WE ARE COUNSEL CULTURE


A Podcast where we look, through the lens of counselling, in today's culture, to help and equip you to live life to the full, wherever you are.

We believe that everyone should have and benefit from the core skills of counselling that help you do life well, leading ourselves, in relationships, mental and emotional health, work and navigating life….in fast changing times.


Episode 2

How Do You Talk to Someone When: They are Dealing with Depression


In this episode, we’ll hear from different people who bravely talk about their experiences in dealing with depression. Mike- who loved and cared for someone with depression for many years. Chris- a pastor, speaker, author, and someone who has lived with depression himself. Professor Karen Mason- an expert in the theory and practice of integrating Christian faith, depression and suicide prevention. We also feature a role-play of a counselling session which provides practical tips on how do you talk to someone who is dealing with depression.


Previous Episodes


Episode 1 | In this episode, we talk to 3 people who share their experiences and how they make sense of their anxiety in the light of their Christian faith. We also role play a counselling session which provides us with practical tips on how do you talk to someone who is struggling with anxiety.

UNCUT INTERVIEWS
For unedited versions of the 3 interviews with our contributors, simply click on the links below.

- Steve
- Nikki
- Guan



Episode 12 | We explore the blessings and benefits of Sabbath rest are many including; our relationship with God and others, our mental, emotional and spiritual health and living our lives well and purposefully, including through our rest and play.



Episode 11 | The Counsel Culture panel gather around the Christmas table to help you navigate some of the more sensitive and even divisive issues we may be facing in our relationships and families.



Episode 10 | Join us as we discuss how we can stay firm in our faith under pressure. This subseries has been put together to provide a helpful framework for listeners to process the impact the pandemic may be having on our mental and emotional wellbeing, and in-turn to equip us with the skills to live well through it.



Episode 9 | Like a lot of other parts of life, our finances are under pressure, with counsellors telling us they are fielding callers to financial support and related mental health services – many for the first time. Listen as we discuss ways to cope and provide some important perspectives.



Episode 8 | Whether you’re single, married, in a relationship, young, or not-so-young, chances are your relational world is under pressure as a result of the pandemic and the various levels of social distancing measures.



Episode 7 | Join us as we discuss parenting under pressure during these challenging times. This subseries has been put together to provide a helpful framework for listeners to process the impact the pandemic may be having on our mental and emotional wellbeing, and in-turn to equip us with the skills to live well through it.



Episode 6 | Introducing a five part series called Under Pressure. We draw from CS Lewis’ “Learning In Wartime” to help us understand the impact living through a global pandemic is having on us today.



Episode 5 | Shame and the stories we tell ourselves: Featuring Amy Bain and the Counsel Culture Panel



Episode 4 | After the Storm - Part 2 of a Conversation with Kate Seselja on Coping and Thriving in 2021, and Her Story of Overcoming Addiction to Find Freedom and Life.



Episode 3 | After the Storm - Part 1 of a Conversation with Kate Seselja on Coping and Thriving in 2021, and Her Story of Overcoming Addiction to Find Freedom and Life.



Episode 2 | Social Researcher and Author Claire Madden on understanding how each generation is navigating and transitioning in 2021.



Episode 1 | You're in Transition - In this inaugural episode our host Nicholas Marks is joined by guests Shivon Baressi and Max Schneider to discuss why we are all in transition.


Dig deeper

BLOG POSTS


24 May 2022
Here’s What it's Like Being a Church Leader and Depressed
Here’s What it's Like Being a Church Leader and Depressed

Like every believer, I live with a tension between who I want to be and who I am. I press on in living more like Christ every day, but the core of the gospel reminds me that I can’t be perfected outside of his grace.

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18 May 2022
5 Myths About Mental Illness Most Christians Hold
5 Myths About Mental Illness Most Christians Hold

Myths and misconceptions about mental ill health can cause many Christians to avoid talking about their struggles, fear judgement, and not seek much-needed help. In the same way that neglecting physical health can have serious consequences, untreated mental illness can lead to more significant problems.

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21 April 2022
The shortest Psalm and the greatest wisdom
The shortest Psalm and the greatest wisdom

Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible: just two verses, approximately thirty words. The message is powerful, especially for those who struggle with worry and anxiety. Here’s four take-away points from it.

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21 April 2022
5 tips to manage your Anxiety
5 tips to manage your Anxiety

Those of us who have a tendency to worry know what it’s like to feel constantly in fight or flight battle mode.It can leave us feeling exhausted. Here are 5 tips to help keep a check on your anxiety and manage it in ways that have been found to work.

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03 March 2022
The Story of Tim
The Story of Tim

Tim has social anxiety disorder, which affects about 4% of young Australians.
His social anxiety started to develop when he was around 18 years old, which is an age where the initial development of social anxiety is common (in fact, there are two peaks of incidents: 11-15 years of age, and 18-25 years of age).
These are stressful times, and different brains respond in different ways.

