Authentically Amber: Navigating Life's Anxious Moments & Everything In-Between

Boundaries, Rights, and Biblical Wisdom in Counseling – Interview with Dr. Luther Smith

Season 2, Episode 12: Boundaries, Rights, and Biblical Wisdom in Counseling – Interview with Dr. Luther Smith Description: What happens when you step into a counseling session—whether as a counselor or as someone seeking help? In this episode of Authentically Amber, I’m joined by Dr. Luther Smith, host of The Re(Nyoo)ed Mind Podcast and Department Chair of Biblical Counseling at Calvary University, to explore the often-overlooked dynamics of counseling: how counselors protect themselves, what rights clients have, and how Scripture equips us to navigate both. Dr. Smith also shares his personal journey into counseling and offers wisdom for Gen Z navigating faith, therapy, and mental health. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: ✨Luther's personal journey to counseling. ✨How can counselors and clients protect themselves in counseling sessions? ✨Where do we see biblical support for counselor and client rights? ✨Why does this matter to Gen Z? ✨Practical next steps you can take: What if I'm scared to go to counseling? Takeaways: ✨Counseling doesn't have to be scary and overwhelming. ✨ You do have rights as a counselor and counselee. ✨The first session might be awkward, but you can advocate for yourself. Resources Mentioned: 📖 Contagion by Erin Bowman [https://www.amazon.com/Contagion-Erin-Bowman/dp/0062574140] Connect with Luther: 💻 Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4KVxP5RBqYgL4vwsHZByI0 ] 📸 Website [https://www.drluthersmith.org/] 💻 Email-lsmithnyoomind@gmail.com 📸 IG [https://www.instagram.com/renyooedmindpodcast/] Let’s Connect: 💻 Website: AmberGinter.com [https://amberginter.com]📸 Instagram: @amberginterauthor [https://instagram.com/amberginterauthor] Reminder: Counseling is not just about healing our wounds—it’s about walking in the freedom Christ desires for us. Faith and counseling, when combined, can bring holistic transformation.

Grief Without Band-Aids: Navigating Loss Honestly – Interview with Jordan Lamar

Season 2, Episode 11: Grief Without Band-Aids: Navigating Loss Honestly— Interview with Jordan Lamar Description: Grief isn’t linear, and it doesn’t follow a tidy timeline. In this heartfelt episode of Authentically Amber, I sit down with Jordan Lamar, Director of Strategic Accounts at WebMD Health Services, to talk about facing grief head-on—without rushing the process or pretending to be okay. Jordan opens up about losing her sister-in-law and what it’s taught her about authenticity, faith, and healing. Together, we unpack what it looks like to grieve honestly, support others through loss, and lean into God’s presence when life hurts most. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: ✨ Jordan’s story of loss and how grief reshaped her faith and perspective. ✨ Why it’s so important to feel pain fully instead of masking it with “I’m fine.” ✨ How to process grief honestly through prayer, community, and emotional awareness. ✨ Practical ways to support others walking through loss—what to say and what not to say. ✨ Encouragement for anyone balancing grief with daily life, work, or responsibilities. ✨ A reminder that Jesus Himself wept—and that it’s okay for us to do the same. Takeaways: ✨ You don’t have to rush grief—healing isn’t on a schedule. ✨ God isn’t disappointed by your sadness; He meets you in it. ✨ The most loving thing you can do for someone grieving is to simply be there. ✨ “I’m not okay” can be a holy and healing place to start. Resources Mentioned: 📖 John 11:35 – “Jesus wept.” 💻 WebMD Health Services [https://www.webmdhealthservices.com] Connect with Jordan: 📸 Instagram: @jmlamar [https://www.instagram.com/jmlamar/] Let’s Connect: 💻 Website: AmberGinter.com [https://amberginter.com] 📸 Instagram: @amberginterauthor [https://instagram.com/amberginterauthor] Reminder: God sees your grief. You don’t have to hold it together—He’ll hold you through it.

Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic — Finding Freedom and Faith—Interview with Jon Seidl

Season 2, Episode 10: Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic — Finding Freedom and Faith —Interview with Jon Seidl Description: What does it look like when faith and addiction collide? In this powerful and deeply vulnerable episode of Authentically Amber, I sit down with Jon Seidl—author, speaker, and storyteller—to talk about his journey as a Christian who became an alcoholic and found redemption through honesty, therapy, and faith. Jon’s new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic, is a raw and redemptive look at how grace meets us in our darkest places. Together, we unpack the reality of addiction, how Christians can wrestle with shame, and why telling the truth about our struggles is one of the most powerful ways to heal. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: ✨ Jon’s story of faith, addiction, and rediscovering God’s grace. ✨ How addiction can take many forms—and why Christians aren’t immune. ✨ The power of radical vulnerability and storytelling in the healing process. ✨ Practical tools and spiritual steps for overcoming hidden habits and addictions. ✨ Hope for anyone who feels trapped, ashamed, or disqualified by their struggle. Takeaways: ✨ Addiction isn’t a moral failure—it’s a human struggle that needs grace, not guilt. ✨ Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s a weapon against shame. ✨ Freedom starts with honesty—with God, yourself, and others. ✨ Your story, no matter how messy, can be a ministry. Resources Mentioned: 📚 Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic by Jon Seidl 💻 Website: JonSeidl.com 📸 Instagram: @jonseidl 🐦 Twitter/X: @jonseidl 🎙️ Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic [https://www.jonseidl.com/confessions-of-christian-alcoholic-podcast](Podcast available wherever you listen!) Let’s Connect: 💻 Website: AmberGinter.com [https://amberginter.com] 📸 Instagram: @amberginterauthor [https://instagram.com/amberginterauthor] Reminder: You don’t have to hide your struggles—God can redeem every part of your story and use it for hope, healing, and purpose.

Learning to Live Loved: Healing Fear, Faith, and Family in the Journey of Adulting with Janet Newberry

Season 2, Episode 9: Learning to Live Loved: Healing Fear, Faith, and Family in the Journey of Adulting— Interview with Janet Newberry What if growing up — or “adulting” — wasn’t about becoming more independent, but learning how to live more loved? In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Janet Newberry, host of the Love is Fearless podcast and founder of John 15 Academy, to explore how our upbringing, family systems, and church experiences shape our mental health and sense of self. After losing her mom to suicide, Janet found herself on a journey of healing that redefined her faith, identity, and relationships. Through that process, she discovered that love — not fear, performance, or perfection — is what truly transforms us into healthy adults. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: ✨ How childhood and family patterns affect mental health in adulthood. ✨ Why many young adults struggle with performance-based faith and fear of failure. ✨ Janet’s story of losing her mom to suicide and finding healing through love. ✨ The difference between “living afraid” and “living loved” — and how to tell which one you’re doing. ✨ How to form a secure identity in Christ as the foundation for emotional maturity. ✨ Encouragement for anyone wondering if God can redeem their past (spoiler: He can—and does). ✨ Practical tools for building healthy adult relationships rooted in truth and grace. Takeaways: ✨Needing help is holy work. ✨Setting boundaries isn't just necessary, but healing. ✨Live to "trust" God, not just "please" God. Resources Mentioned: 📚 Education by Design, Not Default: How Brave Love Creates Fearless Learning [https://www.amazon.com/Education-Design-Not-Default-Fearless-ebook/dp/B07MBQXS9L?ref_=ast_author_mpb] by Janet Newberry 💻Website: john15academy.com (Restoring the Lost Art of Being Family [https://www.john15academy.com/]) 📸 Instagram: @janet_newberry [https://www.instagram.com/janet_newberry/?hl=en] Let’s Connect:💻 Website: AmberGinter.com [https://amberginter.com] 📸 Instagram: @amberginterauthor [https://instagram.com/amberginterauthor] Reminder: You don’t have to earn God’s approval or fix everything to be worthy of love. You already are.

