spiritual surrender and psychological resilience
Understanding the role of rumination in avoiding discomfort and the transformative power of accepting the present moment with trust and surrender

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn more about our CPMAP Certification!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych.
Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 165 - Understanding the Past to Navigate the Present with Fr. Sam Kachuba Feb 13, 2024

Welcome to Episode 165 of the Being Human Podcast: Understanding the Past to Navigate the Present with Fr. Sam Kachuba

In this episode, Dr. Greg had the opportunity to talk to Father Sam Kachuba, a pastor, a podcaster and one of our Partner Mentors at CatholicPsych. They delve into the historical and philosophical underpinnings of societal shifts and their impact on the Church. From the countercultural movements of the 1960s, to the challenges of navigating cultural shifts posed by communism and the breakdown of traditional family structures, Father Sam emphasizes the need for the Church to adapt and communicate effectively in a changing world. They also discuss the need for clear, compassionate communication grounded on Catholic principles, the importance of human formation, renewal, and the call to deepen our faith and prayer life.

Discussed in the Episode:

The historical context of societal shifts, their impact on the Church and how human formation and the ability to adapt to cultural changes is essential.

Insights on the misuse of language and its influence on societal perceptions and why there is a need for clear, compassionate communication grounded on Catholic principles.

Understanding the concepts of subsidiarity and solidarity in fostering community responsibility, and the relevance of recognizing the interconnectedness of individuals while respecting the autonomy of families and communities.

The decline of philosophy and theology education and the lack of cohesion and direction in Catholic schools, and how this has created a huge impact on students’ understanding of language, philosophy, and theology.

A discussion on the loss of liturgical sensibility and tradition in Catholic worship and the urgent need for a balanced approach to liturgical renewal.

The importance of strong leadership and authority and the Church and the call for a renewal of human formation and spiritual direction within the Church.

An invitation to exemplify the life and ministry of Saint John Paul II as a model of authentic witness, and the call to integrate truth, love, and mission in Church leadership.

The importance of authentic encounters and relationships in the journey of holiness, and the call to embrace the invitation of Lent to recalibrate, strip away false idols, and deepen our faith and prayer life.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Connect with Father Sam Kachuba
The Tangent Podcast on Veritas Catholic Network
Roar Like the Lamb Podcast
Lenten Program Sign Up
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn more about our CPMAP Certification!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resourceswe have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych.
Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 164 - Finding Peace Beyond Understanding: Trusting God's Love Amidst Church Challenges Feb 06, 2024

Welcome to Episode 164 of the Being Human Podcast: Finding Peace Beyond Understanding: Trusting God's Love Amidst Church Challenges

There is a growing discontent in the Church at present, and there is a need to recalibrate and renew our relationship with God. In this episode, Dr. Greg explores the historical roots of why our Church seems to lack solid formation on human sexuality and how this impacts our society today. He also talks about the emotional divide among priests and bishops in the church hierarchy. He emphasizes how we are all called to reintegrate our faith and trust, and to go deeper in our relationship with God so we can keep ourselves grounded in the Father's love during these times of confusion and division.

Discussed in the Episode:

The growing awareness of discontent within the Church, specifically in the United States, and how this is causing mistrust and confusion among Catholics

An exploration on the roots of this discontent – drawing back from past historical scandals, abuse, and a lack of substantial human sexuality formation in the Church

Understanding the emotional divide between priests and bishops and how distrust permeates different levels within the Church hierarchy through the parallel process

How acknowledging human imperfection and owning one’s mistakes along with an openness to growth, renewal and reintegration can lead to peace and healing

The importance of seeking peace in the love of God the Father and of deepening one’s faith and trust in presence of the Holy Spirit, especially in these times of confusion and uncertainty
An invitation to practice Catholic mindfulness and to participate in the Lenten Program of CatholicPsych, as a way to renew and recalibrate our relationship with God

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn more about our CPMAP Certification!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych.
Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 163: Leading From Weakness: Authenticity in Fatherhood with Bobby Angel Jan 30, 2024

Welcome to Episode 163 of the Being Human Podcast: Leading From Weakness: Authenticity in Fatherhood with Bobby Angel

In this episode, Dr. Greg dives into conversation with Bobby Angel, a Catholic speaker, author, and one of our Partner Mentors at CatholicPsych. Bobby shares the challenges of being a husband and a father, and how we are all called to humility, self-reflection, and internal transformation as we serve the Lord in ministry.

They also talk about the impact of technology and gaming on parenting, the need for setting boundaries at home, and the importance of fostering trust, validation and support in the family. He encourages us to rely on the power of prayer, and to entrust our lives to God’s plan.

Discussed in the Episode:

The inspiring journey of Bobby and how the CPMAP Certification of CatholicPsych has transformed him to become a better version of himself - as a husband, a father, and a son of God
The importance of humility and of recognizing our need for ongoing growth, learning and deepening
How embracing vulnerability, turning inward and confronting the uncomfortable and unsettling aspects of ourselves transform how we see our identity and how we respond to God’s call for us
How intentionally practicing mindfulness amid our busy lives make us more effective instruments of healing to our family, our communities and in our ministry
How fathers are called to become sources of encouragement and trustworthy examples of authenticity and integrity to their children
How gaming echoes with our call to holiness, how we can pursue a heroic life and how we can respond to that call both in our virtual and real world as taught by Bobby’s new book, Gaming and the Heroic Life

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Learn more about our CPMAP Certification!

Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you.
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych.
Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 162: Unveiling Grace: A Journey of Redemption and Mercy with Johnna Sullivan Jan 23, 2024

Welcome to Episode 162 of the Being Human Podcast: Unveiling Grace: A Journey of Redemption and Mercy with Johnna Sullivan

In today’s episode, Dr. Greg had a meaningful conversation with Johnna Sullivan, a missionary in Haiti and one of our Partner Mentors at Catholic Psych. Johnna shares about her joys and challenges as a missionary and how God paved the way for her to discover her purpose in life.

They talk about the complexity of human experiences, the importance of creating safe spaces for others to share their stories, and the necessity for having a place in the Church for everyone to find healing in chaos. They also address the double layer of invisibility and loneliness that some people experience and the beauty of being able to bring their hidden fears into the light.

Discussed in the Episode:

The inspiring missionary journey of Johnna in Haiti which reminds us of how embracing God’s will leads us to life-changing experiences - often unexpected but always in accordance to His best plans for us
How guilt and shame caused by sin does not define our worth or our ability to live a fulfilling life and how God’s love and mercy unconditionally redeems us from our brokenness
The importance of creating a safe space for vulnerability where people can freely share their stories, overcome their fears, live in the present and move towards healing and growth
How offering understanding and compassion to those who are hiding in fear and brokenness can help them heal from the past, rebuild their lives, find their purpose, and bring their stories to God’s light
Our call and mission to find God in our own imperfections and to be instruments of hope and healing to those who are struggling with their own stories of brokenness

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Connect with Johnna Sullivan

Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn more about our CPMAP Certification!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych.
Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 161: Habit Hacks for Real New Years Changes Jan 16, 2024

Welcome to Episode 161 of the Being Human Podcast: Habit Hacks for Real New Years Changes

As the New Year begins, it’s time again to reflect on our resolutions and aspirations. In today's episode, Dr. Greg talked about the psychology behind hacking your behaviors and habits so you can implement lasting changes this year. He also shared research-based insights and practical resources that will help you create a sustainable plan, equip you to take action, and motivate you to achieve transformative growth this 2024.

Discussed in the episode:

The importance of constant growth and development, aligning it with the Catholic perspective of embracing change and constant improvement in our lives;
An exploration of developmental psychology, drawing parallels between physical and spiritual growth, and highlighting the importance of continual growth throughout life;
A Catholic approach to New Year's resolutions, making spiritual growth a priority, and the importance of creating balance and integrating improvements in physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects;
A discussion on James Clear's four laws for habit formation–make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying–providing a practical framework for implementing positive changes in various aspects of life
How incremental changes are key to habit formation–a discussion on the concept of making one percent changes consistently, highlighting the importance of small, sustainable improvements over time;
An introduction to Catholic Psych Institute’s New Years Revolution Coaching Program–a one-month daily accompaniment experience for individuals seeking support in their journey towards positive change;
An integration of psychological insights with a spiritual perspective in creating sustainable changes for the year, encouraging listeners to embrace the responsibility for personal growth, acknowledging the grace available through prayer, and a desire for positive change.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn more about our CPMAP Certification!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych.
Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 160: Healing Through Parts Work and Litanies of the Heart, w/ Dr. Gerry Crete Jan 09, 2024

Welcome to Episode 160 of the Being Human Podcast: Healing Through Parts Work and Litanies of the Heart, w/ Dr. Gerry Crete

In this week’s episode, Dr. Greg welcomes Dr. Gerry Crete to the show for a deep dive discussion into Dr. Gerry’s new book, Litanies of the Heart! Listen in as they unpack how “parts work” can help in overcoming anxiety and trauma as well as aid in finding greater life fulfillment and a more intimate relationship with God.

Discussed in the episode:

Parts work as a transformative therapeutic approach that dives deep into the integration of psychology and spirituality;
How Litanies of the Heart offers a comprehensive guide for those seeking healing and self-discovery through the lens of Catholic spirituality;
The importance of understanding the body-soul connection in the journey of healing and using body-based therapies in alignment with the holistic nature of our faith;
How Litanies of the Heart incorporates aspects of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and EMDR to address wounds and foster secure attachment with Christ;
The call to be “missionaries of integration” - bringing together the truths of psychology and the Catholic faith – in order to lead people to healing, holiness, and an experience of real integration.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn more about our CPMAP Certification!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 159: My Personal Story of an Irregular Situation and Fiducia Supplicans Jan 02, 2024

Welcome to Episode 159 of the Being Human Podcast: My Personal Story of an Irregular Situation and Fiducia Supplicans

Fiducia Supplicans, the new document released by the Vatican, and the way Pope Francis addressed questions about the blessing of couples in “irregular” or same-sex relationships has caused controversy and confusion to many. In this new episode, Dr. Greg shares his reflections and insights on this issue to guide us in deepening our understanding of the document, and to help enlighten us on how to respond to this matter in the light of our Catholic faith.

Discussed in the episode:

The historical theme of division and mistrust initiated by the devil and the importance of unity and communion in the Church;
A deep dive into the document's release on the development of Church teaching on blessings, specifically for couples in irregular situations or same-sex relationships;
The fundamental teachings on marriage, sin, and God's plan for sexuality remain unchanged;
Gaining perspective on the transcendence of God's presence through the endurance of the Catholic Church for 2,000 years and its foundation on the promises of Christ;
The imperfections present in the Church throughout history and the need to recognize the transcendent authority of God beyond human failing;
Why it is important to have a closer view of the document and consider the opportunity for it to open a pathway for deeper compassion and understanding, especially for those struggling with same-sex attraction;
Why can there be a possibility that the document might provide a pastoral blessing for couples who, in choosing celibacy, seek support, friendship, and a life of virtue and holiness in accordance with the Church teachings;
Why it is important for us to find God amid human imperfections, whether in the Pope or the Church, and to seek unity, understanding, and a deeper appreciation for the Holy Spirit's presence in the Church.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings Declaration;
'Fiducia supplicans' is Self-Contradictory (Article by Cardinal Gerhard Müller)
One Omission and Three False Dichotomies in the Vatican “Declaration” (Blog Post by Dr. Greg);
Being Human Podcast Episodes:
- Our recent Gender Series, beginning with Episode #149: A New Approach to the Gender Crisis;
- Episode #72: The DSM Disease (Part One of Two);
- Episode #158: Blessings for Same-Sex Couples? (An Invitation to Go Deeper);

Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body by Pope John Paul II;
Theology of the Body for Beginners by Christopher West;
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn more about our CPMAP Certification!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 158: Blessings for Same-Sex Couples? (An Invitation to go Deeper) Dec 27, 2023

Welcome to Episode 158 of the Being Human Podcast: Blessings for Same-Sex Couples? (An Invitation to go Deeper)

So many Catholics have been shocked, surprised, and confused by the recently-released Vatican document in which Pope Francis responds to questions regarding the blessing of couples in “irregular” or same-sex relationships. In this episode, Dr. Greg offers a response to the issue.

Discussed in the episode:

The importance of transcending political commentary and debates and focusing instead on creating a path forward as a Church;
What this current confusion can teach us;
Why this issue is actually an opportunity to bring the Church’s teaching about God’s plan for male and female to the forefront;
The importance of deepening our understanding about the truth, beauty, and goodness of 2000 years of Catholic teaching about human sexuality;
Why anything outside of God’s plan for marriage between a man and a woman is against our humanity;
What Christ’s example of eating with tax collectors and sinners, meeting the woman at the well, and reaching down to the woman caught in adultery means;
Why it’s important to have compassion for those struggling with sin, while still being careful not to legitimize the behavior of a sinful relationship;
Our role as thoughtful, intelligent, prayerful, and discerning Catholics;
Why we need to start with ourselves and our own interior conversion to make the Church better as a whole.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings Declaration;
One Omission and Three False Dichotomies in the Vatican “Declaration” (blog post by Dr. Greg);
Being Human Podcast Episodes:

Our recent Gender Series, beginning with Episode #149: A New Approach to the Gender Crisis;
Episode #72: The DSM Disease (Part One of Two);

Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body by Pope John Paul II; ;
Theology of the Body for Beginners by Christopher West;
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn more about our CPMAP Certification!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 157: For Those Holding the Line Between Two Extremes (A Gender Series Follow-Up) Dec 19, 2023

Welcome to Episode 157 of the Being Human Podcast: For Those Holding the Line Between Two Extremes (A Gender Series Follow-Up)

This episode is for those standing on the middle ground between owoke liberal culture and traditional Catholicism; for those attempting to walk with those who struggle with gender confusion while at the same time upholding objective truth. In this follow-up to our recent Gender Series, Dr. Greg offers encouragement, consolation, and a way forward!

Discussed in the episode:

What is the middle ground between woke ideologies and Church tradition?
The cross holding the tension between objective truth and the culture in which we live;
How to follow Christ’s example of upholding objective truth while also entering into the pain and suffering of people experiencing gender confusion;

The importance of persevering in fighting the good fight;
Encouragement for times when the battle for truth feels lonely and exhausting;
The importance of remembering that every saint goes through moments of feeling abandoned and alone;
The meaning of compassion and mercy (misericordia) as a capacity to suffer with others;
Why the deepest evangelization happens through encounter and accompaniment;
Self-compassion as the first step to having compassion for others who are suffering;
The most loving and healthy thing you can do for others to attain ultimate happiness.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Past Being Human Episodes:

Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn more about our CPMAP Certification!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 156: Introducing…The Catholic Sinner Show! w/ Dr. Bryan Violette Dec 12, 2023

Welcome to Episode 156 of the Being Human Podcast: Introducing…The Catholic Sinner Show! w/ Dr. Bryan Violette

In this episode, join in on the conversation as Dr. Greg and Dr. Byran discuss life, dreams, passion projects, finding God, and the launch of Dr. Bryan’s new talk show!

Discussed in the episode:

The importance of pursuing one’s dreams and passions;
Learning to listen to the still small voice within;
Finding God in the middle of the world;
The challenges and rewards of interviewing guests;
Building bridges with Catholics and non-Catholics alike;
The launch of The Catholic Sinner Show.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Subscribe to The Catholic Sinner Show on Youtube;
Follow The Catholic Sinner Show on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok;
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call to find out how our team can support you!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych;
Learn more about our CPMAP Certification;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 155: How to Help Those Suffering with Gender Confusion Dec 05, 2023

Welcome to Episode 155 of the Being Human Podcast: How to Help Those Suffering with Gender Confusion

Do you know anyone experiencing gender confusion? How can we meet them with compassion while also leading them to the truth? Dr. Greg breaks open this question and more in this final episode of our Gender Series!

Discussed in the episode:

How to enter into a conversation with someone suffering from gender dysphoria or confusion;
The reality of gender dysphoria and the suffering of those who struggle with it;
The importance of relationship and meeting people where they are with love;
The approach of Jesus in inviting others to conversion;
Why listening and loving people amid their sufferings is essential to accompanying others;
Using an integration of faith, reason, and science to arrive at the truth;
How love begins with listening, yet also entails leading people to truth;
The importance of discernment and knowing when to speak and when to remain silent;
Learning to listen to and love all of our internal parts instead of rejecting them;
Why a spirit of continual conversion in ourselves is needed;
The power and importance of prayer and entrusting every encounter into God’s hands.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Learn more about our CPMAP Certification!
Past Being Human Gender Series Episodes:

Learn more about the masculine and feminine genius in Dr. Greg’s Relationships course, A Marriage Built to Last;
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych;

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 154: A Special Announcement and an Invitation to Join Our Mission! Nov 28, 2023

Welcome to Episode 154 of the Being Human Podcast: A Special Announcement and an Invitation to Join Our Mission!

In this special #GivingTuesday episode, Dr. Greg shares an exciting announcement about a new program CatholicPsych is launching to address the mental health crisis plaguing young people - along with a way that you can help bring this program to life!

Discussed in the episode:

A special announcement from Dr. Greg for #GivingTuesday;
More information about the program CatholicPsych is developing to equip parents, teachers, campus ministers, youth ministers, and clergy all around the US and the world to respond to the rising rates of mental health challenges, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and gender dysphoria facing young people today;
How you can support CatholicPsych’s mission to create a new standard of Catholic mental health!

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Visit catholicpsych.com/foundation to learn more!
Learn more about our CPMAP Certification;
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych;

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 153: How to Talk About Gender Issues Nov 21, 2023

Welcome to Episode 153 of the Being Human Podcast: How to Talk About Gender Issues

How do we talk about gender issues to people who don’t necessarily share the same views? How can we make sense of the gender ideologies and confusion so prevalent in our culture today? In this week’s episode, Dr. Greg shares important principles to remember when engaging others in conversation on this sensitive topic.

Discussed in the episode:

How do we communicate a Catholic perspective on gender ideology to those who may not share the same perspective?
The meaning and importance of owning our mistakes as a Church;
Entering into relationship with another as a necessary prerequisite to evangelizing with love;
Why it’s essential to recognize the distinction between gender stereotypes and gender identity;
The importance of understanding that each person has different parts and experiences within themselves;
How communion can be possible in the midst of varying parts and perspectives;
Seeing the developmental stages starting from conception as a gradual becoming more of who God calls us to be;
Why modeling from the same-sex parent and complementarity from the opposite-sex parent significantly impacts the formation of a child’s identity.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Past Being Human episodes:

Learn more about our CPMAP Certification;
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych;

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 152: Towards a New Revolution of Gender Truth Nov 14, 2023

Welcome to Episode 152 of the Being Human Podcast: Towards a New Revolution of Gender Truth

What are some ways that transgenderism develops? Why is it important to our human development to have both a mom and a dad? How can we understand the equality of men and women while recognizing the presence of differences? In this week’s episode, Dr. Greg answers these questions while breaking open how the current gender crisis provides an opportunity to discover on a deeper level the glory of God shining through our being made as male and female.

Discussed in the episode:

What Saint Thomas Aquinas got wrong about men and women;
How St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body gave the Church a positive path forward on issues related to family, marriage, and human sexuality;
The need for a compassionate yet truthful approach to the gender crisis;
Why children need a model of healthy masculinity and femininity from their parents;
Why we are called to be integrated beings and to develop both masculine and feminine characteristics;
What the case of Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner can teach us about underlying trauma in gender confusion;
Why we need to go beyond gender stereotypes when defining what constitutes a man or a woman;

Proposing “gender integration” as the solution to the gender crisis.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Learn more about our CPMAP Certification!
Past Being Human Gender Series Episodes:
Dr. John Money and the Sinister Origins of Gender Ideology;
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych;

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 151: From Gender Dysphoria to Gender Integration: A Proposal Nov 07, 2023

Welcome to Episode 151 of the Being Human Podcast: From Gender Dysphoria to Gender Integration: A Proposal

We’re in the midst of what could be considered a gender revolution. What’s the answer to the rapidly growing gender dysphoria prevalent in our culture? In this week’s episode, Dr. Greg proposes how a new and deepening understanding of Church teaching can provide the antidote to gender confusion.

Discussed in the episode:

The importance of understanding gender as being deeply tied to our biology;
How the gender confusion prevalent in our culture can prompt a new and deepening understanding of God’s design for our sexuality;
What is the intrinsic connection between our body, our spirit, and our personhood?
Our need to have new formulations of answers that pull from the traditions of the Church in response to the questions our culture is asking about gender;
Following Christ’s example of upholding objective truth while also entering into the pain and suffering of people when addressing the issue of gender confusion;
How the relationship between and with mom and dad contributes to a child’s psychosexual development;
The impact of distortions in our relationship with mom and/or dad and how that can contribute to gender confusion;
How our current culture contributes to “rapid onset” gender dysphoria and confusion;
Self-hatred as one of the root causes of gender dysphoria;
Proposing “gender integration” as the solution to the “gender revolution” confusion.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Learn more about our CPMAP Certification!
Past Being Human Gender Series Episodes:

Episode #110: Beyond Stereotypes: Gender, Culture, and Catholicism w/ Dr. Jennifer E. Morel;
Episode #75: Gender Fluidity or Complementarity? (Part 1 of 4)
Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Collaboration of Men and Women in the Church and in the World by Pope Benedict XVI;
What is a Woman? Documentary by Matt Walsh;
Learn more about the masculine and feminine genius in Dr. Greg’s Relationships course, A Marriage Built to Last;
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych;

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 150: Can Catholics Celebrate Halloween? Oct 31, 2023

Welcome to Episode 150 of the Being Human Podcast: Can Catholics Celebrate Halloween?

In a brief intermission to our Gender & Sexuality Series, Dr. Greg offers clarity to the debate surrounding Halloween: is it a pagan holiday? Can Catholics celebrate Halloween? The surprising answer in this week’s special episode!

Discussed in the episode:

Myths and misconceptions about the pagan roots of Halloween;
The Christian origins of dressing up and trick-or-treating;
Why Halloween is not just a Catholic holiday but also a rich cultural festivity;
The reality that Halloween is actually a celebration of all souls;
How we can redeem and reclaim Halloween as a holy day.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych;
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 149: A New Approach to the Gender Crisis Oct 24, 2023

Welcome to Episode 149 of the Being Human Podcast: A New Approach to the Gender Crisis

How can we respond to the gender crisis prevalent in our culture today? Between gender stereotyping and gender confusion, Dr. Greg proposes a middle ground: gender truth. Find out more in this second episode of our series on gender and sexuality!

