self-care

Episode 56: Am I Really Supposed to Deny Myself? How to Claim The Life You’ve Been Given, A Guided Exercise, and Thoughts on Wholeness

By Alison Cook | June 1, 2023

We’re hitting hard today on this question “Am I really supposed to deny myself?” So many have been encouraged to misapply the message of self-denial in ways that are not healthy. So what does the Bible really say about it? Here’s what we cover: 1. Why it matters that you are an image-bearer 2. The...

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Episode 55: Am I Supposed to Distrust Myself? Why Trusting Yourself is Necessary to Establishing Healthy Relationships With Other People

By Alison Cook | May 25, 2023

This week we’re talking all about self-trust-how we develop it, and why it’s so crucial to the health of our relationships with other people. We also talk about how trusting God is a process that develops in the context of healthy relationships. Here’s what we cover: 1. The surprising foundation for trust 2. The role...

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Episode 54: Can I Pray My Anxiety Away? A Surprising Approach to the Anxiety Pandemic & How to Walk Yourself & Your Kids Through It

By Alison Cook | May 18, 2023

  Today’s conversation is pure fire! We’re talking all things anxiety with Curtis Chang, author of a brand new book, The Anxiety Opportunity. This is such a fresh take on anxiety, unlike anything you’ve heard at church or in the secular culture. We also touch on the problem of how most of us have been...

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Episode 53: StrengthsFinder—How to Claim Your Strengths, Lean On Others & Thrive at Home and Work

By Alison Cook | May 11, 2023

We are talking all about finding our strengths today with my friend, Laura Cootsona, an accomplished coach, consultant, and non-profit executive. She walks us through StrengthsFinder, a tool that helps you identify and lean into your strengths and uncover the strengths of others. Research shows that leaning into your strengths at work and in life...

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Episode 52: The Enneagram—9 Ways to Uncover the Best (and Worst) of Who You Are, Get Honest With Yourself, & Improve Your Relationships

By Alison Cook | May 4, 2023

What a rich conversation with Enneacast podcast hosts Jesse Eubanks and Lindsey Lewis about the 9 different types of the Enneagram. We talk everything from mistyping women to Jesus, Kevin Hart, and the Apostle Paul. This is a great episode to share with your family, small group, or friends-it’s an opportunity for honest conversations about...

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Episode 51: The 12 Common Thinking Traps, Mind Reading, Mental Filters, and How To Stop Taking Things Personally

By Alison Cook | April 27, 2023

Do you struggle with taking compliments? Are you a mind reader? A minimizer? Or do you tend to take things personally? If you answered yes to any of these, you do not want to miss today’s episode. We’re discussing 12 common thinking traps, what psychologists call cognitive distortions. These are ways of thinking that trip...

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When you need a rest from your inner task manager

By Alison Cook | November 21, 2018

A need isn’t always your personal call to action. My dad wrote this on a sticky note once and pasted it to his bathroom mirror. At the time, I didn’t really understand – I was a young kid. I just knew that my dad – a bastion of encouragement and helpful support – thought enough...

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When your shaming inner critic meets gentleness

By Alison Cook | November 7, 2018

What is the club you beat yourself with? Take a moment and consider your internal dialogue. Do you ever notice thoughts like these: You should be more like her. He’s so successful. If you were better, you’d be where he is. You deserve this bad thing that’s happened. You’ll never be as good as other...

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an extreme emotion

How to Identify a Part of Your Soul in Need

By Alison Cook | August 8, 2018

If you’re struggling with an extreme emotion, a hurting part of your soul might need your attention. Typically, an extreme emotion, such as anger or anxiety, or an overwhelming compulsion, such as over-thinking or people-pleasing, is a cue that some other more vulnerable part of your soul needs your attention. Let’s say you’re feeling irritable,...

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how to hold sadness in your heart

Guest Post | Kimberly Miller

By Alison Cook | July 15, 2018

The wonderful Ann Voskamp featured a post by my co-author, Kimberley Miller, recently.  It’s called “When You Need to Know How to Hold the Overwhelming Sadness in Your Heart,” and it’s a moving and inspiring reflection about finding peace amidst chaos and grief. I think you’ll like it. Let us know your thoughts below or over...

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How to improve connection

How to Regain Connection to God, Others, and Yourself

By Alison Cook | July 10, 2018

We want to be close to God and to others. . . but did you know that connection starts with you? We all crave the experience of being seen and loved for who we really are. And we rejoice when someone we love lets us in to see them for who they really are. Such...

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While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this website and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this website are for informational purposes only.

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