Have you ever stayed silent when you knew you should speak up - and then spent the rest of the day wondering why?

In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross, LMFT (#116623) explores the theology of assertiveness, unpacking why so many of us struggle to voice our needs, name our feelings, or hold our ground - and what our faith actually has to say about all of it.

Drawing on the intersection of psychology and Catholic spirituality, Adam reflects on how fear of rejection and abandonment quietly drives passivity, how self-dismissal often has deep roots in our personal histories, and why the call to "Be Not Afraid" applies directly to our relationships and our inner life. He also offers practical tools - including I-statements and the invitation to healing work - for anyone who wants to grow in honest, charitable communication.

Topics covered:

• Assertiveness as the intersection of truth and charity
• What we're really afraid of when we stay silent
• How past experiences of dismissal shape present passivity
• Inviting Christ into places of fear and self-silencing
• I-statements and speaking truth without blame
• Recognizing your needs as God-given

Your voice matters. This episode is an invitation to believe that.

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

What does it actually look like when the Holy Spirit shows up in a therapy session?

In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross, LMFT (#116623) unpacks the role of the Holy Spirit in Catholic therapy - and why God's answer to your healing is always yes.

Adam shares how the Catholic Therapy Center approaches healing from a holistic foundation: body, mind, and soul. Whether it's client-led prayer, trauma processing through EMDR with Christ as a safe person, or simply trusting that the Holy Spirit is working even when he isn't named out loud - every session is rooted in the belief that God is actively working for your healing.

Topics covered:

• Why the Holy Spirit is always active in healing - explicitly or not
• How faith is integrated in a client-led, respectful way
• Using EMDR alongside Catholic prayer and imagery
• Catholic anthropology and what it means to be fully human
• Why God wants you to take real steps in your healing
• Therapy as accompaniment on the road to healing

God doesn't just want you to carry your cross - he wants to heal you through it. Take that step.

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

Can Theology of the Body actually deepen shame rather than heal it? And what does JP2's vision for the human person have to say about pornography addiction, scrupulosity, and the cycle of counterfeit love?

In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross, LMFT (#116623) sits down again with Dr. Anthony Isacco, Program Director of the MS in Clinical Psychology program at St. Mary's University of Minnesota, to explore what happens when Theology of the Body meets the clinical realities of sexual shame and addiction.

Topics covered:

• How scrupulosity can turn sexuality into a source of shame rather than a gift
• Pornography addiction, age of first exposure, and understanding the shame cycle it creates
• JP2's insight that arousal is a physiological response to something good, and how that reframes guilt
• The concept of "use" from Love and Responsibility, objectification, and human dignity
• Viewing addiction as a cry for what is missing rather than simply a behaviour to stop
• Internal Family Systems, parts work, and how Catholic moral theology fits alongside it
• Dopamine research and why persevering toward virtue matters more than achieving perfection
• How St. Mary's University of Minnesota trains the next generation of Catholic clinicians with a full anthropological foundation
• Theology of the Body applied to exercise, fasting, medication, and trauma healing

There is real freedom in knowing your body is not the enemy. This episode brings that truth home through both the wisdom of JP2 and decades of clinical experience.

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