Dr. Gerry explores the readings for the Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time and the idea of the "Self" as mediator. God the Father wants to restore the vulnerable.and broken to a state of joy and fulfillment. Christ is the ultimate high priest who mediates God's work to mankind. By virtue of our baptism and calling we are also called to be a mediator…

In this special episode taken from a recent Catholic Journeymen web meeting, Dr. Gerry discusses types of sexual brokenness and how they are rooted in attachment wounds. He provides an activity to re-align our imagination to the truths of our faith that we are to be a gift of self in mutually giving relationships.…

Dr. Gerry explores the themes of suffering and joy in the readings of the 26th-29th Sundays in ordinary time. We must develop 'wisdom of the heart' in order to break free of attachments. Dr. Gerry discusses how our fantasies involve power struggles which despite distortion reveal our true needs. It is in caring for others that leads to joy and glad…

Why do we have unfruitful debates with non-Catholics (and some Catholics) on controversial topics? Dr. Gerry explores the difference between a philosophical worldview based on objective truth compared to a postmodern de-constructivist worldview that is common today. In order to have a productive discussion or debate with someone with a different po…

We all have inner conflicts as we have parts that are polarized. In the readings Isaiah speaks about the blind seeing, the deaf hearing and the mute singing The psalm speaks of the wicked compared to the fatherless and the widows. St. James tells us not to show partiality for the rich over the poor. And Jesus heals a mute person. How can we break t…

Dr. Gerry is back! And this week he discusses the readings from the 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time and the dynamic between following God's commandments and the heart. Jesus says that evil thoughts come from the heart. But he also says that the word of truth is planted in the heart. This leads Dr. Gerry into a discussion of the "self" and the "heart/n…

Dr. Gerry focuses on St. Paul's letter to the Ephesians as he contrasts the biblical message with secular individualism and a great deal of modern psychology's focus on self actualization. Instead we learn that true peace comes through cultivating the virtues of humility, gentleness and patience, and in the end love.…

Dr. Gerry explores the Sunday readings (16th Sunday of Ordinary Time) and discusses how to find deeper levels of inner peace by confronting enmity. Dr. Gerry discusses the way Christ makes Jews and Gentiles into a "new person" and how we can confront our own "shadow" and insecure parts.By Souls and Hearts

Dr. Gerry discusses depression and negative cognitions (lies) that we tell ourselves. Dr. Gerry compares depression to the sin of acedia which is a resistance to the demands of love, and a burden. Like the woman who touched Jesus' cloak, or Jairus, we can heal from this affliction through faith and courage. Dr. Gerry also brings in the important wo…

Dr. Gerry hosts Be with the Word from a dorm at Franciscan University of Steubenville (Ohio). He explores how God is transcendent and calms the seas in our own souls. Dr. Gerry shares some of the things he's learned from Philosophy professors at Franciscan. Dr. Gerry applies the Catholic teaching that the rational soul is the form of the body to th…

Dr. Gerry celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ as he links the Sunday readings and the story of sacrifice in Exodus and Christ's sacrifice to developmental psychology. Dr. Gerry also explores what it means to be a 'good' parent and what it means to allow the truths of the faith to truly register in our hearts (not just…

Dr. Crete continues to explore personality as he discusses the Myers-Briggs personality indicator and the Greek Temperaments. He zooms in on the difference between Judging (J) and Perceiving (P) and how this difference can cause conflict in marriage. Dr. Gerry brings in the Sunday readings and how the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including generosity,…

Dr. Gerry begins a new mini-series "From Ascension to Assumption" where he explores getting to know oneself. Every week he will look at personality tests and models and how to understand our true selves. This week, the 7th Sunday of Easter and the Ascension, Dr. Crete explores the difference between Introversion and Extroversion based on the Myers-…

Dr. Gerry explores the difference between love as described in the readings for the 6th Sunday of Easter and Codependency. Gerry explains how true love is connected to self-giving when it is an expression of one's identity. Codependency involves people-pleasing and needing to be affirmed by others in order to find an identity.…

Dr. Gerry reflects on the readings for the Third Sunday of Easter and walks you through a path for stopping scrupulosity and obsessive thinking. He draws on the interplay between the amygdala and the medial prefrontal cortex as we move from fear and shame to awareness, repentance, and receiving comfort from our great Advocate.…

Dr. Gerry discusses the readings for the Second Sunday of Easter where he discusses what it means that Christ is "begotten in water and blood". He brings in some insight from Bessel Van der Kolk's The Body Keeps the Score and discusses the connection between spirit/mind and body in the healing of trauma. Dr. Crete also suggests that we can allow ou…

By Gerry Crete, Ph.D.

