Podcast
The Best of You
Hosted by Dr. Alison Cook · EN
Join therapist and author, Dr. Alison Cook, as she guides you through some of your toughest challenges with wisdom, kindness, and grace. Together with friends and experts we'll unpack the best of psychology from a faith-based perspective. You’ll discover how to break free from painful patterns, mend your past, and discover what brings out the best of you.
59episodes
Episodes
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When You Feel Judged
4d ago00:09:01Tap to summarizeToday's Scripture: Luke 7:37–39 Have you ever wanted to bring something real into the light—but felt afraid of being judged? In today’s episode, we look at the woman in Luke 7 who walks into a room full of people who already think they know her story and brings her whole self to the feet of Jesus. This passage shows us the difference between shame that keeps us hiding and the kind of love that helps us come close. We’ll explore: *Why shame thrives in secrecy *Why people judge & how it affects both the person judging & others *The corrective emotional experience of dignity, compassion, and love found in Jesus Go Deeper: Episode 23: Am I Wounded or am I Sinful? Read the first 3 Chapters of my new book The Secure Soul, when you preorder Connect with Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook Join 80,000+ Soul Menders in Dr. Alison’s free email community for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Neuroscience of Guilt and Confession
5d ago00:10:09Tap to summarizeToday's Scripture: Psalm 32:3–7 Have you ever carried something so long that it started to feel normal? In today’s episode, we look at Psalm 32 and what happens when hidden guilt, shame, or regret stays buried inside the body and soul. I’ll walk you through the difference between true guilt and shame, why suppression can take such a physical toll, and how honest confession can become a doorway into freedom, safety, and deeper connection with God. We'll explore: *Why hidden guilt can show up in your body as tension, exhaustion, or anxiety *The difference between true guilt and shame *What psychology research us shows us about confession as a path toward safety, not rejection *How God meets you with mercy when you stop hiding Go Deeper: Read True Guilt vs. False Guilt on my blog Visit dralisoncook.com/podcast and type “guilt” into the search bar to find past episodes on this topic. Connect with Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook Join 80,000+ Soul Menders in Dr. Alison’s free email community for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Why You Feel Powerless (and How to Find Your Voice)
1w ago00:08:43Tap to summarizeToday's Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7There’s a kind of exhaustion that comes from feeling like nothing you do makes a difference. In today’s episode, Dr. Alison Cook explores 2 Timothy 1:7 and the psychology of feeling powerless. Drawing on the concept of learned helplessness and nervous system overwhelm, she unpacks why you may feel stuck, shut down, or unable to act—and how to begin reclaiming your voice, one small step at a time. We'll explore: *What learned helplessness is and how it shapes your sense of agency*Why feeling powerless isn’t weakness—but a nervous system adaptation*The difference between true power vs. control or over-functioning*A simple, grounded way to begin reclaiming your voice todayGo Deeper:Read the first 3 chapters of The Best of YouRead blog post on Confident Leadership Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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207. Why You Can’t Stop Overthinking—and How to Break the Spiral
1w ago00:52:04Tap to summarizeHave you ever replayed a conversation over and over in your mind? Maybe it was something your partner said. A text that felt off. A moment at work. A look on someone’s face. Suddenly your mind is looping, analyzing, judging, and trying to solve something that never seems to resolve. Today’s conversation with science writer Donna Jackson Nakazawa is about rumination—what many of us experience as overthinking, thought spirals, or getting mentally stuck. Donna brings together powerful neuroscience, personal story, and practical tools to help us understand why our minds loop, what those loops are trying to show us, and how we can begin to interrupt them with compassion and clarity. We explore: Why rumination is not random—and what it reveals The difference between productive reflection and a mental loop that leaves you feeling worse Why social media can trigger rumination so quickly Donna’s MIST framework for stopping the spiral This conversation is especially for you if you’ve ever thought, Why can’t I just let this go? or Why am I still thinking about this? Get Donna's new book, Mind Drama here Connect with Donna here Preorder my brand new book The Secure Soul Want to hear more episodes like this? Start here: Episode 158: Your Pain Has a Name: The Deeper Hurt Behind Distressing Thoughts with Therapist Monica DiCristina Episode 51: The 12 Common Thinking Traps, Mind Reading, Mental Filters, and How To Stop Taking Things Personally 📖 Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here Connect further with @dralisoncook on Instagram Join 80,000+ soul tenders in our email community and receive weekly wisdom here. Don't forget to browse this week's sponsors, who make it possible for us to bring you these resources for free + provide you with additional discounts! Quince - How you dress affects your mood and you can trust that Quince has you covered in every day sustainable wardrobe staples. Go to Quince.com/bestofyou for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! StoryWorth - Give your loved ones a unique keepsake you’ll all cherish for years—Storyworth Memoirs! Right now, save $10 or more during their Holiday sale when you go to StoryWorth.com/BESTOFYOU! *Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Why You Resist the Very Thing That Could Help You
1w ago00:08:55Tap to summarizeToday's Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1–14Why do we resist the very things that could actually help us heal? In today’s episode, Dr. Alison Cook explores the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5 and the deeply human tendency to reject simple, meaningful steps toward healing. With insight from psychology and identity formation, she unpacks why small, ordinary actions can feel threatening—especially when your sense of self has been built around strength, control, or self-sufficiency. We’ll explore:*Why we resist change—even when we want it*How the false self and identity can block healing*Why simple solutions can feel “too small” for deep pain*How small, repeated steps become the pathway to real transformation Go Deeper:Episode 199: How the Body Teaches the Soul with Justin Whitmel EarleyCheck out our new website with all the daily episodes linked. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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When Everything Feels Out of Control
