Gardening Your Life (GYL)

Working through our stories...honoring your story!

Working through our stories

Working through our stories

Thank you, Linda Wilson! We are talking through 5 C's she shared with me years ago to encourage people as they work through very difficult times. Allow her words and more good grieving skills to encourage you today!

Let's dig into some tools to help us work through grief with effective skills and with supportive others. Let's keep learning how to pivot away from old, unhelpful grief habits and grow into recovery and new growth.

How do you get stuck in grief? What is your pattern? Here is how your catch-release-replace bad habits of grief. Use the tool called "chain analysis." Keep up the good grief!

Building Self Awareness - step one of good grieving. And working through your "old stuff" one step at a time. Reprocessing hurts with affirmation and love.

We welcome Lisa back. She has much to share about how Grounding and now starting Grieving has shaped her life and ministry. Be encouraged by her stories!

Time to learn about GOOD grief. Grief is good (not fun or enjoyable) and very important for our growth. Do you ever get stuck in a stage or season of grief? We all do. Learn to recognize the stage you are in and work through it, rather than getting stuck there.

We have spent a lot of time together on Grounding and developing Grounding skills, rooted and built up in Christ. Now we move on to the realities that we all must face as we garden our lives, pruning! The Master Gardener uses pruning, as any good gardener would, to cut off the branches that are not needed and make way for New Growth. Human pruning results in Grieving, and we need every one of those Grounding skills to help us through seasons of grief (loss, change, hurt...). Let's get started!

Jen is a counselor and art therapist. She took a Grounding group through an experiential journey using art therapy!Check this out!

Join Heidi as she interviews Adrian Aswegen, therapist and group facilitator of Grounding with teens and adults.

Lucas has been running Grounding groups for the last year. He and Heidi discuss some of his favorite stories and grounding skills from his experience and reflection.

Heidi talks with Lisa Nelson about how Grounding has impacted her life and ministry.

Dr. Heidi Vermeer-Quist continues her conversation about Grounding with clinician Gabrielle Llewellyn, T-LMFT.Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D.Psychologist, Director of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and author of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Gardening Your Life

Heidi is joined in the studio by Heartland Christian Counseling's own Gabrielle Llewellyn, T-LMFT! In this first episode of a two-part interview, Gabrielle shares about her experience with the "Grounding" skills.Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D.Psychologist, Director of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠⁠⁠⁠, and author of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Gardening Your Life

Join us for an interview with special guest Amy Deace! Amy is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, a Certified Sexual Addiction Therapist, and is trained in DBT, IFS, and EMDR. In this conversation, Amy shares some ways grounding has been helpful in her own life, and she and Heidi discuss some more practical applications of grounding skills!Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D.Psychologist, Director of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠⁠⁠⁠, and author of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Gardening Your Life

Join us for an interview with Gabrielle Andrews, assistant director of AON Studios and host of The Witness Spot podcast! In this episode, Gabrielle joins Heidi to discuss how recognizing the O-Zone and applying some of the skills from "Gardening Your Life" have made a difference in her life and relationships.Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D.Psychologist, Director of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠⁠⁠⁠, and author of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Gardening Your Life

In this final session on her Grounding book, Heidi recaps the core of this season of the podcast and rounds out the topic of thankfulness. Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠⁠⁠⁠, and author of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Gardening Your Life

In this episode, we begin our final session from Grounding! Heidi discusses some examples of radical gratitude, and she calls back the topic of distress tolerance, sharing some more tools for managing stressful situations. Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠⁠⁠⁠, and author of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Gardening Your Life

This final episode on the topic of distress tolerance discusses developing resiliency. Heidi explores living wholeheartedly for the Lord and shares skills called the "4 C's" of resiliency! Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠⁠⁠⁠, and author of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Gardening Your Life.

This week, Heidi unpacks how Psalm 23 and Ephesians 3:16-19 can help us as we manage the weeds of crisis in our lives! If you haven't heard the previous episode on this topic, go check out "Manage Weeds of Crisis (Part 1)" first for the introduction to successful crisis management and distress tolerance. Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠⁠⁠⁠, and author of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Gardening Your Life

Now that we've established some helpful grounding skills, Heidi begins the conversation on working through crisis and distress. In this episode, learn a new acronym to help you tolerate and process crises successfully! Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠⁠⁠⁠, and author of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Gardening Your Life⁠

This final episode on digging deep for truth in love features new tools for effective and assertive communication and showcases real-world applications for these new communication skills. Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠⁠⁠⁠, and author of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Gardening Your Life⁠

This week, as we continue digging deep for truth in love, Heidi teaches some skills and tools for speaking truth in a healthy way. Heidi also emphasizes the importance of humility, and explains why 1+1 might just equal 3! Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠⁠⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠⁠⁠, and author of ⁠⁠⁠Gardening Your Life

What does it really mean to speak the truth in love? Join in this week as we unpack scripture from Ephesians 4 and take a look at what the call to speak truth means for our relationships and the way we communicate with others! “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” -Ephesians 4:14-16- Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠⁠⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠⁠⁠, and author of ⁠⁠⁠Gardening Your Life

In this final episode on the topic of balancing the sun and shade of emotions, we wrap up with 5 steps for letting go or reducing the intensity of negative emotions and look ahead to what's up next on the GYL podcast! Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠⁠⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠⁠⁠, and author of ⁠⁠⁠Gardening Your Life

