After more than a year away, The Well Mind Podcast returns for Season 3 with a conversation about endurance, presence, faith, and what difficult experiences can teach us about living well.

In this episode, Dr. Ben welcomes back Emily Kratz, who first appeared on the podcast after winning the Arrowhead 135. This time, Emily returns after completing the SwissPeaks Legend: a roughly 250-mile continuous race through the Valais Alps with nearly 100,000 feet of climbing and descending.

Emily shares what it was like to travel to Switzerland alone, navigate more than five days on the course with almost no sleep, manage the mental demands of an overwhelming challenge, and find unexpected community along the way.

But this conversation goes far beyond ultrarunning.

Together they explore the importance of staying present, breaking impossible goals into manageable next steps, making peace with uncertainty, receiving help from others, finding humor in hardship, and recognizing the role of faith when life is stripped down to its essentials.

The result is a conversation about more than endurance. It is about formation and emergence through challenge, what we learn when we cannot control the outcome, and why sometimes the best way forward is simply to focus on the next aid station.

Welcome back to The Well Mind Podcast.

Episode: The Journey Continues

Guest: Emily Kratz

In this episode of the Well Mind Podcast, Dr. Ben Kohls speaks with Dr. Joshua Mears about his journey in mental health care, focusing on the integration of faith in clinical practice. They discuss the challenges and rewards of working in corrections, the importance of spiritual care in therapy, and the concept of transcendence in mental health. Dr. Mears shares insights from his experiences and emphasizes the need for a grounded approach to mental health care that honors both professional and personal values. The conversation also touches on the establishment of the Soul's Apothecary, a practice dedicated to providing Christ-centered mental health care.

Links:

Episode 5 WMP - Integrating Faith and Counseling with Dr. Mears:

https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/pyZZI3FWmTb

In this episode of The Well Mind podcast, Dr. Ben Kohls speaks with Latrina Radler, a new faculty member in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program. They discuss Latrina's journey into mental health, her formative helping experiences, including community care following Hurricane Katrina. She also shares her insights around the impact of addiction on families. The conversation emphasizes the importance of open communication in recovery and the need to address underlying issues beyond mere abstinence from substances. Latrina also shares her current reading list and plans for a couples retreat focused on communication and attachment.

Resources from Latrina's reading list:

Harlem Rhapsody

Hold Me Tight

All About Love

Surrounded By Idiots

In this episode, I welcome back my dear friend and colleague, Dr. Jennifer Londgren. Season 2 continues as Jenna shares about the experiences that drew her to the field and how her journey to professional counseling was shaped by her love for people and understanding behavior. We discuss the significance of scaling impact through writing and public speaking, as well as the integration of faith and mental health in counseling practices. The episode concludes with reflections on the importance of community support and the ongoing journey of personal and professional growth. Jenna has been a supporter and contributor to Bethany's clinical mental health program from its very inception. I am truly grateful for our friendship and collaboration. Stick around for an extended outro where I share a bit more about our recent collaboration and the CMHC program's involvement at the Christian Association for Psychological Studies International Conference that took place in Denver, CO.

In this episode of the Well Mind podcast, Dr. Ben Kohls engages in a broad and thoughtful conversation with Anita Smith, exploring her journey into the counseling field, the integration of faith in therapy, and the value and joy of play therapy. They also discuss Anita's global counseling experiences, the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in the field, and the need for personal human connection in therapeutic settings. The episode concludes with aspirations for future developments in Bethany's counselor education program.

Summary

In this episode of the Well Mind Podcast, I speak with Dr. Helena Stevens, core faculty member at Bethany Lutheran College in the CMHC Program. We discuss Dr. Stevens' unique journey to becoming a counselor, the importance of mentorship, and the integration of faith into professional identity. The conversation also explores the capstone experience for students, emphasizing the significance of faith in counseling practices and the core conditions that define effective counseling. Dr. Stevens shares her personal challenges and triumphs, highlighting the transformative power of authenticity in the counseling profession.

In this episode of the Well Mind Podcast, Dr. Ben Kohls welcomes Dr. Karina Clennon back to the podcast. Karina opens the conversation by sharing about her journey of becoming a professional helper. Together we explore the significance of time and presence in relationships, the challenges of balancing personal and professional roles, and the impact of 'busy'ness culture on mental health. The discussion emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning, agency in time management, and nurturing professional passion and vitality. The episode concludes with reflections on the ripple effect of their work and the joy of making a positive impact on others.

Previous Conversations with Dr. Karina Clennon on the podcast.

Episode 23 of the WMP: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7bnYOBlNZXnnPy3G6AQDFU?si=TGEIrgI_SsK4xpRETOD6Og

Episode 37 of the WMP: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5F1yssp8w9LSv2spsw3dHV?si=4LeLHcAWRAefdGxIPKDaUQ

In this episode, Dr. Ben Kohls returns to the Well Mind Podcast after a hiatus, sharing updates on his work in the counseling program at Bethany Lutheran College, including efforts towards specialized accreditation. He discusses the upcoming season, which will feature interviews with faculty members, focusing on their experiences and insights in the field of mental health and counseling. Dr. Kohls emphasizes the importance of creating interconnected content and aims to keep episodes concise and engaging for listeners.The Well Mind Podcast email: ⁠thewellmind@blc.edu