Dr. Gerry discusses the biblical path to overcoming dissociation, surviving suffering, and not being overwhelmed by shame. We are called to name and express emotion and recall our true identity.By Souls and Hearts

Dr. Gerry reads the Sunday Readings (Fifth Sunday of Lent), discusses the difference between Eastern meditation and Christian (East/West) meditation, and provides a meditation about having a new heart.By Gerry Crete, Ph.D.

Dr. Gerry reflects on the Sunday Readings (Fifth Sunday of Lent) and discusses how God establishes secure attachment with us (in Jeremiah) and then asks us to die to self. Dr. Gerry discusses what it means to learn from suffering and how service allows us to love.By Souls and Hearts

Dr. Gerry reads the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent and provides a guided meditation that helps us become more receptive to God's grace. Dr. Gerry also discusses how litanies help us connect with the right side of our brain.By Gerry Crete, Ph.D.

Dr. Gerry continues his Lenten discussion about the psychological concept of dissociation as he discusses traumatic re-enactments. The readings for the fourth Sunday of Lent help us to find the true way to break free from old patterns and sins we keep repeating.By Souls and Hearts

Dr. Gerry reads the readings for the Third Sunday of Lent and provides a meditation on how to stay emotionally regulated. Dr. Gerry offers ways to "look at things differently" and even possibly bring moments of grace to bear on difficult and challenging situations.By Gerry Crete, Ph.D.

Dr. Gerry discusses the readings from the Third Sunday of Lent and continues his discussion of "dissociation" as he describes the "window of tolerance" and what happens emotionally when we go outside of it. Dr. Gerry discusses the difference between normal feelings such as anger and sinful reactions such as rage, wrath, and vengeance.…

In addition to reading the Second Sunday of Lent readings, Dr. Gerry guides the listener on a meditation to discover the vastness of the universe God created and to experience the Transfiguration.By Gerry Crete, Ph.D.

A mouthful, eh? Dr. Gerry continues his Lenten series on dissociation and discusses the parasympathetic nervous system which is how we experience safety. Dr. Gerry discusses the Abraham and Isaac sacrifice story and explains how God wants a new covenant based on safety, trust, and connection. God also reverses the ancient notions of life and death …

By Gerry Crete, Ph.D.

Dr. Gerry discusses the Sunday readings and begins a short Lenten series on dissociation. Dr. Gerry discusses mild forms of dissociation and more series forms (disorders) and connects this to the Hebrew understanding of life and death. Jesus turns this on its head and baffles the wise by showing us that it is through death that we can find life. Si…

Dr. Gerry leads you in a meditation to discover how Christ can be a path to reconciliation and reconnection with Him and others.By Gerry Crete, Ph.D.

Dr. Gerry discusses what it means to be a leper in the Hebrew world and how Christ is the bridge from sickness to health, and from death to life. He then discusses how St. Paul's attitude of pleasing "everyone in every way" is in fact not codependency.By Souls and Hearts

Dr. Gerry leads you in a meditation to experience a healing and nurturing figure from our faith in order to bring about greater levels of healing and hope, as well as a reduction in anxiety.By Gerry Crete, Ph.D.

Dr. Gerry leads you in a meditation to release anger stored in the body.By Gerry Crete, Ph.D.

Dr. Gerry leads the listener in a meditation that invites you to change while attending to our resistance. Jesus is the ultimate empowering “coach” who calls us to repentance, change, and action – but we need to experience His compassion, kindness, and goodness as we learn to adapt in new ways.By Gerry Crete, Ph.D.

