Episode 72 - Conversation with Carl Binger: Depression, Ending Stigma, and Hope

I am so honored and grateful to have author, therapist, and podcaster Carl Binger on the Still Becoming Podcast. In this powerful episode Carl shares with us some of his personal experience, as well as his professional expertise about depression. This combination of the personal and the professional Carl brings is so illuminating, helpful, and hopeful. We talk about men specifically in depression, and how depression can look different in men than women. We talk about the pandemic and depression. We also talk about the different types of stigmas that Carl faced, and we all might face, in getting help for depression. We start the episode off with Carl reading one of his poems about his experience with depression. The creative use of words and writing to describe something like depression is so impactful for the validation of those who have experienced it, and for the understanding of those trying to learn about it. This episode will leave you informed, validated, hopeful, and impacted by the power of vulnerability in sharing our stories, and the power of giving something the right name.⁣ ⁣ ⁣Carl Binger, LMHC, is a husband to Carissa and the father of Marcus, Derek, and Travis. He has been following Jesus since 2003 and has been practicing counseling since 2014. Carl is the author of his new book the Progessive Darkness: For the Christian Losing Hope in Depression, the founder of the Facebook group and Podcase called Surviving Depression, and the owner of his own practice, Luminance Mental Health Counseling. He hopes to spread a message of hope to anyone struggling with depression. He raises awareness about depression by writing, facilitating educational workshops, counseling, and talking to his community. You can follow Carl's work on his website: https://www.survivingdepressiongroup.com/.⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/453905639323274/⁣ ⁣Instagram: survivingdepression_fb_group⁣ ⁣Twitter: @LuminanceMental