Discussed in the episode:

What is the right approach in responding to the gender crisis?
The importance of understanding why God made us as man and woman;
Ways that each gender helps the other to become better humans;
How a new paradigm of gender truth can serve as a middle ground between the extremes of gender stereotyping and gender confusion;
The importance of approaching the topics of gender and sexuality from a positive vs. defensive or negative stance;
The meaning of the masculine and feminine genius;
How one’s gender allows for a natural proclivity to certain characteristics;
Why daily and continual conversion needs to be a number one priority.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych;
Past Being Human Episodes on gender and sexuality:

Learn more about the masculine and feminine genius in Dr. Greg’s Relationships Course: A Marriage Built to Last;
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 148: How to Talk to Your Kids About Sex Oct 17, 2023

Welcome to Episode 148 of the Being Human Podcast: How to Talk to Your Kids About Sex

This week, Dr. Greg opens up a new series on Gender & Sex, starting with the basics: the sex talk! How can a culture of healthy sexuality be fostered in the home? What’s the best approach for parents to take when talking to their kids about sex? Answers to these questions and more in this week’s episode!

*Please note: contains mature content.

Discussed in the episode:

The stages of psycho-sexual-spiritual development in children;
Why “the sex talk” isn’t just one conversation;
The importance of using life-affirming and body-affirming language when talking about sex;
How men and women model masculinity and femininity to their sons and daughters;
The importance of gender complementarity not only in marriage but in parenting as well.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych;
Past Being Human Episodes on gender and sexuality:

Learn more about complementarity and the masculine and feminine genius in Dr. Greg’s relationships course: A Marriage Built to Last;
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 147: The Stages of Spiritual Development Oct 10, 2023

Welcome to Episode 147 of the Being Human Podcast: The Stages of Spiritual Development

We grow and evolve in specific ways as we go through the stages of childhood, adolescence, and maturity – and so does our faith! How are the stages of human development interrelated to the stages of spiritual development? Find out in this week’s episode of Being Human!

Discussed in the episode:

Connecting the stages of human development with the stages of spiritual maturity;
The importance of allowing others space and freedom to make their own decisions and learn from their mistakes;
Common ways children understand and interact with God in an attempt to decrease death anxiety and feel a sense of control;
The meaning of “infantilizing” and why it can be detrimental to children;
Mature faith as something that needs to come from a place of one's own volition and self-determination;
The importance of maintaining a peaceful disposition when supporting others in their spiritual development;
The meaning of faith and the different ways our faith grows and evolves throughout our lives.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Past Being Human Episodes:

Episode 144: The Surprising Truth About the Spiritual Life (Hint: It’s Messy)

Spiritual Passages: The Psychology of Spiritual Development by Fr. Benedict Groeschel;
Childhood and Society by Erik Erikson;
Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 146: Is it Okay for Catholics to Practice Yoga? Oct 03, 2023

Welcome to Episode 146 of the Being Human Podcast: Is it Okay for Catholics to Practice Yoga?

Is yoga demonic? Are all types of yoga intrinsically evil or dangerous? Can Catholics do yoga without endangering their soul? This week, Dr. Greg breaks open these questions and more to find answers from the lens of an integrated Catholic perspective while, taking into account both faith and reason.

Discussed in the episode:

The reality that there is no clear teaching on yoga from the Magisterium of the Catholic Church;
Why the answer on whether or not Catholics can practice yoga is not as simple as it seems;
Common myths and misconceptions related to yoga from a Catholic perspective;
The link between Hindu yoga and demonic influence through a first-hand case witnessed by Dr. Greg;
The possibility that yoga can be dangerous if built upon certain spiritual influences;
The existence of options such as Christian fitness programs (i.e. Pietra Fitness, Soul Core) which integrates physical stretching and exercise with Christian prayer as an alternative to yoga with Hindu foundations.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Past Being Human Episodes:

Find a Christian Fitness Class Near You: https://www.pietrafitness.com/ or https://soulcore.com/;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 145: What Does It Mean to Be Healthy? Sep 26, 2023

Welcome to Episode 145 of the Being Human Podcast: What Does It Mean to Be Healthy?

In this episode, Dr. Greg delves deeper into important truths about how we are made, how we are wounded, and what we are made for as he explores what it means to be truly healthy!

Discussed in the episode:

What are the four principles of integration?
Why ordered adaptability and flexibility in body, mind, and spirit is key to becoming a psychologically and spiritually healthy person;
How “death anxiety” and our basic drive for survival causes us to develop defense mechanisms;
The ways we can distort reality through intellectualization or over-spiritualization;
The importance of uncovering and examining our defense mechanisms as a way to help us become more of who God calls us to be;
The objective nature of truth and why the good is an objective moral quality;
How misalignment to the objective good can help to point us to what we are actually made for;
Why Mentorship and accompaniment can aid in revealing distortions in how we see reality.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Past Being Human Episodes:

Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 144: The Surprising Truth About the Spiritual Life (Hint: It’s Messy) Sep 19, 2023

The Surprising Truth About the Spiritual Life (Hint: It’s Messy)

In this episode, Dr. Greg offers a glimpse into why the path to holiness is not linear, how our psychological and spiritual lives impact one another, the importance of self-awareness, and why decreasing our defense mechanisms is key to becoming who God calls us to be.

Discussed in the episode:

How can we strive for spiritual perfection while maintaining a sense of mental health?
Why the path to holiness is not linear or “cookie-cutter” but actually quite messy;
How specific personality patterns and defense mechanisms can hinder us from becoming who God created us to be;
An exploration of the psychological and spiritual dimensions of the life of St. Therese of Lisieux;
The importance of understanding our identity as a way to facilitate our own and others growth in holiness;
Why integrating the different dimensions of our personality is crucial to growing in our spiritual and emotional lives;
The importance of adaptability in becoming a psychologically and spiritually healthy person.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Past Being Human Episodes on integration, holiness, and Internal Family Systems theory/parts work:

The Context of Holiness: Psychological and Spiritual Reflections on the Life of St. Thérèse of Lisieux by Marc Foley;
Introduction to Internal Family Systems by Richard Schwartz;
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 143: Is it Wrong to Separate From My Spouse? Q&A w/ Dr. Greg (A Relationship Series Wrap Up) Sep 12, 2023

Welcome to Episode 143 of the Being Human Podcast: Is it Wrong to Separate From My Spouse? Q&A w/ Dr. Greg (A Relationship Series Wrap Up)

This week, Dr. Greg wraps up our recent Relationship Series by diving deeper into the complex topics of divorce, separation, and annulment to answer listener questions like “What if separation from my spouse seems to be my only recourse?”

Discussed in the episode:

The difference between separation, divorce, and annulment;
Sacramental marriage as a path to holiness and sanctification;
Why staying faithful to one’s marriage vows does not always mean remaining in physical proximity to one’s spouse;
What does it mean when the Church grants an annulment?
Instances where separation from a spouse is the only way to serve the good of a marriage and the individuals involved;
How each person is only responsible for their own salvation and not held eternally accountable for the decisions of one’s spouse;
The need for discernment and support when making the decision to separate from a spouse;
The impact of divorce and separation on children;
How do I know if my spouse is sexually abusing me?
Why infidelity does not automatically equal grounds for an annulment;
Resources available for those dealing with the aftermath of divorce.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Past Being Human episodes:

Life Giving Wounds Ministry;
Surviving Divorce: Hope & Healing for the Catholic Family;
For Your Marriage (USCCB Resource);
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
More about the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 142: How to Start Healing an Unhealthy Relationship (A Relationship Series, Part Five) Sep 05, 2023

Welcome to Episode 142 of the Being Human Podcast: How to Start Healing an Unhealthy Relationship (A Relationship Series, Part Five)

This week, Dr. Greg follows up on last week’s episode about the warning signs of emotional abuse to answer the question “What can I do if my relationship is unhealthy?” In this episode, he breaks open three practical steps you can take to help you navigate through the challenges of a difficult relationship.

Highlights from the episode:

The subtlety and invisibility of emotional and psychological abuse;
How the parts of us that believe “if only the other person would change, my life would be better” can overshadow other more helpful parts;
Free will and self-determination as integral parts of our humanity that cannot be taken away;
The importance of identifying where we still have freedom to make a choice;
The fruitlessness of attempting to change another person’s behavior;
Understanding boundaries as necessary when making decisions in and about a relationship;
How there can be parts of us that put up roadblocks to our growth and development due to fear;
The way we react, respond, and participate in relational dynamics as a result of our personality formed in childhood;
Growth in self-awareness as essential in the process of healing;
How courage and greater strength come from support and community.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Last week’s episode: Seven Signs of Emotional Abuse (A Relationship Series, Part Four);
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Past episodes on Internal Family Systems and parts work:

More about the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Books:

Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life;
Stop Walking on Eggshells;
Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning;

Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 141: Seven Signs of Emotional Abuse (A Relationship Series, Part Four) Aug 29, 2023

Welcome to Episode 141 of the Being Human Podcast: Seven Signs of Emotional Abuse (A Relationship Series, Part Four)

In this week’s episode, Dr. Greg continues the series on relationships, this time exploring aspects of emotional abuse in relationships while highlighting seven warning signs that can help you know when it’s time to get support.

Highlights from the episode:

Emotional abuse as being on a spectrum and the need for understanding nuances of what it looks like in individual relationships;
The seven signs of emotional abuse as guideposts for discerning what difficulties in your relationship mean;
Distinguishing between expression of negative emotions and verbal abuse;
A vocation to marriage (or the discernment of a relationship leading towards marriage) as good insofar as it serves our relationship with God;
Our capacity to have a deep interior experience of relationship between ourselves and God as part of our dignity as humans;
How the failure of a marriage does not equal the failure of one’s pursuit of sanctity;
Clarification around the question of whether it is wrong to refuse the request of a spouse to engage in something that is sinful;
The difference between tiptoeing around delicate issues with your spouse vs. a relationship permeated with a fear of bringing up any topic;
How our brains can come up with unrealistic and irrational ways of solving our problems as part of our survival instinct;
An underlying sense of feeling trapped as a result of repeated exposure to abusive treatment in a relationship;
Distinguishing between what’s proper for a therapist to hold vs. holding the whole emotional weight of your spouse.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

National Domestic Violence Hotline Information;
Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Ep. #98: Are You Gaslighting Yourself?
Ep. #140: How to Argue (A Relationship Series, Part Three);
How to Spot Emotional Abuse Blog Article;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 140: How to Argue (A Relationship Series, Part Three) Aug 22, 2023

Welcome to Episode 140 of the Being Human Podcast: How to Argue (A Relationship Series, Part Three)

In this episode - part three of our Relationship Series - Dr. Greg offers some practical and powerful tips to protect against destructive ways of relating in your relationship!

Highlights from the episode:

Is arguing an indication of disaster waiting to happen in a relationship?
Four criteria that predict a high likelihood of divorce;
Specific ways to counteract the four negative styles of communication;
The maturity that is required to address conflict well;
The importance of taking responsibility for one’s emotions while considering the other’s experience;
Self-care as a prerequisite for conflict resolution and reconciliation;
Dr. Greg’s example of how an argument with his wife became a learning experience.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

The Key to Resolving Conflict (Blog Article);
How Mindfulness Can Improve Your Relationship (YouTube video);
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, including Built to Last, his relationships course!
Dealing with a difficult relationship? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can help;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 139: Same But Different: Distinctions Between the Brains of Men & Women (A Relationship Series, Part Two) Aug 15, 2023

Welcome to Episode 139 of the Being Human Podcast: Same But Different: Distinctions Between the Brains of Men & Women (A Relationship Series, Part Two)

Next up in our Relationship Series: A look at the brain differences between men and women! In this episode, Dr. Greg breaks open how growing in knowledge of the way God designed our bodies and brains - and especially the differences in each between the sexes - can help to enhance communication, deepen love, and strengthen relationships.

Highlights from the episode:

Men and women have small differences in their brains, but the impact of these differences are significant;
The radically different ways that men and women think, and how each sex isn’t privy to the way the other works;
How brain imaging allows a glimpse into the way the brains of the opposite sex work;
The tendency of men to think spatially and have brains focused on problem solving, while women tend towards connection and attunement to the other in relationships;
The difference in how men and women both experience anxiety and attempt to decrease their anxiety;
How recognition of the skills and gifts of the opposite sex can enhance teamwork and communication in relationship;
The way a husband can “fix” the emotional distress of his wife.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Past Being Human episodes on this topic:

The Female Brain - What’s Your Superpower? (1st of a 5-part blog series)
Read On the Masculine Genius, an article by Dr. Greg;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, including his relationships course, A Marriage Built to Last!
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 138: The One Thing That Really Matters in Marriage (A Relationship Series, Part One) Aug 08, 2023

Welcome to Episode 138 of the Being Human Podcast: The One Thing That Really Matters in Marriage (A Relationship Series, Part One)

This week kicks off a short series all about love, marriage, and relationships! In this episode, Dr. Greg boldly breaks open what we actually mean when we say “I do” to a spouse while also offering a practical way to love your spouse more effectively.

Highlights from the episode:

What is the real purpose and point of marriage?
How contemporary culture’s encouragement to live for oneself is diametrically opposed to living out marriage vows;
Marriage vows as more than just a contract between two people;
The importance of healthy boundaries and self-ownership while in relationship;
Marriage as a path to holiness and a way to follow Christ, which includes dying to self;
The five love languages;
How we each feel loved differently based on our experiences in childhood;
Why it’s important to understand your spouse's primary love language.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Struggling with a difficult relationship? Schedule a free consultation call with our team to discuss how we can help you;
The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, including his relationships course, A Marriage Built to Last!
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 137: Demonic Real Talk Aug 01, 2023

Welcome to Episode 137 of the Being Human Podcast: Demonic Real Talk

This week, Dr. Greg gets real about the dangers involved with demonic fascination! Breaking open the risks involved with receiving unfiltered information about the workings of the devil, he offers principles to ponder when considering what kind of content is spiritually healthy to consume.

Highlights from the episode:

The increase in content on social media on topics related to the demonic and our call to steward our attention well;
The danger of opening our minds and hearts to unfiltered information about the demonic;
Fascination with and curiosity about the supernatural as a common proclivity;
How content related to the demonic can affect our minds and hearts and thwart our experience of peace;
God’s plan of love for us and tactics the devil uses to draw us away from living out that plan;
The importance of holding together our unique subjective experience with objective truth;
How the devil sows doubt in our hearts by tempting us to separate our subjective reality from objective truth;
The importance of discerning whether the content we immerse ourselves in helps us grow in the peace of God.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

The Mindful Catholic: Finding God One Moment at a Time (book);
Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Read “Brother Ass” or Masterpiece: How Do You View Your Body? (blog article);
Read You’re No Angel, But Neither Am I (blog article);
Episode #30: Coffee Talk: What If I’m Afraid to Dream? (Being Human podcast episode);
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 136: How To Know If Your Anxiety Is More Spiritual or Emotional Jul 25, 2023

Welcome to Episode 136 of the Being Human Podcast: How To Know If Your Anxiety Is More Spiritual or Emotional

This week, Dr. Greg dives into an exploration of the interplay between our spiritual and emotional lives while breaking open how St. Ignatius of Loyola’s rules of discernment can help us to distinguish between spiritual and non-spiritual anxiety!

Highlights from the episode:

Anxiety as a complex experience that requires a holistic approach;
Distinguishing between symptoms of an anxiety disorder, anxiety about everyday life, and the anxiety of losing Jesus;
Using the discernment of spirits as proposed by St. Ignatius of Loyola as a guide to knowing how to address anxiety;
Spiritual vs. non-spiritual desolation and consolation and the importance of distinguishing between the two;
How non-spiritual factors can affect our spiritual life;
Ruminations, incessant or intrusive thinking, and loss of sleep as symptoms of anxiety disorder;
Distinguishing between the need for therapy versus a need to learn how to trust God more;
Catholic mindfulness as a helpful way to reduce anxiety.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

The Mindful Catholic by Dr. Greg Bottaro;
More on the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Read You’re No Angel, But Neither Am I (blog article);
Listen to Episode #128: Can I Just Pray It Away? (A Mentorship Message);
Listen to Episode #18: Should You Just “Pray More”?;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to access all of Dr. Greg’s courses, including his Catholic Mindfulness 2: Discernment of Spirits course!
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 135: The Power of Mindful Awareness in Parenting & Relationships Jul 18, 2023

Welcome to Episode 135 of the Being Human Podcast: The Power of Mindful Awareness in Parenting & Relationships

This week, get another sneak peek into the daily communication that happens in Mentorship! In this episode, Dr. Greg offers a glimpse into how the practice of interior mindful awareness can have a powerful ripple effect, impacting how we interact with others and increasing our ability to connect with and be empathically present to them.

Highlights from the episode:

A psycho-educational excerpt from Dr. Greg’s work in Mentorship;
The impact of practicing Mindfulness in the context of family life;
How principles at the core of Catholic mindfulness are the same as those at the core of healing family wounds, behavioral issues, and relationships between parents and children;
The importance of interior awareness and turning towards the present moment;
The layers of emotion that are packed into each moment;
Why we cannot get away from relationship even in the deepest solitude;
How practicing mindfulness teaches us to be aware of and focused on the present moment, allowing for more control over ourselves and our reactions;
Freedom of choice as part of the dignity and power of being human;
Empathy as key for understanding another’s interior life;
Our deep need to be understood and to know that we are seen;
How parents teach children who they are by communicating love to them.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

The Mindful Catholic: Finding God One Moment at a Time by Dr. Greg Bottaro;
Sign up for the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Blog articles about Catholic mindfulness:

Catholic Mindfulness 2: Discernment of Spirits Course
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;

Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 134: Catholic Mindfulness: Why It’s Not Only Okay But Encouraged for Catholics to Practice Jul 11, 2023

Welcome to Episode 134 of the Being Human Podcast: Catholic Mindfulness: Why It’s Not Only Okay But Encouraged for Catholics to Practice

“Isn’t mindfulness Buddhist? Is it okay for Catholics to practice?” This week, we’re publishing a snippet from a CPMAP lecture in which Dr. Greg answers these questions and more! In this episode, he breaks open a definition of mindfulness while exploring its history, compatibility with Catholic teaching, and the many psychological and spiritual benefits of incorporating it into one’s life.

Discussed in the episode:

Mindfulness as developmental in that a new and deeper experience is available each consecutive time one moves through the material;
History, development, and benefits of the 8-week mindfulness protocol;
A definition of mindfulness and exploration of present moment awareness;
How the seeds of Catholic mindfulness were planted while Dr. Greg was discerning with the Franciscan friars;
Catholic mindfulness as a fruit of the integration of psychology and Catholic spirituality;
Mindfulness as a practical way to bring our minds into a place of trustful surrender to God;
Compatibility of mindfulness with Catholic teachings;
Comparison of Buddhist and Christian perspectives on unity and individuality.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

The Mindful Catholic: Finding God One Moment at a Time by Dr. Greg Bottaro;
More about the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Blog articles about Catholic mindfulness:

Watch Mindfulness and Catholic Mystical Tradition (short YouTube video);
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 133: How Far is Too Far? (Navigating Boundaries in Relationships) Jul 04, 2023

Welcome to Episode 133 of the Being Human Podcast: How Far is Too Far? (Navigating Boundaries in Relationships)

Chastity: just the mention of this virtue is likely to induce a few eye-rolls. But chastity isn’t only for high schoolers and those who are dating (and even goes beyond romantic relationships)! In this episode, Dr. Greg breaks open why cultivating this virtue is necessary for all of us, and how it can apply to every relationship we're in.

Discussed in the episode:

A definition of chastity based on integration;
Chastity as applicable to a wide variety of relationships - not just romantic ones;
Using the definition of chastity to help one determine the boundaries appropriate to the relationship;
The gift of self that is owed between spouses as part of the nature of the marital dynamic;
The importance of understanding the nature of specific relationships;
How the paradigm of chastity helps us align ourselves with what is true, good, and beautiful;
What a full gift of self on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level entails;
Answering three key questions as a way to gain clarity and peace in relationships.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Chastity & Boundaries Fillable Worksheet

A Marriage Built to Last - Dr. Greg’s Relationship Course (also available through a membership to the Integrated Life!)
Love & Responsibility by Karol Wojtyla (Pope St. John Paul II);
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 132: We Didn’t Plan to Have Seven Kids: Accommodating Life w/ Barbra Bottaro Jun 27, 2023

Welcome to Episode 132 of the Being Human Podcast: We Didn’t Plan to Have Seven Kids: Accommodating Life w/ Barbra Bottaro

This week, Dr. Greg welcomes his wife Barbra (and their baby, David) to the show for a fun episode about the joys and challenges of the vocation to marriage and the call to be generous in love!

Discussed in this episode:

Learning how to parent as a process of trial and error, learning from mistakes, and adapting;
Relying on God's grace and others in one’s community as necessary when navigating the challenges of family life;
How the spirit of generosity in love that Christians are called to is being eroded by the contraceptive mentality prevalent in our culture;
Accommodating life rather than having life accommodate to one’s desires and needs;
The family as a community and school of love and the natural progression of having children;
The importance of trusting God to provide for what is needed for the lives He entrusts to one’s care;
Love as a duty, responsibility, and challenge rather than just a good feeling;
Striving to give 100% to one’s spouse in marriage rather than relying on a 50/50 split of responsibilities;
The importance of being intentional in noticing and caring for each child's needs as a way to teach them self-worth;
The necessity of working through wounds from one’s family-of-origin in order not to pass them along to one’s children;
The great need for parental love in our culture and ways that couples can love others without being a biological parent;
Complementarity between the married and consecrated vocations and how each vocation can benefit the other.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Letter to Families from Pope John Paul II;
A Marriage Built to Last - Dr. Greg’s 8-part relationships course;
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 131: The #1 Threat to Marriage (Or Any Relationship, Really!) Jun 20, 2023

Welcome to Episode 131 of the Being Human Podcast: The #1 Threat to Marriage (Or Any Relationship, Really!)

This week Dr. Greg reveals the greatest threat to marriage, relationships, and living out our universal call to holiness while also breaking open how to combat this danger through following the example of Christ.

Highlights from the episode:

The purpose and goal of marriage as a vocation through which we’re called to become saints;
Singlehood as a time to focus on understanding oneself and one's purpose while cultivating intimacy with God;
Dating as a time of discernment in which you can learn more about yourself and another person to determine if they are a potential recipient of one's full gift of self;
Engagement as a time to discover the dreams of your partner;
Following the example of Christ in that He came “to serve rather than to be served”;
The importance of overcoming our urge for immediate gratification and learning to sit with and learn from our desires;
Marriage as a vocation of mutual self-service while parenthood (whether biologically or spiritually) is a unidirectional self-gift.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love) by Pope Francis;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to Built to Last - Dr. Greg’s 8-part relationship course, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE (weekly Mentor-hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more)!
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 130: How to Stop Internally Beating Yourself Up Jun 13, 2023

Welcome to Episode 130 of the Being Human Podcast: How to Stop Internally Beating Yourself Up

Each of us has different internal parts, and some parts - especially our critical parts - can seem louder than others. How are we supposed to love all of these parts of ourselves, especially if certain parts want to act in unhealthy ways? This week, Dr. Greg takes a deeper dive into the concept of “parts work” while breaking open how it’s possible to love every part of ourselves - even those parts we consider to be “bad.”

