Mind and Spirit Podcast: With Luke Johanni

When a child is upset, overwhelmed, or melting down, it’s easy for parents to feel pulled into the chaos.In this short Skills Episode, Luke Johanni, LGPC, NCC, focuses on what actually helps in those moments; not controlling behavior, but staying steady when your child can’t.Building off Episode 12, this episode introduces a simple skill for responding to child distress by regulating yourself first, lowering the intensity, and helping your child deescalate before any teaching or correction happens.If you’ve ever felt unsure of what to do when emotions run high, this episode offers a clear, grounded way to respond with a calm presence and leadership when it matters most.Follow @LukeJohanni for more tools and updates.

Fatherhood isn’t just about raising children. It’s about who a man becomes in the process.In Episode 12 of Mind and Spirit, Catholic-integrative therapist Luke Johanni explores the inner growth of being a father. Drawing from psychology, attachment research, and lived experience, this episode looks at how fatherhood forms a man from the inside out.You’ll learn why presence matters, how emotional regulation shapes a child’s sense of safety, and why moments of struggle (crying, conflict, and repair) are often where the deepest growth happens.This episode also reflects on fatherhood through a faith-integrated lens, showing how steady, attuned presence mirrors both secure attachment and the heart of a good Father.Whether you’re a new dad, a seasoned father, or reflecting on your own experience of being fathered, this episode offers clarity, encouragement, and a grounded vision of fatherhood as being rooted in formation.If this conversation spoke to you, share it with another father who could benefit. Subscribe to Mind and Spirit for future episodes, and explore more resources at RestoredChristianCounseling.com.

Season 2 of Mind and Spirit is HERE!Today, Luke Johanni, LGPC, NCC, guides you through a calming, prayerful guided imagery exercise designed to help you slow down, release stress, and meet your God-guided future self. Through visualization, Scripture, and gentle reflection, you’ll explore the desires God is placing on your heart and the next steps He may be inviting you to take.A free PDF version of this guided imagery script is available at RestoredChristianCounseling.com under the Resources tab.Your support helps make this show possible. Be sure to subscribe and follow me on Instagram @LukeJohanni.

Season 2 of Mind and Spirit is STARTS TOMORROW! Bringing with it Skills Episodes! Short episodes focused on providing you with immediate tools to help you find clarity, focus, peace, and direction in the moments you need it most. These episodes will continue to alternate with our full-length Season 1 conversations, giving you additional practical techniques to practice each week.Your support helps make this show possible. Be sure to subscribe, follow me on Instagram @LukeJohanni, and visit RestoredChristianCounseling.com for more resources.

What if the very thing we turn to for relief is quietly rewiring our mind, reshaping our desires, and pulling us further from the life we want? In this episode of Mind and Spirit, Catholic-integrativetherapist Luke Johanni, LGPC, unpacks how pornography hijacks the brain, distorts identity, and fractures our capacity for love; and why so many men feel trapped in shame, secrecy, and cycles they can’t seem to break.Through practical psychology, neuroscience, and a grounded Christian perspective, Luke explains how porn rewires reward pathways, disrupts development, and creates a “pornified worldview” that affects relationships, self-worth, and spiritual life. And more importantly, he reveals how healing actually begins: through honesty, support, and intentional re-training of the mind.You’ll learn why porn becomes compulsive, how early exposure shapes the brain, and the five concrete steps any man can take to begin breaking free (plus how faith, virtue, and God’s mercy restore what shame tries to destroy.)It’s time to stop hiding and start healing. Because when a man reclaims his heart, he reclaims his freedom.🎧 Listen now and begin the journey toward real restoration.Sources:Beyond the Porn Phenomenon (2024) — Barna GroupCovenant Eyes – Porn Statistics SummaryFight the New Drug – Early Exposure & Teen Porn Use StatsA Look Into Teens’ Exposure to PornographyHow Early Exposure Impacts the BrainYour Brain on Porn — Gary WilsonThe Coolidge Effect — Academic BackgroundThe Porn Trap — Wendy & Larry MaltzTeen Smartphone & Internet Usage — Pew Research CenterTeens, Social Media and TechnologyChildren’s Screen Time & Smartphone Ownership — Common Sense MediaThe Common Sense Census: Media Use by Tweens and TeensPorn & Violence StatisticsTheology of the Body — John Paul II

