Growing Through What You Went Through | Trauma, Faith, and Healing with Dr. Crystal Hulbert

Growing Through What You Went Through | Trauma, Faith, and Healing with Dr. Crystal Hulbert

Trauma has a way of changing how we see ourselves, other people, and even God. In this episode of Skills & Pills, Dr. Mo and Dr. Jo sit down with Dr. Crystal Rae Hulbert for an honest conversation about trauma, healing, faith, and what it really means to grow through life's hardest experiences. Together, they explore the intersection of trauma and spirituality, including the often-discussed topic of church hurt. Is church hurt always trauma? How can faith communities better support people who are struggling? And what role should clinicians play alongside pastors and spiritual leaders? Dr. Crystal shares her own journey of discovering God's presence in the middle of painful experiences and explains why healing is not about becoming the person you were before the trauma. Instead, true growth comes from learning how to embrace who you are today and move forward with wisdom, resilience, and hope. If you've ever wondered whether healing is possible, struggled to move beyond a painful chapter, or wrestled with how trauma has affected your faith, this episode offers practical insight and encouragement for the journey ahead. With over a decade of experience in the mental health field, Dr. Crystal Rae Hulbert has worked with clients from diverse backgrounds, addressing a wide range of issues including suicidal ideations, anxiety, depression, relational conflict, career changes, organizational pitfalls, leadership development and personal growth.  At Anchored Counseling and Wellness Center LLC, Crystal believes in creating a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can explore their feelings, failures and experiences. Whether you’re facing a personal failure, organizational leadership challenges or looking to improve your overall well-being, Crystal is committed to helping you on your journey to a healthier, more fulfilling life. -------- Follow Dr. Crystal https://www.anchoredcwc.com https://www.instagram.com/crystal.raee Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/skillsandpillspodcast

The Messy Middle of Healing

In this episode, Dr. Jo and Dr. Mo reflect on their recent conversation with Charaia Rush and continue unpacking what resilience really looks like. So often, we're taught to admire the comeback story, but what about the space in between? The messy middle. The setbacks. The moments when healing feels slow and progress isn't obvious. Join the conversation as they explore why resilience isn't about avoiding hard seasons, but learning how to move through them. They discuss the danger of comparing our journey to someone else's highlight reel, the importance of giving ourselves grace during difficult moments, and why our worst days don't define who we are. Healing is rarely a straight line. There will be moments when you fall flat on your face, moments when you feel stuck, and moments when you're tempted to believe everyone else has it figured out. But behind every success story is a journey filled with struggles that most people never see. If you've ever felt discouraged in your healing journey, this episode is a reminder that you don't have to skip the messy middle to reach wholeness. -------- Follow Charaia http://instagram.com/charaiarush/ https://charaia.substack.com/ Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/skillsandpillspodcast

God Met Me at Rock Bottom | The Myth of Bouncing Back with Charaia Rush

For anyone who’s ever been knocked down and told to “bounce back,” only to find themselves back on the floor again, this episode is for you. Dr. Mo and Dr. Jo sit down with author Charaia Rush to discuss her new book The Myth of Bouncing Back and the deeper truth about resilience, grief, disappointment, and starting over. From personal experiences that led Charaia to write the book, to navigating seasons where life doesn’t go the way you planned, this conversation is honest, healing, and full of wisdom for anyone carrying the weight of the call while trying to keep showing up. What does it really look like to start over? How do you keep moving when everything around you feels uncertain? And what is God teaching us in seasons where we feel like we’ve hit rock bottom? Charaia opens up about losing her church job, the lessons she learned in one of the lowest seasons of her life, and why “bouncing back” was never the goal. Charaia Rush is a writer and speaker who is passionate about telling the story of the gospel and watching how it softens the hardened corners of our hearts and illuminates the dark rooms of our spirits. She has written for outlets such as ChristianParenting.com and She Reads Truth. She is the author of Courageously Soft and resides in Colorado with her two lovely children. -------- Follow Charaia http://instagram.com/charaiarush/ https://charaia.substack.com/ Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/skillsandpillspodcast

Why Christians Struggle to Talk About Mental Health

“Just pray about it.” For many Christians struggling with mental health, that’s the response they’ve heard for years. But what happens when prayer alone doesn’t seem to fix the anxiety, depression, trauma, or burnout? In this episode, Dr. Jo and Dr. Mo have continue an honest conversation about faith and mental health in the Christian community. From discussing the stigma around therapy to breaking down the tension between spiritual care and psychological care, this episode tackles the conversations many churches still avoid. The conversation also explores the importance of creating safe spaces for believers in therapy, why pastors need grace too, and how clinicians and clergy can work together instead of against each other. Whether you’ve struggled personally or want to better understand mental health through a Christian lens, this episode brings wisdom, honesty, and practical insight. Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/skillsandpillspodcast

Christians Need to Stop Saying This About Mental Health

“You just need to pray more.”  “If you really trusted God, you wouldn’t struggle mentally.” For years, many Christians have been taught that mental health struggles are simply a lack of faith. But what happens when prayer, fasting, worship, and serving still leave someone battling anxiety, depression, trauma, or emotional exhaustion? In this episode, Dr. Jo and Dr. Mo confront some of the biggest myths surrounding Christianity and mental health. The conversation unpacks why mental health became taboo in many churches, why these myths can be dangerous, and why healing is not always instant or one-dimensional. Freedom requires follow-up. Healing requires honesty. And people get well in different ways. The truth is: faith and practical help are not enemies. Mental health is not just spiritual — biological, emotional, and environmental factors matter too.” Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/skillsandpillspodcast Timecodes 00:00:00 Teaser/Intro  00:04:54 Myth-i If I prayed enough I won’t experience mental health illness   00:07:52 Mental health being taboo in church 00:15:50 Why this myth is dangerous  00:26:00 Freedom requires follow-up  00:31:27 People get well in different ways