Highlights from the episode:

We all have different parts of ourselves, and none of them are “bad”;
Why it’s healthy to allow all of our parts to give voice to their perspective, even if what a particular part wants is not what we decide to do;
How taking time to understand where our desire for certain unhealthy behaviors comes from can help to reveal the deeper reasons for the behavior;
Healing as a process of reframing and “repurposing” parts to help them take on a different job;
The importance of self-awareness in the process of creatively redirecting problematic parts;
Loving and accepting all parts of ourselves helps build rapport to work with them towards positive change.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Past Being Human Episodes on Internal Family Systems and Parts Work:

Introduction to Internal Family Systems by Richard Schwartz;
No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz;
Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 129: The Importance of Staying Close to the Poor Jun 06, 2023

Welcome to Episode 129 of the Being Human Podcast: The Importance of Staying Close to the Poor

What can we learn by staying close to the poor? Find out in this week’s episode! We’re sharing part of a lecture from our new CPMAP Certification Program in which Dr. Greg opens up about the powerful impact of the life and work of Fr. Benedict Groeschel, including how he exemplified recognizing the presence of Christ in the poor and why it’s important for us to do the same.

Discussed in the episode:

The danger of believing we can create solutions for every discomfort;
Self-sufficiency as a roadblock to dependence on God;
Being close to the poor as an important aspect of following Christ;
What we can learn from Fr. Benedict Groeschel’s example of living out the gift of poverty;
Fr. Benedict’s attempts to reform the Fransicans and the suffering at the end of his life due to dementia;
How suffering can purify us is we allow it;
A reflection and meditation from Fr. Benedict Groeschel with journaling questions from Dr. Greg.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

What is the CPMAP?
Episode #82: Changing the Rules: Creating a Catholic Standard for Mental Health
Listen to the first episode in our 12-part series breaking open the content in the CPMAP curriculum;
Spiritual Passages: The Psychology of Spiritual Development by Fr. Benedict Groeschel;
Need help? Schedule a free 30-minute consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;

Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 128: Can I Just Pray It Away? (A Mentorship Message) May 30, 2023

Welcome to Episode 128 of the Being Human Podcast: Can I Just Pray It Away? (A Mentorship Message)

Is it possible to “pray away” the difficulties in our life? This week, Dr. Greg opens up the archives to share audio from a Mentorship** message addressing this question. In the episode, he offers insight on how we can best approach suffering using principles from St. Ignatius of Loyola’s discernment of spirits.

**For those new to Integrated Daily Dialogic Mentorship (IDDM or “Mentorship”), our model offers daily accompaniment through the exchange of private, voice-recorded messages shared between you and a trained Mentor. This message from Dr. Greg to his client is shared with permission.

Discussed in the episode:

Distinguishing between spiritual and non-spiritual desolation;
The importance of initiating small changes to improve non-spiritual desolation;
Looking for moments when change can be made vs. waiting for change to happen;
How ruminations add weight to our burdens and increase suffering;
A reminder that change does not happen overnight;
Noticing the reaction of the different parts within ourselves.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Interested in IDDM (Mentorship)? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to learn more and discuss how we can support you!
Discover more about how IDDM (Mentorship) works;
One Simple Way to Deal With Feeling Overwhelmed blog article;
Read The Mindful Catholic by Dr. Greg Bottaro;
More on Healing Through Catholic Mindfulness on the blog;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 127: "I'm Gonna Want to Divorce You At Some Point," w/ Barbra Bottaro May 23, 2023

Welcome to Episode 127 of the Being Human Podcast: "I'm Gonna Want to Divorce You At Some Point," w/ Barbra Bottaro

In this week’s episode, Dr. Greg gets personal on the podcast! His wife Barbra joins him to discuss some of the difficulties they grappled with as they entered marriage, highlighting the need for awareness of how our own family of origin issues can impact our vocations.

Discussed in the episode:

Being aware of the “language” one learns in one’s family of origin;
How experiences in our life teach us what to expect when relationships get difficult;
The importance of open communication;
Specific hurdles Dr. Greg and Barbra overcame during their engagement;
The temptation to self-reliance in marriage;
Importance of seeking healing from family of origin wounds;
The sacrament of marriage as a purification of one’s self-centeredness.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Respond to let us know if you want to hear more from Dr. Greg and Barbra!
Download The Integrated App to access the free Marriage Mini-Course;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to A Marriage Built to Last - Dr. Greg’s relationships course;
Read Living the Sacrament of Marriage on the blog;
Watch How Mindfulness Can Impact Relationships on YouTube;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 126: Part 2 of Following the Holy Spirit, Theology of the Body, CatholicPsych…and Other Tangents: Interview w/ Dr. Greg May 16, 2023

Welcome to Episode 126 of the Being Human Podcast: Part 2 of Following the Holy Spirit, Theology of the Body, CatholicPsych…and Other Tangents: An Interview w/ Dr. Greg

Continued from last week, here’s Part Two of Dr. Greg’s conversation with Fr. Sam Kachuba and co-host Matt Sperrazza on The Tangent podcast! In this episode, the group dives deep into discussion on topics ranging from death anxiety, Matt’s ADHD, Catholic mindfulness, Fr. Sam’s experience in Mentorship, and how Dr. Greg was able to publish the early plays of Pope St. John Paul II.

Discussed in the episode:

Fr. Sam’s comparison of the sacrament of confession and Mentorship;
IDDM as more personal and requiring more vulnerability than regular therapy despite being a voice-only modality;
The spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola;
Overview of the CPMAP and Dr. Greg’s business “plan”;
How do I follow the Holy Spirit if paying attention is intrinsically hard?
Misconceptions about mindfulness and what paying attention actually looks like;
The goal of Catholic Mindfulness and how it differs from the Buddhist notion of mindfulness;
How death anxiety is at the root of every defense mechanism, personality disorder, and negative psychological experience;
The resurrection of the body as the antidote and solution to our deepest fear;
The importance of becoming aware of your interior life without judgement;
Overview of Pope St. John Paul II’s personalism and what it means to “become who you are.”

Resources mentioned or relevant:

The Tangent w/ Fr. Sam Kachuba - a podcast by Veritas;
Setting the Stage: Early Plays of St. John Paul II;
Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Being Human Episode 119: The Trouble with TikTok;
Books by Dr. Greg: The Mindful Catholic, Consecration to Jesus Through St. Joseph, and Sitting Like a Saint;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 125: Following the Holy Spirit, Theology of the Body, CatholicPsych…and Other Tangents: An Interview w/ Dr. Greg (Part 1) May 09, 2023

Welcome to Episode 125 of the Being Human Podcast: Following the Holy Spirit, Theology of the Body, CatholicPsych…and Other Tangents: An Interview w/ Dr. Greg (Part 1)

In this week’s episode, Dr. Greg goes on a tangent (lots of them actually)! As a recent guest on his pastor’s podcast, The Tangent with Fr. Sam Kachuba, Dr. Greg shared his thoughts about the field of psychology, why integration is important, what we can learn from brain research, and much more. Here’s part one of the re-published conversation with Fr. Sam Kachuba and co-host Matt Sperrazza!

Discussed in the episode:

Do people rooted in their faith tend to avoid therapy?
The need to balance incorporating one’s faith into therapy while also avoiding over-spiritualization of issues;
Resistance that happens when your therapist’s beliefs don’t align with your own;
The path toward perfection as being in and through our humanity;
The integrated, incarnational way to approach problems (you are your body, but you are not JUST your body);
What is a telomere (and what can it tell us about the faith)?
Why integrating scientific research into an understanding of psychology can help us in how we live out the Catholic faith;
The history of the CatholicPsych Institute and the development of IDDM.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

The Tangent w/ Fr. Sam Kachuba podcast;
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis;
Books by Dr. Greg: The Mindful Catholic, Consecration to Jesus Through St. Joseph, and Sitting Like a Saint;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 124: A Letter to Catholic Mental Health Professionals May 02, 2023

Welcome to Episode 124 of the Being Human Podcast: A Letter to Catholic Mental Health Professionals It’s time to clear the air! In this episode, Dr. Greg extends a peace offering while sharing a heartfelt message with Catholic mental health professionals.

Discussed in this episode:

A mea culpa from Dr. Greg;
Why it’s important to acknowledge the morally questionable developments in the field of secular psychology in order to determine a way forward for Catholic professionals;
Isolation and loneliness as one of the many challenges that mental health professionals encounter in their field;
The siloing effect that happens in ministry and mental health care and the importance of maintaining connection and collaboration with one another;
Recognition that more support is something Catholic mental health professionals are in need of;
Dr. Greg’s desire to nurture deep engagement and conversation around an approach to Catholic mental health care;
What’s needed to build a truly Catholic approach to psychology;
Faith, reason, and science as three parts of a whole that bring us to the truth about the human person;
A call for older Catholic professionals in the field of psychology to acknowledge recent developments that have made it difficult for younger generations to pursue a career in mental health;
Dr. Greg’s goal of providing aid and support to all Catholics in vocations or careers in which they are bearing the emotional burdens of others.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Past Being Human Episodes:

Catholic Psychotherapy Association;
Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 123: Fake Science and Real Compassion Apr 25, 2023

Welcome to Episode 123 of the Being Human Podcast: Fake Science and Real Compassion In this week’s episode, Dr. Greg is launching grenades at organizational evils in the field of secular psychology! In it, he outlines the need for both philosophy and science in discovering objective truth while also reminding us all about the importance of compassion and mercy towards individual persons. Discussed in this episode:

Who gets to decide what is defined as ordered for the human person?
The error of secular culture’s ascribing the fullness of truth as that which comes through science;
The role of philosophy in arriving at objective truth;
Why we need both reason and faith to arrive at eternal, immaterial and invisible truths;
The APA as a political, pseudo-scientific organization fueled by cultural sentiment;
The lack of objectivity in the social sciences;
Rejecting state-defined paths and modalities as the only way to help those who are suffering from mental health burdens;
The core distinction between a Catholic worldview vs. a secular worldview;
How the courage to decry organizational evils needs to be balanced with a recognition and reverence for the dignity and goodness of the individual person;
The call of Christians to stand up for truth, even to the point of death, while remaining loving until the end.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Past Being Human Podcast Episodes:

What Is A Woman? documentary by Matt Walsh;
Join the waitlist to be notified about our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 122: There Is No Real Marriage Therapy Apr 18, 2023

Welcome to Episode 122 of the Being Human Podcast: There Is No Real Marriage Therapy

On this week’s podcast, Dr. Greg continues to uncover issues in the secular field of psychology by breaking open ways that marriage therapy as it exists today lacks what is necessary to truly support married couples. First on the list? Lack of a proper understanding of marriage.

Discussed in this episode:

The purpose of marriage;
How all “marriage therapy” research, publications, modalities, and techniques are not actually focused on marriage;
The lack of understanding about what it means to be a man or woman made in God’s image in a vocation leading to union with Him;
What's missing from Relationship Enhancement Therapy, Gottman Institute research, and Imago Institute theory;
Catholic magisterial teaching on marriage vs. misinformation commonly taught;
What does it mean that through marriage we’re called to become saints?
How errors in the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas related to women have impacted our understanding of gender roles;
The current demonization of masculinity as a retaliation against the demonization of women in the past;
The importance of the complementarity between men and women in marriage;
What does a truly Catholic marriage therapy look like?

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Register for our upcoming Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!
Church documents referenced:

Mulieris Dignitatum by Pope St. John Paul II
Amoris Laetitia by Pope Francis
Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church On the Collaboration of Men and Women in the Church and in the World, by Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI)
The Theology of the Body by Pope St. John Paul II

Sections of the Summa Theologiae referenced:

Episode #96: Yes, I Was Wrong (Dialectic w/ Brian Butler);
Episode #75: Gender Fluidity or Complementarity (part one of a four-part series);
The Gottman Institute, Imago Relationship Therapy, Relationship Enhancement Model;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 121: How the APA is Schizophrenic Apr 11, 2023

Welcome to Episode 121 of the Being Human Podcast: How the APA is Schizophrenic

This week, Dr. Greg blasts the APA and reveals how, through their promotion of moral relativism in the secular field of psychology, they are causing confusion and chaos.

Discussed in this episode:

How the diagnostic system of the mental health field is at the forefront of the push towards radical moral relativism;
The problem with Catholic mental health practitioners participating in a system that does not have a true understanding of what it is to be human;
The implications of homosexuality being removed from the DSM in 1980;
The need to be bold in calling out ideas misaligned with the Faith while also remaining charitable towards the persons engaged in conversation;
How the acceptance of a definition of being human grounded on moral relativism and absent of objective, transcendent truth is harming our culture;
Schizophrenia as a diagnosis of detachment from reality;
The impact of parental mental illness on a child;
The contradiction between supporting embodiment while also promoting transgenderism as healthy;
Speaking the truth as the most compassionate response.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Register for our upcoming, free Open House!
Learn more about the CPMAP Certification Program;
Being Human Episode #72: The DSM Disease (Part One);
Being Human Episode #81: The Lies of the American Psychological Association;
Check out Dr. Peter Attia’s website;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 120: Leading with Vulnerability: A Visit w/ Fr. Louis Merosne Apr 04, 2023

Welcome to Episode 120 of the Being Human Podcast: Leading with Vulnerability: A Visit w/ Fr. Louis Merosne

Dr. Greg sits down with long-time friend Fr. Louis Merosne for an engaging conversation focused around vulnerability, friendship, the importance of authenticity and finding strength in our weaknesses. Fr. Louis also shares his experience of being in Mentorship and going through the CPMAP Certification program.

Discussed in this episode:

What are the hallmarks of true friendship?
Love as the necessary environment for transformation;
The issue with the lack of personal relationship and accompaniment in education;
The infinite mystery and depth of a human person;
The dangers of being inauthentic and lacking in vulnerability when preparing for a vocation as a priest or mental health professional;
Fr. Louis’ reflections on his experience as a CPMAP Certification student and of being in Mentorship;
Advice to seminarians about the value of authenticity and honesty in discernment;
The power of leading with vulnerability and imperfections;
The meaning of a corrective emotional experience;
The process of learning to receive as a way to be able to keep giving;
A Mentors’ role in being the face of the unconditional love of God to those with whom they are working.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Register for our upcoming Open House!
More about the CPMAP Certification Program;
USCCB Program of Priestly Formation;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 119: The Trouble with TikTok Mar 28, 2023

Welcome to Episode 119 of the Being Human Podcast: The Trouble with TikTok

This week, Dr. Greg opens up about the surprising (and troubling) discovery he made while scrolling through TikTok and offers a word of warning to parents about the platform while breaking open three principles parents can follow to guide their children in recognizing their dignity and potential for greatness.

Discussed in this episode:

Moral reasons to avoid TikTok;
Three principles that parents can follow to help them deal with the challenges of modern parenting;
Trusting gut instincts as a parent vs. following a communal sense of what is acceptable and good;
The impact of groupthink as shown in studies from social psychology;
The need to prepare one’s children for how to interact with the craziness of our current culture;
When and how to talk to children about their body and how to view and treat the bodies of others;
Children’s inherent desire for truth and capacity for greatness;
Our role and duty to know the truth and share it in our interactions with others;
Pointers for talking with children and teenagers in a way that validates their identity and sense of value and worth;
The importance of finding a balance between the extremes of being overly authoritarian and strict or being without boundaries, structure, or rules.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

A Mother’s Glimpse of the Masculine Genius blog article by Christina Uhlich;
International Institute of Culture & Gender Studies;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Register for our upcoming Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 118: Catching Foxes Interview w/ Dr. Greg: “Rings of a Tree” (Part 2 of 2) Mar 21, 2023

Welcome to Episode 118 of the Being Human Podcast: Catching Foxes Interview w/ Dr. Greg: “Rings of a Tree” (Part 2 of 2)

In this second part of their interview with Dr. Greg, Luke and Gomer from the Catching Foxes podcast open up about personal struggles while engaging Dr. Greg in deeper discussion about Internal Family Systems theory, parts work, spirituality, the use of psychedelics, and more!

*Mature Content

Discussed in this episode:

Is change, healing and growth actually possible?
The ways that our many internal parts emerge along with specific “jobs”;
Gomer’s experience in struggling to heal from an addiction to pornography;
How the negative spirituality that comes from distorted practices of religion can reinforce cycles of shame;
The danger of operating out of our blended parts or identifying ourselves as one of our parts;
Interior reconciliation of our parts as a path to integration;
Differentiating between objective morality and subjective culpability;
Repeated and addictive masturbation as a form of self harm due to shame;
The role of compassion and mercy vs. shame and judgment in changing our behaviors;
The danger in over-spiritualizing addictions and trauma;
Reasons why a model of Catholic psychology needs to be built on relationship;
What’s missing in the research related to psychedelics;
Psychedelics as a tool to increased awareness that requires accompaniment and relationship;
Dr. Greg’s thoughts on the use of psychedelics.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Listen to more Catching Foxes podcast episodes at catchingfoxes.fm;
Read about Catching Foxes hosts, Luke and Gomer;
An introduction to Internal Family Systems theory (BH Episode #35);
Understanding “parts work” from a Catholic lens (BH Episode #34);
The 4-Horsemen of Meaning, w/ Bishop Barron, John Vervaeke, and Jonathan Pageau;
Trip of Compassion* - Israeli based documentary about research on using MDMA to assist in treating PTSD (*Warning: difficult subject matter);
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Register for our upcoming Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 117: Catching Foxes Interview w/ Dr. Greg: Getting Modern Therapy Right (Part 1) Mar 14, 2023

Welcome to Episode 117 of the Being Human Podcast: Catching Foxes Interview w/ Dr. Greg: Getting Modern Therapy Right (Part 1)

There’s a twist on this week’s episode: we’re sharing an interview with Dr. Greg! Catching Foxes podcast hosts Luke and Gomer - both college friends of Dr. Greg - recently interviewed him for their popular show and gave us permission to re-publish the conversation*.

In this first part of their two-part long-form discussion, they zero in on some of the problems with modern therapy, discuss the importance of integrating faith into the practice of psychology, and look at the way that “parts work” can help.

*Mature Content

Discussed in this episode:

What’s missing from modern psychology?
The way that Cartesian dualism has influenced the field of psychology;
The lack of a standard in mental health;
Dr. Greg’s experience of experimenting with a new model of accompaniment;
How a blueprint of the human person as outlined by JP2 can be used to approach psychological disorders;
What happens when mental health struggles impact areas of our spiritual life?
Internal Family Systems theory (or “parts work”) and the way that it fits with Pope St. John Paul II’s anthropology;
“Parts work” (IFS theory) as a way to practically and experientially understand God’s mercy.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Listen to more Catching Foxes episodes at catchingfoxes.fm;
Read about Catching Foxes hosts, Luke and Gomer;
An introduction to Internal Family Systems theory (BH Episode #35);
Understanding “parts work” from a Catholic lens (BH Episode #34);
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Register for our upcoming Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP certification!
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available;

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 116: Catholic & Divorced: From Pain to Purpose, w/ Rose Sweet Mar 07, 2023

Welcome to Episode 116 of the Being Human Podcast: Catholic & Divorced: From Pain to Purpose, w/ Rose Sweet

This week on Being Human, Dr. Greg welcomes Catholic coach, author, and speaker Rose Sweet to the show for a conversation about hope, healing, and how to get help after going through a divorce as a Catholic. Rose shares how God brought good from the suffering she experienced through multiple failed marriages, and reveals how her experience resulted in a desire to minister to others in similar situations.

Discussed in this episode:

Meet Catholic coach, author, and speaker Rose Sweet;
Rose’s journey in finding healing after going through multiple divorces;
The impact that wounds from our childhood can have on our adult relationships;
How good things in life can become idols if our desire for them is disordered;
The astounding way that Christ can use even sin and suffering for our own good;
Why we need to go beyond “checking boxes” in our faith;
The misunderstanding about divorce and annulments within the Church;
Pain as a means God can use to bring us back to Himself;
How those seeking to heal can oftentimes feel abandoned by others;
Why compassion rather than judgment and condemnation is appropriate for those who have gotten a divorce;
Rose’s use of the principles of listening, leading, loving, and letting with her clients.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Find out more about Rose at rosesweet.com;
Surviving Divorce: Hope & Healing for the Catholic Family - an online course;
More on Theology of the Body Institute courses;
Looking for help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff!
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of daily accompaniment;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Find out more about our new CPMAP Certification.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 115: Hope for Adult Children of Divorce, w/ Dr. Daniel Meola Feb 28, 2023

Welcome to Episode 115 of the Being Human Podcast: Hope for Adult Children of Divorce, w/ Dr. Daniel Meola

What happens when divorce or separation of your parents is part of your story? This experience can oftentimes result in hidden yet painful wounds which can seem complicated and difficult to navigate. In this week’s podcast episode, Dr. Greg interviews Dr. Daniel Meola, the co-founder of a non-profit organization which ministers to adult children of divorce or separation. Sharing their own experiences as adult children of divorce, Dr. Greg and Dr. Daniel break open the impact that divorce can have on a child while also offering hope for healing and resources to help.

Discussed in this episode:

Meet Dr. Daniel Meola and get to know more about Life-Giving Wounds, a non-profit ministry for adult children of divorce or separation;
Dr. Daniel’s experience of his parent’s 15-year separation and eventual divorce, along with the resulting effects on his life;
The hope and healing possible for each person, whether as an adult child of divorce or an adult who went through a divorce or separation;
The desire of a child to have two parents loving him/her together, and the resulting pain that happens when it is lost;
The tendency in our culture to not recognize parental divorce or separation as a loss to be grieved by the child;
Annulment as more than just a spiritual issue with spiritual impact;
Identity questions that can affect adult children of divorce due to the separation of their parents;
Common ways that guilt for their parent’s divorce or separation can be experienced by adult children of divorce;
How children highlight and amplify any interpersonal or relational issues already present in a marriage;
Implicit and explicit ways that parents communicate to their child that the failure of their relationship was the child’s fault;
The seven common wounds identified by Dr. Daniel’s ministry in adult children of divorce;
The rejection and shame that can result in a child as a result of his/her parent’s rejection of one another.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Visit www.lifegivingwounds.org for more on Dr. Dan Meola’s ministry;
Find an online Lenten support group to join;
Follow Life-Giving Wounds on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook;
Looking for help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff!
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of daily accompaniment;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych bl og, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available;
Find out more about our new CPMAP Certification.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 114: Psychology, Youth Ministry & What Your Teen Wants Most, w/ Mari Pablo Feb 21, 2023

Welcome to Episode 114 of the Being Human Podcast: Psychology, Youth Ministry & What Your Teen Wants Most, w/ Mari Pablo

This week on Being Human, Dr. Greg welcomes Catholic speaker and ministry consultant Mari Pablo to the show for a conversation focused on her experience working with youth and young adults in the Church and the importance of an integration of psychology with faith in ministry. Mari also shares what she finds young people are lacking and longing for most in our current culture, as well as what can be done to provide for what they want most.