What does it really mean to be a man today? In a world that swings between extremes (calling masculinity either “toxic” or meaningless) many men are left without a clear, healthy, or hopeful vision of who they are called to be.In this episode, we explore authentic masculinity through the lenses of psychology, Catholic theology, and lived experience. We look at the distortions (machismo, domination, emotional suppression, passivity, the manosphere) and the cultural overcorrections that have left men confused and isolated.Then we rebuild a grounded, realistic, and spiritually rooted understanding of masculinity basedon five essential traits: courage, responsibility, presence, sacrifice, and self-mastery.Along the way, we draw from C. S. Lewis, St. Thomas Aquinas, Pope John Paul II, and modern psychological research to show how true masculine strength is not about power or self-invention but about ordering strength toward love.If you’re a man seeking clarity, healing, or direction (or someone who loves and supports men) this episode will give you a hopeful, grounded vision of what masculinitywas always meant to be.SourcesAPA Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boysand Men (2018)American Perspectives Survey – Friendship Decline(2021)C. S. Lewis — The Abolition of ManJohn Paul II — Mulieris DignitatemGaudium et Spes (Vatican II)Positive Masculinity Research (Kiselica &Englar-Carlson)Kupers, T. (2005). Toxic masculinity research

For generations, men have been taught to stay strong, stay silent, and handle it alone. But what happens when silence becomes the very thing that’s breaking us?In this episode of Mind and Spirit, Catholic-integrativetherapist Luke Johanni, LGPC, explores the hidden epidemic of men’s mental health; the exhaustion, anger, and addictions that grow from unspoken pain. Through practical psychology, faith, and real conversation, Luke challenges the belief that silence is strength and reveals how healing begins with honesty.You’ll learn why men bottle emotions, how silence turns into self-destruction, and what Scripture teaches about true brotherhood and strength.It’s time to stop surviving and start healing. Because when a man finds his voice, he finds his strength.Listen now and take the first step toward real restoration.Sources:Galatians 6:2Proverbs 27:17Proverbs 16:18Luke 23:26 SSMHealth. (2023, June). Mental Health: A Men’sIssue Too. Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2024). Dataon Excessive Alcohol Use. Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2025). AlcoholUse and Sex-Based Differences. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse andAlcoholism (NIAAA). (2024). Alcohol-RelatedDisease Impact Data. OurWorld in Data. (2025). Suicide Rates Are Higherin Men Than Women. PsychologyToday. (2021, Sept 1). The Link BetweenPornography and Loneliness.

When prayer feels empty and heaven seems quiet, it’s easy to wonder if God has left you.In this episode of Mind and Spirit, Catholic-integrated therapist, Luke Johanni, explores what the saints called the Dark Night of the Soul; a season when God withdraws the feeling of His presence not to punish, but to purify and deepen our love.You’ll learn how to recognize the difference between spiritualdryness and depression, why God sometimes seems silent, and how therapy and faith together can guide you through the darkness toward renewal. Luke draws from St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Teresa of Calcutta, and St. John Paul II, blending Scripture, Catholic theology, and psychological insight to show that God’s silence is never absence. It’s the language of deeper love.Whether you’re in a season of dryness or searching for meaning in suffering, this episode will help you rediscover hope, trust, and intimacy with God. Sources:Catechism of the Catholic Church §§164–165, 272–27St. Augustine — Confessions (Book I, ch. 1)St. John Paul II — Novo Millennio Ineunte (2001)St. John Paul II — Salvifici Doloris (1984)St. John of the Cross – Dark Night of the SoulSt. Teresa of Ávila — Interior Castle (Book IV)St. Teresa of Calcutta – Come Be My LightSt. Thérèse of Lisieux — Story of a SoulAPA Dictionary of Psychology – APA.orgAcceptance and Commitment Therapy ( ACT ) – Contextual Science AssociationCognitive Behavioral Therapy ( CBT ) – NAMI.orgViktor E. Frankl – Man’s Search for MeaningScripture Sources:Book of Job 1–2; 19:25Deuteronomy 31:6Isaiah 49:15John 16:33Lamentations 3:7–8; 22–23Mark 9:24Psalm 22Psalm 42:5Romans 8:28

What do you do when prayer feels empty and God seems silent?In this first part of the When God Feels Far mini-series, Catholic-integrated therapist Luke Johanni explores what it means to feel abandoned by God; when life’s pain and people’s failures make Him seem distant.You’ll hear how Scripture, psychology, and faith come together to reframe this experience through the story of Job, the practice of lament, and therapeutic insights from CBT and ACT. Luke unpacks how our minds can mistake God’s stillness for absence, and how to begin finding peace again throughhonesty, connection, and truth.This episode dives deep into: What “abandonment by God” really meansThe difference between lamenting and losing faithWhy God allows suffering without willing itHow to calm spiritual fear using CBT and ACT tools4 practical steps to rebuild trust and restore faithWhether you’re in a season of silence or supporting someone who is, this episode reminds you: you may feel abandoned, but you’ve never been alone.Next week in Part 2: The Dark Night of the Soul; when God’s silence isn’t absence, but invitation. Sources:Job 1–2Job 19:25Psalm 22Lamentations 3:7–8Lamentations 3:22–23John 16:33Deuteronomy 31:6Isaiah 49:15CCC 164–165 – Faith tested in darknessCCC 272–274 – God permits darkness for greater trustSaints & Spiritual WritingsSt. John of the Cross – Dark Night of the SoulSt. Teresa of Calcutta – Come Be My LightPsychological & Therapeutic SourcesAPA Dictionary of Psychology – “Anxiety” & “Core Wounds”Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) overviewCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) overview – NAMIViktor E. Frankl – Man’s Search for Meaning

