Speak Out Loud

In this episode, Stacee and Doug share a "kitchen table conversation" with friend and Biblical Counselor, Kaitlin Niles, on the topic of suffering and the often overlooked Biblical practice of lament. As Kaitlin shares, often her clients struggle with the "why" of their suffering, wondering if God has forgotten or abandoned them in the pain they are journeying through. Throughout the conversation, Kaitlin leans into her own experience of pushing God away due to the pain and trauma of her childhood and teenage years, thinking if God truly cared for, how could these bad things have happened to her. Through the steady and faithful love and encouragement of her fiance and his family, God began to soften her heart to both the love of God and the hope of the Gospel message.Kaitlin now shares this hope and message with those she counsels, helping them see suffering is not abnormal or a sign of rejection for those who believe in God. Jesus himself promised his followers trouble, but also told them to take heart because He has overcome the world and all the pain and suffering it contains. We are so thankful for Kaitlin joining us and for her vulnerability in this special conversation. Stacee and Doug also share of the hope they have discovered and experience despite Stacee's battles with chronic mental illness.More about today's guest, Kaitlin Niles:She is the founder and lead biblical counselor at Grace Upon Grace Biblical Counseling in Oklahoma City, OK. She earned a Master of Applied Theology in Biblical Counseling with honors from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, is certified with the Association of Biblical Counselors (ABC), and is a Certified Christian Trauma Care Provider (CTHN). Kaitlin brings not only theological training but also deep personal experience with God’s grace. Her journey through anxiety, childhood trauma, shame, addiction, and spiritual confusion gives her unique empathy and insight into the struggles her clients face. She is passionate about helping women and teen girls connect the truth of God’s Word to real life with honesty, hope, and compassion. Kaitlin is married to her best friend, Landon, and lives in Yukon, Oklahoma. She loves all things Narnia, The Lord of the Rings, dogs, writing, good food, and—if given the chance—a crispy drink from Sonic. She believes stories matter because they remind us that God is near, attentive, and at work in our everyday lives.You can find Kaitlin online in the following places: ● www.graceupongracebc.com● Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/graceupongracecounseling● Instagram: @graceupongracebcThe mission of Speak Out Loud is to share hope and encouragement with those who struggle with mental health and for those who love and support them.To learn more about Speak Out Loud, the resources it offers, and to connect with Stacee, please visit Speakoutloud.meYou can follow Speak Out Loud on Instagram and Facebook @speakoutloud.meYou can find on Amazon both of Stacee's books, The Boat That Wouldn't Sink: A Memoir, and You Are Worth Saving, Letters of Hope from a Desperate Heart. You can also find Stacee and Doug's free devotional Reading Plans on the YouVersion Bible app under the Speak Out Loud page.Thank you for listening - let's experience hope together!

Self-Injury is a complex and often difficult to understand mental health crisis - both for those who suffer and for families and friends who care for those facing this battle. In this episode, Stacee and guest and friend Brittany Tinsley share a conversation about their shared experience of struggling with self-injury and also of finding hope and healing in their recovery journeys. Out of that experience, Stacee and Brittany are teaming together to offer a new resource called Held Even Here, a faith-based event for those navigating self-injury and for those who love and support them. To learn more about Held Even Here and opportunities to host or attend an upcoming gathering, please visit heldevenhere.com.Brittany Tinsley is a writer, speaker and the author of Stories our Scars Tell: Hope, Healing and Honesty about the Wounds We Carry. Brittany's work explores the intersection of faith and mental health, shaped by her personal experience with self-injury. Stacee Goetzinger is a hope-giver for those struggling with self-harm and mental illness. She has experienced the depths of those struggles and also the hope that comes from Christ and pursuing recovery in community. Stacee is a podcaster, speaker and author of You Are Worth Saving, Letters of Hope from a Desperate Heart and The Boat that Wouldn't Sink, a Memoir of a life shaped by trauma but rescued by hope. Speak Out Loud's mission is to share hope and encouragement for those struggling with mental health and for those who love and support them. To learn more about Speak Out Loud and resources available, please visit speakoutloud.me

In this episode, Stacee and frequent guest, LPC Phoebe Barron, share an honest, real, and vulnerable conversations about the struggles and hopes of living with chronic mental illness.Wherever you are in your mental health journey, you'll find hard-earned wisdom and encouragement, both from Stacee's journey and Phoebe's depth of experience and compassion as a therapist. Learn more about Stacee and the resources offered through Speak Out Loud at speakoutloud.me and follow Stacee on Instagram @speakoutloud.me.To learn more about Phoebe and her practice, you can find her online at phoebebarron.com and on Instagram @phoebekate.The mission of Speak Out Loud is to share hope and encouragement for those who struggle with mental health and for those who love and support them.Let's experience hope together!

In this episode of the Speak Out Loud podcast. Stacee and Doug share a vulnerable and powerful conversation with Bret and Anne about their family's journey of navigating a schizophrenia diagnosis for their young adult child. Bret and Anne share a wealth of experience, compassion and hope for families who may be on a similar mental illness journey with a loved one or friend. Bret and Anne share honestly about the lengthy process of coming to a clear diagnosis for their son through several years of struggle, signs and symptoms to look for, the challenge of developing a community of compassionate awareness and support, and their journey to their son's improved mental health.While there is currently no cure for schizophrenia, throughout this conversation you'll hear and be inspired by the hope Bret and Anne and their family have for both the present and the future!For families walking through a similar journey of schizophrenia or a unique mental illness journey of their own, this episode will encourage you, provide helpful insights and wisdom, and most of all share the gift of hope. Whatever you are facing, better and brighter days can be ahead!Born of our Stacee's lengthy mental illness struggle, Speak Out Loud's mission is to share hope and encouragement for those who struggle with mental health and for those who love and support them. Learn more about Speak Out Loud and the resources offered by Stacee and her husband, Doug, at speakoutloud.me.You can follow Speak Out Loud on Instagram @speakoutloud.me. You can also find free devotional resources offered by Speak Out Loud on the YouVersion Bible app by searching for the Speak Out Loud page.Stacee's two books, The Boat That Wouldn't Sink and You Are Worth Saving, Letters of Hope from a Desperate Heart are both available on Amazon.To learn more about inviting Stacee and/or Doug to speak to your group, please connect with us through Speaking tab on the Speak Out Loud website.Thank you for joining us for this episode and for helping build a community of hope for those who struggle with mental health - let's experience hope together!

On September 3, 2024 Rick Thompson suffered a massive stroke while traveling in Costa Rica. At his wife's urging, a 6 hour cab ride to the nearest hospital saved his life.Following his stroke, Rick woke up the next morning blind and unable to move the left side of his body. The weeks and months ahead began an incredible journey of ongoing rehabilitation, returning to his role as senior Pastor of Council Road Baptist Church in metro Oklahoma City, and writing about this journey through his new book, Count if Joy: Lessons in Suffering.Stacee and Doug share this conversation with their long-time pastor of how finding joy even through crisis, tremendous life change, and suffering is possible. You can find Count it Joy and other books and resources from Rick at pastorrickthompson.com. Count it Joy can also be found in kindle format on Amazon at https://a.co/d/3aLIn4oand also as an audio book on Audible. The mission of Speak Out Loud is to share hope and encouragement for those struggling with mental health and for those who love and support them. Learn more about Stacee and Doug and their family's mental illness journey and also access the library of resources offered by Speak Out Loud at www.speakoutloud.me.

