Episode 25: Kingdom Building in You — Healing the Mind, Attuning the Heart

I’m your host, Erin Arruda, and in this episode I’m joined by Certified Christian Neuroscience Counselor Vanderly Cillo for a timely and deeply grounding conversation centered on Kingdom building in you. Vanderly brings a beautiful integration of neuroscience, faith, and the finished work of the cross, helping us see how God designed the human brain for connection, healing, and transformation. Together, we talk about her journey into this work and ministry, the relationship between brain design and discipleship, and why true transformation requires more than information—it requires connection. We explore the power of attunement—being seen, protected, and received before being “fixed”—and how this practice reflects the heart of the Father. Vanderly also shares why so much modern discipleship has leaned heavily on teaching and strategy, while lasting change happens through joy, attachment, and shared emotional life. We unpack how joy becomes “locked up” in us and what it looks like to live out the truth that the joy of the Lord is our strength in practical, embodied ways. If time allows, we also touch on the mind’s greatest adversary in this hour, what our minds most need right now, and one simple next step toward lasting transformation. To learn more about Vanderly and her work, visit https://vanderlycillo.com/. Professional Disclosure: Vanderly Cillo is an ordained minister and certified coach. She does not provide psychotherapy or mental health diagnosis or treatment. Her services are offered as pastoral care, neuroscience coaching, and faith-based support and are not a substitute for licensed mental health care.