Healing from trauma isn’t about forgetting the past. It’s about learning to live freely beyond its grip. After understanding what trauma does to the brain, body, and soul in Part 1, this second half of the Healing Trauma series explores what recovery looks like when psychology and faith work hand in hand. In this episode of Mind and Spirit, Catholic-integrativetherapist Luke Johanni unpacks how healing unfolds through evidence-based therapies and the transforming power of grace. You’ll learn how CBT, EMDR, and somatic practices help the body release what’s trapped; and how prayer, community, and the sacraments restore peace tothe soul. Luke weaves together neuroscience and Catholic theology to show that healing is not a quick fix, but a sacred journey: one that moves us from survival to renewal, from fear to belonging, and from wounds to witness.Whether you’re walking through trauma or supporting someone who is, this episode offers practical steps, spiritual insight, and hope that your story doesn’t end in pain. It ends in resurrection. Follow the show and listen to Part 1 if you missedit. For more reflections and resources, visit RestoredChristianCounseling.com and follow Luke on social media @LukeJohanni to learn more about integrating Catholic faith and psychology in everyday life. Sources from Today’s Discussion:• ⁠The Body Keeps the Score — Bessel van derKolk, M.D.⁠• ⁠Catechism of the Catholic Church §§ 1505⁠• ⁠Salvifici Doloris — St. John Paul II⁠• ⁠NIMH — PTSD and Trauma Basics⁠• ⁠CBT Explained — American PsychologicalAssociation⁠• ⁠EMDR Therapy — Francine Shapiro⁠• ⁠The Healing Power of theSacraments — Fr. JimMcManus, C.Ss.R.⁠• ⁠The Wounded Healer — Henri J. M. Nouwen⁠• ⁠Man’s Search for Meaning — Viktor E. Frankl⁠• ⁠Catholic Therapists Directory⁠• ⁠NAMI FaithNet

Some wounds don’t just fade with time. They live quietly in the body, shaping how we think, react, and even pray. When past pain lingers beneath the surface, it can color everything: our relationships, our sense of safety, and our view of God Himself.In this episode of Mind and Spirit, Catholic-integrative therapist, Luke Johanni begins a two-part series on trauma: what it really is, how it rewires the brain and body, and why it reaches into the deepest places of the soul. You’ll learn how trauma changes the brain’s survival system, why the body can stay stuck in defense mode long after danger is gone, and how faith reframes the story: not as one of weakness, but of redemption. Luke brings together neuroscience and Catholic theology to show that while trauma alters us, Christ meets us in those very wounds and makes them a path to healing. Drawing from The Body Keeps the Score, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the life of St. Dymphna, and more this episode reveals that healing isn’t about erasing what happened. It’s about discovering the God who never left.👉 Follow the show and stay tuned for Part 2 next week, where we’ll explore how recovery unfolds through therapy, CBT, EMDR, and prayer that restore peace to the mind, body, and spirit.For more reflections and resources, visit RestoredChristianCounseling.com and follow Luke on social media @LukeJohanni to learn more about integrating Catholic faith and psychology in everyday life. Sources from Today’s Discussion:• The Body Keeps the Score — Bessel van derKolk, M.D.• Catechism of the Catholic Church §§ 1501• Catechism of the Catholic Church §§ 1505• Salvifici Doloris — St. John Paul II• APA Dictionary of Psychology | TraumaDefinition• APA — Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Overview• NIMH — PTSD and Trauma Basics• Catholic Answers | St. Dymphna Encyclopedia• Psychiatric Times | St. Dymphna and the GeelCommunity• Tabella App Blog | St. Dymphna and theImportance of Mental Health• CBT Explained — American PsychologicalAssociation• EMDR Therapy — Francine Shapiro• The Healing Power of the Sacraments — Fr. JimMcManus, C.Ss.R.• The Wounded Healer — Henri J. M. Nouwen• Man’s Search for Meaning — Viktor E. Frankl• Catholic Therapists Directory• NAMI FaithNet

