The Catholic Therapist

Vocations, Fear, & Discernment ft. Emmaus Townsend

Many people get stuck in discernment because fear can disguise itself as prudence. In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross is joined by Emmaus Townsend to explore how faith and therapy together can bring clarity and peace when choosing a vocation. Drawing from Catholic tradition and clinical insight, they share practical ways to hear God, calm anxiety, and move forward with confidence.

Topics covered:

• Fear vs prudence, how anxiety can sound holy and how to test the fruit, peace or pressure.

• Consolation and desolation, simple checks and common mistakes in discernment.

• Scrupulosity and overchecking, why they derail decisions and what to do instead.

• Discernment rhythms, prayer, silence, Scripture, sacraments, and spiritual direction.

• When to wait and when to act, practical steps to decide with peace.

• Vocations in real life, marriage, priesthood, religious life, and single life.

• Listening to your body and nervous system to steady worry and make a clear choice.

Tune in for a hopeful conversation on faith, psychology, and the path from paralysis to peace in vocation decisions.

Have questions? Visit my website: adamcrossmft.com
Adam Cross LMFT #116623

Catholic Therapists: Why "Trying Harder" Doesn't Work (And What to Do Instead)

Many people struggle with perfectionism because they don’t realize how faith and therapy can work together. In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross is joined by his colleagues, Colby and Joshua, to explore how understanding your inner critic can lead to profound freedom and self-compassion. Drawing from their own experiences and professional insights, they share how integrating faith with psychological models like Internal Family Systems (IFS) brings hope and healing.

 

Topics covered:

• The surprising link between perfectionism and procrastination.

• How to view your inner critic as a protector part that is trying to help you.

• Practical strategies for calming your nervous system when you feel overwhelmed.

• The connection between the seven core wounds and the Sacraments.

   

Tune in for a heartfelt conversation on faith, psychology, and the journey from perfectionism to peace.

Have questions? Visit my website: adamcrossmft.com Adam Cross LMFT #116623

Why Certainty is DESTROYING Your Faith: A Catholic Therapist's Guide to Scrupulosity

Many Catholics struggle with endless doubt and checking—not because they lack faith, but because they carry deep confusion and fear about certainty. In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross explores how scrupulosity distorts our understanding of knowledge, sin, and spiritual peace, often turning natural questions into sources of overwhelming anxiety and compulsive behavior.

Drawing from both clinical experience and Catholic spirituality, Adam breaks down the inner conflict between needing to know for certain and learning to trust in uncertainty, sharing compassionate, practical tools for navigating scrupulosity without losing your peace—or your sanity.

Discover practical insights into:

• Why scrupulosity creates the desperate need for certainty
• The difference between healthy examination of conscience and compulsive checking
• How anxiety and doubt disrupt spiritual clarity
• What integrated healing looks like—mind, body, and soul
• How to sit with discomfort and uncertainty while growing in faith
• Why God sees your struggle even when you don't have all the answers

Tune in for a thoughtful and empowering conversation that blends faith and mental health, offering hope to those who feel caught in cycles of checking, confession, and confusion.

Whether you're battling scrupulosity, supporting someone who is, or working in Catholic mental health, this episode offers a powerful reminder: you don't have to have all the answers to be loved by God.

For more information or questions, visit catholictherapycenter.com 

Adam Cross LMFT  #116623

Is Pleasure a Sin? Catholic Therapy on Sexual Shame & Scrupulosity.

Many Catholics struggle with sexual shame—not because they lack faith, but because they carry deep confusion and fear about desire. In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross explores how scrupulosity distorts our understanding of sexuality, pleasure, and morality, often turning natural human experience into a source of guilt and anxiety.

Drawing from both clinical experience and Catholic spirituality, Adam breaks down the inner conflict between faith and desire and shares compassionate, practical tools for navigating scrupulosity without losing your peace—or your humanity.

Discover practical insights into:

• Why scrupulosity creates fear around sexual desire
• The difference between lust and attraction
• How anxiety and shame disrupt spiritual clarity
• What integrated healing looks like—body, mind, and soul

Tune in for a thoughtful and empowering conversation that blends faith and mental health, offering hope to those who feel caught in cycles of guilt and confusion.

For more information or questions, visit adamcrossmft.com

Adam Cross LMFT #116623

Live Interview – Getting Our Hands Dirty in Healing Our Suffering

Many people long for healing, but few realise how deep the journey must go. In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross is joined by Kolbe Young and Joshua Hernandez for a raw, honest conversation about what it really takes to move from suffering to healing.

