In this episode of Extending Branches, Dr. Mike Courtney sits down with counselor Madison Grissom to talk about polyvagal theory: how our nervous systems respond to safety, stress, connection, and overwhelm. In simple, practical language, they explore why we may overreact, shut down emotionally, or feel anxious even when nothing obvious seems wrong.

Together, they discuss nervous system states, fight-or-flight, shutdown, glimmers, and the relief that can come from understanding how God designed us. Most importantly, they point back to Jesus as our refuge, our peace, and the One who invites us into safety, connection, and hope.

Extending Branches is a biweekly podcast from Branches, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people recover hope, find healing, and experience growth through Christ-centered mental and emotional care.

Thanks for joining us! You can find us online at branches.org.

In this episode of Extending Branches, Dr. Mike Courtney sits down with counselor Chandler Coley to talk about performance anxiety: what happens when pressure crosses the line from helpful focus into fear, panic, and self-doubt. Drawing from Chandler’s experience as a former athlete and his work as a counselor, they explore why teens and adults alike can tie their worth to a single moment, whether on the field, on the stage, or in everyday life.

Together, they discuss practical tools like deep breathing, noticing the inner critic, reframing anxious thoughts, visualization, and gratitude. Most importantly, they point back to the truth that our identity is not found in performance, success, or failure, but in Christ.

Extending Branches is a biweekly podcast from Branches, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people recover hope, find healing, and experience growth through Christ-centered mental and emotional care.

Thanks for joining us! You can find us online at branches.org.

Ever feel busy and productive—yet unsure what you’re actually aiming at? In this episode of Extending Branches, Dr. Mike Courtney sits down with Christian life coach Tim Bell to talk about why goal setting isn’t just another performance checklist, but a way to ask honest questions: Who am I becoming? What matters right now? Where is God inviting me to grow?

Using the classic “Charlie Brown bullseye” illustration, Mike and Tim unpack how goals can bring focus, hope, and forward movement, especially when you start with small, realistic steps. They discuss SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound), the importance of counting the cost, and how accountability with a coach can help you stay faithful to what God is building in your life.

Extending Branches is a biweekly podcast from Branches, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people recover hope, find healing, and experience growth through Christ-centered mental and emotional care.

Thanks for joining us! You can find us online at branches.org.

In this episode of Extending Branches, Dr. Mike Courtney talks with counselor Kaci Jacobellis, ALPC, about social anxiety in teens and how parents can help.

They explain the difference between normal social nervousness and diagnosable social anxiety, why adolescence can intensify fear of judgment or rejection, and how social media can add pressure through comparison. Kaci shares practical tools for parents, including staying curious instead of critical, helping teens challenge harsh self-talk, and using “scaffolding” so teens can take small, supported steps forward instead of avoiding social situations.

Extending Branches is a biweekly podcast from Branches, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people recover hope, find healing, and experience growth through Christ-centered mental and emotional care.

Thanks for joining us! You can find us online at branches.org.

In this episode of Extending Branches, Dr. Mike Courtney sits down with Tracey Robison, Clinical Director at Branches, to talk about the hidden weight of trauma and the hope of healing. Together, they explore what trauma really is, how triggers show up in everyday life, why grief and painful experiences can stay with us, and how compassionate support can help people begin to heal.

Tracey also shares practical ways to care for yourself and others after trauma, from staying connected to community, to meeting basic physical needs, to simply being an empathetic witness to someone’s story. This conversation is honest, tender, and deeply practical for anyone who has experienced pain, walked with someone through loss, or wondered how healing begins.

Extending Branches is a biweekly podcast from Branches, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people recover hope, find healing, and experience growth through Christ-centered mental and emotional care.

Thanks for joining us! You can find us online at branches.org.

The only problem with pain is that it hurts.

In this episode of Extending Branches, Dr. Mike Courtney is joined by Bethany Bratcher, a pastoral counselor and Director of Training at Branches, to talk about why pain is part of life and how it can shape us for the better.

If you are walking through something hard, this conversation will help you find purpose, perspective, and hope in the middle of it.

Extending Branches is a biweekly podcast from Branches, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people recover hope, find healing, and experience growth through Christ-centered mental and emotional care.

Thanks for joining us! You can find us online at branches.org.

What if the other rats are faster?

In this episode of Extending Branches, Dr. Mike Courtney and Debi Russell, a trusted counselor at Branches, break down how burnout happens and how boundaries help you take your life back.

If you feel overwhelmed, this conversation will help you reset.

Extending Branches is a biweekly podcast from Branches, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people recover hope, find healing, and experience growth through Christ-centered mental and emotional care.

Thanks for joining us! You can find us online at branches.org.

Prayer or therapy? Faith or mental health?

In this episode of Extending Branches, Dr. Mike Courtney and Joshua Courtney, Executive Director and Psychiatric Physician Assistant at Branches, break down the false divide and show how real healing happens when you embrace both.

If you are looking for hope, healing, and growth, this conversation is for you.

Extending Branches is a biweekly podcast from Branches, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people recover hope, find healing, and experience growth through Christ-centered mental and emotional care.

Thanks for joining us! You can find us online at branches.org.