We are so pleased to share this episode as Stacee interviews friend of Speak Out Loud, Brittany Tinsley, to talk about her new book coming out this fall - Stories Our Scars Tell: Hope, Healing, and Honesty about the Wounds We Carry.Stacee and Brittany share an honest an vulnerable conversation about their shared experience of struggling with self-harm and how they have found hope and live day to day in recovery. As Brittany shares, "to be healed is simply to live a life fully felt - not perfect and not pain-free, but beautiful anyway." Stacee and Brittany know the pain and struggle of self-harm and their conversation is an honest, transparent and hopeful resource of hope for others who struggle and for those who care for those struggling with self-harm.Brittany is a writer and speaker who shares her story of self-injury to offer hope to others. In addition to her new book, Brittany recently co-authored a chapter in the Oxford Handbook of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury. Her work has also been featured by a variety of non-profits and publications, including Huffpost, To Write Love on Her Arms, and Fathom Magazine. You can pre-order Stories Our Scars Tell on Amazon at https://a.co/d/dzfeuwJLearn more about Brittany and subscribe to her Substack site, Braver on Paper, at https://www.brittanytinsley.com/ You can follow Brittany on Instagram at @brittanytinsleywrites.Learn more about Speak Out Loud and Stacee's mission to share hope for those who struggle with mental health at www.speakoutloud.me.You can follow Stacee and Speak Out Loud on social media @speakoutloud.me

We are so pleased to share this episode with our new friends, Pam Kanaly and Mel Hiett of Arise Single Moms! Born out of her own experience as a single mother, Pam founded Arise Single Moms over 20 years ago in Oklahoma and their influence has spread across the United States. After a career in youth ministry, Mel serves with Pam as the Project Development Director for Arise. Born out of their personal journeys as single mothers and also out of their years of experience, Pam and Mel in this episode share the 5 things single moms must know.The stresses of single parenthood can be extreme and can impact mental health for both moms and their kids. Pam and Mel share resources to both support mental health and to also help single moms navigate the unique challenges they face.Arise Single Moms offers support groups in multiple states, virtual connections and resources, opportunities for connection and community and so much more. Learn more about all the resources Arise Single Moms has to offer at https://www.arisesinglemoms.com/. You can also check out their library of topics and content available on the Arise Single Momcast via their website or on your favorite podcast platform. Check out Stacee and Doug's interviews with the Arise Single Momcast - May 9 2025 episode titled "Suffering Well - A True Story of Faith and Mental Illness" and their June 27, 2025 episode titled "When Mental Illness Hits Home."Learn more about Stacee and Doug and the resources offered by Speak Out Loud at speakoutloud.me.The mission of Speak Out Loud is to share hope and encouragement for those who struggle with mental health and for those who love and support the. Let's experience hope together!

It's no secret teenagers today are facing a mental health crisis. Anxiety, depression, self-harming behaviors and other difficult mental health challenges are now part of the minefield tweens and teens and their parents have to navigate almost daily in the teenage experience.We are so grateful for long-time friend Amanda Wright and her daughter, Kinzley, joining us today to talk about these mental health challenges for teen girls often brought on by experiencing adolescence in the world of social media, smart phones and constant connectedness. Amanda shares great insights and encouragement for parents of teens, and Kinzley brings her unique perspective as a middle schooler encountering these challenges. Amanda and Kinzley's depth, wisdom and most of all hope for tweens and teens and their parents will encourage you and your family. This episode is for parents, teens and anyone who cares about teenagers and helping them navigate these years that are filled with epidemic levels of anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges for so many young women. Speak Out Loud is committed to sharing hope and encouragement for those who struggle with mental health and for those who love and support them. Through the Speak Out Loud platform, Stacee and her husband, Doug, share out of the middle of Stacee's lengthy mental illness recovery journey through numerous platforms - including our new Youtube platform - subscribe to the Speak Out Loud channel today  @speakoutloudme  .To hear more of Amanda's incredible story shared on the Messy Table podcast, click the link below or search for episode 129 on the Messy Table podcast on your favorite podcast platform.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-129-amanda-wright-unplanned-mercies/id1210604687?i=1000586273400Amanda also shared this beautiful reading of 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 from the Message translation - we hope you are encouraged by this like we were:"So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, MSG)To learn more about the resources offered by Speak Out Loud, please visit speakoutloud.me.You can also follow Speak Out Loud on social media @speakoutloud.me.You can purchase Stacee's books at the following links below:The Boat that Wouldn't Sink: A Memoir https://a.co/d/9eY2WXgYou Are Worth Saving, Letters of Hope from a Desperate Heart https://a.co/d/b7KKNDICheck out Speak Out Loud's free devotional resource on the YouVersion Bible App titled "Hope for those Struggling with Mental Health." We invite you to follow Speak Out Loud - let's experience hope together!

In April of 2025, we launched the Speak Out Loud YouTube Channel, and as part of introducing ourself to a new audience on this platform, we've gone back to share our story and the story of Speak Out Loud.We are not therapists of doctors, but we do feel like we are experts in authentically sharing our story and the hard-learned lessons of living many years in the ups and downs of our mental illness recovery journey.This episode is part 2 of our story, picking up with the mental health crisis that changed the trajectory of our lives and has shaped much of our years since then. In this episode, we share about our first experience with a mental hospital, the early seasons of outpatient treatment and seasons of what felt at best like "treading water." Stacee shares the transformational conversation and story which led to her 4 month inpatient treatment program for anorexia at the Laureate Eating Disorder program. This conversation also became the title of her first book, You Are Worth Saving. We share lessons learned such as recovery is not linear, denial is the opposite of hope, and resilience is the master skill. We also share about the founding of Speak Out Loud and how Speak Out Loud has continued to expand its platform to share hope with wider audiences around the world. As you listen to our story, we think you may find pieces of your own, and our purpose is for you to know you are not alone in your or your loved one's mental illness struggle.Psalm 118:17 says, "I will not die but live and will proclaim what the Lord has done." This is Stacee's life verse and the heart of Speak Out Loud. Let's experience hope together!To find out more about Stacee and Doug and Speak Out Loud, please visit www.speakoutloud.me.We invite you to visit and subscribe to our new YouTube Channel which can be found @speakoutloudme.Follow Stacee and Speak Out Loud on both Instagram and Facebook @speakoutloud.meOther resources offered by Speak Out Loud: Find both of Stacee's books, You Are Worth Saving and The Boat that Wouldn't Sink on Amazon.You can access our free 5-day devotional series in the YouVersion Bible app by searching in the app for the Bible Plan titled "Hope for those Struggling with Mental Health."Thanks everyone for listening today!

In April of 2025, we launched the Speak Out Loud YouTube Channel, and as part of introducing ourself to a new audience on this platform, we've gone back to share our story and the story of Speak Out Loud.We are not therapists of doctors, but we do feel like we are experts in authentically sharing our story and the hard-learned lessons of living many years in the ups and downs of our mental illness recovery journey.In this episode, we go back and share again about the beginnings of Stacee's mental illness journey, how we came together as a couple in college, the many mistakes we've made along the way, and what led to a mental health crisis through which God thankfully rescued Stacee's life.As you listen to our story, we think you may find pieces of your own, and our purpose is for you to know you are not alone in your or your loved one's mental illness struggle.Psalm 118:17 says, "I will not die but live and will proclaim what the Lord has done." This is Stacee's life verse and the heart of Speak Out Loud. Let's experience hope together!We wrap up today's episode by sharing the crisis events which we look back and realize were the beginning of our recovery journey. Next week's episode will share part 2 of our story and how that recovery journey has played out and led to the creation of Speak Out Loud. To find out more about Stacee and Doug and Speak Out Loud, please visit www.speakoutloud.me.We invite you to visit and subscribe to our new YouTube Channel which can be found @speakoutloudme.Follow Stacee and Speak Out Loud on both Instagram and Facebook @speakoutloud.meOther resources offered by Speak Out Loud: Find both of Stacee's books, You Are Worth Saving and The Boat that Wouldn't Sink on Amazon.You can access our free 5-day devotional series in the YouVersion Bible app by searching in the app for the Bible Plan titled "Hope for those Struggling with Mental Health."Thanks everyone for listening today!

As part of the National Eating Disorders Awareness week (February 24-March 2), Stacee and Doug interview Rebel Buersmeyer, LMFT, therapist and current President of the Oklahoma Eating Disorders Association. Eating Disorders are complex illnesses impacting over 28 million Americans and their families during the course of their lifetime. Eating disorders have the 2nd highest mortality rate of mental health conditions and affect people regardless of gender, race, body-style, age, or socio-economic background. In this personal and vulnerable conversation, Rebel shares information, insights and guidance for those struggling or wondering if they are struggling with an eating disorder. For those battling eating disorders and/or disordered eating, Rebel's knowledge and insights provide both help and hope that recovery is possible! Stacee transparently shares from her personal and ongoing anorexia recovery journey, connecting with listeners in the struggle and sharing about the hard and authentic work that can strengthen recovery. Doug is also able to share some hard-learned lessons as the spouse of someone diagnosed with an eating disorder - if you love someone struggling with an eating disorder, this episode is an opportunity to grow your understanding, empathy and support for your loved one's battle. Speak Out Loud exists to share hope and encouragement for those struggling with mental illness and for those who love and support them. There is hope for the eating disorder journey - we invite you to listen and join us in experiencing hope together!Resources Mentioned in the Episode:To access the Eating Disorder screening tool which Rebel mentions in this episode, please visit: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/screening-tool/To learn more about Eating Disorders and resources for finding help in Oklahoma, please visit the Oklahoma Eating Disorders Association website at https://www.okeatingdisorders.org/To learn more about or to contact Rebel and her practice, Family Solutions Counseling, located in Central Oklahoma please visit https://familysolutionsok.com/about/rebel-buersmeyer/Resources from Speak Out Loud:You can learn more about Stacee and Doug and Speak Out Loud at www.speakoutloud.meFollow Stacee and Speak Out Loud on Instagram and Facebook @speakoutloud.meOrder Stacee's latest book, The Boat That Wouldn't Sink on Amazon: https://a.co/d/cdhvMb6You can access Stacee and Doug's free 5-day devotional resource, "Hope for those Struggling with Mental Health," on the YouVersion Bible App at http://bible.com/r/AC8