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09 DECEMBER 2021
Wait. An Advent Reflection.
Wait. An Advent Reflection.

Near the heart of the Christmas / Advent Story is the expectation that God is going to offer a gift. The head-fake in this Bible story is that, when those waiting come up on or are given that gift, it’s just a baby.

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23 NOVEMBER 2021
Faith Under Pressure: Do you know who you are?
Faith Under Pressure: Do you know who you are?

Who are you? A simple question to answer, or so it would seem. Responses will be […]

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28 OCTOBER 2021
Faith Under Pressure: Where Are You Looking?
Faith Under Pressure: Where Are You Looking?

Where can we turn to? Where can we look during times when we are being bombarded relentlessly, it seems. I’d like to suggest three places to look, if you will, all drawn from God’s Word that will hopefully enable us to move forward even when our faith is under pressure.

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21 OCTOBER 2021
Where Does my Treasure Lie?
Where Does my Treasure Lie?

There are many different opinions surrounding wealth. Through this lens of ultimate truth, we explore two key questions that if answered honesty and reflectively, can serve to ground us in uncertain times.

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07 OCTOBER 2021
Finances Under Pressure
Finances Under Pressure

Due to COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions, many of us may have experienced a reduction in our household income over the last 18 months. Like a lot of other parts of life, our finances are under pressure, with counsellors telling us they are fielding callers to financial support and related mental health services – many for the first time. The following tips can help us cope and provide important perspective.

Read

28 SEPTEMBER 2021
Reaching up, down, in and around
Reaching up, down, in and around

Franekel and Cho’s four-part framework can help couples and families cope in isolation and lockdown, and help mitigate the negative effects on our relationships.

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22 SEPTEMBER 2021
Relationships Under Pressure
Relationships Under Pressure

Whether you’re single, married, in a relationship, young, or not-so-young, chances are your relational world is under pressure as a result of the pandemic and the various levels of social distancing measures. So how do we navigate the next few months in ways that normalise the relationship struggles and equip us to redeem this time in the best way possible?

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14 SEPTEMBER 2021
5 Ideas to Foster Gratitude
5 Ideas to Foster Gratitude

It’s amazing how much happier a home is when it is filled with gratefulness. And whether […]

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10 September 2021
Siblings, Snacks and Social Media
Siblings, Snacks and Social Media

Here are some helpful tips to help you deal with three of the most common issues reported by parents under pressure: sibling rivalry, food habits, and how to safely manage technology use.

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24 AUGUST 2021
Reflections on Learning in Wartimes – Part 2
Reflections on Learning in Wartimes – Part 2

We look into the seven things you can put in place in your situation to optimise your learning and growth.

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18 AUGUST 2021
Reflections on Learning in Wartimes – Part 1
Reflections on Learning in Wartimes – Part 1

Friends, in 1939, during WWII, C.S. Lewis wrote Learning in Wartime. If you haven’t read it […]

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10 AUGUST 2021
A Lament for Overthinkers Everywhere
A Lament for Overthinkers Everywhere

Many of us struggle with habitual feelings of guilt and shame, worried that we are not doing, earning or being enough.

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03 AUGUST 2021
The Two Reasons we Hide from Love
The Two Reasons we Hide from Love

For a variety of reasons, most of us live two lives: an external life and an internal life.

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28 JULY 2021
A Vulnerable God – Part 2
A Vulnerable God – Part 2

The past eighteen months have been such an interesting and distressing time for the whole world.

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20 JULY 2021
A Vulnerable God – Part 1
A Vulnerable God – Part 1

Of all the multiple ways our human brokenness shows up, probably none is more insidious and prevailing than shame. Shame whispers (and sometimes shouts)…

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13 JULY 2021
Baby Steps are the Hardest
Baby Steps are the Hardest

Every new beginning starts with one simple, and seemingly impossible question: but how?

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06 JULY 2021
Guide for Humans
Guide for Humans

New beginnings are part and parcel of all transitions. Those of us who have grieved endings and weathered heavy storms over the last year know that starting again is never easy.

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29 JUNE 2021
X, Y & Z and the Three Fs
X, Y & Z and the Three Fs

Although no one knows for sure what the long-term impact of the pandemic will be, it is likely to have a lasting effect on people of all ages and walks of life.

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22 JUNE 2021
3 Ways to Live Intentionally
3 Ways to Live Intentionally

Nurturing our resilience involves deliberately doing things that improve our ability to bounce back from the stresses of life.

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16 JUNE 2021
An Epic Invitation
An Epic Invitation

Many of us are realising we have been more deeply affected by the events of 2020 and 2021 than perhaps we initially expected.

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09 JUNE 2021
Finding Our Way Through Through The Messy Middle
Finding Our Way Through Through The Messy Middle

It is a difficult time for all of us, and it is important that we stay as healthy, connected and supported as we can.

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