2w ago00:07:39Tap to summarizeToday's Scripture: Mark 4:35–41What happens when fear takes over your body—and you can’t think clearly? In today’s episode, Dr. Alison Cook explores the story of Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4, alongside the psychology of panic, fear, and the nervous system. She explains why your body goes into fight-or-flight mode, why you feel the urge to fix or control everything, and how to gently return to calm. We'll explore:*What’s happening in your brain during panic *Why anxiety can feel urgent and all-consuming*The link between fear, over-functioning, and control*A simple grounding practice to help your body return to calm and presenceGo Deeper:Episode 185: A Real-Time Practice to Help You Return to God’s Loving Presence When You're Anxious or OverwhelmedEpisode 129: Understanding Anxiety: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Calm, Advocating For Yourself, and Cultivating Inner ResilienceEmail your topics and passage ideas at info@dralisoncook.comSign up for Dr. Alison's free weekly email for more insight and resources. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Why Other People’s Lives Seem Easier Than Yours
2w ago00:08:05Tap to summarizeToday's Scripture: Psalm 73:1–3, 12–17 Have you ever looked at someone else’s life and felt that quiet ache—like you’re somehow behind? In today’s episode, Dr. Alison Cook explores Psalm 73 and the deeply human struggle of comparison. With insight from psychology and attachment patterns, she unpacks why comparison can feel so destabilizing—and how to return to your own life with clarity and compassion. We explore:*Why upward social comparison can distort your sense of worth*How comparison pulls you out of your own life and into an imagined hierarchy*The connection between comparison, self-doubt, and over-functioning*Why you can’t “think” your way out of comparison—and what actually helps*A grounding practice to help you return to your own life and God’s presence Go Deeper:Episode 183: The Real Reason You Compare Yourself (and How to Heal It)When Life Feels Unfair (and Why Comparison Keeps you Stuck Read the first 3 chapters of I Shouldn't Feel This Way Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Why You Feel Indecisive (and What to Do About It)
2w ago00:08:38Tap to summarizeToday's Scripture: James 1:5–8Struggling to make a decision or stuck in overthinking? In this episode, Dr. Alison explores the real reason behind indecision and how learning to work with the different parts of you can help you find clarity and move forward. We explore:*Indecision and overthinking*Inner conflict and parts work*Decision fatigue and self-doubt*Finding clarity without forcing answers Go Deeper:Get a guided journal and the first 3 chapters of I Shouldn't Feel This Way here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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206. Getting Unstuck: When Parts of You Are in Conflict (And How to Find Relief)
2w ago00:54:39Tap to summarizeWhat if the reason you feel stuck… isn’t because something is wrong with you, but because different parts of you are pulling in different directions? We all know that feeling: one part of you wants to follow through, while another part resists. And often, one side takes over… leaving you with regret or confusion afterward. In this episode, Dr. Alison is joined by IFS therapist and best-selling author Jenna Riemersma to explore what’s really happening beneath that inner conflict and how to respond differently. Because the goal isn’t to fight those parts of you. It’s to understand them. Together, they walk through Jenna’s simple, practical framework that helps you move toward yourself with curiosity and compassion instead of shame or control. You’ll explore: Why the parts of you that frustrate you most may be trying to help What keeps you stuck in the same inner battles again and again The surprising shift that can calm the conflict inside How to know when to share what’s happening inside you—and when it’s wiser to protect yourself What real relief can look like when you stop fighting yourself If you’ve ever felt stuck in cycles of overthinking, self-criticism, or reacting in ways you later regret, this conversation will help you understand why and what to do in the moment. Want to go deeper? Get Jenna’s new book, Move Toward. Get Jenna's free Guided Meditations and Journaling Worksheets here. Connect further with @dralisoncook on Instagram Join 80,000+ soul tenders in our email community and receive weekly reflections and gentle practices on parts work here. Want to hear more like this? Start here: Episode 160: When You Feel Unwanted—Meeting the Parts of You That Long to Belong with IFS Therapist Tammy Sollenberger Episode 108: Inside Out—Internal Family Systems, Therapy, and High-Performing Protectors with Jenna Riemersma 📖 Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here Don't forget to browse this week's sponsors, who make it possible for me to bring you these resources for free + provide you with additional discounts! Quince - How you dress affects your mood and you can trust that Quince has you covered in every day sustainable wardrobe staples. Go to Quince.com/bestofyou for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! StoryWorth - Give your loved ones a unique keepsake you’ll all cherish for years—Storyworth Memoirs! Right now, save $10 or more during their Holiday sale when you go to StoryWorth.com/BESTOFYOU! AirDoctor - Did you know the quality of oxygen you breathe affects your brain which in turn your thoughts? Eliminate 99.9% contaminants in your home with AirDoctor by visiting AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code BESTOFYOU to get UP TO $300 off today! *Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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When You Can’t Rush the Season You’re In
2w ago00:08:15Tap to summarizeToday's Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1–11If you feel stuck in a season that won’t change, this episode offers a grounded, compassionate way to navigate uncertainty without forcing what isn’t ready. We explore:*Emotional stuckness and waiting*Anxiety about the future*Control vs. surrender*Finding peace in the uncertaintyEmail us at info@dralisoncook.com with topics or passages you'd like us to cover! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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