Borderline Personality Disorder  - a painful and often misunderstood diagnosis.  Often born out of intense and/or lengthy experiences of trauma and lack of secure attachment, for those who suffer, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) can be a source of great pain, fear, and mental and emotional instability.  For those who love someone struggling with BPD, it can feel like there's a "hole in the bucket," draining away the energy, trust and love they've poured into their relationship with the one they love.In this encore presentation of one of Speak Out Loud's most powerful episodes, frequent guest and friend, Phoebe Barron (LPC) interviews Stacee about her diagnosis and struggle with Borderline Personality Disorder and the daily mental and emotional turmoil, exhaustion, and loneliness it creates.  Doug provides some lessons learned through the years of Stacee and their family living with this diagnosis along with professional information and insights from Phoebe's perspective as a LPC.  There's no one we'd trust to help guide this deeply vulnerable conversation than Phoebe.  For those walking a journey with BPD and for those who love them, you will connect with this conversation and Stacee's experience, you will grow in empathy and compassion for those who suffer, and you'll hear from Stacee and Phoebe how there is hope, hope even in spite of the pain and struggle Borderline Personality Disorder creates.  Phoebe Barron is a LPC and a practicing therapist in greater Oklahoma City - you can find her online at phoebebarron.com and on Instagram @phoebekate.Learn more about Stacee and Doug and all things Speak Out Loud at www.speakoutloud.me.  You can follow Stacee on Instagram and Facebook @speakoutloud.me. Stacee's latest book, The Boat That Wouldn't Sink: A Memoir, is now available on Amazon.

What do you do when you come to the end of your rope - when you come to end of your own capacity to make life work apart from God? In this encore presentation, a shared experience and connection bring Doug and special guest, Morgan Snyder of Become Good Soil and author of Becoming a King, together for a conversation about carrying hope for a spouse in a mental health crisis. Doug and Morgan's conversation focuses on how the most difficult experiences can reveal our broken places and open a doorway for God to begin to heal and grow us into men better equipped to love and strive for those God has entrusted to our care. For those who struggle with mental health and for those who love and support them, there's something for everyone in this episode. Special thanks to Morgan for so freely giving of his time, experience, wisdom and love for God and others in this episode! Morgan Snyder is a grateful husband of over 20 years and a proud father of a wildly creative and witty daughter and a joyful and passionate son. He serves as a strategist, entrepreneur, teacher, writer, and speaker. His passion is to both be shaped by and shape the men and women who are shaping the kingdom of God. In 2010, he established ⁠BecomeGoodSoil⁠, a fellowship of leaders whose global reach offers guidance for the narrow road of becoming the kind of person to whom God can confidently entrust the care of his kingdom. Morgan formerly served on the executive leadership team at Wild at Heart and has contended for the wholeheartedness of men and women alongside John and Stasi Eldredge for more than two decades. He has led over a decade of Become Good Soil Intensives and sold out Wild at Heart men’s events across the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, and Australia. Morgan goes off the grid every chance he gets, whether bowhunting in the Colorado wilderness or choosing the adventurous life with his greatest treasures: his wife, Cherie; his son, Joshua; and his daughter, Abigail. You can learn more about Morgan, the Become Good Soil podcast, and the resources he offers at becomegoodsoil.com. His book, Becoming a King: The Path to Restoring the Heart of a Man, was published in 2020 and can be found most places books are sold. As Morgan mentions in this episode, you can access resources for the Becoming a King retreat at becomingakingretreat.com. You can learn more about Doug and Stacee Goetzinger and their mental illness recovery journey at their website, speakoutloud.me, including information on Stacee's two books The Boat that Wouldn't Sink & You Are Worth Saving, speaking resources, and access to all episodes of The Speak Out Loud podcast. The Speak Out Loud podcast is sharing hope and encouragement for those who struggle with mental illness and for those who love and support them. Let's experience hope together!

Today's release is an encore presentation of one the most difficult episodes and topics to record for Stacee and Doug.  For Stacee, this topic and story is deeply vulnerable, personal, painful and still tough to talk about. The topic of self-harm continues to be a struggle for many, and the content is this episode is relevant for those who may struggle and for those who love and support them. In this episode Doug interviews both Stacee and friend and LPC Deanna James on the topic of cutting and self-harm.  Stacee has written a chapter in her book, You Are Worth Saving, on cutting, but this hour+ episode is the most in depth she has publicly spoken about her personal struggle with cutting and self-harm.   Along with Stacee's personal experience and insight, LPC Deanna James brings professional knowledge, insight and guidance for those who may struggle with self-harm and for parents, loved ones and friends of someone who struggles.   In this episode, Stacee and Deanna help to bring light to the following topics and questions: *Is there a connection between self-harm and suicide? *Signs to look for that may indicate a loved one or friend is struggling with cutting or other forms of self-harm *How to start a conversation with someone you care about who may be struggling with self-harm *Why some turn to self-harm as part of their mental illness journey *Creating boundaries and safe-guards for a child or loved-one who struggles with cutting or other forms of self-harm *How someone struggling with hurting themselves can begin to find help and some steps they can begin to take even before meeting with a therapist *Hope and encouragement for those facing this battle and for those who love them We recognize this conversation and topic can be triggering for individuals struggling with self-harm,  Stacee and Deanna navigate their personal and professional experience with this struggle with honest and vulnerable conversation without providing graphic descriptions of self-harm behaviors.   Self-harm thrives in secrecy and shame, and its power is greatly weakened once it's brought into the light.  Hope and help are available and possible for those struggling with self-harm. **For anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts or experiencing a mental health crisis, call 988 for immediate help. To learn more about Deanna and her practice, visit DeannaJamescounseling.com. You can connect with Stacee and Doug and learn more their mental illness and recovery journey and their mission to bring hope to those struggling with mental health and to those who love and support them by following on social media channels @speakoutloud.me and at their websited www.speakoutloud.me.

Can joy and peace be  experienced while battling depression and anxiety? Can we know God loves us even as we suffer? Has God abandoned or rejected me because I struggle with mental illness?   In this encore presentation, Stacee and Doug dive into these questions and more as they share a vulnerable and authentic conversation about following Jesus while living with mental illness. God knows your mind and heart intimately - all of the good, the whole and the broken parts. He loves you with all of your pain and struggle, not just in spite of it.  Stacee shares about the challenge of overcoming her past, her pain, and the ongoing impacts of mental illness to know and believe God truly loves her - even on the dark, fearful, and overwhelmingly anxious days. God's love, joy, peace and hope are not only reserved for when your recovery is finished but are gifts of God to be experienced on the journey.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5) 

In today's encore presentation of the Speak Out Loud podcast, Stacee and Doug share an interview with friend and LPC Phoebe Barron on the impacts and pain of trauma, felt even many years after its original source and cause. Trauma.... it sounds so extreme. And to those who experience trauma's pain and power, it can be just that daunting. Through this interview with LPC and trauma specialist Phoebe Barron, Stacee and Doug hope to start the conversation to begin the healing process. Getting help and finding hope are possible for the impacts of trauma in your life or the life of a loved one or friend! Trauma can be experienced in an instant or be the result of long periods of hurt or neglect. It can be recent, or it can be buried in your past. Overcoming trauma's impact and influence almost always requires walking the recovery journey with someone else - to bring it into the light and remove its power from your life. As you listen to today's episode, we believe you'll hear both information and resources on dealing with your or a loved one's trauma, and you'll be encouraged in knowing you are not walking this journey alone. You can find and follow today's guest, Phoebe Barron, on Instagram @phoebekatebarron. Her private counseling practice is located in Bethany, OK. You can follow Speak Out Loud on both Instagram and Facebook @speakoutloud.me or visit our website at speakoutloud.me.