Discussed in this episode:

Meet Mari Pablo!
Ways in which Mari’s experience working in a juvenile detention facility helped to prepare her for youth ministry;
How training for the real life of discipleship requires an understanding of psychology and the faith;
What are the most prevalent issues among youth and young adults now?
The increasing avoidance and resistance to real communication and connection among younger generations;
Trusting your gut as a parent and learning to be okay with your children being mad at you for setting necessary limits;
How the belief that true love is not possible among youth and young adults impacts their view of devotion and commitment;
Mari’s experience of growing up in a Hispanic home and culture;
The increasing desire for - and corresponding fear of - vulnerable and authentic friendships and relationships among teenagers;
What Mari sees teenagers desiring most, and how adults can provide that for them.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Visit Mari Pablo’s website;
Follow Mari on Instagram and Facebook;
The Evangelical Catholic;
We’re Not Really Strangers (card game);
Why You Need Jesus AND a Counselor - video featuring Mari Pablo;
Theology of the Body for Teens-Middle School Edition - co-authored by Colin & Aimee MacIver (along with Bryan Butler & Jason Evert);
YOU: Life, Love, and the Theology of the Body (for teenagers);
Interested in our Certification program? Join the waitlist to find out more!
Looking for help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of daily accompaniment;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 113: Surprising Sources of Pornography Problems, w/ Steve Pokorny Feb 14, 2023

Welcome to Episode 113 of the Being Human Podcast: Surprising Sources of Pornography Problems, w/ Steve Pokorny

In this episode, Steve Pokorny - author, speaker, and founder of Freedom Coaching - joins Dr. Greg for a conversation* exploring the goodness of human sexuality, the struggle with addiction to pornography, and the surprising ways that shame can block forward momentum in breaking the cycle of addiction to unchaste behaviors. They also offer hope for how those who struggle with these behaviors can begin to find healing and freedom. *Note: Mature content.

Discussed in this episode:

Meet Steve Pokorny;
What contributes to the development of an addiction to pornography?
The need to understand the purpose of our sexuality and importance of seeing ourselves as gift;
Why pornography is ultimately an empty experience that leaves us wanting;
Steve’s personal experience of healing from an addiction to pornography;
The role of coaching in helping to pinpoint the emotions surrounding unchaste behaviors so as to decrease compulsion;
The effect of pornography on the brain;
The role and cycle of shame and how it prevents forward momentum in healing from addiction;
How non-use of our genitalia can be the most fruitful use of our humanity;
Our call to community and relationality in suffering.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Learn more about Freedom Coaching or apply to begin your journey to freedom (Use code: PsychFreedom to get your first meeting free);
Listen to The Redeemed Vision Podcast - Episode #30 w/ Dr. Greg Bottaro as guest;
Read Redeemed Vision: Setting the Blind Free From the Pornified Culture by Steve Pokorny;
See Theology of the Body 65-70 for more on Christ’s nakedness as the fulfillment of human sexuality;
The Beauty of Holiness and the Holiness of Beauty: Art, Sanctity, and the Truth of Catholicism by John Saward, and Beauty: What It Is & Why It Matters by John-Marc Miravalle;
Margaret Vasquez - Intensive Trauma Therapy resource;
The Catholic's Guide to Theophostic Prayer Ministry by Fr. David Tickerhoof, TOR;
Looking for help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff!
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of daily accompaniment;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available;
Join the waitlist to find out more about the new CPMAP Certification.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 112: Insights From the East (Part Two), w/ Mother Natalia & Her Parents Feb 07, 2023

Welcome to Episode 112 of the Being Human Podcast: Insights From the East (Part Two), w/ Mother Natalia & Her Parents

In this second of a two-part episode, Dr. Greg and Mother Natalia finish their conversation from last week, this time diving deeper into the inner workings of Mother’s mind and heart as she vulnerably shares about her internal struggles. Together, Dr. Greg and Mother connect the dots between a psychological approach to understanding her experiences and the writings of the Desert Fathers and Eastern Catholic spirituality.

Discussed in this episode:

The internal lies that have influenced Mother Natalia’s behavior;
Why do we still act out of certain false beliefs?
The reaction of Mother’s parents to her sharing of her internal struggles;
How “parts theory” (Internal Family Systems) can help us to understand ourselves;
Following the example of Christ when listening to and understanding each of our parts;
Acceptance of our parts as a way to avoid “dialogue with the devil”;
The way that our natural survival instinct is at odds with our impending death, and the impact this has on our psychology;
The Eastern view of sin as an illness and the corresponding emphasis on Confession as a healing sacrament;

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Listen to part one of this podcast - Episode #111: Insights From the East (Part One), w/ Mother Natalia and Her Parents;
Check out What God is Not - Mother Natalia’s podcast;
Learn more about Christ the Bridegroom Monastery;
Watch The Chosen;
More about “parts work” - Episode #47: How to Turn Your Inner Worst Enemies Into Your Inner Best Friends;
Looking for help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff!
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of daily accompaniment;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available;
Join the waitlist to find out more about the new CPMAP Certification.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 111: Insights from the East (Part One), w/ Mother Natalia & Her Parents Jan 31, 2023

Welcome to Episode 111 of the Being Human Podcast: Insights from the East (Part One), w/ Mother Natalia & Her Parents

Joining Dr. Greg to discuss the differences and complementarity of the traditions of the East and the West is Byzantine Catholic nun, Mother Natalia (and her parents)! In this first of a two-part episode, Mother Natalia reveals fascinating and surprising differences she’s experienced between the two traditions, and shares her journey from the Roman Rite to falling in love with the Eastern liturgy and eventually joining a Byzantine Catholic monastic community of women.

Discussed in this episode:

Meet Mother Natalia and her parents, David and Barbara Olsen;
Mother’s struggle with scrupulosity and its impact on discernment;
How the diversity of rites that exist within the Catholic Church can all be in communion with Rome;
Differences between the East and West despite the fact that there is no actual East/West split in the body of Christ;
The lack of Eucharstic adoration in the Eastern tradition;
How “the cure fits the disease” and the specific traditions that developed in each rite as ways to counteract particular heresies;
The East as a more feminine counterpart to the more masculine West, and how we can look to both to learn more about complementarity;
The particular ways that all five senses are engaged during celebration of the Eastern liturgy;
Differences between the East and West as impacting spirituality but not what is fundamentally Catholic;
Making room for the cultural differences that impact the liturgy;
Our call as Catholics to “breathe with both lungs” of the Church and grow through complementarity as manifested in the Eastern and Western traditions.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Check out Mother Natalia’s podcast: What God is Not;
Support Mother Natalia’s non-profit ministry, Photina;
Breathing with Both Lungs - podcast episode on the differences between Eastern and Western rites;
Learn more about Christ the Bridegroom Monastery;
Flight From Woman by Karl Stern;
Read Orientale Lumen (The Light of the East), Pope St. John Paul II’s apostolic letter;
Listen to Episode #99: Diversity, Gender, and the Genius of Women, w/ Simone Rizkallah;
Looking for help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff!
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of daily accompaniment;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available;
Join the waitlist to find out more about the new CPMAP Certification.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 110: Beyond Stereotypes: Gender, Culture, and Catholicism w/ Dr. Jennifer E. Morel Jan 24, 2023

Welcome to Episode 110 of the Being Human Podcast: Beyond Stereotypes: Gender, Culture, and Catholicism w/ Dr. Jennifer E. Morel

Joining Dr. Greg for this week’s episode is special guest Dr. Jennifer E. Morel, a moral theologian, research scholar, author, and co-founder of the International Institute of Culture and Gender! In their conversation, they explore the complexities of defining authentic masculinity and femininity, revealing why it’s essential to look beyond cultural and historical stereotypes to gain an understanding of what it means to be a man or a woman.

Discussed in this episode:

Meet Dr. Jennifer E. Morel!
The importance of holding both the objective and the subjective when approaching questions about gender and sex;
Why most paradigms used to define the masculine and feminine genius are too shallow, missing what is actually true about being a man or woman;
Examples and stories from Dr. Morel’s cultural research about the ways different cultures view gender roles;
Masculinity and femininity as something we grow in our whole lives;
Announcement of CatholicPsych Press receiving rights from the Vatican to print certain out-of-print plays written by St. John Paul II;
The need for the Church to provide a clear and cohesive picture of what it means to be a man or a woman to offer as an antidote to the confusion in modern culture;
Fatherhood as being like the work of an artist, and the importance of a father making a choice to participate in the life of his family;
In cross cultural studies, is there a sense that one can grow into a greater experience of humanity through interaction with the opposite sex?

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Visit Dr. Morel’s website to learn more about her work;
More about the International Institute of Culture and Gender co-founded by Dr. Morel;
Read Woman and Man He Resurrected Them, edited by Dr. Morel;
Listen to Episode #99: Diversity, Gender, and the Genius of Women, w/ Simone Rizcallah;
Looking for help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff!
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of daily accompaniment;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available;
Join the waitlist to find out more about the new CPMAP Certification.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 109: Converting the Culture with Love, w/ Sr. Agnus Dei, SV Jan 17, 2023

Welcome to Episode 109 of the Being Human Podcast: Converting the Culture with Love, w/ Sr. Agnus Dei, SV

Roe v. Wade may have been overturned, but it doesn’t seem as if much has changed in our culture, causing us to question if Love truly is winning. Rather than give in to despair, how can we help to change hearts and live in a truly pro-life way, beyond the argument against abortion?

Joining Dr. Greg on the podcast this week to break open these important topics is Sr. Agnus Dei of the Sisters of Life! In this encouraging and hopeful episode, Sister vulnerably shares her personal journey to religious life and offers listeners a glimpse into what it means to live out a call to love and reverence the dignity of all human life.

Discussed in this episode:

Get to know a real life nun: Sr. Agnus Dei’s personal journey to joining the Sisters of Life, their mission, and the four vows taken by each Sister;
The importance of going beyond political arguments to the heart of what it means to be pro-life;
How reverencing life is more than just an anti-abortion argument;
Sister’s experience as postulant director and the younger generation’s discomfort with the commitment and devotion required of true love;
Recommitting to love as a way to counteract the despair and suffering present in our culture;
Abortion as a wound in the lives of women;
Forces of our modern culture as disintegrating versus God’s love and Christian life as oriented towards integration;
The importance of tapping into our natural orientation towards God and towards love in our core;
Stories of hope from Sister’s experience: illustrations of how she has seen Jesus win and heal hearts;
The complementarity of the lay and consecrated vocations;
The importance of seeing the dignity of the person at all stages of life, and Sister’s personal experience with end of life issues.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Find out more about the Sisters of Life!
Listen to the LET LOVE Podcast, co-hosted by Sr. Agnus Dei;
Sign up to receive IMPRINT, a free magazine produced by the Sisters;
Join the Sisters for LifeFest at the March for Life - January 20, 2023!
Pray with the Sisters! Find a Source Eucharistic Holy Hour near you;
Looking for help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff!
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of daily accompaniment;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Join the waitlist to find out more about the new CPMAP Certification.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 108: It’s Another Year… and I’m Still Single, w/ Dr. Mario Sacasa Jan 10, 2023

Welcome to Episode 108 of the Being Human Podcast: It’s Another Year… and I’m Still Single, w/ Dr. Mario Sacasa

It’s a new year, and what if you’re still single but don’t want to be? How do you balance the desire for a committed relationship with living in the present reality of not yet having one? In this week’s episode, Dr. Greg welcomes back to the show a friend and colleague, Dr. Mario Sacasa, to discuss discernment, being single, dating, and the development of virtue.

Discussed in this episode:

Finding the balance between accepting one’s present circumstances while also pursuing one’s desires;
The three dimensions of hope: desire, agency, and patience with timing;
The need to reverence our desire for change, transformation and growth;
How unanswered prayers can help to purify our desires;
The messiness of discernment and the self-sacrifice it can require;
Dr. Mario’s process of discernment in deciding to move to a new city;
The tendency for singles to put too much pressure on themselves and their romantic relationships;
The importance of chastity and the moral courage needed to pursue virtue;
The consequences of immorality and its effect on others who are trying to practice virtue;
Accounting for and accepting obstacles present when pursuing a vocation;
Sexual morality as a standard worth pursuing despite being unsupported by our culture in doing so.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Learn more about Dating Well, Dr. Mario Sacasa’s online course;
Attend Relate 2023: Catholic Singles Conference hosted by CatholicMatch;
Follow Dr. Mario on Facebook or Instagram: @drmariosacasa;
Check out Always Hope, a podcast hosted by Dr. Mario;
Listen to Episode 78: Dating Well with Dr. Mario Sacasa and Episode #61: Being Single (And Not Bitter About It) w/ Amy Grace Miller for more on being single, dating, and relationships;
Looking for help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff!
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of daily accompaniment;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available;
Join the waitlist to find out more about the new CPMAP Certification.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 107: What to Look For in a Mental Health Professional Jan 03, 2023

Welcome to Episode 107 of the Being Human Podcast: What to Look For in a Mental Health Professional

In this week’s episode, Dr. Greg begins with an announcement of the newest publication of the CatholicPsych Press while also diving into some of the most important factors in the work of accompanying others. In the end, he reveals the one question to ask yourself when searching for a professional to accompany you!

Discussed in this episode:

What does it mean for someone to call themselves a “professional”?
Why the work of accompaniment is not the work of saving people;
God as the agent of change in the therapeutic relationship;
The call to give of oneself to others and the importance of appropriate boundaries;
The danger in mental health professionals believing their identity hinges on whether a client receives the help given to them;
The difference between coaching vs. accompaniment;
Catholic mental health professionals as a “middle man” between the client and God;
Announcement about the new edition of The Art of Existential Counseling now available through the CatholicPsych Press.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

The Art of Existential Counseling by Fr. Adrian Van Kaam;
Brief biography of Fr. Van Kaam;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of daily accompaniment;
Looking for mental health help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff!
Find out more about our new Certification;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 106: The Psychology of the Incarnation Dec 27, 2022

Welcome to Episode 106 of the Being Human Podcast: The Psychology of the Incarnation

This week, we’re doing something new! In this episode, taken from an introductory lecture in our new Certification, Dr. Greg offers a brief reflection on the Incarnation - God made man - and explains why it matters for more than just our spiritual life.

Discussed in this episode:

What it means that Christ reveals man to himself;
The importance of reflecting on Jesus as an incarnate person who had flesh and blood and a brain;
Our tendency to overemphasize Christ’s divinity while losing a sense of his humanity;
Jesus as the bridge between the divinity of God and our humanity;
What it means to follow Christ and what’s required to do so;
The uniqueness of each person and their particular mission;
Victor Frankl’s experience and the importance of having meaning in one’s life.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Read Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl;
Listen to Episode 82: Creating a Catholic Standard for Mental Health for an introduction to our new Certification;
Learn more about our new Certification;
Explore how IDDM can help you: Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff!
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship);
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 105: How to Build a Healthy, Holy Family, w/ Dr. Gregory Popcak Dec 20, 2022

Welcome to Episode 105 of the Being Human Podcast: How to Build a Healthy, Holy Family, w/ Dr. Gregory Popcak

Dr. Greg welcomes fellow colleague Dr. Gregory Popcak to the show to break open exactly what is meant by the phrase “domestic church,” why it’s important for families to see themselves as one, and how implementing a “liturgy of family life” is a path towards creating healthy and holy families.

Discussed in this episode:

Introducing Dr. Gregory Popcak, the Pastoral Solutions Institute, and the CatholicHOM app;
Common misconceptions of what is required to be a “good Catholic family”;
Definition of the term “domestic church” and exploration of how families can live out a domestic spirituality;
The implications of the family being instituted by God rather than invented by man;
The single most important ministry that married Catholics can engage in;
How family life is meant as a channel of grace through which personal and global healing can be found;
Exploration of the three building blocks of the “liturgy of domestic church life”;
The importance of showing affection, and how attachment wounds can prevent parents from doing so;
The power of family rituals in transmitting faith and values to children;
How living a liturgy of domestic church life is possible for all families, whether intact, adoptive, divorced, single parent, grandparent, or foster family;
The importance of the quality of conversations with family members;
A discipline approach that helps children know how to make good decisions and seek help when needed without parents giving up authority;

Resources mentioned or relevant

Check out the CatholicHOM app;
Learn more about Dr. Popcak’s Pastoral Solutions Institute;
Find out how to listen to the More2Life Radio Show;
Book: For Better Forever by Dr. Gregory and Lisa Popcak;
Article: Symposium calls for renewal of Catholic family life;
Lumen Gentium by Pope Paul VI;
Explore how IDDM can help you: Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff!
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship);
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.
Learn more about our new Certification;

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 104: Do You Need a Diagnosis? w/ Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace Dec 13, 2022

Welcome to Episode 104 of the Being Human Podcast: Do You Need a Diagnosis? w/ Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace

To know oneself is helpful: the more we understand our own patterns, narratives, and parts, the better decisions we can make. How does being diagnosed with a mental health disorder help or hinder our growth in self-knowledge? What does it mean to have a diagnosis, and when is it helpful or unhelpful? Find out in this week’s episode in which Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace join Dr. Greg for a discussion focused around diagnosis* of mental health disorders!

*Disclaimer: this episode is not meant to diagnose any particular symptom or issue.

Discussed in this episode:

The difference between having a true diagnosis vs. characteristics of one;
Going to Google for a diagnosis vs. discussing issues with a trained professional;
The impact a diagnosis can have on the way we see ourselves;
What it means to hold the objective and the subjective together in order to reverence the individual person;
How a diagnosis can become a tool for self-awareness and growth;
The danger of thinking we can categorize everything we observe in another person;
The difficulty of standardizing observable patterns, signs, and behaviors to facilitate communication between professionals;
The role of (and need for) medication in specific situations;
How diagnosis fits into IDDM (our model of daily accompaniment);
Recognition of our imperfection as a necessary component for growth.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can help you!
Learn more about IDDM (Mentorship), our new, daily model of accompaniment;
Visit MyCatholicDoctor or WellCatholic to easily search for a Catholic doctor near you;
Listen to Episode #72: The DSM Disease (Part One) and Episode 73: The DSM Disease (Part Two) for more on issues with the DSM V-TR;
Referenced in this episode: Episode #102: ADHD and Me, w/ Teresa Violette;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available.
Learn more about our new Certification;

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 103: Is This Just Therapy…in Disguise? w/ Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace Dec 06, 2022

Welcome to Episode 103 of the Being Human Podcast: Is it Psychotherapy in Disguise? w/ Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace

Is there a real difference between traditional psychotherapy and IDDM (Mentorship)? Or is it actually therapy just disguised as something new? What are the differences exactly? And how can IDDM be effective and personal if it’s not face to face? This week on the podcast, Dr. Greg welcomes back co-hosts Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace for a deep dive into these questions and more!

Discussed in this episode:

The difficulty of fully understanding IDDM prior to an experience of it;
The daily aspect of IDDM as a means of entering a client’s life in a more experiential and consistent way;
What is projection, and how does it impact our relationship with God?
Scrupulosity as a disorder that needs deeper spiritual dimensions integrated into psychological help given;
The tendency to apply psychological experience to God and how IDDM helps to remove blocks in how we relate to God.
IDDM as entering into the messiness of the touchpoints between psychology and spirituality;
How the model is more personal despite dialogue through recorded voice messages rather than face to face;
The Catholic anthropology (upon which IDDM is based) as deeper than “cultural Catholicism” or the use of prayer in session;
The subjective criteria of diagnosis and why insurance companies do not support our model;
The importance of speaking with a professional who understands how and for what purpose the human person is made;
Our need for the transcendent in order to make sense of suffering and death.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Explore how IDDM can help you: Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff!
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship);
Being Human episodes referenced: Ep.#84: What Does Catholic Anthropology Even Mean? and Ep. #100: Misconceptions about Men’s Emotions;
Listen to Being Human Episode #6: Introducing IDDM;
Book: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available.
Learn more about our new Certification;

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 102: ADHD and Me, w/ Teresa Violette Nov 29, 2022

Welcome to Episode 102 of the Being Human Podcast: ADHD and Me, w/ Teresa Violette

This week, special guest Teresa Violette joins Dr. Greg on the show to discuss her journey with ADHD and in being diagnosed as an adult. Teresa vulnerably shares how ADHD has impacted her life as well as what has helped her, while also offering encouragement for those with similar struggles.

Discussed in this episode:

How symptoms of ADHD impacted Teresa’s early years and impacted her understanding of her identity;
Common characteristics of ADHD and how it impacts daily functioning;
Why ADHD is an inaccurate name for the disorder;
The challenges of marriage and motherhood as compounded by ADHD;
How fear, anxiety, and self-reliance can prevent us from accessing help;
The significance of receiving a diagnosis and Teresa’s experience in discerning whether to begin medication;
Hallmarks of the disorder and steps to take to be assessed for ADHD;
Challenging the false narrative that “taking medication equals weakness”;
Mindfulness as a tool that can help to slow down one’s reaction to triggering experiences;

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss your situation and how we can support you!
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship) and how it can help you;
Visit MyCatholicDoctor or WellCatholic to easily search for a Catholic doctor near you;
Taking Charge of Adult ADHD: Proven Strategies to Succeed at Work, at Home, and in Relationships by Dr. Russell Barkley;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created and to connect with Teresa;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available.
Learn more about our new Certification;

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 101: Catholic Parenting Amid Cultural Chaos, w/ Dr. Ray Guarendi Nov 22, 2022

Welcome to Episode 101 of the Being Human Podcast: Catholic Parenting Amid Cultural Chaos, w/ Dr. Ray Guarendi

This week, Dr. Greg welcomes special guest Dr. Ray Guarendi to the show to discuss the challenges of parenting as a faithful Catholic in today’s cultural climate. Dr. Ray, a clinical psychologist, author, professional speaker and national radio and television host, humorously shares some of the wisdom he has gained while parenting his ten adopted children.