Generations Deep — Healing From Inherited Trauma Through Faith and Therapy— Interview with Gina Birkemeier

Season 2, Episode 8: Generations Deep — Healing From Inherited Trauma Through Faith and Therapy— Interview with Gina Birkemeier Description: Do you ever feel stuck in patterns you didn’t choose—habits, reactions, or beliefs that seem to run in your family? In this powerful episode of Authentically Amber, I sit down with Gina Birkemeier, licensed professional counselor, trauma therapist, and award-winning author of Generations Deep, to talk about breaking free from generational trauma. Gina’s unique blend of faith, therapy, and science (including the study of epigenetics) helps people understand what’s been passed down—and how to rewrite their stories with God’s help. Together, we explore how to stop repeating cycles of dysfunction and start living out a new legacy of healing, hope, and purpose. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: ✨ Gina’s personal story of growing up in generational dysfunction and finding her calling in trauma therapy. ✨ What generational trauma really is—and how it shows up emotionally, spiritually, and relationally. ✨ How faith and therapy work together to help us break family cycles and reclaim our identity in Christ. ✨ The science of epigenetics and how trauma can be passed down through generations. ✨ Practical tools to begin healing your family story today. ✨ Encouragement for anyone wondering if God can redeem their past (spoiler: He can—and does). Takeaways: ✨ You can’t heal what you won’t acknowledge—awareness is the first step to freedom. ✨ Faith and therapy are partners in healing, not competitors. ✨ God doesn’t just want to redeem your story; He wants to redeem your family line. ✨ The past explains you, but it doesn’t have to define you. Resources Mentioned: 📚Generations Deep: [https://www.amazon.com/Generations-Deep-Unmasking-Inherited-Dysfunction/dp/1732954526]Unmasking Inherited Dysfunction and Trauma to Rewrite Our Stories Through Faith and Therapy by Gina Birkemeier 📚 The Choice [https://www.amazon.com/Choice-Dr-Edith-Eva-Eger/dp/150113079X/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YaFPRANZtpk7wbFQH68Dko0U7N7IgVKxaZ7bD3rShtW9EBPnGDDJ-_qZDHaWwlMhswhhEvJDzRL-nxjJnSRNQ-_aU4uCmfocwqfI1lFk9gRAC6mcqTp6ZvkHKh1GN2KeAMr7bIL6IfJJHXfaSXms2UqoqzqJAFZbRfD6JnQUABQ_pqWsJ5YFbQxfMC1CxdVT4jx3fnKkUcnrTh3OgFKOsd5ZcoMXhj67QFyrr9FLMGs.nw6SIGBzasoBU0EClhnImMtaQsCVd4XP1JDAqJa-W-c&dib_tag=se&hvadid=776764040611&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9015859&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=10579908667614470271--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=10579908667614470271&hvtargid=kwd-5924234080&hydadcr=9994_13873287&keywords=the+choice+book&mcid=a9f32d5d77f6380590c9633d06035b52&qid=1762192218&sr=8-1] by Edith Eger 📚 Same Kind of Different As Me [https://www.amazon.com/Same-Kind-Different-As-Me/dp/084991910X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2Y7OMNC2U3L7N&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.WBM7aVUcMYj3je5TNkxPRKyc7r-_i7AawLBvCduADKWyFerEjLwZGgwfothgfr392zaoy7uZikUFti0pUt8jUaLwTS8MGfql-ZEfCcVvlrVaV-lCwlqsxvkEFYarKUf8p3uQQOdfUi_RH-TBBk1S_5OoYKnp0unQ4TeBVnFbMxI345QocQ8NUfI538siPWKEl5KBknKe1vC1pajni7I8fsDSII7DphwxMDhevK4tml0.JBWyjCVGzOrRepAto91ddSxW7nAR0TWLRS2nCiFHiRw&dib_tag=se&keywords=same+kind+of+different+as+me+book&qid=1762192243&sprefix=same+kind+of+diff%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-1] by Ron Hall & Denver Moore 💻 Website: www.GinaBirkemeier.com [https://www.ginabirkemeier.com] 📨 Substack: https://ginabirkemeierlpc.substack.com/ [https://ginabirkemeierlpc.substack.com/] 📸 Instagram: @ginabirkemeier [ https://www.instagram.com/myoutloudvoice?igsh=OWVyYXdmdTdzbHI0] Let’s Connect: 💻 Website: AmberGinter.com [https://amberginter.com] 📸 Instagram: @amberginterauthor [https://instagram.com/amberginterauthor] Reminder: You don’t have to repeat the story you were born into—with faith and healing, you can write a new one.