For the next several weeks we are pleased to present several "Encore" presentations of past Speak Out Loud episodes! This week, we are going back to the early releases of Speak Out Loud with a re-release of episode 4, "Finding Hope in the Darkness of Depression." "Depression can feel like you are swimming with all your clothes on- like you are being overwhelmed and drug under and that it's impossible to get back to the surface" (Stacee). In this episode, Stacee and Doug talk candidly about the overwhelming power of depression and its impact on their life, marriage and family. The battle with depression is an ongoing medical challenge, but Stacee and Doug help to bring deeper understanding out of their experience of this illness and talk about finding help and hope in the darkest of days. If you struggle with depression, you'll connect with Stacee's story. For those who love someone battling this disease, Doug's lessons learned the hard way help to bring a deeper compassion for your loved one or friend. There is hope to be found in the dark tunnel of depression!  Together we can build a community of hope and encouragement for those who battle depression and struggle with mental health and for those who love and support them.

In this episode, Stacee and Doug dive into some of the topics and themes in Stacee's new book, The Boat That Wouldn't Sink. Forgiveness, loss, recovery and the impact of breaking cycles of brokenness and abuse are covered in this book as they form the story of Stacee's ongoing mental illness recovery journey and this memoir. As Stacee shares her story from the messy middle of her life and story, you too can find the courage and strength to break generational hurts and experience the hope of planting a new seed for your children and family to come. We invite you to listen and get your copy of The Boat That Wouldn't Sink on Amazon. Also follow Speak Out Loud on both Instagram and Facebook @speakoutloud.me The mission of Speak Out Loud is to share hope and encouragement for those who struggle with mental health and with those who love and support them. You can learn more and connect with Stacee and Doug at speakoutloud.me You can order The Boat That Wouldn't Sink @ https://a.co/d/39PzZdV

In this episode Doug interviews Stacee about her new book, The Boat That Wouldn't Sink - available now! More than a metaphor, The Boat That Wouldn’t Sink is a story of a life shaped by trauma, plagued by mental illness, but rescued by hope. For years, Stacee tried to escape the family trauma which so deeply impacted her adolescence and created the foundation for such intense mental illness throughout her adult life. Through this journey and struggle, though, she discovered that neither the waters of the past nor the present could be outrun or escaped, but only through the love, mercy and courage of Jesus could they be faced and healed. As Stacee writes from the middle of her own story, you will likely find pieces of your own – pain, trauma, failure and despair, but may you also be inspired and experience the camaraderie of a trusted friend pointing the way to your own discovery of recovery, purpose and hope. Get your copy today of The Boat That Wouldn't Sink @ https://a.co/d/6n968yX

This "Best Of" Episode is a selection from a 3-part series Stacee and Doug recorded in Season 1 of the Speak Out Loud podcast talking about Stacee's lengthy battle with chronic anorexia. Anorexia's roots go back into Stacee's teenage years and have been a life-long struggle for which she continues ongoing outpatient therapy. This segment is a conversation between Stacee and Doug about a critical season in her eating disorder recovery journey, entering a four month in patient eating disorder program, and how she and Doug found hope and healing out of some of the lowest points of both Stacee's mental and physical health. This "Best of" segment is from SOL#11, originally shared in April of 2021. The 3 part series focused on Stacee's battle with anorexia is shared in episodes 10, 11 and 12 of the Speak Out Loud podcast. To hear more of the story of Stacee's eating disorder recovery journey, we invite you to listen to the original 3 part series. You can learn more about Stacee and Doug and the resources of hope offered through Speak Out Loud at www.speakoutloud.me. Let's experience hope together!

In the month of April, we're going to be sharing several "Best Of" Episodes - selecting several key selections from some of our most impactful episodes to date. If you're new to the Speak Out Loud podcast and would like a taste of some of our content or if you'd like a refresh on some of our previous content, we'd love for you to listen! Today's "Best Of" episode selects about 25 minutes from one of most popular and downloaded episodes, Episode #41 "Brain On Fire." In this episode, friend and LPC Phoebe Barron interviews Stacee and Doug on Stacee's diagnosis and experience with Borderline Personality Disorder. Often resulting from extensive trauma, Borderline can be a painful and debilitating experience for those who suffer and for those who love them. In this episode, Stacee and Doug share with authenticity and transparency the challenges Borderline has brought to Stacee's mental health, their marriage and family. But they also share the hope and recovery they've discovered and experience along the BPD journey. If you'd like to listen to the full "Brain on Fire" episode you can find it on most podcast platforms - it's Speak Out Loud podcast episode #41, released in early 2023. The Speak Out Loud podcast is bringing hope and encouragement to those who struggle with mental health and for those who love and support them. Learn more about Stacee and Doug's mental health journey and the resources offered through Speak Out Loud at www.speakoutloud.me.

In this episode, Doug and long-time friend, Richard Covington, conclude the SOL Podcast series on the intersection of faith and mental illness. Richard serves as the Executive Pastor of the Heights Church in Richardson, TX. His background includes a Masters Degree in Counseling and over 35 years in church and pastoral ministry serving youth, families, leading missions, pastoral care, and administration for several churches in Texas. Richard has a heart for people and for helping those struggling with mental health to find hope and healing and to discover God's deep love and care for them. Richard and Doug talk about how churches, pastors, and church leaders can help individuals and families struggling with mental illness, why it's ok for Christians to pursue therapy and professional medical treatment alongside their relationship with God, and words of wisdom from years of experience for both pastors and church members for healthy pastoral counseling relationships. Throughout their conversation, Richard and Doug conclude Speak Out Loud's series of episodes exploring deep questions of faith and mental illness. If you've struggled with how to intersect your faith and your mental health journey, if you've been hurt or if you've doubted, in light of your pain, that God loves and cares for you - this episode and series are for you. You can learn more about Richard and the Heights Church at www.theHeights.org. The Heights Church is located at Hwy 75 and Renner Road in the DFW metroplex. Learn more about Speak Out Loud and the resources of hope offered by Stacee at Doug at www.speakoutloud.me. The mission of Speak Out Loud is to bring hope and encouragement to those struggling with mental health and to those who love and support them. We invite you to be a part of this journey - let's experience hope together!

In this episode, Stacee and Doug continue their series focused on the intersection of faith and mental illness as they share a conversation with LPCs, friends and frequent guests Brenda Elledge and Phoebe Barron. Phoebe and Brenda join with Stacee and Doug to answer questions about pursuing authentic help and recovery while integrating faith in all areas of life including the mental health journey. This is a rich conversation shared from years of experience both as counselors and those pursuing mental illness recovery - sharing the hope of experiencing a deeper and more authentic relationship with God in the midst of much mental pain. Brenda and Phoebe not only bring years of practical experience and insights as mental health professionals but also share wisdom, insights and hope from their personal faith journey. If you've struggled with how to intersect your faith and your mental health journey, if you've been hurt because of the path you've chosen or if you've doubted, in light of your pain, that there can be a God who loves and cares for you, we're glad you're here - this episode is for you! You can learn more about Phoebe and her practice in greater OKC at phoebebarron.com and you can follow her on Instagram @phoebekate. Learn more about Brenda and her practice in the DFW metroplex at elledgecounseling.com and find her Facebook and Instagram at Elledge Counseling Associates. Learn more about resources available from Speak Out Loud and how to connect with Stacee and Doug at www.speakoutloud.me. Speak Out Loud exists to share hope and encouragement for those who struggle with mental health and for those who love and support them. Let's experience hope together!