Discussed in this episode:

Meet Dr. Ray Guarendi;
The challenges of parenting as a faithful Catholic in the current cultural climate;
The problem with parenting from a place of fear;
The danger in giving unwanted and unsolicited opinions and parenting advice to grown children;
The difficulty with the directive to be “morally neutral” as a psychologist;
The one thing people of faith must accept: we cannot look to the culture at large for support;
Examples of current cultural messages that don’t support the faith;
Review of certain statistics that show how misaligned current culture is with Catholic values and beliefs;
Ways to respond to a child expressing gender confusion as a parent or grandparent;
How to know when it’s appropriate to step in as a grandparent to broach the topic of gender confusion with adult children;
Fear of causing psychological damage as a barrier to parenting confidently;
Self-doubt and lack of authority experienced by parents as a result of the cultural climate.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Visit Dr. Ray’s website;
Ways to tune in to Dr. Ray’s radio show;
Watch Dr. Ray’s TV Show;
Books by Dr. Ray mentioned in the episode: You’re a Better Parent Than You Think and Taught by Ten;
Episode 72 of the Being Human Podcast: The DSM Disease (Part One);
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship) and how it can help you;
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss your situation and how we can support you!
Learn more about our new Certification;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 100: Misconceptions about Men’s Emotions, w/ Dr. Bryan Violette Nov 15, 2022

Welcome to Episode 100 of the Being Human Podcast: Misconceptions about Men’s Emotions, w/ Dr. Bryan Violette

In this milestone episode, Dr. Greg and Dr. Bryan dive into discussion about men’s emotional lives, giving listeners a peek into the male psyche while sharing their observations on what it means to be an emotionally healthy man.

Discussed in this episode:

Is the reluctance by men to talk about mental health issues, relationships, and emotional issues fear-based or constitutive to being a man?
The role of one’s emotions and the danger of repressing them;
Refuting the erroneous belief that it is not “a man’s job” to discuss emotions;
The act of courage required of men to share honestly and vulnerably with other men;
The ramifications of having an emotionally-distant father, especially upon sons;
Anger as the emotion men feel most comfortable with;
How St. Joseph learned receptivity and trust in God from Mary’s example;
Rigid gender roles and distortions of masculinity;
The need for men to grow in the gifts of the feminine genius after establishing the masculine gifts;
The importance of entering into areas of incompetence out of love for the other.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

The Catholic Gentleman Podcast (episode featuring Dr. Greg);
Homily of Pope Benedict XVI, Christmas 2006;
The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill (podcast docuseries);
Emotional Pornography blog article;
On the Masculine Genius article in Humanum;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship) and how it can help you;
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss your situation and how we can support you!
Learn more about our new Certification;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 99: Diversity, Gender, and the Genius of Women, w/ Simone Rizkallah Nov 08, 2022

Welcome to Episode 99 of the Being Human Podcast: Diversity, Gender, and the Genius of Women, w/ Simone Rizkallah

This week, Dr. Greg welcomes Simone Rizkallah to the show for a powerful conversation focused around femininity, the genius of women, complementarity between the sexes, and cultural differences! Simone is currently the Director of Program Growth for Endow Groups where she helps women cultivate their feminine genius and personal vocations, and offers a unique cultural perspective as the daughter of immigrants from the Armenian Diaspora in Cairo, Egypt.

Discussed in this episode:

The work of Endow Groups as an apostolate;
The difficulty in defining the feminine genius due to it being something deeper and richer than stereotypical roles and responsibilities;
Growth in the “genius” of the opposite sex as the key to getting out of “battle mode” in the battle between the sexes;
Social communities rooted in truth as an answer to the social contagion and gender confusion affecting young women;
The impact Simone’s Armenian Egyptian culture and background has had on her viewpoint;
Differences between the East and the West, and how we have downgraded our humanity by de-prioritizing the feminine;
The dark side of the prosperity and independence enjoyed in Western culture;
How our biology reflects the genius of each gender;
The importance of taking the human heart and human emotions seriously.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

More about ENDOW Groups;
Read Simone’s article: Endow: The Remedy to Gender Confusion;
Visit Simone’s website and find her on social media: @simonerizkallah;
Pope Benedict XVI’s Letter to Bishops on the Collaboration of Men and Women in the Church;
Mulieris Dignitatem by Pope John Paul II
Flight from Woman by Karl Stern
Learn more about our new Certification;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship) and how it can help you;
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss your situation and how we can support you!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat , courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 98: Are You Gaslighting Yourself? Nov 01, 2022

Welcome to Episode 98 of the Being Human Podcast: Are You Gaslighting Yourself?

You may be familiar with the term “gaslighting,” which is usually used in referencing what happens in an emotionally abusive relationship. But did you know it’s possible to gaslight yourself? On this week’s episode, Dr. Greg dives into the danger of invalidating our own internal experiences, and offers a way to grow in healthy self-compassion instead.

Discussed in this episode:

What is gaslighting? (And where did that term come from?)
Internal Family Systems theory as a way to understand how we can gaslight ourselves;
How discrediting the value of our emotions and perspective begins in childhood;
The importance of reverencing the beauty of each person’s interior life;
The difference between an emotional response and sinful behavior;
True self-compassion: why it is essential to develop if we are to have true compassion for others;
The way our senses in the present are impacted by experiences in our past;
How different sub-personalities we possess exist for a good reason;
The only way to correct sinful behavior.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Being Human Episodes on Internal Family Systems and Parts Work:
- Episode #34: A New Theory! w/a Catholic Lens;

- Episode #35: Why Do I Feel Like I Have Conflicting Thoughts? w/ Dr. Peter Malinoski

- Episode #36: A Guided Exercise w/ Dr. Peter Malinoski

- Episode #47: How to Turn Your Inner Worst Enemies into Your Inner Best Friends
- Episode #49: Internal Family Systems & External Family Tensions

Being Human Episodes on Narcissism:

- Episode #68: I’m Not Narcissistic, You’re Narcissistic

- Episode #21: A Look at Narcissistic Personality Disorder (Mental Health Awareness Series, Part Two)

More about the movie Gaslight;

Learn about IDDM (Mentorship) and how it can help you;

Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss your situation and how we can support you!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 97: The Saints, Our Psychology, and Healthy Self-Denial w/ Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace Oct 25, 2022

Welcome to Episode 97 of the Being Human Podcast: The Saints, Our Psychology, and Healthy Self-Denial w/ Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace

Flogging, hair shirts, extreme fasting…Some of the saints went to extreme measures to mortify their bodies, which can lead us to wonder if we need to do the same to attain sanctity.

In this episode, Dr. Greg, Dr. Bryan, and Amy Grace dive into discussion about healthy vs. unhealthy self-denial, and how our psychology impacts the mortification of our bodies.

Discussed in this episode:

How do we reconcile self-denial with self-care?
The true purpose of mortification of our bodies;
The balance needed between paying attention to our emotional and bodily lives while not allowing them to dictate every choice we make;
The danger in picking out particular stories or data points from the lives of the saints to justify a specific point of view;
When self-denial becomes detrimental to our spiritual and/or psychological lives;
The temptation to pride that is part of the practice of penance;
The importance of examining motives behind self-denial to ensure behavior is happening from a place of freedom versus a place of compulsion;
Determining the particular attachments that interfere with intimacy with God.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

See the Instagram post about St. Francis and St. Thérèse;
Listen to Episode #65: Self-Compassion vs. Self-Denial: Finding the Balance;
Book: The Mindful Catholic: Finding God One Moment at a Time;
Read Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraph referenced: #2015);
More about Exodus 90;
Book: The Extraordinary Parents of St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin;
Book: Leonie Martin: A Difficult Life (sister of St. Thérèse of Lisieux);
More about St. Simeon the Stylite;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship) and how it can help you;
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss your situation and how we can support you!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 96: Yes, I Was Wrong (Dialectic w/ Brian Butler) Oct 18, 2022

Welcome to Episode 96 of the Being Human Podcast: Yes, I Was Wrong (Dialectic w/ Brian Butler)

In Episode 76 of the podcast, while exploring a Catholic vision of complementarity between men and women, Dr. Greg proposed that a gift of self must be received in order for it to have been fully given. In this week’s episode, find out why he was wrong! In it, Dr. Greg is joined by Brian Butler, friend and founder of DumbOx Ministries/ECHO Communities, to break open what it means to become a gift to others and why we can find consolation even when our gift of self is met with rejection.

Discussed in this episode:

Introducing Brian Butler and DumbOx Ministries/Echo Community
The difficulty and risk involved with authentic evangelization and giving of ourselves to others;
The way that sin and past rejection can cause us to either self-protect or develop an unhealthy dependence upon human relationships;
Why our gift of self is not diminished despite the rejection we may encounter;
All gift as finding its source, origin, and summit in the Trinity and Christ as our model of perfect self-gift;
Recognizing others as an icon or a window into the infinite love of God and the importance of treating them as such;
Brian’s story of rejection, and how his experience of femininity helped to heal him;
Healthy friendship and how it helps to call out the greatness in one another;
The challenges and joys of the “apprenticeship of marriage” and the importance of trusting that God is working in and through any mistakes made.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Learn more about DumbOx Ministries/ECHO Community;
Find out when the next ECHO Retreat will be;
Get to know more about Brian Butler and his staff;
For reference: Episode #76: Gender Fluidity or Complementarity (Part Two), in which Dr. Greg states “Gifts must be received in order for them to have been fully given.”
A Meditation on Givenness by Pope John Paul II;
Amoris Laetitia - an Apostolic Exhortation by Pope Francis;
Mulieris Dignitatem - an Apostolic Letter by Pope John Paul II
For an overview of our new Certification, check out Episode #82: Creating a Catholic Standard for Mental Health;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship) and how it can help you;
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss your situation and how we can support you!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 95: How Broken Is Your Family? w/ Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace (Certification Series: Part 12 of 12) Oct 11, 2022

Welcome to Episode 95 of the Being Human Podcast: How Broken Is Your Family? w/ Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace (Certification Series: Part 12 of 12)

The Church calls the family the “school of love” - the place where we are formed and where we learn how to be in relationship with others. But what happens when our “schools” do not provide us with a sufficient education? In this final episode in our Certification series (recorded live and in-person! ), Dr. Greg, Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace explore this topic and more while breaking open the content in the fourth-level anthropology course! (Note: Sound quality due to technical difficulties encountered while recording.)

Discussed in this episode:

What is meant by the term “school of love”;
Why we all experience a feeling that things are “not quite right”;
Our resistance to blaming our parents for our miseducation in love;
Can those who struggle with infertility or who remain celibate still be fruitful?
Why parenthood should not be equated with having a baby;
Dynamics of parental love that are meant to be an image of God’s love for us;
What happens when parents fail to provide selfless love to their children;
The psychological reason spouses should prioritize one another over their children;
The necessity of having both a mom and a dad, and how each is meant to serve as both a complement and a model to their children;
Answering the question “Is there something wrong with me if I grew up in a broken home or without a mom or dad?”

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Register for the next Open House - happening in January 2023!
Start the Certification Series from the beginning! Listen to Episode #84: What Does Catholic Anthropology Even Mean? (Anthropology 100);
Listen to Episode #90: Male & Female: Why Would God Do That? (Anthropology 300);
Watch Fruitfulness is Not a Pillar of Theology of the Body on YouTube;
More on the family as a school of love: Episode #11: Needing a Mom and a Dad
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship) and how it can help you;
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss your situation and how we can support you!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, including his Catholic Mindfulness 2: Discernment of Spirits course;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 94: How Change Actually Happens, w/ Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace (Certification Series: Part 11 of 12) Oct 04, 2022

Welcome to Episode 94 of the Being Human Podcast: How Change Actually Happens, w/ Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace (Certification Series: Part 11 of 12)

Welcome to the second-to-last episode of the Certification series! For this week’s episode, Dr. Greg, Dr. Bryan, and Amy Grace are back together to explore how change and transformation happens, particularly within the Mentorship relationship.

Discussed in this episode:

How healing and change happens in and through relationship;
What is a corrective emotional experience?
The importance of differentiating between our emotions and the problematic behavioral expression of those emotions;
Mentorship as a modeling of the parental relationship and a means of revealing God’s love for us;
How the rupture and repair in a Mentorship relationship can help facilitate a client’s ability to trust God;
“Am I paying you to love me?” The ethics of exchange of monetary value and the importance of growing a company which separates billing and care;
How any investment in intellectual, physical, or psychological development needs to be seen as part of our path to sainthood;
Why people get stuck in a certain developmental stage, and what is needed to progress beyond that stage;
The Certification as a means of teaching people how to help others.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Register for the next Open House;
Start the Certification Series from the beginning! Listen to Episode #84: What Does Catholic Anthropology Even Mean?
For an overview of the Certification, check out Episode #82: Creating a Catholic Standard for Mental Health;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship) and how it can help you;
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss your situation and how we can support you!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, including his Catholic Mindfulness 2: Discernment of Spirits course;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 93: Becoming Like God for Others, w/ Fr. Boniface Hicks (Certification Series: Part 10 of 12) Sep 27, 2022

Welcome to Episode 93 of the Being Human Podcast: Becoming Like God for Others, w/ Fr. Boniface Hicks (Certification Series: Part 10 of 12)

This week on the podcast, Dr. Greg is switching things up by welcoming as a guest to the show Fr. Boniface Hicks: Benedictine monk, Director of Spiritual Formation at St. Vincent Seminary, and an author of one of the books used in our new Certification!

Together, Dr. Greg and Fr. Boniface explore the topic of spiritual direction, accompaniment, Mentorship, and the content of the fourth-level spirituality course in our Certification.

Discussed in this episode:

What is spiritual direction and how is it different from other relationships?
Qualities needed to become a spiritual director along with common challenges faced by those who pursue this path;
Connections and overlap between spiritual direction and Mentorship;
The importance of silence and the need to cultivate a posture of listening to another;
Silence as a means of reflecting and imaging the love of God to others;
Resisting the temptation to “be the guru” or have all the answers when accompanying others;
Praying with clients in session: is it a necessary part of Catholic therapy?
The need to have a disposition of reverence for the uniqueness of each individual’s interior journey;
Fr. Boniface’s personal journey of developing a comfortability with silence.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Register for the next Open House to learn more about our new Certification!
Get to know Fr. Boniface Hicks, OSB;
Spiritual Direction Formation Program at St. Vincent Seminary;
Spiritual Direction: A Guide for Sharing the Father’s Love by Fr. Thomas Acklin & Fr. Boniface Hicks;
Personal Prayer: A Guide for Receiving the Father’s Love by Fr. Thomas Acklin & Fr. Boniface Hicks;
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Program (USA);
Witness to Love - a Catholic marriage mentoring and prep program;
Evangelii Gaudium - Apostolic exhortation;
Born Only Once - Conrad Baars’ book on affirmation;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship) and how it can help you;
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss your situation and how we can support you!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, including his Catholic Mindfulness 2: Discernment of Spirits course;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 92: How to Make Good Decisions, w/ Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace (Certification Series: Part 9 of 12) Sep 20, 2022

Welcome to Episode 92 of the Being Human Podcast: How to Make Good Decisions, w/ Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace (Certification Series: Part 9 of 12)

On this week’s episode introducing content in the third-level spirituality course of our new Certification, Amy Grace takes over as host with Dr. Greg and Dr. Bryan joining in for a conversation about decision-making and discernment of spirits!

Discussed in this episode:

Can we trust our desires when making decisions?;
The moral implication present in each choice;
Making good decisions, and helping others do the same;
Can God draw good from our mistakes or bad choices?
What is meant by “discernment of spirits”;
How God uses both desolation and consolation for our benefit;
Deciding between two good options: is there a choice that is best?
The way our personal narratives and wounds impact our ability to make decisions;
The danger in spiritual directors being unaware of their patterns of relating;
Our engagement with spiritual content as interpreted through our psychology.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Register for the next Open House to learn more about our new Certification!
G.K. Chesterton’s Biography of St. Francis of Assisi;
The Personalism of John Paul II by John Crosby;
The Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide for Everyday Living by Fr. Timothy Gallagher;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, including his Catholic Mindfulness 2: Discernment of Spirits course;
Start the Certification Series from the beginning: Episode #84: What Does Catholic Anthropology Even Mean? w/ Dr. Bryan Violette (Certification Series: Part 1 of 12);
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship) and how it can help you;
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss your situation and how we can support you!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 91: Exploring a Case Study Through a Catholic Lens, w/ Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace (Certification Series: Part 8 of 12) Sep 13, 2022

Welcome to Episode 91 of the Being Human Podcast: Exploring a Case Study Through a Catholic Lens, w/ Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace (Certification Series: Part 8 of 12)

Every individual person’s story is completely unique and unrepeatable. So how is it possible that we have predictable patterns of behaving which can be generalized to others? Continuing the series focused on our new Certification, Dr. Greg, Dr. Bryan, and Amy Grace explore this question while opening up the third-level psychology course through discussion of a case vignette.

Discussed in this episode:

What is a case vignette?
The impossibility of generalizing an individual’s experience;
Our defenses as crystallized ways we learned to protect ourselves against pain;
The “both and” of predictable patterns of behavior and the unique, unrepeatable ways individuals display that behavior;
The family as a school of love where we are meant to learn in that school;
Where does security come from?
Attachment theory, and God as our ultimate secure attachment;
Learning how to receive God’s love in order to give it to one’s children;
The importance of genuine love for one’s clients in the accompaniment relationship;
How Mentorship locks in on the uniqueness of the person, even in their defenses;
The danger of proposing a solution to psychological ills that does not involve the spiritual life;
What’s coming up next in our Certification series.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Register for the next Open House to learn more about our new Certification!
Interpersonal Process in Therapy: An Integrative Model by Edward Teyber;
Dr. Daniel Amen of the Amen Institute discusses SPECT Scans;
More about St. Bonaventure, the patron of bowel disorders;
Start the Certification Series from the beginning: Episode #84: What Does Catholic Anthropology Even Mean? w/ Dr. Bryan Violette (Certification Series: Part 1 of 12);
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship) and how it can help you;
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss your situation and how we can support you!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 90: Male & Female: Why Would God Do That? w/ Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace (Certification Series: Part 7 of 12) Sep 06, 2022

Welcome to Episode 90 of the Being Human Podcast: Male & Female: Why Would God Do That? w/ Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace (Certification Series: Part 7 of 12)

There’s a tremendous amount of suffering that has happened due to the differences between men and women. What was God’s purpose in creating us so different from one another? In this episode, Dr. Greg, Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace break open content from the third Anthropology course in our new Certification, focusing on the relationship between men and women.

Discussed in this episode:

The impact of brain differences between men and women;
Distinctions between the sexes as building blocks that help us grow out of self-centeredness;
How the apprenticeship of marriage transforms us;
The importance of mutual respect when learning from the opposite sex;
Openness to the opposite sex’s way of looking at things as a prerequisite to becoming more human;
Choosing to grow in the gifts of the opposite sex as an act of the will;
Personal examples of how Dr. Greg, Dr. Bryan, and Amy Grace have each grown from their relationships with the opposite sex;
What the Church isn’t talking about in regards to masculinity and femininity;
Self-donation as a lifelong adventure that requires sacrifice.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Register for the next Open House to learn more about our new Certification!
The Personalism of John Paul II by John F. Crosby;
Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church On the Collaboration of Men and Women in the Church and in the World by Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI);
On the Masculine Genius (an article by Dr. Greg published in Humanum Quarterly Review);
Being Human Episode #75: Gender Fluidity or Complementarity (the first of a 4-part series);
Start the Certification series from the beginning: Episode #84: What Does Catholic Anthropology Even Mean? w/ Dr. Bryan Violette (Certification Series: Part 1 of 12);
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship) and how it can help you;
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss your situation and how we can support you!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 89: Finding Peace in the Presence of God, w/ Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace (Certification Series: Part 6 of 12) Aug 30, 2022

Welcome to Episode 89 of the Being Human Podcast: Finding Peace in the Presence of God, w/ Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace (Certification Series: Part 6 of 12)

Find out what’s in the second-level Spirituality course of our new Certification! In this episode, Dr. Greg, Dr. Bryan, and Amy Grace discuss the spiritual and psychological importance of Catholic mindfulness, how it can increase peace in our lives, and why it serves as the basis for the spirituality component of our Certification.

Discussed in this episode:

Isn’t mindfulness Buddhist or “New Age”?
Abandonment to Divine Providence as the foundation of Catholic mindfulness;
An overview of the purgative, illuminative, and unitive way in relation to anxiety;
How peace is possible even in the midst of a psychological disorder;
Dr. Greg’s struggle with severe insomnia and his experience of putting mindfulness into practice;
Why we can have hope in the midst of suffering;
How self-awareness is necessary for discernment.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Register for the next Open House to learn more about our new Certification!
Watch: Mindfulness and Catholic Mystical Tradition;
Watch: Is Mindfulness New Age?
Watch: Mindfulness, Spirituality, and Mental Health: A Conversation with Dr. Gregory Bottaro;
Read: The Catholic Guide to Mindfulness (or Coffee, Satan’s Drink);
Read: Catholic Mindfulness is Not Centering Prayer;
Watch: Stop It (MadTV Skit with Bob Newhart)
Spiritual Passages: The Psychology of Spiritual Development by Fr. Benedict Groeschel;
Searching for and Maintaining Peace by Fr. Jacques Philippe;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship) and how it can help you;
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss your situation and how we can support you!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 88: When Things Go Wrong, w/ Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace (Certification Series: Part 5 of 12) Aug 23, 2022

Welcome to Episode 88 of the Being Human Podcast: When Things Go Wrong, w/ Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace (Certification Series: Part 5 of 12)

Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace join Dr. Greg again this week for a conversation exploring ways that we are wounded in relationships, unhealthy behaviors that can manifest as a result, and the ways our model can help clients gain freedom from problematic patterns of relating. This episode is an introduction to what’s involved in the second-level Psychology course of our new Certification!

Discussed in this episode:

The hurt we experience in relationships and how it manifests in defense mechanisms, faulty assumptions, and problematic patterns of relating;
Assessing, addressing, and processing the dynamics of interactions with clients;
“I hate you – don’t leave me”: conceptualization of cases as a way to aid clients in recognizing unhealthy relational patterns;
The goal of Mentorship as helping clients recognize particular ways they were hurt in relationship, current problematic patterns of relating to others, and ways to correct them;
The Certification’s focus on equipping students with what is essential to accompaniment;
Differences between the first and second levels of Certification;
The weight of responsibility clinicians have to their clients;
The importance of ongoing supervision and seeking out continual growth as a clinician;

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Register for the next Open House to learn more about our new Certification!
Interpersonal Process in Psychotherapy by Edward Teyber
Interpersonal Theory and Psychotherapy by Harry Stack Sullivan
Listen to Episode #85: The New Psych 101, w/ Dr. Bryan Violette & Amy Grace Miller (Certification Series: Part 2 of 12);
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship) and how it can help you;
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss your situation and how we can support you!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 87: Hell is Not Other People, w/ Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace (Certification Series: Part 4 of 12) Aug 16, 2022

Welcome to Episode 87 of the Being Human Podcast: Hell is Not Other People, w/ Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace (Certification Series: Part 4 of 12)

Dr. Bryan and Amy Grace join Dr. Greg again this week to break open the themes present in the Level 2 Anthropology course of our new Certification! With the conversation focusing around the individual person embedded in a world of relationships, this episode explores various aspects of the ways we connect and commune with others.