As we continue exploring how to balance the sun and shade of our emotions, Heidi introduces ways to deepen and expand the skills we've been developing! This week, practice identifying and processing emotions and be equipped to understand what our emotions are signaling to us. Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠⁠⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠⁠⁠, and author of ⁠⁠⁠Gardening Your Life

This episode continues the conversation about managing your God-given emotions. Dive into the story of Seabiscuit the horse, and learn what a horse and rider have to do with your emotional and rational mind! Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠⁠⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠⁠⁠, and author of ⁠⁠⁠Gardening Your Life

Continue building on the foundation of grounding and mindfulness this week as Heidi introduces emotional management! This episode shares ways to expand and apply some of the skills we've already learned and introduces radical acceptance and distress tolerance skills. Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠⁠⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠⁠⁠, and author of ⁠⁠⁠Gardening Your Life

On this episode of the GYL podcast, we continue the conversation about participating in the precious present moment. This episode also features a guided internal mindfulness exercise, a great tool to add to your gardening toolbox! Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠⁠⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠⁠⁠, and author of ⁠⁠⁠Gardening Your Life

Being mindful and participating in the present moment isn't easy! This week, Heidi shares her experience as a recovering perfectionist along with some insight into why and how we seek to move toward mindfulness, to find joy in our precious present moments. Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠⁠⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠⁠⁠, and author of ⁠⁠⁠Gardening Your Life

This week, take time to put the skills we've been learning into practice! This episode consists of guided mindfulness and meditation on teachings from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠⁠⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠⁠⁠, and author of ⁠⁠⁠Gardening Your Life

This week on Gardening Your Life, Heidi provides insight and instructions for practicing mindfulness! Plus, tune in to learn more practical skills for resting as we continue the conversation about abiding in the precious present moment. Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠⁠⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠⁠⁠, and author of ⁠⁠⁠Gardening Your Life⁠

In this episode, Heidi teaches some new grounding skills as we begin learning how to rest in the precious present moment. “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8 Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠⁠⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠⁠⁠, and author of ⁠⁠⁠Gardening Your Life⁠

Welcome back to the Gardening Your Life podcast! Join us this week as we continue exploring tools for managing our thought lives and learn to do differently, to think differently, to ultimately feel differently. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠⁠, and author of ⁠⁠Gardening Your Life⁠

In this episode, dive deeper into your thought process and learn what it looks like to transition from a "Victim" to a "Victor" mindset! We'll explore more tools for cultivating your thought life and continue to unpack what it means to garden your life. Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠, and author of ⁠Gardening Your Life

This week, Heidi reviews and expands on some practical skills and tools to help us as we garden our lives! Interested in the gardening tools discussed in this episode? Handouts for these and others like them are available to access for free at gardeningyourlife.com/resources. Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠, and author of ⁠Gardening Your Life

In this episode, Heidi introduces us to the idea of Automatic Negative Thoughts (or ANTs for short). Do you have ANTs in your head? The truth is, we all do! Tune in to learn a few different skills to help trap and address those ANTs as we wrap up the discussion on what it means to "choose good soil." Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠, and author of ⁠Gardening Your Life

What does it mean to choose good soil? In this episode, Heidi asks us to consider how cultivating our thoughts can help the entire garden flourish. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” - Philippians 4:8 Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠, and author of ⁠Gardening Your Life

This week on the GYL podcast, we continue to discuss the topic of healthy boundaries! In this episode, Heidi asks us to consider the difference between what it means to be responsible for versus responsible to, and she challenges us with this: We can only be responsible for ourselves – and only in the present! Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠, and author of ⁠Gardening Your Life

Get ready to dig deeper into the three O's of the "O-Zone" and begin putting down roots for healthy boundaries! Through personal and professional experiences, Heidi provides tools to help us start identifying things that are outside our control, and she invites us to begin pondering what things we are called to steward and change. May the Good Gardener bless you with the serenity to accept the things you cannot change and the courage to change the things you can! Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠⁠, and author of ⁠⁠Gardening Your Life

This is the final episode on the topic of a Healthy Christian Self-Concept. This week, Heidi invites us to explore another truth: We were not only created to cultivate our psychological, spiritual, and emotional needs; we were made with physical needs as well! This week, we explore three more essential components to cultivating the garden of your life: Eat, Sleep, and Exercise. Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠⁠, and author of ⁠⁠Gardening Your Life

This episode continues the conversation about a Healthy Christian Self-Concept. If you haven't already, go listen to Part 1 first! In Part 2, we take a closer look at who we really are through three essential truths: In Christ, we are Accepted. In Christ, we are Secure. And in Christ, we are Significant. Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of ⁠Heartland Christian Counseling⁠, and author of ⁠Gardening Your Life

The next three GYL episodes will be on the topic of a Healthy Christian Self-Concept. In Part 1, Heidi introduces the idea of self-concept through Max Lucado's book You Are Special and walks us through her own encounters with the significance of developing a healthy Christian self-concept. Know that, In Christ, you are Accepted, you are Secure, and you are Significant. Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of Heartland Christian Counseling, and author of Gardening Your Life

In this episode, we explain the "Why?" behind Gardening Your Life, as we explore the concept of Grounding and the image of Jesus as the Vine. Be encouraged by who you really are and by who your Good Gardener is!

Welcome to Gardening Your Life (GYL) - where we equip you with mental and spiritual tools designed to deepen your relationship with God and help you to thrive on this side of heaven. Heidi Vermeer-Quist, Psy.D. Psychologist, Director of Heartland Christian Counseling and author of Gardening Your Life