We are so thrilled in today's episode to be joined by friend and mental health advocate, Susie Gurley! Susie is the host and creator of the "Just A Mom Podcast" where she talks with other parents and guests about the mental health issues kids face. Susie's voice on this topic began in some of the darkest days of her and her family's lives but have ended with hope - and that's the hope she seeks to share. Today's episode is a conversation with Susie about the role her faith has played in her family's mental health journey and the ways her family's mental health journey has deepened her experience and trust in God. Maybe you'd had thoughts or questions like the ones we talk about in this episode: I'm a Christian yet I struggle with mental illness. I love God and want to follow Him, yet my mental health is often dark, depressed, anxious and overwhelmed. What should I do? Is it ok for a person of faith to also include therapy, medicine and other professional treatment as part of their mental health journey? Can I truly separate and isolate my mental health from my spiritual life? Does God care about my mind and my mental pain? Join us as Susie helps us answer these questions and more. If you've struggled with how to intersect your faith and your mental health journey, if you've been hurt because of the path you've chosen or if you've doubted, in light of your pain, that there can be a God who loves and cares for you, we're glad you're here - these episodes are for you. You learn more about Susie and follow the "Just A Mom Podcast" at www.thejustamompodcast.com or follow on most podcast platforms. Learn more about Speak Out Loud, the podcast, and how to connect with Stacee and Doug for speaking engagements and all the resources Speak Out Loud offers at www.speakoutloud.me

I'm a Christian yet I struggle with mental illness. I love God and want to follow Him, yet my mental health is often dark, depressed, anxious and overwhelmed. Is it ok for a person of faith to also include therapy, medicine and other professional treatment as part of their mental health journey? Can you truly separate and isolate your mental health from your spiritual life? Does God care about my mind and my mental pain? In this episode, Stacee and Doug wrestle with these questions and share their story and the stories of trailblazing friends and guests as they kick-off a series of episodes focused on the intersection of faith and mental illness. Stacee and Doug share of navigating the pursuit of professional mental health treatment with counselors, doctors and in-patient hospitalizations while also deepening their relationship with God and trust in Him along the way. If you've struggled with how to intersect your faith and your mental health journey, if you've been hurt because of the path you've chosen or if you've doubted, in light of your pain, that there can be a God who loves and cares for you, we're glad you're here - these episodes are for you.

Merry Christmas to all of the listeners and followers of the Speak Out Loud podcast! We are so thankful for you and that you are a part of our mission to share hope and encouragement for those who struggle with mental health and to those who love them. Christmas has not always been an easy or merry time for Stacee or our family throughout the mental illness journey. Traumatic experiences, difficult memories, and unmet expectations (of ourselves and others) can all make the holiday season difficult for many people. What is billed as a "joyous" season for many is filled with increased depression, heightened anxiety, and loneliness. In this episode, Stacee talks about struggling with difficult memories during the Christmas season, and how she has been able to work through those to establish new traditions and new memories for herself and our family. The apostle John beautifully summarizes the entry of Jesus into the world this way: "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5). This Christmas we celebrate that Jesus brings His light and hope to the darkest places in our world and our lives, and certainly to the darkness of mental illness. We invite you to listen to this episode as we walk through this Christmas season together and not alone. May the grace and love and joy of God and Savior, Jesus, be yours this Christmas season and into the New Year. Blessings to each of you our listeners and friends. --Stacee and Doug

In this episode, Stacee shares a conversation with Hope Johnson. Hope has experience with depression and suicidal ideation. By walking through great trials and suffering, Hope has found an immense amount of healing and hope in writing, community, and the Lord’s presence. In this conversation, you will find yourself invited into what it truly means to experience the goodness of God, amidst pain and suffering. Both Hope and Stacee provide insight into what it truly means to invite the Lord into pain. You can follow Hope Johnson on Instagram at @hope_jaazaniah and check out her website at www.hopeunyielding.com. Follow Speak Out Loud @speakoutloud.me and check out our website with multiple resources at www.speakoutloud.me.

In this episode, Stacee and Doug share a conversation with self-injury support advocate, Brittany Tinsley. Through her writing and authentically sharing her experience and story, Brittany is helping to raise awareness and normalize the conversation around self-harm. In this episode, Brittany shares about the traumatic experience which led to her first experience with self-harm, the behavior "turning the tables" and becoming an out of control part of her life, and her journey of finding help and living in authentic recovery. Brittany and Stacee both shine light into this struggle which thrives in the darkness of our secrets and hidden world. As difficult and scary as it may be for both those who struggle with self-harm and for those who love them, having the courage to bring this struggle out of the darkness and into the light of conversation is the beginning of experiencing hope and finding true relief. Brittany and Stacee share insights and experience on live in recoverying and encouragement for those who love someone struggling with self-harm. Brittany Tinsley is a wife, a mom, a writer, and one walking the self-harm recovery journey. You can find Brittany and her writing on Instagram @brittanytinselywrites and at brittanytinsley.substack.com. Learn more about Stacee and Doug's mission to share hope and encouragement for those who struggle with mental health and for those who love and support them at www.speakoutloud.me and on Instagram @speakoutloud.me.

An eating disorder is a severe mental health condition characterized by abnormal eating habits and a preoccupation with food, weight, and body image. People with eating disorders often have a distorted perception of their body shape or weight and may engage in extreme behaviors related to food, eating, and exercise. Ultimately, individuals with eating disorders need professional help, as treatment typically involves a combination of therapy, nutritional counseling, and sometimes medication. In this episode, Stacee and Doug are joined by Gracie Evans and Rebecca Brumm, who along with Sarah King, form Whole Hive Counseling in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Whole Hive Counseling focuses on creating a space for individuals to find healing while providing authentic, expert therapy. Both women are exceptionally passionate and trained to walk with struggling individuals and families surrounding them. Along with counseling services provided, Whole Hive also offers a resource and coaching program called "Parenting Through Eating Disorders." These resources and contact information for Eating Disorder treatment can be found at their website and at the link below. This episode blends education and hope for both those who struggle with an eating disorder and those who love them. Check out resources at Whole Hive Counseling: ⁠Whole Hive Counseling ⁠ Follow Speak Out Loud on Instagram: @speakoutloud.me Check out our Website: Speak Out Loud Order Stacee's newest book: You Are Worth Saving Website Mention: National Eating Disorder Association - www.Nationaleatingdisorders.org Additional Resource: Oklahoma Eating Disorder Association - www.okeatingdisorders.org

Eating disorders are complex and severe mental health conditions characterized by disturbed eating habits, distorted body weight, and shape perceptions. People of all genders, ages, and backgrounds can be affected. Among the many variations of eating disorders, recovery from an eating disorder is a challenging journey that requires time, support, and patience. In this episode, our Social Media Manager, Alex Davis, joins us to share a piece of her story with a 15-year eating disorder. She discusses the impact of her struggle on her mind, heart, and body. Alex, Stacee and Doug talk through various aspects of finding healing in the Lord, working through one’s trauma in differing forms of therapy, and how one might continue to walk boldly into healing. This is an incredibly insightful and moving episode. We hope you enjoy the topics we touch on, and please stay tuned for more! Follow Speak Out Loud @speakoutloud.me Follow Alex & Natalie at The Everything Project  @the.everyhingproject Follow Alex @alexandra_j_davis_ Authors mentioned in the episode: John Eldredge and Dan Allender  Order Stacee's newest book: You Are Worth Saving  

What do you do when you come to the end of your rope - when you come to end of your own capacity to make life work apart from God? A shared experience and connection bring Doug and special guest, Morgan Snyder of Become Good Soil and Wild at Heart, together for a conversation about carrying hope for a spouse in a mental health crisis. Even more, though, this conversation focuses on us and how the most difficult experiences can reveal our broken places but also open a doorway for God to begin to heal and grow us into men better equipped to love and strive for those God has entrusted to our care. For men, and also for women, for those who struggle with mental health and for those who love and support them, there's something for everyone in this episode. Special thanks to Morgan for so freely giving of his time, experience, wisdom and love for God and others in this episode! Morgan Snyder is a grateful husband of over 20 years and a proud father of a wildly creative and witty daughter and a joyful and passionate son. He serves as a strategist, entrepreneur, teacher, writer, and speaker. His passion is to both be shaped by and shape the men and women who are shaping the kingdom of God. In 2010, he established BecomeGoodSoil, a fellowship of leaders whose global reach offers guidance for the narrow road of becoming the kind of person to whom God can confidently entrust the care of his kingdom. Morgan serves on the executive leadership team at Wild at Heart and has contended for the wholeheartedness of men and women alongside John and Stasi Eldredge for more than two decades. He has led over a decade of Become Good Soil Intensives and sold out Wild at Heart men’s events across the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, and Australia. Morgan goes off the grid every chance he gets, whether bowhunting in the Colorado wilderness or choosing the adventurous life with his greatest treasures: his wife, Cherie; his son, Joshua; and his daughter, Abigail. You can learn more about Morgan, the Become Good Soil podcast, and the resources he offers at becomegoodsoil.com. His book, Becoming a King: The Path to Restoring the Heart of a Man, was published in 2020 and can be found most places books are sold. As Morgan mentions in this episode, you can access resources for the Becoming a King retreat at becomingakingretreat.com. You can learn more about Doug and Stacee Goetzinger and their mental illness recovery journey at their website, speakoutloud.me, including information on Stacee's book, You Are Worth Saving, speaking resources, and access to all episodes of The Speak Out Loud podcast. The Speak Out Loud podcast is sharing hope and encouragement for those who struggle with mental illness and for those who love and support them. Let's experience hope together!