Discussed in this episode:

What does John Paul II have to say about being in relationship with others?
The paradox of finding oneself through a gift of oneself to others in relationship;
How I become a better “me” because I’m interacting with “you”;
Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development;
How we learn that people are not objects for our use or means to an end;
What’s missing in the antiquated morality of the “marital debt” in relation to conjugal intimacy;
The difference between friendship and romantic relationships;
What we can learn about self-gift through our friendships;
How we are made for infinite relationships within the communion of saints;
The contrasting ways both friendship and marriage are foretastes of heaven;

Resources mentioned or relevant:

At the Center of the Human Drama: The Philosophy of Karol Wojtyla/Pope John Paul II by Kenneth Schmitz
Person and Community: Selected Essays by Karol Wojtyla (Pope St. John Paul II)
Love & Responsibility by Karol Wotjtyla (Pope St. John Paul II)
The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis
Episode #85: The New Psych 101 w/ Dr. Bryan Violette & Amy Grace Miller (Certification Series: Part 2 of 12)
Episode #61: Being Single (And Not Bitter About It) w/ Amy Grace Miller;
Register for our free Open House to learn more about the new certification!
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 86: How Catholic is Your Spirituality? (Certification Series: Part 3 of 12) Aug 09, 2022

Welcome to Episode 86 of the Being Human Podcast: How Catholic is Your Spirituality? (Certification Series: Part 3 of 12)

This week, Dr. Greg introduces the first course on spirituality in our new Certification, breaking open the topic of integration and its importance in the work of accompaniment.

Discussed in this episode:

How can this Certification help someone to become a spiritual director?
Errors of Cartesian dualism and its impact on both secular psychology and our modern culture;
Integration as the healing medicine for the disease affecting not only modern culture but the Church as well;
An introduction to Fr. Benedict Groeschel and how his writings influenced the development of the CatholicPsych model;
The overlap between not only spirituality and psychology but biology as well;
How the anxiety or peace we feel in this life is directly related to our spiritual life;
The danger of presenting objective truth in a way that is divorced from subjective experience;
Catholic Mindfulness as a practical way to integrate spirituality and psychology.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

The Mindful Catholic: Finding God One Moment at a Time by Dr. Gregory Bottaro;
Spiritual Passages: The Psychology of Spiritual Development by Fr. Benedict Groeschel;
The Art of Existential Counseling by Adrian Van Kaam;
The Poco a Poco Podcast with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal;
Theology of the Body Institute courses;
Past podcast episode on integration - Episode #41: What Is Integration Anyway? w/ Fr. Louis Merosne;
Register for our next Open House to learn more about the new CPMAP Certification!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you!
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 85: The New Psych 101 w/ Dr. Bryan Violette & Amy Grace Miller (Certification Series: Part 2 of 12) Aug 02, 2022

Welcome to Episode 85 of the Being Human Podcast: The New Psych 101 w/ Dr. Bryan Violette and Amy Grace Miller (Certification Series: Part 2 of 12)

The second episode of our new 12-part series introducing each course of our certification! This week Dr. Greg changes it up by welcoming past podcast guests Dr. Bryan Violette and Amy Grace Miller back to the show for a roundtable conversation about psychological theories and how our certification brings together those most consistent with a Catholic anthropology.

Discussed in this episode:

The lack of a shared philosophical foundation in the field of psychology and the need for anthropology as a lens through which we can view the psychological sciences;
An overview of the development of various psychological theories;
Why psychodynamic interpersonal theory is foundational to our model;
Research in the field of psychology as skewed by specific agendas and ideologies;
Relational templates formed in childhood and the ways they are projected onto other relationships;
The work of Harry Stack Sullivan and his relational stages of development;
Limitations of both IFS theory and the research of John Gottman;
Ethics in psychology and the importance of self-awareness when helping others in this field.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Harry Stack Sullivan - Interpersonal Theory and Psychotherapy
Edward Teyber’s Interpersonal Process in Psychotherapy
The Gottman Institute - Research on Marriage and Couples
Dr. Richard Schwartz - Internal Family Systems (IFS) Institute
Register for a future Open House to learn more about the new certification!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you!
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 84: What Does Catholic Anthropology Even Mean? w/ Dr. Bryan Violette (Certification Series: Part 1 of 12) Jul 26, 2022

Welcome to Episode 84 of the Being Human Podcast: What Does Catholic Anthropology Even Mean? w/ Dr. Bryan Violette (Certification Series: Part 1 of 12)

Dr. Greg frequently refers to the importance of grounding our understanding of psychology in a Catholic anthropology. But what exactly does that term mean? And why is it a necessary foundation for the study of psychology?

In this episode - the first of a 12-part series geared towards introducing each course of our new certification - Dr. Greg welcomes Dr. Bryan Violette back to the show to unpack these questions and more!

Discussed in this episode:

Defining Catholic anthropology and how it can help us understand what it means to be human;
The way experiences in our family of origin impact our psychological development;
Pope St. John Paul II’s personalism as an integration of phenomenology (a contemporary philosophy which emphasizes subjective experience) into objective Thomistic thought;
Differences between Thomistic philosophy and Pope St. John Paul II’s personalism;
Catholic anthropology as an essential foundation to working and walking with people in an authentically Catholic way;
The role the unconscious plays in our thoughts and patterns of behavior;
The first step of the commandment to love according to Pope St. John Paul II;
The weight of responsibility carried by mental health professionals and the need for proper preparation, training, and personal development to provide ethical care.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Register for our free Open House to learn more about the new certification!
Watch What is Theology of the Body? presented by Christopher West
Theology of the Body for Beginners by Christopher West
Love and Responsibility by Karol Wojtyla (Pope St. John Paul II)
Greatest Love of All - Whitney Houston song referenced by Dr. Bryan;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our model of accompaniment;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you!
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 83: Ask Dr. Greg! (Q&A, w/ Amy Grace Miller) Jul 19, 2022

Welcome to Episode 83 of the Being Human Podcast: Ask Dr. Greg! (Q&A, w/ Amy Grace Miller)

In this episode, Dr. Greg is joined by the CatholicPsych content and community manager, Amy Grace Miller, to field questions from the community! How do I overcome sloth? Is it okay that my therapist is using CBT to treat my OCD/scrupulosity? Should Catholics abandon the field of psychology altogether? How do I talk to loved ones who admit to experiencing gender confusion? Plus, more information about how Dr. Greg’s new certification can benefit you!

Discussed in this episode:

Answering questions from the community related to sloth, the field of secular psychology, what it means to be a Catholic therapist, gender confusion, and more;
The importance of viewing questions through a lens of integration, and why it’s difficult to give simple answers to particular questions;
The psychological dimension of our humanity as overlapping both our material and our spiritual being;
Are certain psychological theories and/or forms of treatment (i.e. CBT, attachment theory, etc.) okay to use?
Clarififying what specifically is anti-Catholic about the field of psychology;
Why an education in psychology alone is not enough for mental health professionals;
The importance of grounding our education in how to walk with others in the philosophy of Pope St. John Paul II
The Church as a field hospital in the midst of the current culture war, and the need for individuals trained in how to adequately care for victims of this battle;
How the certification offered through CatholicPsych can benefit those in various fields and vocations.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Register for our free Open House to learn more about the new certification!
Instagram post about integration (referenced in this episode);
Hear more about the new certification in last week’s episode: Ep. #82 Changing the Rules: Creating a Catholic Standard for Mental Health;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you!
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 82: Changing the Rules: Creating a Catholic Standard for Mental Health Jul 12, 2022

Welcome to Episode 82 of the Being Human Podcast: Changing the Rules: Creating a Catholic Standard for Mental Health

In this episode, Dr. Greg officially introduces the brand new CatholicPsych certification program! He breaks open what it is, what it isn’t, who it’s for, and how it will provide a more effective way to help others carry their mental health burdens.

Discussed in this episode:

Overview of the new CatholicPsych certification and invitation to the Open House;
The certification as a model of integration with a goal to help others become healthier, holier, and happier;
Psychology as the intersection between our spiritual and physical lives;
Why we need a blueprint for what it means to be human when it comes to helping people carry their mental health burdens;
The importance of Pope St. John Paul II’s anthropology of the human person;
The reason spiritual direction and psychotherapy should not actually be separate;

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Register for the free Open House to learn more about our new certification!
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our model of accompaniment;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 81: The Lies of the American Psychological Association Jul 05, 2022

Welcome to Episode 81 of the Being Human Podcast: The Lies of the American Psychological Association

In this episode, Dr. Greg tackles the problematic stance taken by the American Psychological Association (APA) on abortion; he also breaks open why it’s important for Catholic mental health professionals to practice from a place of integration, why most psychology programs cannot provide that kind of education, and what CatholicPsych is doing to help.

Discussed in this episode:

How politics have taken precedence over scientific fact when it comes to the APA’s stance on abortion;
The validity and findings of scientific studies done about the mental health impact on women who have had an abortion;
Why practicing as a mental health professional under the APA guidelines is becoming untenable;
The importance of Catholic mental health professionals starting from a place of integration of psychology, theology, and anthropology;
Reasons why even Catholic psychology programs are forced to separate Catholic philosophy and theology from the teaching of psychology;
Announcement of the Open House to discuss CathoilcPsych’s new certification launching in the Fall of 2022.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Register for the free Open House to learn more about our new certification launching in the Fall!
Meta-analysis on mental health risks associated with abortion: Coleman, P. (2011). Abortion and mental health: Quantitative synthesis and analysis of research published 1995–2009. British Journal of Psychiatry, 199(3), 180-186;
Visit the APA’s website: apa.org;
The Embrace of the Proabortion Turnaway Study (cites issues with the study the APA uses as proof for their claim that restricting access to abortion will worsen mental health outcomes);
Adverse Psychological Reactions After Abortion - Fact Sheet by Project Rachel Ministries;
Ministries offering resources for those struggling from a past abortion: Project Rachel, Sisters of Life, Entering Canaan
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you!
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 80: Gender Fluidity or Complementarity? (Part Four) Jun 28, 2022

Welcome to Episode 80 of the Being Human Podcast: Gender Fluidity or Complementarity? (Part Four)

One last episode to wrap up our series on gender and complementarity! This week, Dr. Greg addresses some of the questions and feedback received from earlier episodes in the series, and dives deeper into how we can understand “gender fluidity” from a Catholic perspective.

Discussed in this episode:

Addressing feedback and questions from the first three episodes in this series;
How words have meaning and why it’s important to continue using specific words even if they have been hijacked by the culture;
The hierarchy of the gift of self and our calling to be gift to all in our lives;
The importance of Christ being born into a family with both a mother and a father and its implications for us;
How we are influenced and formed through the gifts of others;
Why we need to be formed by both a same-sex and opposite-sex parent in order to become the best version of ourselves.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Listen to the first episode in this series: Gender Fluidity or Complementarity?;
Check out the work of the International Institute of Culture and Gender Studies;

Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;

Learn more about our new certification launching in the Fall!

Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you!
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 79: The Weight of Grief, w/ Brianne Edwards Jun 21, 2022

Welcome to Episode 79 of the Being Human Podcast: The Weight of Grief, w/ Brianne Edwards

Dr. Greg welcomes author Brianne Edwards to the podcast this week to discuss her brand new book and the most recent publication of CatholicPsych Press: ‘A Thousand Pounds: Finding the Strength to Live and Love under the Weight of Unbearable Loss.’

Discussed in this episode:

Background on the author and her reasons for sharing the story of her son’s unexpected death and its impact upon her;
The role of reading others’ stories as a way to process grief and the desire of the author for her book to offer support for others in the midst of grief;
The difficulty of discussing grief with others and finding authentic support amid loss;
The author’s journey to get to a place of carrying the weight of grief comfortably;
Our desire to control and the difficulty in coming to terms with the reality of death as something that is uncontrollable;
Religious cliché as unhelpful in the midst of grief and loss and the author’s struggle in her relationship with God after the death of her son;
Re-creating the beauty of the resurrection through our own suffering by offering consolation to others following healing;
The author’s purpose in writing her book and founding a nonprofit in honor of her son.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

A Thousand Pounds: Finding the Strength to Live and Love under the Weight of Unbearable Loss by Brianne Edwards;
Follow Bri on Instagram or Facebook: @LachsLegacy;
Visit Lach’s Legacy Website, a resource for grieving parents;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 78: Dating Well, w/ Dr. Mario Sacasa Jun 14, 2022

Welcome to Episode 78 of the Being Human Podcast: Dating Well, w/ Dr. Mario Sacasa

This week, Dr. Greg welcomes friend and colleague Dr. Mario Sacasa to the show for a conversation centered around the challenges of dating in our modern day!

Topics of discussion include discernment in dating, developmental stages of a relationship, healthy boundaries, learning from rejection, and red flags to watch out for to avoid a narcissistic partner.

Discussed in this episode:

Reasons why dating in our modern day has become so difficult;
Dating as an act of discernment;
Developmental process of a relationship (five stages of a relationship);
How to know when a relationship has potential, and red flags to watch out for while on a date;
The importance of appropriate emotional and physical boundaries when dating;
Dr. Greg’s personal experiences in dating and how he met his wife;
Being open to the experience of learning from rejection;
How to view dating as an opportunity for personal growth and development of the virtue of courage.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

More on Dr. Mario Sacasa’s course Dating Well;
Follow Dr. Mario on Facebook or Instagram: @drmariosacasa;
Listen to Always Hope, the podcast hosted by Dr. Mario;
The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt;
Pew Research Center article: Key Takeaways on Americans’ Views Of and Experiences With Dating and Relationships;
Watch Dr. Greg’s Rules for Online Dating (with link in to a free downloadable .pdf!);
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, including Built to Last - a course on Marriage and Relationships;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 77: Gender Fluidity or Complementarity? (Part Three) Jun 07, 2022

Welcome to Episode 77 of the Being Human Podcast: Gender Fluidity or Complementarity? (Part Three)

This week, Dr. Greg begins to wrap up his series on gender and the complementarity of men and women. In this episode, he proposes a definition of “genius” (of a masculine or feminine type) and then breaks open the specific brain differences between men and women that lay a foundation for the particular genius of each.

Discussed in this episode:

Defining what is meant by the feminine or masculine “genius”;
How the differences in our brains as male and female give us a natural affinity towards certain skill sets;
The unique ways men and women’s bodies and brains order each towards the creation and protection of new life;
How the particular gifts of each sex can also lead to particular weaknesses in each, and the specific qualities that men and women need to learn from each other;
Ways our complementarity as men and women can lead us to become better versions of ourselves;
How masculine and feminine “genius” qualities are above all human qualities meant to be integrated into our personhood;

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Listen to the first two episodes in this series: Episode #75 (Part One) and Episode #76 (Part Two);
The Female Brain and The Male Brain by Louann Brizendine;
Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church On the Collaboration of Men and Women in the Church and in the World, by Cardinal Ratzinger;
On the Masculine Genius, an article by Dr. Greg published in Humanum Quarterly Review;
Learn more about complementarity and the masculine and feminine genius in Dr. Greg’s relationships course: A Marriage Built to Last;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 76: Gender Fluidity or Complementarity? (Part Two) May 31, 2022

Welcome to Episode 76 of the Being Human Podcast: Gender Fluidity or Complementarity? (Part Two)

This week, Dr. Greg continues the conversation from Episode #75 on our purpose in being created as male and female, exploring a Catholic vision of complementarity as ordered towards unity between men and women, and breaking open why we need the opposite sex to attain holiness. (Note: Mature Content)

Discussed in this episode:

The Catholic vision of the human person, created as male and female and ordered towards a purpose;
How we are a theology in our masculinity and femininity, with a capacity for fruitfulness stamped into our genetic code from the moment of our conception.
Giving the gift of ourselves and receiving the gift of others, and how we are changed through this reciprocity of gift;
Marriage as a path to holiness, and why we need the opposite sex to attain that holiness;
The reason the call to celibacy is a supernatural vocation;
The Catholic “both and” of complementarity and equality;
How the differences in our brain as male and female give us a natural affinity towards certain skill sets;

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Sign up for insider information about our new certification launching in the Fall;
Listen to episode #75, the first in this series: Gender Fluidity or Complementarity?
Ch. 17 of the Theology of the Body (see pg. 43): Man and Woman: A Gift for Each Other
Love and Responsibility by Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II)
On the Masculine Genius, an article by Dr. Greg published in Humanum Quarterly Review;
Watch Fruitfulness is Not a Pillar of the Theology of the Body on YouTube;
Learn more about complementarity and the masculine and feminine genius in Dr. Greg’s relationships course: A Marriage Built to Last;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Episode 75: Gender Fluidity or Complementarity? May 24, 2022

Welcome to Episode 75 of the Being Human Podcast: Gender Fluidity or Complementarity?

In this week’s episode, Dr. Greg opens up a new series focused on fleshing out a convincing Catholic response to the gender confusion in our culture today; he proposes an answer to an important question about the purpose of being created as male and female. (Note: Mature Content)

Discussed in this episode:

The impossibility of changing one’s gender;
The philosophy of John Paul II and how it can serve as a foundation for understanding our bodies;
The teleological capacity of the human person;
What no one in the Church seems to be talking about in regards to our creation as men and women;
A proposal to the question of why we are made as male and female;
Fruitfulness as a consequence of every free, total, faithful gift given between a man and a woman;
How, as Catholics, we have the full spectrum of ways to arrive at truth available to us;
The need to coalesce around a vision of gender, sex, and the human person’s purpose.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Read On the Masculine Genius, an article by Dr. Greg published in Humanum Quarterly Review;
Learn more about our new certification launching in the Fall!
Watch Fruitfulness is Not a Pillar of the Theology of the Body by Dr. Greg on YouTube;
Read Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church On the Collaboration of Men and Women in the Church and in the World, by Cardinal Ratzinger;
Learn more about complementarity and the masculine and feminine genius in Dr. Greg’s relationships course: A Marriage Built to Last;
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 74: Merciless Mental Health vs. the Radical Compassion of the Catholic Proposal May 17, 2022

Welcome to Episode 74 of the Being Human Podcast: Merciless Mental Health vs. the Radical Compassion of the Catholic Proposal

In this week’s episode, Dr. Greg proposes that a Catholic response to our culture’s gender and sexual confusion is more compassionate than anything the secular world of mental health care is offering, and fleshes out how a Catholic understanding of the body can offer clarity to the current cultural chaos.

Discussed in this episode:

Compassion as the appropriate response toward those struggling with difficulties in the area of sexual attraction or identity;
Clarification of points made in last week’s episode;
Acknowledgment of abuses experienced by some seeking to change their sexual orientation, and the need for better therapy options that are more appropriate to the dignity of the person;
Further exploration of the deep error in how we view our bodies as a result of Cartesian dualism;
What’s ironic about our modern culture’s position on “body shaming”;
How a Catholic view of the body can offer hope and clarity to the current cultural chaos;
The need for a deeper and renewed understanding of masculinity and femininity, and the purpose of being created as male and female.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Episode #73: The DSM Disease (Part Two);
Dr. Robert Spitzer reading his letter of apology;
Blog article: How the Church Can Understand Homosexuality;
Learn more about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you!
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 73: The DSM Disease (Part Two) May 10, 2022

Welcome to Episode 73 of the Being Human Podcast: The DSM Disease (Part Two)

In this second episode of our two-part series, Dr. Greg highlights problematic new updates to the DSM, and reads from the text itself as he breaks open the dangers of separating an objective understanding of the human person from the practice of psychology. He ends with a reminder of our role and responsibility as Catholics in this current cultural battle and a challenge to Catholic mental health professionals. (Note: mature content discussed.)

Discussed in this episode:

The need for objective criteria when defining what it is to be human;
The importance of being aware of the unhealthy direction in which the DSM is moving and how it is leading people to greater disease, confusion, and distress;
The necessity of compassion as a requirement of justice for all who suffer from any disorder or experience against the natural order;
The pre-amble to the Gender Dysphoria chapter in the DSM;
Our responsibility and call as Catholics to work on turning the tide in the current cultural battle;
A challenge and question for Catholic mental health professionals, and a word of hope.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

The most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders;
Psychology as Religion: The Cult of Self-Worship by Dr. Paul Vitz;
Dr. Robert Spitzer reading his letter of apology;
Blog article: How the Church Can Understand Homosexuality;
A brief explanation of the Catholic Church’s teaching on homosexuality and it’s teaching on gender identity by Dr. Christopher West;
Learn more about IDDM (Mentorship), Dr. Greg’s new model of care;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you!
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 72: The DSM Disease (Part One) May 03, 2022

Welcome to Episode 72 of the Being Human Podcast: The DSM Disease (Part One)

In this first episode of a two-part series, Dr. Greg begins to break open major flaws of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). He highlights problems in how mental disorders and diseases are defined and gives a glimpse into how it will become harder for Catholic mental health professionals to adhere to both their faith and APA standards. (Note: Mature content discussed.)

Discussed in this episode:

What is the DSM?
The influence of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) on the entire mental health field and beyond;
The history of homosexuality in the DSM and its removal due to political reasons;
The danger of not having objective criteria for defining human excellence and flourishing;
How the APA’s relativistic view of the human person is problematic when defining mental disorders;
The need for a disposition of compassion when addressing issues related to mental illness and sexuality;
The importance of recognizing the dignity of each human person.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

The most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders;
Psychology as Religion: The Cult of Self-Worship by Dr. Paul Vitz;
Dr. Robert Spitzer reading his letter of apology;
Learn more about IDDM (Mentorship), Dr. Greg’s new model of care;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you!
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life Intensives: time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on exciting developments at CatholicPsych;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 71: The Feminine Genius: A Conversation w/ Lisa Cotter Apr 26, 2022

Welcome to Episode 71 of the Being Human Podcast: The Feminine Genius: A Conversation w/ Lisa Cotter

This week on the podcast, Dr. Greg welcomes Lisa Cotter, Catholic speaker and author of a new book, Reveal the Gift: Living the Feminine Genius. He and Lisa discuss how her new book helps illuminate the meaning of what Pope St. John Paul II termed the “feminine genius,” and how an understanding of it can impact the lives of both men and women.