When faith turns into fear and prayer becomes a compulsion, that’s not devotion, it’s scrupulosity. And it’s time we talk about it.In this episode of Mind and Spirit, Catholic-integrated therapist Luke Johanni unpacks what scrupulosityreally is, a form of OCD that turns religious practice into anxiety, and how both psychology and Catholic wisdom reveal a path toward peace.You’ll learn what OCD looks like beneath the surface, how distorted guilt can hijack the spiritual life, and why healing requires both clinical tools and spiritual truth. Lukedraws from the lives of St. Alphonsus Liguori, St. Ignatius of Loyola, and St. Thérèse of Lisieux to show that even thesaints battled this fear, and found freedom by trusting God’s mercy over their perfectionism.Through insights from CBT, ERP, and the Church’s own teaching on hope and confession, you’ll see how psychology and faith can work hand-in-hand to restore peace, prayer, and trust in God’s love.For more reflections and resources, visit RestoredChristianCounseling.com or beacons.ai/lukejohanni to learn more about integrating Catholic faith and psychology in everyday life.📚 Sources from Today’s Discussion:International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)VerywellMind | Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)Abramowitz, J. S. (2014) | The Cognitive-Behavioral Model of OCDO’Connor & Aardema (2005) | Inferential Confusion in OCDMcLean Hospital | Understanding OCDScrupulous Anonymous | Ten Commandments for the Scrupulous (PDF)Catholic Answers | Kevin Vost, “Scrupulosity and the Virtue of Prudence”Catechism of the Catholic Church | CCC 2090 – Hope in God’s MercyCatechism of the Catholic Church | CCC 1458 – Confession and HealingCatholic Culture | Fr. Ernest Latko, “Pastoral Care for the Scrupulous”St. Thérèse of Lisieux | Story of a Soul (1897)St. Ignatius of Loyola | Spiritual ExercisesRomans 8:11 Corinthians 14:33Matthew 11:28-30

What is anxiety, really? Why isn’t it the same for everyoneIn this episode of Mind and Spirit, Catholic-integrated therapist Luke Johanni unpacks the difference between anxiety and fear, explores four distinct categories of anxiety (clinical, situational, trauma-based, and spiritual), and explains how negative self-talk can keep us stuck.You’ll also hear how psychology and Catholic faith come together to offer healing: from practical CBT tools like the “3 C’s” (Catch, Check, Change), to the peace promised in Philippians 4, to the call of Jesus in Matthew 6 not to be consumed with tomorrow’s worries. Healing from anxiety isn’t one-dimensional. It touches body, mind, relationships, and spirit.For more resources, reflections, and ways to connect, visit ⁠my page⁠. Learn more there about integrating Catholic faith and psychology in everyday life.Sources from Today's Discussion:American Psychological AssociationCBT StatisticsCCC 1704 – Intellect and free willCCC 1705 – Freedom as manifestation of the divine imageCCC 1879 – Man’s social natureCleveland Clinic | PTSDGalatians 6:2Gaudete et Exsultate (Pope Francis)1 Kings 19Matthew 6:25-34National Institute of Mental Health 1 Peter 5:7Philippians 4:6-7Situational AnxietySt. Francis de SalesTrine University Study

What’s the difference between guilt and shame, and which one does God actually want for your healing? In this episode of Mind and Spirit, Catholic integrative therapist, Luke Johanni, explores St. Paul’s teaching on godly grief vs. worldly grief, how the Catechism defines contrition, and what John Paul II and Aquinas reveal about shame.You’ll also hear how psychology confirms the Church’s wisdom: guilt moves us toward repair, while shame keeps us stuck in hiding. Together, faith and therapy offer a path to freedom.For more resources, reflections, and ways to connect, visit my page. Learn more there about integrating Catholic faith and psychology in everyday life.Sources:Council of Trent, Session V (Decree on Original Sin)Catechism of the Catholic Church 1451–1453 (Contrition)Catechism of the Catholic Church 1468 (Effects of Reconciliation)General Audience, January 2, 1980General Audience, April 16, 1980Summa Theologica II-II, Q. 144, Art. 12 Corinthians 7:10Romans 7:15–20Romans 8:1Psalm 51:17Genesis 2:25Beck, J. S., Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Basics and Beyond, 2011Hayes, S. C., Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Second Edition, 2012

Welcome to the very first episode of Mind and Spirit! I share my story of how God turned brokenness into calling and why I became a Catholic-integrated therapist. Growing up, I believed I had to earn God’s love, which led me into shame and despair—until the parable of the Prodigal Son became personal and I discovered the Father’s mercy. In this episode, I open up about my struggles with depression, the Church experiences that shaped me, and how marriage, fatherhood, and faith revealed what true restoration looks like.👉 Learn more at RestoredChristianCounseling.com👉 Follow on Instagram: @LukeJohanni