Recovery is not a straight-line story.  In this episode recorded on their wedding anniversary, Stacee and Doug talk about rough beginnings in their marriage, the ups and downs, mistakes, failures, and also progress and hope in their lengthy mental illness journey, and how God met them at each point along the way.  We invite you to listen to today's episode as Stacee and Doug share about desperation, resilience, experiencing hope, and about the faithfulness of God in the deepest struggles with mental illness.    This is not a straight-line story, but the good news is that God doesn't need straight lines to restore, rebuild and create beauty out your deepest hurts, brokenness and mess.   The Speak Out Loud podcast and Speak Out Loud resources are sharing hope and encouragement for those who struggle with mental health and for those who love and support them. We'd love for you to learn more about Speak Out Loud - you can visit www.speakoutloud.me and follow on Instagram and Facebook @speakoutloud.me. Let's experience hope together!  

Borderline Personality Disorder  - a painful and often misunderstood diagnosis.  Often born out of intense and/or lengthy experiences of trauma and lack of secure attachment, for those who suffer, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) can be a source of great pain, fear, and mental and emotional instability.  For those who love someone struggling with BPD, it can feel like there's a "hole in the bucket," draining away the energy, trust and love they've poured into their relationship with the one they love. In this episode, frequent guest and friend, Phoebe Barron (LPC) interviews Stacee about her diagnosis and struggle with Borderline Personality Disorder and the daily mental and emotional turmoil, exhaustion, and loneliness it creates.  Doug provides some lessons learned through the years of Stacee and their family living with this diagnosis along with professional information and insights from Phoebe's perspective as a LPC.   There's no one we'd trust to help guide this deeply vulnerable conversation than Phoebe.  For those walking a journey with BPD and for those who love them, you will connect with this conversation and Stacee's experience, you will grow in empathy and compassion for those who suffer, and you'll hear from Stacee and Phoebe how there is hope, hope even in spite of the pain and struggle Borderline Personality Disorder creates.   Phoebe Barron is a LPC and a practicing therapist in greater Oklahoma City - you can find her online at phoebebarron.com and on Instagram @phoebekate. Learn more about Stacee and Doug and all things Speak Out Loud at www.speakoutloud.me.  You can follow Stacee on Instagram and Facebook @speakoutloud.me.

We are so thankful and excited to begin our 3rd year of the Speak Out Loud podcast!!!  This episode is a bit of a look back and also a look ahead - whether you've been a faithful listener or are new to the Speak Out Loud podcast, you are not alone in the struggle with mental health.   After many years of struggling with the silence and isolation created by mental illness, we are privileged to "speak out loud' of the faithfulness of God in this journey and to share hope and encouragement for those who struggle with mental illness and for those who love and support them. As we look ahead, we invite you to join us for upcoming episodes which include a deep and vulnerable discussion with friend and LPC Phoebe Barron about Borderline Personality Disorder, an interview focused particularly for families and loved ones of someone struggling with an eating disorder, a special interview with guest Morgan Snyder, founder of Become Good Soil and the author of the book, Becoming a King,  and an insider's view of the struggle with depression.    We invite you on this journey for 2023 - let's experience hope together!  

In this episode, Stacee and Doug interview Susie Gurley, host and creator of the "Just a Mom Podcast."  Sharing from her own family's journey of a child struggling with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation,  Susie launched the "Just a Mom Podcast" in the Fall of 2022 to encourage and help parents with children of all ages struggling with mental illness.   Susie weaves her personal insights and family's story into each of her episodes while also interviewing other parents and experts in the field of mental health.  Susie is bringing hope and encouragement to Moms and Dads as they carry hope and help a child navigating the hard, uncertain, and fearful world of mental illness.   Stacee and Doug visit with Susie about lessons she and her husband have learned through their family's journey, look back on things they wish they might have done differently but also highlight things they can see now they did right.  Susie also shares their son's inspirational story of the impact he is making for thousands of young people in the Kansas City area through the You Matter Festival each year.   Whatever struggle you, a child, or a loved one may be facing, you'll be encouraged by Susie's authenticity, her vulnerability, and the courage and resilience of a Mom to do whatever it takes to help their child find help and hope.   Mental illness is isolating for those who struggle and also for those who love and support them.  You are not alone in your journey - we need each other and the community the "Just a Mom" and "Speak Out Loud" podcasts bring. You can find the "Just a Mom Podcast" wherever you listen to podcasts or visit thejustamompodcast.com. You can learn more about Stacee and Doug and their mission to share hope and encouragement for those who struggle with mental illness and for those who love and support them at speakoutloud.me.

This was probably our hardest episode to record yet.  For Stacee, this topic and story is deeply vulnerable, personal, painful and still tough to talk about. In this episode Doug interviews both Stacee and friend and LPC Deanna James on the topic of cutting and self-harm.  Stacee has written a chapter in her book, You Are Worth Saving, on cutting, but this hour+ episode is the most in depth she has publicly spoken about her personal struggle with cutting and self-harm.  Along with Stacee's personal experience and insight, LPC Deanna James brings professional knowledge, insight and guidance for those who may struggle with self-harm and for parents, loved ones and friends of someone who struggles.   In this episode, Stacee and Deanna help to bring light to the following topics and questions: *Is there a connection between self-harm and suicide? *Signs to look for that may indicate a loved one or friend is struggling with cutting or other forms of self-harm *How to start a conversation with someone you care about who may be struggling with self-harm *Why some turn to self-harm as part of their mental illness journey *Creating boundaries and safe-guards for a child or loved-one who struggles with cutting or other forms of self-harm *How someone struggling with hurting themselves can begin to find help and some steps they can begin to take even before meeting with a therapist *Hope and encouragement for those facing this battle and for those who love them We recognize this conversation and topic can be triggering for individuals struggling with self-harm,  Stacee and Deanna navigate their personal and professional experience with this struggle with honest and vulnerable conversation without providing graphic or triggering content.  Self-harm thrives in secrecy and shame, and its power is greatly weakened once it's brought into the light.  Hope and help are available and possible for those struggling with self-harm. **For anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts or experiencing a mental health crisis, call 988 for immediate help. To learn more about Deanna and her practice, visit DeannaJamescounseling.com. You can connect with Stacee and Doug and learn more their mental illness and recovery journey and their mission to bring hope to those struggling with mental health and to those who love and support them by visiting at www.speakoutloud.me

In this episode, Stacee and Doug interview longtime friend, Dr. Brenda Elledge, of Elledge Counseling Associates located in the DFW metroplex.  This is Brenda's second visit to the Speak Out Loud podcast - you can find her first interview with Stacee on Doug on the topic of how/when to seek counseling at SOL episode #17.  For several decades, Brenda and her team have guided thousands of people to find  hope and help for their mental health and emotional lives.  Brenda recently received her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision and has a passion for helping others develop their skills to professionally serve those struggling with mental health.  For many years, Dr. Elledge has also been an adjunct professor at her, Stacee and Doug's alma mater, Dallas Baptist University.   Stacee and Doug visit with Brenda about the connections between mental health and mental illness and several key practices people can make a part of their lives to maintain and improve their mental health.  When a mental health struggle turns into a crisis, Brenda shares the initial steps she takes to help patients and those who love them find hope when hope feels lost.  Stacee and Doug share about the pain, confusion, and fear from their own experience of being in the depths of a mental health crisis and, from those hard-learned lessons, what do to, what not to do, and how, with the help of family, friends and professional counseling,  hope and life could be found out of that pit.   God has not promised a life free of trouble, but He does promise you can overcome whatever you or a loved one are facing through him.  "Take heart! I have overcome the world!" (Jesus - John 16:33)   To connect with Dr. Elledge and her practice, visit www.elledgecounseling.com To learn more about Stacee and Doug and their message of hope for those struggling with mental health and for those who love and support them, visit www.speakoutloud.me.      

