Navigating Grief with Dr. Amanda McNeil

Today's guest, Dr. Amanda McNeil, brings a remarkable combination of academic excellence and hard-won personal experience to the conversation about grief, loss, and healing. With a BA in Psychology from Southeastern University, an MA in Christian Counseling, and a Doctorate in Psychology and Theology from Heritage University and Seminary, Amanda has devoted over a decade to helping others navigate life's darkest seasons. She serves as an ordained Associate Pastor at City of Life Church in Orlando, Florida, where she was ordained in 2012, and is a Licensed Pastoral Counselor and Temperament Counselor with the NCCA. As a Certified SYMBIS Facilitator, she has guided hundreds of couples through premarital counseling over the past fourteen years, helping marriages thrive through healthy communication and intimacy.But Amanda's credentials only tell part of her story. As a young teenager, she experienced devastating family tragedy when her father died unexpectedly, and it was this profound loss that ignited her passion for helping others find hope amid heartbreak. Together with her husband Justin and their miracle son, Amanda has overcome the challenges of blended family dynamics, personal tragedy, grief, and infertility—experiences that give her an authentic, authoritative voice of hope. Her latest book, Overcoming the Overcast: Navigating the Storms of Grief with God, is a love letter born from these experiences, offering practical wisdom, theological depth, and the reassurance that the Son of God is always shining, even when we cannot see or feel Him through the clouds.Due to a video issue, only Mark’s audio is available in this episode.Amanda McNeil's Website:https://www.amandacmcneil.comFree First Chapter of "Overcoming the Overcast":https://www.amandacmcneil.com/freeAdditional Resources Mentioned:- Book: Overcoming the Overcast: Navigating the Storms of Grief with God- Church: City of Life Church, Orlando, FLThanks for joining us for this podcast! If you benefited from this video, please like, subscribe, and send it to a friend who might enjoy it. For more information on counseling, resources, workshops, newsletters, and more, go to samaritanswell.com​. You can also email us questions to cover on the podcast at [email protected] connected:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samaritanswell/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samaritanswelldallasLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/samaritan%E2%80%99s-well/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samaritanswellcounseling?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pcNever miss an episode of our podcast! Subscribe now and stay updated with our latest teachings. We also value your feedback, so please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Free Relationship "Talk Time" Guide: https://samaritanswell.thinkific.com/products/digital_downloads/talk-time-guideMusic from Uppbeat:https://uppbeat.io/t/sky-toes/featherlightLicense code: GAUXTZHWAYJROEFLMusic from Uppbeat:https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/all-i-needLicense code: LQFV9XYEQIWRJLNT