Drawing from personal experience, Catholic spirituality, and clinical insight, they discuss how true healing often requires us to get our hands dirty — facing wounds, walking with others, and embracing the messiness of growth through grace.

Discover powerful insights into:

• Why emotional healing can’t happen without spiritual transformation

• How community and vulnerability open the door to deeper recovery

• What it means to “let the Gospel rewire your brain”

• The surprising way grace works through imperfection and effort

Tune in for a compassionate, Christ-centered discussion that invites you to meet God in the very places you feel broken.

For more information or questions, visit adamcrossmft.com

Adam Cross LMFT #116623

Perfectly Procrastinating

Many people feel stuck—not because they lack motivation, but because they’re waiting for things to be “just right.” In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross explores how perfectionism often hides behind procrastination, and why the pressure to get everything right can keep us from starting at all.

Drawing from both clinical experience and Catholic spirituality, Adam breaks down the psychological roots of perfectionism and shares compassionate, practical tools for moving forward — even when things feel messy or incomplete.

Discover practical insights into:

• Why perfectionism leads to procrastination
• The inner critic and fear of failure
• How grace and self-compassion create momentum
• The balance between personal standards and spiritual growth

Tune in for a thoughtful and empowering conversation that blends faith and mental health in a way that brings hope to those who feel stuck.

For more information or questions, visit adamcrossmft.com

Adam Cross LMFT #116623

Hope in Healing our Trauma: A Catholic Therapist Roundtable

Many people struggle to find healing because they don’t see how faith and therapy can work together. In this episode, Catholic therapists Adam Cross, Kolbe Young, and Joshua Hernandez dive into the powerful intersection of trauma recovery and the Catholic faith. They share personal stories, professional insights, and practical approaches to healing from a trauma-informed, faith-centered perspective.

Discover practical insights into:

• The importance of integrating faith and mental health care

• How trauma affects the body, mind, and soul

• The role of community and spiritual support in the healing journey

• Practical ways to move forward when feeling stuck

Tune in for a hopeful and heartfelt conversation that blends professional therapy with the transformative power of faith.

For more information or questions, visit adamcrossmft.com

Adam Cross LMFT #116623

Joyfully Navigating Anxiety with Acceptance (ft. Danielle Enriquez LMFT #152199)

Many people struggle with anxiety because they don’t realize how faith and therapy can work together. In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross is joined by Danielle Enriquez, LMFT #152199, to explore how embracing acceptance can transform how we navigate anxiety. Drawing from her own experiences and professional insights, Danielle shares how integrating faith into therapy brings hope and healing.

Topics covered:

• How acceptance can lead to joyful living

• Integrating Catholic faith into mental wellness

• Practical strategies for managing anxiety

• The role of community and spirituality in coping

Tune in for a heartfelt conversation on faith, acceptance, and the journey to peace.

Have questions? Visit my website: adamcrossmft.com
Adam Cross LMFT #116623

Letting the Gospel Rewire Our Brains Feat. Adam Cross, Kolbe Young Young, and Joshua Hernandez

Many people overlook how deeply the Gospel can transform mental health and emotional well-being. In this episode, Catholic therapists Adam Cross, Kolbe Young, and Joshua Hernandez explore how embracing the Gospel rewires our brains, merging faith, psychology, and neuroscience. Discover practical insights into:

• How faith-based practices literally change our neurological pathways

• The unique benefits of Catholic therapy compared to secular approaches

• Real-life examples of healing through Gospel-centered mental health care

• Cultivating emotional and spiritual growth by internalizing Gospel truths

Tune in for an inspiring conversation that bridges the gap between faith and psychology.

For more information or questions, visit adamcrossmft.com

Adam Cross LMFT #116623

Why We Are CATHOLIC Therapists (ft. Kolbe Young & Josh Hernandez)

Many people struggle to find true healing because they don’t realize how faith and therapy can work together. In this episode, Catholic therapists Adam Cross, Kobe Young, and Joshua Hernandez explore the intersection of faith and psychology, sharing how a Catholic perspective shapes their approach to therapy and mental wellness. Topics covered: • Why faith is essential in the healing process • How Catholic therapy differs from secular approaches • Overcoming perfectionism and scrupulosity • Embracing your God-given dignity in mental health Tune in for a powerful discussion on healing, identity, and the role of faith in therapy. Have questions? Visit my website: adamcrossmft.com Adam Cross LMFT #116623