Troy and Amy Jackson join Stacee and Doug to share a vulnerable conversation about parenting children struggling with mental health. Depression and anxiety are skyrocketing for children and teens today like never before.  When a mental illness crisis occurs, parents and families can feel lost, overwhelmed, exhausted, and not know where to turn for help.   Today's guests know and understand because they've been there and are still on that journey.  Out of the depths of personal experience,  Troy and Amy share encouragement, hope, and some hard-learned lessons for other parents loving, guiding, and fighting the good fight for a child struggling with the pain of mental illness.   Troy and Amy are the talk openly about building resilience, navigating the fine lines between discipline and mental health care, and the fears, the weariness, and the stress which mental illness brings into a home.  Troy and Amy also share about the importance of supporting each other in the journey, guiding children through doubts of faith and God, and living each day with hope.    Parents with children struggling with mental health and those who love and care for someone on this journey will connect with Troy and Amy's story, be encouraged that you are not alone in this struggle, and be invited to experience God's deep love for those who experience mental illness.   If you have a child, spouse, loved one or friend struggling with mental illness, you are not alone.  We invite you to listen as we continue to build a community of hope for those who struggle with mental illness and for those who love and support them. 

Have you ever wondered if your story matters?  Does God see your struggle with mental health and the pain it brings to your life?  Can you trust him with your hurt, your mental health, and to give you hope? In this episode, Stacee and Doug interview friend, Bible teacher, and ministry leader Vickey Banks about finding hope even in the most difficult seasons of life.   Out of a wealth of knowledge, experience, and a passion for helping others connect the Bible to their everyday lives, Vickey visits with Stacee and Doug about God's immense love for those who struggle with mental health and the hope He can provide.   For many, mental illness creates feelings of loneliness, isolation, and questions if anyone really understands or knows the depths of the hurt and struggle. Vickey shares with vulnerability about her own experience of feeling overwhelmed with loss, grief, and a sense of hopelessness and how God spoke to her words of hope and life through the Bible to bring a renewed mental peace and happiness back into her life. If you've struggled to connect with the Bible or have wondered if reading the Bible is for you, Vickey shares practical ideas and tools on how to begin reading the Bible  and to find ways to apply it to your life.  She also shares with Stacee and Doug some surprises which the Bible might offer those struggling with their mental health and trying to hang onto hope.  Vickey Banks is passionate about helping women connect the dots between God’s Word and their everyday lives. As an author, Bible study teacher, inspirational speaker and disciple-maker, she loves serving as Women’s Ministry Director at Council Road Baptist Church, as a LifeWay Women’s Ministry Trainer and as a member of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma’s Women’s Leadership Team. She has written or is a contributing author to a large number of books, devotional Bibles, ministry guides, magazines and blogs, as well as Bible study and discipleship curriculum. Vickey has a degree in Interpersonal Communication and is currently pursuing a Master of Biblical Studies. She loves sailing with her husband, celebrating her people, travel, and getting lost in a good story. You can find Vickey's book, Sharing His Secrets, Intimate Insights from the Women who Knew Jesus, at the following link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1576738930?tag=randohouseinc11082-20 You can learn more about hosts Stacee and Doug and all things Speak Out Loud at www.speakoutloud.me. The  Speak Out Loud podcast is bringing hope and encouragement to those who struggle with mental health and for those who love and support them.  

There are some episodes you record which you just can't wait to produce and release - and this is one of them!  In today's episode, Stacee and Doug interview Caryn Ross (the SassyMama).  Caryn shares her powerful and inspiring story of recovery in her private battle with alcoholism.  With authenticity, vulnerability and humor, Caryn shares about struggles growing up and stresses as a young mother which led  to seeking relief in "Mommy's sippy cup" - her afternoon glass of wine to relax from the pressures of raising two young children and to numb out from the deep loss she was experiencing in her life.  As Caryn shares, her glass of wine expanded into 44 ounces hidden in a Styrofoam cup so that her children and others wouldn't see her growing dependence on alcohol.  Caryn admits to quickly becoming an alcoholic and about the moment of brokenness and crisis which began her recovery journey.   Regardless of the struggle you are facing, you will connect with Caryn's story and be inspired as she shares of the journey to sobriety, discovering the value of community, re-connecting with her faith, and most of all finding hope and life. Today Caryn is a well-known member of the Oklahoma City media as the Food and Travel host for News 9 (Central Oklahoma's CBS affiliate) sharing her famous recipes and unique travel experiences from around the world.  As Caryn began her sobriety journey, she unexpectedly won a national cooking competition, was featured on the Rachel Ray show and in Real Simple magazine and began her career in broadcast media.  Caryn is also well known on social media as the SassyMama sharing recipes, encouragement, and the joy of life from her family's adventures. Caryn not only loves to share her joy of cooking and travel, but she also has a passion for sharing about the risks posed by alcohol, particularly for women, and the hope and freedom she has found living in sobriety. Learn more about Caryn at https://www.news9.com/story/62326868335003072898effc/caryn-ross You can find Caryn on Instagram at @carynsassymamaross and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/caryn.ross.9 To find help in a struggle with alcohol, other addiction, or to connect with a recovery group near you, visit HopeisAlive.net, celebraterecovery.com, or AA.org.  Or find help at another recovery program or center near you - help and hope can be experienced! To learn more about the Speak Out Loud podcast and hosts Stacee and  Doug Goetzinger, visit www.speakoutloud.me. The Speak Out Lout podcast seeks to bring hope and encouragement to those struggling with mental health and to those who love and support them.

The number of people experiencing anxiety has increased at incredible rates over the last several years.  If you struggle with anxiety - you are not alone.  For those not sharing in this struggle, most likely you have a loved one or close friend either openly or secretly battling this debilitating mental illness.  Each person's experience with anxiety may affect them in unique and personal ways, but for those who struggle, it can be suffocating and can rob you of peace, happiness, hope and the quality of life you desire.   In this episode, Stacee and Doug revisit the topic of anxiety with LPC Phoebe Barron.  Phoebe is the first 3rd time guest on the Speak Out Podcast!   You can hear our previous episodes with Phoebe at SOL#9 and SOL#15 which focus on the topics of anxiety and trauma.   Phoebe is a practicing therapist and also a seminary professor.   Phoebe specializes in working with clients struggling with anxiety and the impacts of trauma.  She has a special gift for painting word pictures and helping to describe both the biological and neurological causes of anxiety as well as tools for dealing with its impact.  Throughout this episode Stacee weaves in her experience with this disease, and Doug shares lessons learned and experiences of how to better support a loved one fighting this battle.   We invite you to listen to discover tools for dealing with your anxiety, compassion for your loved one fighting the battle, and most of all hope that anxiety doesn't have to be a life sentence and that better days are ahead.   In this episode Phoebe also provides encouragement and guidance for what to do when someone is facing a mental health crisis.  We've been there, and it can be very scary not knowing what to do or where to turn.  If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis, call the new mental health hotline by dialing 988 for help. Phoebe's private practice is located in Bethany, OK (part of the OKC metro area), and you can find her online at phoebebarron.com and on Instagram @phoebekate. Learn more about Stacee and Doug and all things Speak Out Loud at www.speakoutloud.me.

Welcome to Season 4 of the Speak Out Loud podcast!  Whether you are a faithful, returning listener or new to the podcast, we are so thankful for you and welcome you in joining us on this journey as we share hope and encouragement for those who struggle with mental illness and for those who love and support them.  That's our story, and as we share our story and invite mental health professionals, friends, guests and hope-givers to join us, our passion is to bring light to the darkness of mental illness so many experience. As we look ahead, season 4 will feature episodes bringing hope and light to struggles with self-harm and borderline personality disorder.  We'll re-visit some big topics like anxiety, seeking therapy, and tools for prioritizing your mental health.  And you'll hear some incredible stories of recovery, of finding hope when mental illness hits home with your kids, and trusting God even in the darkest of seasons.   We're so excited to share this season and these episodes and more with you as we've invited hope-givers to join with us to to put courage into (encourage) you, our friends and fellow-journeyers. In this kick-off episode Stacee and Doug catch listeners up on the last few months of their recovery journey by asking each other 5 questions.   They talk about their favorite days of the summer, buying into the Top Gun Maverick hype, getting swept up into the pickleball craze, inspirational podcasts, bouts with Covid, and Stacee authentically shares about the good, the tough and the struggle of her continued mental illness recovery.  Stacee and Doug conclude the episode by both sharing where they are finding and experiencing hope right now. Check out our new website, www.speakoutloud.me, to learn more about Stacee and Doug and all the things they are doing through Speak Out Loud.  In addition to the website, you can follow Speak Out Loud on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe/follow/share the podcast on your favorite podcast player!    You are not alone in your mental health struggle!  Let's experience hope together!   