Discussed in this episode:

Meet Lisa Cotter!
The difficulty of defining the feminine genius;
Opening up more of what JPII meant when he used the phrase “the feminine genius” and the timeliness of his focus on the gifts of femininity;
The importance of developing a deeper understanding of the particular “geniuses” of both men and women and of working towards collaboration with one another;
The complementarity of masculinity and femininity and the wound of suspicion of one another that still exists between men and women, even in the Church;
Practical ways Lisa lives out her feminine genius within her marriage and family life.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Meet Lisa Cotter, Catholic speaker and author known for her practical insights on relationships, femininity, and living life with excellence;
More on Lisa’s newest book, Reveal the Gift: Living the Feminine Genius;
Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Collaboration of Men and Women in the Church and in the World by Pope Benedict XVI;
Mulieris Dignitatem by Pope St. John Paul II;
The Concept of Woman, Volume 1 by Sr. Prudence Allen;
The Female Brain: What’s Your Superpower? - the first article in a 5-part blog series on the female brain;
Learn more about IDDM (Mentorship), Dr. Greg’s new model of care;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you!
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life “app groups” - time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, and forgiveness;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 70: Mercy as the Antidote to Anxiety, w/ Colin Nykaza Apr 19, 2022

Welcome to Episode 70 of the Being Human Podcast: Mercy as the Antidote to Anxiety, w/ Colin Nykaza This week, Dr. Greg welcomes to the podcast the director of young adult outreach for the Archdiocese of New York (and a close friend of his), Colin Nykaza! Their discussion focuses on Divine Mercy: what it is, why it’s important, and how it can help us connect the dots between our spiritual and emotional lives.

In this episode:

Colin shares how his life has been touched and transformed by God, specifically through the message of Divine Mercy;
How what we consume on a daily basis impacts our emotional and psychological lives;
The importance of noticing the ways we distract ourselves from feelings of anxiety and fear, and how these distractions can increase those feelings;
The disconnect that can exist between our faith and emotional lives, and how this disconnect leads to anxiety;
A definition of Divine Mercy as God’s desire to be with us in our brokenness, and how this Divine Mercy is the answer to our fears of rejection and wounds from disconnection;
Practical and simple ways to dive deeper into our relationship with Jesus and experience more connection between our faith and emotional lives.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Watch Colin Nykaza’s presentation of “Divine Mercy: Consolation for Those Who Suffer Fear, Anxiety & Depression” or his appearance on EWTN’s “Life on the Rock” (both on YouTube);
Learn more about CatholicNYC, or follow them on Instagram or Facebook;
To book Colin for a speaking engagement, email him at cnykaza@gmail.com;
Learn more about the plans for Divine Mercy Perpetual Adoration Chapel being built in New York City;
Find out more about IDDM (Mentorship), Dr. Greg’s new model of care;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you!
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life “app groups” - time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 69: Something Strange is Happening (A Holy Saturday Reflection) Apr 12, 2022

Welcome to Episode 69 of the Being Human Podcast: Something Strange is Happening (A Holy Saturday Reflection)

For this episode during Holy Week, we’re doing something different! On this week’s episode, Dr. Greg reads aloud from the “ancient homily for Holy Saturday” and offers his reflections on Christ’s presence in the midst of our suffering.

Want to add a reminder to listen on Holy Saturday? Click the link below!

Add to Calendar

In this episode:

A brief explanation of the Liturgy of the Hours and the benefits of praying with the material given to us by the Church for each season;
What Dr. Greg finds most striking about Holy Saturday, and how the silence and stillness of the day is an invitation to see God present with us in our wounds;
Reading of the text of the “ancient homily for Holy Saturday” from the Office of Readings;
Reflection on how Christ enters our suffering humanity, and the transforming power of his presence in the midst of our brokenness.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Click to add a reminder in your calendar to listen to this episode on Holy Saturday!
Easter and Trauma, a blog post centered on the hope we can have because of the Resurrection;
Learn more about IDDM (Mentorship), Dr. Greg’s new model of care;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you!
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life “app groups” - time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter;
Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop , or discover other resources we have available.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 68: "I'm Not Narcissistic, You're Narcissistic!" (An Antidote to Narcissism: Part Two) Apr 05, 2022

This week on the podcast, Dr. Greg digs deeper into the topic of narcissism as he answers a listener’s question about how to best approach conversation with a family member who has narcissistic tendencies. He breaks open the fear that lies at the core of narcissism, the difference between narcissistic traits and narcissistic personality disorder, and gives steps in how to best love the narcissists in our lives.

Discussed in this episode:

The importance of delineating between narcissistic tendencies and a full-blown narcissistic personality disorder, as well as the differences between the two;
Understanding narcissism as a terror of worthlessness or of having no value as a person, and how manipulative behaviors are manifestations of a need for validation.
Balancing sympathy with firm boundaries and proper discernment as key when deciding how much interaction to have with someone who has narcissistic tendencies;
Steps for dealing with difficult personalities and the importance of self-ownership in these relationships;
One of the most helpful things you can do for someone who struggles with narcissistic tendencies;
Fear of being unimportant as a sign of our infinite worth as sons and daughters of God.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Past episodes on the topic of narcissism:

Episode #21: A Look at Narcissistic Personality Disorder (Mental HealthAwareness Series, Part 2)
Episode #67: An Antidote to Narcissism: Part One

Learn more about IDDM (Mentorship), Dr. Greg’s new model of care;
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you!
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in Integrated Life “app groups” - time-limited, group experiences covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, devotions, courses, and more;
Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter;
To read the CatholicPsych blog, check out the CatholicPsych Bookshop , or discover more resources available , visit our website.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 67: An Antidote to Narcissism: Part One Mar 29, 2022

Discussed in this episode:

What is narcissism, and what makes us vulnerable to it?
A listener’s letter regarding how to balance being independent and relational;
A three-step paradigm to counteracting narcissism: self-awareness, self-ownership, self-gift;
The false dichotomy between isolation and dependency;
Using objective moral criteria to determine how to be a gift of self;
God as the ultimate source of our validation

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Podcast series on Mental Health and the Spiritual Life:
- Episode 66: Self-Ownership or Self-Surrender: What's My Responsibility
- Episode 65: Self-Compassion vs. Self-Denial: Finding the Balance
Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, AND the opportunity to participate in our Integrated Life “App Groups” (time-limited, group experiences covering topics like trauma, boundaries, and forgiveness)!
Download The Integrated App for access to free Mindfulness audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, Integrated Life Membership courses, and more;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
Learn more about IDDM, Dr. Greg’s new model of treatment!
Visit the CatholicPsych BookShop
Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call!
Read the CatholicPsych blog.
Explore resources from the CatholicPsych Institute.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com. We would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe:

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Also consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 66: Self-Ownership or Self-Surrender: What's My Responsibility? Mar 22, 2022

Discussed in this episode:

What self-ownership means in relationship to abandonment to Divine Providence;
Extreme self-ownership and our capacity for greatness;
The Catholic “both/and” as key;
The problem with “quietism”;
Our call to be stewards of our individual path and the path of our community, while simultaneously being totally surrendered to God’s will.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Hear the Catholic “both/and” discussed in Episode 65: Self-Compassion vs. Self-Denial: Finding the Balance;
Extreme Ownership by Jacko Willink and Leif Babin;
Download the free Integrated App for audio exercises, prayer resources, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Join The Integrated Life Membership which gives you access to every course Dr. Greg has created!
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), Dr. Greg’s new model of treatment;
Sign up for the Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 65: Self-Compassion vs. Self-Denial: Finding the Balance Mar 15, 2022

Discussed in this episode:

“Become who you are.” - Pope St. John Paul II;
How to make sense of our call to both take care of ourselves and enter into Christ’s suffering through self-denial;
Rooting our penance, mortification and sacrifice in our immense dignity as sons and daughters of God;
The beauty of the Catholic mystery in the “both/and”;
Your truest version of yourself is the saint version of yourself.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Download The Integrated App for access to the St. Joseph Novena, audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph by Dr. Gregory Bottaro and Jennifer Settle;
Join The Integrated Life Membership which gives you access to every course Dr. Greg has created!
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 64: Why Pray a Novena? w/ Jen Settle Mar 08, 2022

Discussed in this episode:

What is psychologically and spiritually relevant about praying a novena?
Dr. Greg and Jennifer’s experience of writing Consecration to Jesus through Saint Joseph;
The healing fatherhood of St. Joseph and how he leads us to God the Father;
Three practical takeaways one receives from praying a novena to St. Joseph;
The importance of intentionality in a novena;
Why is a novena nine days?
How a novena matures our senses, helps us dive deeper into what it means to be human, and ultimately brings us closer to God.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph: An Integrated Look at the Holy Family, by Dr. Gregory Bottaro and Jennifer Settle;
Access the Free Downloadable Guide on How to Pray the Consecration as a Novena!
More about Jennifer Settle and The Theology of the Body Institute;
Download The Integrated App to join in on the St. Joseph novena.
More on IDDM - Dr. Greg’s new model of treatment
Contact us to find out how the CatholicPsych team can help you
Join The Integrated Life Membership to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created!
Read the CatholicPsych blog
More resources from the CatholicPsych Institute
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 63: Attachment Theory: What It Is, What It Isn’t, and How It Affects Your Relationships Mar 01, 2022

Discussed in this episode:

What is attachment theory?
The difference between attachment theory and attachment parenting;
Defining the four attachment styles: secure, anxious, avoidant and disorganized;
How these styles can manifest themselves in adult relationships;
Ways to heal from unhealthy attachments as an adult;
Grounding ourselves in the deepest and most secure attachment relationship - our relationship with God the Father.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Join the Integrated Life Membership to participate in our App Groups and to get access to all courses Dr. Greg has created!
Download the free Integrated App for access to Catholic Mindfulness audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more!
More on the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat (available in the app as well);
The Mindful Catholic book;
Introduction to Catholic Mindfulness course and Catholic Mindfulness 2: Discernment of Spirits course (both included in Integrated Life Membership!);
The first episode in our three-part series on relationships: Episode 61: Being Single (And Not Bitter About It) w/ Amy Grace Miller
The second episode in our three-part series on relationships: Episode 62: Relationship Q&A with Married Therapists: An Interview with Dr. Bryan & Teresa Violette
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human;
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here;
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here;
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here;

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 62: Relationship Q&A with Married Therapists: An Interview with Dr. Bryan & Teresa Violette Feb 22, 2022

Discussed in this episode:

The second episode in our three-part series on relationships;
What it’s like to be a therapist couple;
How to offer fraternal correction in marriage while balancing your spouse's privacy and ability to help themselves;
The dynamic-ness of intimacy and the importance of allowing yourself to be loved;
How to ask for something without manipulating or forcing;
Being authentically in touch with your emotions;
The different styles of handling conflict;
How to see differences as strengths;
How to bear one another's burdens in a healthy way.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Catechism of the Catholic Church 1642;
Three to Get Married by Ven. Fulton J. Sheen;
Visit the CatholicPsych blog for articles on Relationships and Communication;
Join The Integrated Life Membership which gives you access to every course Dr. Greg has created, including A Marriage Built to Last (an 8-part digital course on relationships!) + join our new app groups;
Download The Integrated App for access to our free Marriage Mini-Course (located in the Bonus section of the app);
Sign up for our free weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych;
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here;
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 61: Being Single (And Not Bitter About It) w/ Amy Grace Miller Feb 15, 2022

Discussed in this episode:

First episode of a three-part series on relationships;
How to patiently wait for a spouse while feeling constantly drawn to have a family;
How to overcome bitterness about being single;
How to develop yourself as a gift;
The tension between actively seeking a partner and trusting in God's providence;
Keeping the means and the end in their proper places;
Healing while single;
How single and married people can support each other on the way to heaven;
Reorienting our hearts to God.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Rules for Successful Online Dating video by Dr. Greg with .pdf of Rules in the description;
Dr. Greg’s Message to Single People;
The One Most Important Quality to Look for in a Spouse blog article;
CatholicPsych’s blog posts about healing;
To find out how the CatholicPsych team can help you, click here.
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Join The Integrated Life Membership which gives you access to every course Dr. Greg has created!
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, for resources in becoming healthier, holier, and more integrated
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 60: In Discernment & Decision-Making, How Important Are Emotions? (A Mentorship Message) Feb 08, 2022

Discussed in this episode:

A sneak peek inside the daily communication that happens in Mentorship;
The role our emotions play in decision-making and discernment;
Finding the middle ground between stoicism and letting our passions take the lead;
The goodness of our passions and the necessity of boundaries around them;
An analogy for integrating our emotions and passions with the appropriate limitations;
How daily interactions facilitate forward momentum and personal growth

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Find out more about IDDM (Mentorship)
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, go to catholicpsych.com;
Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Join The Integrated Life Membership which gives you access to every course Dr. Greg has created!
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 59: Under the Surface: When Unhealthy Behaviors Mask as Self-Care (A Mentorship Message) Feb 01, 2022

Discussed in this episode:

A real response to a client in IDDM (Mentorship)!
Connecting the dots between a wound of abandonment and painful inner narratives;
How different narratives and parts come into play;
A sneaky way addictive behaviors can present themselves as good for us;
How the subconscious can affect the decisions we make on a daily basis.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Get more information on IDDM (Mentorship) - or apply to try it for yourself!;
Watch a replay of our 2022 Town Hall;
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Join The Integrated Life Membership which gives you access to every course Dr. Greg has created!
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 58: Hello From the Other Side: A Client's Experience in Mentorship, w/ Maureen Shepherd Jan 25, 2022

Discussed in this episode:

Meet Maureen Shepherd, a client who has experience being in IDDM (or Mentorship), our new program;
Maureen’s journey to discovering IDDM after her husband’s tragic death;
Hesitations she experienced due to the novelty of the model, and what motivated her to try it out;
The impact of daily interactions with a Mentor;
Surprising benefits of using this new model.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Register for Dr. Greg’s Town Hall Meeting to learn more about Mentorship: what it is, how it works, and how others have benefitted from this new model;
Check out Being Human Podcast Episodes #1 - #9 for an indepth look at Mentorship;
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Join The Integrated Life Membership which gives you access to every course Dr. Greg has created!
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 57: Relationships, and All the Ways They Matter, w/ Dr. Bryan Violette Jan 18, 2022

Discussed in this episode:

The power and importance of relationships in life and in mental health work;
How the security of relationships creates a safe space for different parts of ourselves to emerge;
How early relationships shape our attachment, and the possibility of redeeming wounded attachments;
The richness of the Catholic tradition and how it points to truth;
God’s patient love for us;
What parenthood reveals about God’s love;
Our intrinsic goodness and an exploration of why we behave in wounded ways;
An unexpected benefit of Mentorship.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Learn more about IDDM (or Mentorship), Dr. Greg’s new model of mental health treatment;
Amoris Laetitia by Pope Francis;
God and the Astronomers by Robert Jastrow;
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens;
Movie references (not all encompassing): Star Wars, Snow White, Maleficent, Good Fellas, Napoleon Dynamite;
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Join The Integrated Life Membership which gives you access to every course Dr. Greg has created!
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 56: Writing Your Story with God, w/ Dr. Gerard McNicholas Jan 11, 2022

Discussed in this episode:

The responsibility of mental health clinicians to talk about God;
Being co-authors of our story with God;
The meaning, beauty and redemption that can come from suffering;
Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning, and Logotherapy;
Frankl’s three core values on the pathway to meaning;
Parallels between Viktor Frankl and Pope St. John Paul II;
The necessity of spirituality to human flourishing

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
The Doctor and the Soul: From Psychotherapy to Logotherapy by Viktor Frankl
Article: Viktor Frankl at Ninety: An Interview
Hear the first episode in our podcast series on relationships: Episode 55: Talking to Yourself w/ Dr. Emily Dowdell;
Learn more about IDDM (or Mentorship), Dr. Greg’s new model of mental health treatment;
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Join The Integrated Life Membership which gives you access to every course Dr. Greg has created!
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 55: Talking to Yourself w/ Dr. Emily Dowdell Jan 04, 2022

Discussed in this episode:

Meet Dr. Emily Dowdell;
Our relationship with ourselves, and how it impacts our relationship with God and others;
The effects of negative self-talk;
Where our real value and satisfaction lies;
The dangers of self-criticism and ways in which we sabotage ourselves;
How our perception of ourselves impacts our happiness;
How Mentorship can help heal inner brokenness;
The love and fulfillment that comes from God the Father.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Kintsugi - a form of Japanese art where broken pottery is mended by putting fragmented pieces back together with gold.
Learn more about Dr. Emily on the blog: “Mental Health Awareness Month: Meet Dr. Emily”
Blog post on identity: “Who Are We, Really?”
For more on Mentorship (IDDM), Dr. Greg’s new model of treatment, visit here;
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Join The Integrated Life Membership which gives you access to every course Dr. Greg has created!
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 54: Why Your New Year’s Resolutions Will Fail (and How to Actually Succeed!) Dec 28, 2021

Discussed in this episode:

Reasons why New Year’s resolutions fail;
Solutions to the roadblocks to your New Year’s resolution;
The five stages of making a successful change:

Stage 1: Precontemplation- When the reality of harmful behavior is present, but we don’t recognize it
Stage 2: Contemplation - When we start thinking about what making a change would look like
Stage 3: Preparation - Starting to prepare to make the specific change
Stage 4: Action - Taking action to make the specific change
Stage 5: Maintenance - Figuring out how to stick to the change in the long run
Stage 6: Relapse - Part of the change process is to fail

“Perfection is only attainable through our acceptance of failure.” - Dr. Greg
Roadblocks to change:

Trying to change too many things at once;
Starting with a habit that is too big;
Focusing too much on the outcome instead of the process;
Not looking at the big picture;
Thinking small changes don’t matter

Solutions to these roadblocks:

Break down your resolution into multiple parts and realize how many things you are actually trying to change. Work on one thing at a time;
Break down these parts into the sizes of the goals you are trying to achieve. Begin with an easy, achievable goal;
Focus on behavior instead of outcome (example: going to the gym vs. losing a certain amount of weight);
Structure your environment to nurture change;
Realize that small, incremental changes will add up

Resources mentioned or relevant:

How to Win At New Year’s Resolutions blog post
Podcast episode on failure: Why Failure is a Good Thing
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Join The Integrated Life Membership which gives you access to every course Dr. Greg has created!
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 53: Can Priests Do It All? w/ Fr. Louis Merosne Dec 21, 2021

Discussed in this episode:

Distinctions between spiritual direction and psychological help;
Working on behalf of Christ vs. trying to be Christ;
The complementarity of the members of the Body of Christ;
The wisdom of the Church in giving limits;
Recognizing your limits and the freedom that comes from doing this;
Using all the resources God has given to you

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Donate to Fr. Louis Merosne’s charity, Mission to the Beloved;
Fr. Louis Merosne’s course, Exorcisms and the Spiritual Life;
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Join The Integrated Life Membership which gives you access to every course Dr. Greg has created!
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 52: Is Self-Help Helpful or Selfish? Dec 14, 2021

Discussed in this episode:

The importance of self-stewardship;
Human beings as made in the image and likeness of God;
The difference between self-care and self-indulgence;
The temptation to self-sufficiency;
The goodness of self-help resources and their limitations;
Every person’s need for help;
Teaching, witness, and application as the three levels of mentorship

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
Dr. Greg’s new model of treatment - https://catholicpsych.com/townhallinfo;
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Join The Integrated Life Membership which gives you access to every course Dr. Greg has created!
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 51: Are We Getting Addictions Right? Dec 07, 2021

Discussed in this episode:

The different types of addictions;
Limitations of the medical model in treating addictions;
Strengths and weaknesses of 12-step programs;
The influences of Protestant theology in addictions work and how this differs from a Catholic anthropology;
The importance of recognizing our core identity as a son or daughter of God;
Human beings as body-soul composites;

Resources mentioned or relevant:

"For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want.” - St. Paul, Romans 7:19;
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Join The Integrated Life Membership which gives you access to every course Dr. Greg has created!
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 50: One Simple Way to Deal With Feeling Overwhelmed Nov 30, 2021

Discussed in this episode:

The different types of anxiety;
Unhealthy coping mechanisms we use to deal with feeling overwhelmed;
Examples of overwhelm from Dr. Greg’s life;
Presenting issues vs. underlying issues;
The present moment as the best antidote to overwhelm;
Using Catholic Mindfulness to tap into the present moment

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Download The Integrated App to access free Catholic Mindfulness exercises;
Learn Catholic Mindfulness through the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Go deeper with Catholic Mindfulness 2: Discernment of Spirits course;
Join The Integrated Life Membership which gives you access to every course Dr. Greg has created!
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 49: Internal Family Systems and External Family Tensions Nov 23, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

Applying internal family systems to your external family and relationships;
The roots of internal family systems theory and “parts work”;
How Catholic Mindfulness makes space for internal family systems;
Learning to “sit with discomfort” and why it’s important for relationships;
Listening first to ourselves and then to others;
The importance of curiosity and compassion in approaching others;
How having self-compassion opens the door to loving our neighbor well

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Check out last week’s episode: Why Do I Keep Doing the Things I Don’t Want to Do?;
Quote from Fred Rodgers: “Listening is where love begins: listening to ourselves and then to our neighbors.”
Episode introducing Internal Family Systems theory and “parts work”;
Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Introduction to Catholic Mindfulness Course;
Download The Integrated App;
Blog Posts on Catholic Mindfulness;
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
Find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you.
Read the Catholic Psych blog.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 48: Why Do I Keep Doing the Things I Don’t Want to Do? Nov 16, 2021

In this episode, I discuss:

The struggle to stop negative behaviors and start doing what you actually want to do;
The inner difficulties experienced by St. Paul;
The psychological intuitiveness of St. Thérèse of Lisieux;
How our brain and psyche are ordered towards self-protection;
The importance of self-compassion, love and mercy;
Approaching this conflict within us in a radically new way;
Following Christ’s example as our model for how to love;

Resources mentioned or relevant:

“What I do, I do not understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate.” St. Paul, Romans 7:15;
Last week’s episode: How to Turn Your Inner Worst Enemies into Your Inner Best Friends;
Episode series on St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Episode 38: Time for a Check-In; Episode 39: Rehabilitating Our View of St. Thérèse of Lisieux; Episode 40: Why You Should Get to Know This Saint;
Episode introducing Internal Family Systems theory and “parts work”;
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
Find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you.
Download The Integrated App.
Read the Catholic Psych blog.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 47: How to Turn Your Inner Worst Enemies into Your Inner Best Friends Nov 09, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

How to befriend the negative voices in your head;
Following Jesus’ example in learning how to encounter our negative parts;
The downfalls of pop psychology;
How Mindfulness helps us become more aware of our interior life;
The moral neutrality of Mindfulness;
The importance of having an accurate anthropology;
Using your imagination to encounter your unconscious

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Last week’s episode, How to Stop Covid Adjustment Disorder from Turning Into Trauma Disorder;
Listen to the episode that introduces Internal Family Systems theory and “parts work”;
Follow CatholicPsych on Instagram;
More on the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Download The Integrated App for free;
Learn about Dr. Greg’s new model of treatment, IDDM;
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 46: How to Stop Covid Adjustment Disorder from Turning Into Trauma Disorder Nov 02, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

Difficulties students are facing as a result of Covid;
The effects of the pandemic on mental health;
Adjustment Disorder vs. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder;
Post traumatic growth;
The psychological consequences of not having faith;
How peace is possible;
The importance of having a worldview in which we are not responsible for everything;
Abandonment to Divine Providence;
Catholic Mindfulness;
The example of Bishop James Conley

Resources mentioned or relevant:

For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here;
Find out more about the Integrated Life Membership;
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here;
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 45: Halloween, Haiti, and Spiritual Warfare Oct 26, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

The reality of spiritual warfare;
How to support Fr. Louis' parish and community in Haiti;
The authority given by Christ to the Church;
The authority of exorcists and the authority given to all Christians at baptism;
Who the enemy is;
What exorcisms are;
The difference between exorcism and prayers of liberation/deliverance

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Fr. Louis Merosne’s course Exorcisms and the Spiritual Life;
Donate to Mission Heal Haiti;
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Dr. Greg’s new model of treatment - https://www.iddmentor.com;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe:

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 44: Coffee Talk: The Social Media Dilemma (Are We Really Connecting?) Oct 19, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

Authentic community;
The pseudo-connectedness of social media;
Gauging how much time is “ok” on social media;
The definition of “rest” and true recharging/replenishing behavior;
The biological implications of interacting vs. being “fed”;
Finding who you can trust with your mental health;
The origins of the Integrated Life Membership;
New! Groups in the Integrated Life Membership (Join before October 22nd to join a group!)