Dr. Gerry focuses on the book of Jonah and the call to love and reach out to people with whom we dislike or disagree. God has a message here despite our political, social, and religious views that he wants repentance and goodness for all.By Souls and Hearts

Dr. Gerry leads you through a guided meditation as he reads the Sunday readings for the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time. This meditation helps us love the “unlovable” parts of ourselves in order to heal in a deeper way.By Gerry Crete, Ph.D.

Dr. Gerry discusses the Sunday Readings and how to improve recovery from addictions or problematic behaviors by approaching ourselves differently.By Souls and Hearts

Dr. Crete guides you through an EMDR “Calm Place” exercise integrated with the Sunday Readings on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.By Gerry Crete, Ph.D.

Dr. Crete provides a strategy based on Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy to break through relationship conflicts and unhealthy patterns.By Souls and Hearts

Topic: Reducing Anxiety: A Christian “Light Stream” Exercise Dr. Gerry leads the listener in a guided meditation where he adapts the EMDR Light Stream technique to the Christian concept of “theoria” (vision of the Light of Christ). EMDR is a trauma therapy and the Light Stream technique has been used to reduce anxiety. Dr. Gerry also reads the Sund…

As Dr. Gerry explores the character of Herod, he discusses how our negative behaviors can be adaptive and self-protective. Dr. Gerry ties in the latest Wonder Woman movie (minimal spoilers) as well as the Eastern Catholic concept of epiphany and “theoria” as he discusses how to challenge our own motivations and adapt in new ways through union with …

Dr. Gerry leads the listener in a guided meditation where we attend to the parts of ourselves that are lonely, sad, and/or hurting instead of suppressing them. When we meet our wounded parts with grace, and love, and kindness we can bring them into God’s presence and experience consolation. Dr. Gerry then reads the Sunday Readings in a way that inv…

Dr. Gerry and Dr. Laura Cusumano discuss eating disorders. Dr. Laura earned her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Divine Mercy University and she is the mother of three young children. Dr. Laura shares her own personal journey of overcoming an eating disorder and how that led her into the field of psychology and helping others with eating disor…

Dr. Gerry reads the Sunday readings and provides a guided meditation on how to grow closer to God the Father in prayer. Dr. Gerry explores connecting with God's presence, protection, benevolence, loyalty, security, and how He gives us our identity.By Gerry Crete, Ph.D.

Dr. Gerry discusses what it is to be a good father. How is fathering different from mothering? The "essentialist" position says that fatherhood is universal and biologically based. It also says that without a father figure there are negative developmental outcomes for boys. Dr. Gerry discusses how postmodern social constructivism defines fatherhood…

By Gerry Crete, Ph.D.

Although the holidays are meant to be a joyful time, many people struggle with higher levels of depression, grief, loneliness, and stress. Some people also experience seasonal affective disorder – and all this and a global pandemic as well! Dr. Gerry integrates the best advice from the mental health community with the wisdom of St. Thérèse of Lisie…

Dr. Gerry reads the Sunday Readings in a way that invites you to allow the Word of God into your heart in a deeper way. IS 61:1-2A, 10-11; LK 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54.; 1 THES 5:16-24; JN 1:6-8, 19-28 After the readings, Dr. Gerry discusses what it means to “pray without ceasing” with the Jesus Prayer. Dr. Gerry then leads the listener in a progressiv…

Dr. Gerry discusses the Sunday readings from a psychological and family-oriented perspective. Dr. Gerry meets with Mac Barron who is the author of “Clueless in Galilee” and co-host of the long running “Catholic in a Small Town” podcast. Dr. Gerry and Mac discuss their reaction to the commercialization and consumerism of Christmas and the loss of th…

By Gerry Crete, Ph.D.

As we begin the Advent season of waiting on Christ, Dr. Gerry and Thomas Clements discuss “Learning to Wait: The First Step in Overcoming Addiction”. Thomas is the founder of Zenith Ministries and has a graduate degree in Theology from Franciscan University in Steubenville. Thomas shares his Seven Steps in dealing with addiction which include: 1) P…