**Friends, please note that this episode was recorded before the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, TX. Depression and anxiety are on dramatic rise for teenagers and young people.  Pandemic disruption, impacts from being the first "social media generation," sleep deprivation, and higher levels of disconnection from meaningful relationships, on top of the normal emotional and mental challenges of teenage years, are all combining to have devastating effects on today's teens. Dr. Sam and Krissi Dallas are experienced youth pastors, teachers, and author.  With a heart for teenagers and their families, and with over forty years of combined experience working with youth, Sam and Krissi have witnessed the significant rise in mental health challenges for teens in recent years.   This episode is the second half of Stacee and Doug's interview with Sam and Krissi.  In this episode, Sam and Krissi share practical steps for teens, parents and youth leaders for improving mental health and also share from their own personal experiences over the last several years of finding resilience and hope in dealing with some significant health challenges.  Change can happen; there is hope even in what can feel hopeless for many families. We invite you to listen to the first half or the interview with Sam and Krissi in last week's episode and listen to the rest of the conversation in today's episode.  Thank you for joining with us to build a community of hope for those who struggle with mental health and for those who love and support them! Dr. Sam Dallas (DMin) is the Student Ministry and Family Pastor for Chisholm Summit Community Church in Burleson, TX.   Sam is a professor of student ministry and Christian apologetics.  Learn more about Sam and his work with teenagers @ cscchurch.org. Krissi Dallas is the author of seven young adult fiction novels, including the Kindle Vella Production Wish Upon a Streaming Star and the  Phantom Island Series.  Find all of Krissi's novels and more information about her at KrissiDallas.com.

**Friends, please note that this episode was recorded before the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, TX. Depression and anxiety are on dramatic rise for teenagers and young people.  Pandemic disruption, impacts from being the first "social media generation," sleep deprivation, and higher levels of disconnection from meaningful relationships, on top of the normal emotional and mental challenges of teenage years, are all combining to have devastating effects on today's teens.   Dr. Sam and Krissi Dallas are experienced youth pastors, teachers, and author.  With a heart for teenagers and their families, and with over forty years of combined experience working with youth, Sam and Krissi have witnessed the significant rise in mental health challenges for teens in recent years.  In this interview with Stacee and Doug, Sam and Krissi share wisdom, encouragement, practical steps, and hope for teens (and their families) struggling with anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges.  Change can happen; there is hope even in what can feel hopeless for many families.   We invite you to listen to the first half of this interview with Sam and Krissi and then listen to part two of this interview to be published on June 9. Dr. Sam Dallas (DMin) is the Student Ministry and Family Pastor for Chisholm Summit Community Church in Burleson, TX.   Sam is a professor of student ministry and Christian apologetics.  Learn more about Sam and his work with teenagers @ cscchurch.org. Krissi Dallas is the author of seven young adult fiction novels, including the Kindle Vella Production Wish Upon a Streaming Star and the  Phantom Island Series.  Find all of Krissi's novels and more information about her at KrissiDallas.com

Can joy and peace be  experienced while battling depression and anxiety? Can we know God loves us even as we suffer? Has God abandoned or rejected me because I struggle with mental illness?   In this episode, Stacee and Doug dive into these questions and more as they share a vulnerable and authentic conversation about following Jesus while living with mental illness. God knows your mind and heart intimately - all of the good, the whole and the broken parts. He loves you with all of your pain and struggle, not just in spite of it.  Stacee shares about the challenge of overcoming her past, her pain, and the ongoing impacts of mental illness to know and believe God truly loves her - even on the dark, fearful, and overwhelmingly anxious days. God's love, joy, peace and hope are not only reserved for when your recovery is finished but are gifts of God to be experienced on the journey.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5) 

In today's episode Stacee and Doug interview two eating disorder specialists and friends, Claire Gish and Dr. Alex Meyers-Ellett.  Claire and Alex share about their experiences in treating eating disorder patients, keys to recovery, the impacts of the pandemic, diet culture and social media and how Claire and Alex are seeing their patients experience hope.  For those battling an eating disorder or other mental health challenge, reaching out for help is crucial to experiencing and living in recovery. Claire challenged Stacee several years ago during Stacee's inpatient eating disorder treatment to "do the hard things" - a challenge Stacee has taken to heart and encourages others that they too can do the hard things it takes to get better.  Recovery is hard, but it's in doing the hard things that we find hope.  Whatever your battle, help is available, and hope can begin by reaching out for help today. Info About Today's Guests: Claire Gish is a Registered and Licensed dietitian, as well as a Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian and supervisor (CEDRD-S). You can find Claire and her practice in Tulsa, OK and online at www. tastelifenutritiontherapy.com. Find Claire on Instagram @tastelifetulsa.   Dr. Alex Meyers-Ellett is a licensed professional counselor and college professor at Northeastern Oklahoma State University. You can find Dr. Meyers-Ellett and her practice in Tulsa, OK and online at www.yourhearttherapy.com. Find Alex on Instagram @yourhearttherapy.

Today's podcast is a recording of a message Stacee shared recently at the His Purpose Women's Retreat in Oklahoma City. Your story matters, and surrendered to Him, God can use your story, with all of its hurts and struggles, to communicate His love, grace and hope! Stories inspire us, move us and give us hope even in the darkest times. We connect through our stories - you'll connect to Stacee's story of hope in the midst of pain and lengthy struggle with mental illness, and you'll be encouraged to see how your story can tell about the goodness and greatness of God.  

We all need someone who believes in us, someone who believes our story, our past with all of its hurts and pain, matters. In this episode Stacee and Doug visit with Kelly King a friend and women's ministry leader who believed in Stacee and first opened a door for her to begin sharing her story of God's sustaining love and power in her mental illness recovery journey.  Stacee, Doug and Kelly talk about the video Kelly produced several years earlier highlighting some of Stacee's story called "A Love That Never Let's Go" - a link to the video is below - we invite you to click and watch.  Your story matters; your belief in someone else matters. God can and will use you - your story, your words, your encouragement to bring hope and to shine a light on His love and grace.   More Info and Resources from Today's Episode: "A Love That Never Lets Go" video link:  https://speakoutloud.me/media-2 Kelly King is the Manager of Magazines/Devotional Publishing and Women’s Ministry Training for Lifeway Christian Resources. She holds a Master of Theology degree from Gateway Seminary and was previously an adjunct professor at Oklahoma Baptist University while serving as the Women’s Specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.  She is the author of Ministry to Women: The Essential Guide to Leading Women in the Local Church.  Kelly co-hosts the "Marked" podcast which can be found here: https://women.lifeway.com/blog/podcasts/

Life-change begins by saying "yes" - yes to help, yes to hope, yes to God.  Stacee's life changed when she said "yes" to inpatient treatment at the Laureate Eating Disorders Program where God had waiting a therapist, and now friend, who would change her life. In this episode Stacee and Doug interview Dr. Crystal Bowlby and share a vulnerable and transparent conversation about Stacee finding hope and the desire to live out of the depths of her life-long battle with anorexia.   Crystal, Stacee and Doug talk about Stacee's treatment experience, keys to recovery, what family or friends of those struggling with an eating disorder should know, the life-changing impact therapy can make, and finding hope in the midst of the confusion and pain of an eating disorder and mental illness.  Crystal's message to Stacee - "you have suffered enough" were words of hope and inspiration in Stacee's recovery and are now tattooed around her wrist to daily remind her of this life-giving message. Those who struggle with an eating disorder or with mental illness will connect with Stacee and Crystal's story.  Family and friends of those who struggle will grow in understanding and compassion.  Whether your battle is with an eating disorder or another mental illness diagnosis, you will be encouraged and find hope in this conversation for your unique journey.  Dr. Crystal Bowlby has a PhD in Clinical Psychology and is certified as an eating disorder specialist through the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals.  She is the lead therapist in the Laureate Adult Eating Disorders program in Tulsa, Ok.   Visit https://www.saintfrancis.com/laureate/eating-disorders-program/ to learn more about the resources and treatment options provided by the Laureate Eating Disorders Program. To learn more about eating disorders and resources for treatment and help, visit the Oklahoma Eating Disorders Associations website at www.okeatingdisorders.org.

Welcome to Season 3 of the Speak Out Loud Podcast!! Thank you for joining us as we begin another season of sharing hope and encouragement for those who struggle with mental illness and for those who love and support them. In this episode, Stacee and Doug talk about the power and importance of community to overcome the mental health impacts of isolation, the hope of God's promise that His love and compassion never fail (Lamentations 3), and how God enters our broken and messy stories because our story, your story matters. We invite you to follow the Speak Out Loud podcast on social media at https://www.facebook.com/speakoutloudpodcast and Instagram @speakoutloudpodcast!