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Join The Integrated Life Membership which gives you access to unpublished archives of rare footage of Fr. Benedict Groeschel, in addition to every course Dr. Greg has created!
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Join The Integrated Life Membership which gives you access to every course Dr. Greg has created!
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 43: The Psychology of Holiness: Stories of Fr. Benedict, w/ Dr. Bryan Violette (Mentor Series) Oct 12, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

Introducing Dr. Bryan Violette;
How Fr. Benedict influenced Dr. Bryan;
The value of joy in the spiritual life;
What Fr. Benedict’s life teaches us about evangelization;
The individuality of holiness;
Holiness as a process and an ongoing journey;

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Join The Integrated Life Membership which gives you access to unpublished archives of rare footage of Fr. Benedict Groeschel, in addition to every course Dr. Greg has created!
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 42: The Rebelliousness of Fr. Benedict Groeschel, w/ Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR (Mentor Series) Oct 05, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

Fr. Agustino’s vocation story with the CFR friars;
The blessing of Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR, on our lives;
Lessons from Fr. Benedict about the power of personal encounter;
Fr. Benedict’s gift for “trouble”;
Finding opportunities for people to do good;
Bridging the gap between the secular and religious;
Fr. Benedict as an example of true integration;

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Learn more about (and donate to!) the CFRs;
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;

Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 41: What is Integration Anyway? w/ Fr. Louis Merosne Sep 28, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

Integration as bringing together the different pieces that make us human;
Why we should care about holiness;
St. Thomas Aquinas and the ultimate end: happiness;
How seeking holiness is seeking true happiness;
How God makes himself vulnerable to us;
What God’s law reveals about His heart;

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Download The Integrated App;
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 40: Why You Should Get to Know This Saint Sep 21, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

Dr. Greg’s new mobile app!
The significance of St. John Paul II making St. Thérèse a Doctor of the Church as a woman, a contemplative, and a young person;
How different people can be drawn to different saints;
The universal vocation to holiness;
The call to freedom through Jesus Christ;
What it means to have hope to become a saint;

Resources mentioned or relevant:

The Passion of St. Thérèse by Guy Gaucher

Download The Integrated App.
Access the Novena to St. Thérèse through the Integrated App
St. John Paul II’s proclamation of St. Thérèse as a Doctor of the Church;
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 39: Rehabilitating Our View of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Sep 14, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

Dr. Greg’s experience at World Youth Day Paris in 1997;
His encounters with St. John Paul II and St. Thérèse of Lisieux;
What it means that she is a Doctor of the Church;
What we can learn about our own spiritual growth from a cloistered nun;

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Access the Novena to St. Thérèse through the Integrated App
St. John Paul II’s proclamation of St. Thérèse as a Doctor of the Church;
Download The Integrated App
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship) - our new model of daily accompaniment;
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends. Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 38: Time for a Check-In Sep 07, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

The patron saints of the CatholicPsych Institute;
Why we need saints like St. Thérèse of Lisieux;
What’s upcoming from CatholicPsych;

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Download The Integrated App;
Learn about IDDM (Mentorship) - our new model of daily accompaniment;
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 37: Forgiveness, Fatherhood, and Miraculous Grace w/ Devin Schadt Aug 31, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

Devin’s background and his work for spreading devotion to St. Joseph
How Devin came to learn what Fatherhood looks like
The role of St. Joseph in his life
Practical moments of God speaking to his heart
Insights learned from fathering a child with special needs
The power of forgiveness

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Custos: Total Consecration through St. Joseph
Consecration to St. Joseph, beginning September 10th and ending October 13th
Devin Schadt’s work at https://fathersofstjoseph.org/
The Path (FREE EBOOK!)
LEAD- 40 Days to Fatherly Greatness
Download The Integrated App;
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

About Dr. Greg and the CatholicPsych Institute

Dr. Bottaro is a clinical psychologist and founder of the CatholicPsych Institute. He received his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Institute for the Psychological Sciences, a graduate school that integrates Catholic philosophy and theology with sound, empirically validated psychology.

Before his degree, Dr. Bottaro discerned a religious vocation with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (CFRs). He lived four years in the Bronx, serving the poor in the tradition of St. Francis of Assisi. Under the mentorship of Fr. Benedict Groeschel, this experience helped him form a spirituality based on Abandonment to Divine Providence which he now applies to psychological principles in his practice. He learned from Fr. Benedict how to discern God's voice and live a life in service to others.

Six years after leaving NYC as a friar he returned as a psychologist. The CatholicPsych Institute began there in 2012 and has since grown to 5 offices with 12 therapists serving clients around the globe.

Dr. Bottaro now lives in Connecticut with his wife Barbra and their six children. He actively avoids watching the news and spends his free time thinking up crazy new ideas on how to make the world a better place.

Episode 36: A Guided Exercise w/ Dr. Peter Malinoski Aug 24, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

A practical exercise in connecting to a part;
How we can “show up” to our different parts;
Hearing and healing different parts of ourselves;
Dr. Greg's own experience of the guided exercise;

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Interior Therapist Community;
Souls and Hearts;
Interior Integration for Catholics podcast;
Internal Family Systems Model (IFS);
Download The Integrated App;
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 35: Why Do I Feel Like I Have Conflicting Parts? w/ Dr. Peter Malinoski Aug 17, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

Introducing Dr. Peter Malinoski, clinical psychologist and founder of Souls and Hearts;
Dr. Richard Schwartz and Internal Family Systems;
The idea of “parts” within yourself;
Good and bad relationships with your own parts;
Did Jesus have parts?
How this idea of “parts” connects to the Catholic faith;

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Interior Therapist Community;
Souls and Hearts;
Interior Integration for Catholics podcast;
Internal Family Systems Model (IFS);
Download The Integrated App;
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 34: A New Theory! with a Catholic Lens Aug 10, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

How to understand theories developed by non-Catholics;
Two extremes secular psychology can fall to, and how the Catholic answer lies in the middle;
An emerging theory, called Internal Family Systems and “parts work”;
An introduction to understanding “parts” with a Catholic anthropology;

Resources mentioned or relevant:

The movie Inside Out from Disney/Pixar;
Internal Family Systems Model (IFS);
Download The Integrated App;
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 33: Choosing to See Beauty w/ Maura Preszler Aug 03, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

Maura Preszler and her new book, Choosing to See Beauty;
Maura’s background and the work she does now to encourage others in their journey of healing;
The almost incalculable impact of a mental health diagnosis and good therapy on her life;
The value of working on your own healing for the sake of the life of thriving that God wants for you;

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Maura’s upcoming book: Choosing to See Beauty: My Story of Moving Past Trauma and Mental Illness
Maura’s platform: Made In His Image
Download The Integrated App;
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 32: The Endless Mystery of the Human Person w/ Fr. Louis Merosne and Lumen Vitae Jul 27, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

The mystery of the human person;
The respect and reverence due to all persons;
The impact of mercy on our relationships with other persons and ourselves;
How to integrate objective truth with subjective, individual, unique experience;

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Hosted by Lumen Vitae and the Power of Personhood;
Fr. Louis Merosne’s work in Haiti;
Download The Integrated App;
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

About Dr. Greg and the CatholicPsych Institute

Dr. Bottaro is a clinical psychologist and founder of the CatholicPsych Institute. He received his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Institute for the Psychological Sciences, a graduate school that integrates Catholic philosophy and theology with sound, empirically validated psychology.

Before his degree, Dr. Bottaro discerned a religious vocation with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (CFRs). He lived four years in the Bronx, serving the poor in the tradition of St. Francis of Assisi. Under the mentorship of Fr. Benedict Groeschel, this experience helped him form a spirituality based on Abandonment to Divine Providence which he now applies to psychological principles in his practice. He learned from Fr. Benedict how to discern God's voice and live a life in service to others.

Six years after leaving NYC as a friar he returned as a psychologist. The CatholicPsych Institute began there in 2012 and has since grown to 5 offices with 12 therapists serving clients around the globe.

Dr. Bottaro now lives in Connecticut with his wife Barbra and their six children. He actively avoids watching the news and spends his free time thinking up crazy new ideas on how to make the world a better place.

Episode 31: What Everyone Gets Wrong about St. Joseph Jul 20, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

What we forget to talk about when it comes to St. Joseph;
The qualities of St. Joseph;
The importance of understanding the Incarnation for understanding St. Joseph;
The true Fatherhood of St. Joseph;
How Jesus developed in his humanity under the guidance of St. Joseph;
The true marriage of Joseph and Mary;
Our human need for a father and a mother;
What St. Joseph’s fatherhood reveals about all fatherhood;

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Dr. Greg’s previous episode about St. Joseph;
Custos: Total Consecration Through Saint Joseph by Devin Schadt;
Dr. Greg’s excitement over an incredible sculpture of the Holy Family at Benedictine College;
Download The Integrated App;
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 30: Coffee Talk: What If I’m Afraid to Dream? Jul 13, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

Learning how to dream;
Why dreaming can be so difficult;
How to practice dreaming when you’ve forgotten how;
Why it’s important to dream;

Resources mentioned or relevant:

My previous episode on #29 on Imagination;
Download The Integrated App;
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 29: Three Ways the Imagination Can Help Us Understand God Jul 06, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

Imagination as a gift from God;
How imagination enables us to encounter what’s beyond space and time;
Imagination allowing us to pray;
The power of the imagination in healing wounds of the past;
How the imagination reveals our unconscious to ourselves;

Resources mentioned or relevant:

The Acting Person by Pope St. John Paul II
Psychologist Lev Vygotsky
Download The Integrated App;
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 28: Enneagram, Myers-Briggs, Temperaments, and Disney Characters Jun 29, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

Our desire to know ourselves;
Enneagram, Myers-Briggs, and Temperaments;
The two defining characteristics of personhood that are unchangeable;
Understanding the personality of Jesus as our model;

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
Download The Integrated App;
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

Episode 27: Catholic Guilt Jun 22, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

The real definition of guilt;
How happiness can come from understanding our identity;
The problem of “earning” God’s love;
Whether or not we should experience guilt and shame;
Divinization;
Guilt and shame as course correction;

Resources mentioned or relevant:

And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed. - Genesis 2:25
Download The Integrated App;
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 26: Who Are You, Really? Taking Pride in Your Identity Jun 15, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

Being a psychologically healthy Catholic
How self-knowledge contributes to greater holiness
What it means to be created in the image of God
The distinction between our identity (as totally good) and our behaviors
Looking at the motivations behind our actions

Resources mentioned or relevant:

“Lord Jesus, let me know myself and know You” - St. Augustine
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 25: Coffee Talk: When Do You Need Therapy? Jun 08, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

Meeting Amy Grace!
Questions around the need for a diagnosis
The distinction between sins and symptoms
The temptation to compare yourself to others
What’s the point of a diagnosis?
Accepting imperfection and striving for holiness
Living in a fallen world and the universal need for a savior

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 24: Did Jesus Have Emotions? Jun 01, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

Jesus Christ as the model of humanity
Considering Christ’s emotions
Letting Jesus’ example teach us how navigate our emotions

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 23: A Look at Anxiety and Depression (Mental Health Awareness Series, Part 4) May 25, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

The brain chemistry of depression and anxiety
The paradox of trusting God’s providence, and also being created with a fight/flight/freeze response
Abandonment to Divine Providence
What we can do to live as best we can with these disorders
What constitutes a diagnosable mood disorder like anxiety or depression
What it means that “All will be well.”

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Matthew 6:25
Abandonment to Divine Providence
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 22: A Look at Obsessive Compulsive Behavior and Scrupulosity (Mental Health Awareness Series, Part 3) May 18, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

What Obsessive Compulsive behaviors and Scrupulosity are
Where it comes from
What is needed to help those who suffer
Scrupulosity as a religious-themed expression of obsessive compulsive patterns

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 21: A Look at Narcissistic Personality Disorder (Mental Health Awareness Series, Part 2) May 11, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

The distinction between displaying characteristics of a personality disorder, and having an actual diagnosis.
The precise meaning of narcissism and what goes into diagnosing it.
The terror of insignificance that drives narcissistic personality disorder.
The implications of certain dynamics in childhood.
How NPD affects relationships and how the person suffering sees others.
Compassion as a response to relating to someone with NPD.

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 20: A Look at Trauma (Mental Health Awareness Series, Part 1) May 04, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

How the framework for looking at trauma can help us understand ourselves
Understanding trauma in light of the many facets of the human person
How trauma can affect our relationship with the present
Noticing how trauma limits our faculties (to see the bigger picture, to have empathy, etc.)
What it means that Christ makes all things “new”
Why memory matters in healing

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Revelations 21:5
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Episode 19: Is It Your Parents' Fault? Apr 27, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

The stereotype of “blaming parents” in therapy
How dualism affects how how we get help
Understanding why we think the way we do
Seeing both nature and nurture in the ways we learn to be human

Resources mentioned or relevant:

1 John 4:19
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 18: Should You Just “Pray More”? Apr 20, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

Integrating our physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual lives
The fallacy that you should “just pray more”
Why we seek healing alongside prayer

Resources mentioned or relevant:

The Mindful Catholic book
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Episode 17: Boundaries and Safety Apr 13, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

Boundaries as appropriate relationships
Getting hurt
What is an appropriate relationship with God?
Sitting with what God has promised and what he has proven
The foundation for safety, security, happiness, and peace

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Matthew 16:24-26
The Mindful Catholic book
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Episode 16: Changing How You Feel Apr 06, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

Emotion regulation and emotion modulation (and what those are)
The ability to change how you express your feelings
The ability to change how intensely we feel an emotion to begin with
How this connects to our search for peace
The false assumption that it’s inauthentic to change how you feel
My theory about parenting and “inconvenient” emotional expression from children
The freedom of being able to say "I don't have to feel this way."

Resources mentioned or relevant:

The Mindful Catholic book
The Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat;
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 15: Getting the Full Set of Tools Mar 30, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

The plan for complementarity between men and women
How holiness and happiness are connected
- Why a mom and dad are needed for a child
- What comes more naturally to moms
What comes more naturally to dads
How the masculine and feminine dimensions bless, affirm, complement, and develop each other

Resources mentioned or relevant:

LETTER TO THE BISHOPS of the Catholic Church on the Collaboration of Men and Women in the Church and in the World – Pope Benedict XVI
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Episode 14: Five Qualities of the Feminine Genius Mar 23, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

How the female brain differs from the male brain
Five qualities of the feminine genius: qualities that the female brain accesses more easily, due to brain chemistry
- 1. Intuition
- 2. Empathy
- 3. Collaboration
- 4. Impulse control
- 5. A little bit of anxiety

Resources mentioned or relevant:

LETTER TO THE BISHOPS of the Catholic Church on the Collaboration of Men and Women in the Church and in the World – Pope Benedict XVI
Mulieris Dignitatem – Pope St. John Paul II
Unleash the Power of the Female Brain - Dr. Daniel G. Amen
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 13: St. Joseph’s Masculine Genius Mar 16, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

St. Joseph and the masculine genius
Differences in male and female brains, and what that reveals about male and female persons
Seven qualities of St. Joseph that can teach us about the Masculine Genius (see below)

St Joseph

Men have more testosterone, more intra-hemispheric neural connectivity, less progesterone, and less cross-hemispheric neural connectivity

St. Joseph was a man of:

Courage
1. Requires aggression, lower consideration of immediate consequences;
2. Sometimes held in suspicion, especially when used without prudence
3. (Takes out anger on loved ones; speaks badly about neighbors and co-workers even family or friends)
1. Requires structured time and processing, sometimes less time with people, and sense of duty that isn’t connected to immediate relational value
2. Sometimes laziness and lack of connection lead to isolation
3. (Reckless waste of time; video games, partying, endless hobbies and projects around house)
Prayer
1. Requires courage to not be in charge
2. Distortion of this leads to weakness, lack of leadership, giving in to immediate gratification
3. (Can’t recognize need to worship God, acts as if he’s the god of his own life)
Obedience
1. Requires structured order on when to be aggressive and when to die to self
2. Distortion again is weakness
3. (Can’t stand up for what’s right, poor example of self-care, hygiene, drive and discipline)
Gentleness
1. Recognizes the gift of serving and whom he serves; holds duty in high regard
2. Distortion is to give emphasis to the wrong things to reverence at the expense of whom he is actually called to reverence.
3. (Enmeshment, cares more about other people’s approval than his own stewardship of what he’s truly given charge over; pays more attention to other women or other endeavors that might be worthy in themselves but not for him)
Reverence
1. Hold the big picture of the family as contrasted from the immediate family
2. Can be distorted by misaligning allegiances and imbalance of devotion and attention
3. (Too much obedience to family of origin)
Tradition
1. Purposeful discernment that weighs all aspects of situation both subjective and objective; sometimes detached from particular relationships to ultimately serve in the bigger picture
2. Can be distorted by selfish garnering of approval or lack of discernment
3. (Stubborn men who are using willfulness to steamroll over spouse and family)
Intention

Resources mentioned or relevant:

On the Masculine Genius (article for Humanum Review)
The Male Brain and The Female Brain by Dr. Louann Brizendine
Redemptoris Custos (Guardian of the Redeemer) - apostolic exhortation from Pope St. John Paul II
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 12: Different by Design Mar 09, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

The complementarity of the masculine feminine genius
The reverence we owe to each other
Jesus and Mary as examples of masculine and feminine

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 11: Needing a Mom and Dad Mar 02, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

The family as the “school of love”
Learning who we are and how we are to behave
The necessity of mother and father
The roles of St. Joseph and Mary in our lives and salvation

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 10: Why Failure is a Good Thing Feb 23, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

The fear of failure
Faith as the source of our peace
Failure as the way to make progress

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 9: Mentorship vs. Spiritual Direction Feb 16, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

The (simplified) difference between Psychotherapy, Coaching, Spiritual Direction, and IDDM or Mentorship
Psychotherapy: a regulated professional field, with an education in the psychological sciences as they fit into a medical model
Spiritual Direction: Limited to the spiritual dimension of the human person, with the goal of deepening your relationship with God
Coaching: Oriented toward any goal in any niche
Mentorship: Taking the best of all 3 fields and uniting them into one modality

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 8: Why Mentorship Feb 09, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

The benefits of mentorship
How IDDM will work in practice

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

If there is a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address, please email your request to beinghuman@catholicpsych.com! We would love to hear from you.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us get the message out to other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 7: Did He Say "Dialogic"? Feb 02, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

The need for treatment that is more than just “one-size-fits-all”
The meaning of the word “Dialogic”
The foundation of healthy and effective dialogue
The benefits of healthy and effective dialogue

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Gaudium et Spes
Love and Responsibility by Karol Wojtyla
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us get the message out to other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 6: Announcing IDDM Jan 26, 2021

In this episode, we talk about:

The launch of IDDM - the new model created by the CatholicPsych Institute
How the humanity of Christ reveals to us how to be human
That it is fundamentally good to be human and have emotions

Resources mentioned or relevant:

“The body, in fact, and only the body, is capable of making visible what is invisible: the spiritual and the divine” (TOB 19:4)
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us get the message out to other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review”. Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

Episode 5: The Frame Jan 20, 2021

Welcome to Episode 5 of the Being Human Podcast: The Frame

In this episode, we talk about:

The kind of life we were created for
The current frame of secular psychotherapy
The difference it could make to have daily interaction between therapist and patient as a part of daily life

Resources mentioned or relevant:

“Christ reveals man to himself and makes his divine calling clear.” - Redemptor Hominis
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us get the message out to other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

Episode 4: How Did We Get Here? Jan 20, 2021

Welcome to Episode 4 of the Being Human Podcast: How Did We Get Here?

In this episode, we talk about:

Understanding the human person through Church Fathers like St. Augustine
Mistakes being the way we grow
The historical development of psychotherapy
The need for a shift in how therapy is delivered

Resources mentioned or relevant:

The Confessions of St. Augustine
Sigmund Freud
Carl Rogers
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;

Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us get the message out to other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

Episode 3: Where is God in Psychology? Jan 20, 2021

Welcome to Episode 3 of the Being Human Podcast: Where is God in Psychology?

In this episode, we talk about:

The place for God in the field of Psychology
God as the agent of change in our lives
The need for God to reveal to us what it means to be human

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us get the message out to other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

Episode 2: The Human Blueprint Jan 20, 2021

Welcome to Episode 2 of the Being Human Podcast: The Human Blueprint

In this episode, we talk about:

How good it is that you exist!
The need for a blueprint of what a “human being” is
The error in worshipping at the altar of “science”
Flaws in the secular field of psychotherapy

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Dr. Peter Kreeft on Moral Relativism
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;
Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us get the message out to other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

Episode 1: The Beginning Jan 20, 2021

Welcome to Episode 1 of the Being Human Podcast: The Beginning

In this episode, we talk about:

What “Being Human” means
Dr. Greg Bottaro’s personal journey to becoming a psychotherapist
The conversation that is needed about a Catholic vision of psychotherapy

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Dr. Peter Kreeft
Franciscan University of Steubenville
Franciscan Friars of the Renewal
Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR
Divine Mercy University (formerly Institute for the Psychological Sciences)
Catholic Mindfulness
Learn about IDDM - Dr.Greg’s new model of treatment;

Download The Integrated App for access to audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, and more;
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Being Human, to keep up with all the exciting things happening at CatholicPsych.
To find out how Dr. Greg’s team can help you, click here.
To read the CatholicPsych blog, click here.
For resources from the CatholicPsych Institute, click here.

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

Coming Soon: The Being Human Podcast Jan 06, 2021

Introducing the Being Human Podcast from Dr. Gregory Bottaro and the CatholicPsych Institute! It's a year of big changes from CatholicPsych, one of which is this podcast - tune in to hear all the news!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected