E74. Caring for the Whole Person: Mental Health, Recovery & Behavioral Trends with Tessa Sterling

In this episode of Chaplaincy on the Go, we sit down with Tessa Sterling, LMSW, LCSW, Clinical Director at Sanford Behavioral Health, for a conversation about what it means to care for the whole person in a time of increasing mental health and behavioral health needs.Tessa brings extensive experience across inpatient psychiatric care, residential treatment, eating disorder treatment, OCD programming, substance use treatment, and adolescent mental health. Her career has taken her from Michigan to Chicago and now back to West Michigan, where she helps lead Sanford Behavioral Health's clinical programming and continued expansion of specialized care.Together, we'll explore the work Sanford is doing to serve individuals and families throughout West Michigan and beyond, including the continuum of care available for people navigating mental health concerns, eating disorders, substance use, and co-occurring conditions.Learn More about Sanford

In this episode, we sit down with author Lindsey Vesnic to discuss her book Raising Light—a heartfelt journey through faith, motherhood, suffering, and the everyday moments that shape a family. Lindsey shares how seasons of infertility, loss, unanswered prayers, and ultimately the joy of motherhood transformed her understanding of God's faithfulness.Together, we explore what it means to intentionally raise children who reflect the light of Christ in a culture often driven by achievement, comparison, and distraction. From building meaningful family rhythms and cultivating resilient faith to embracing the imperfections of parenting, Lindsey offers practical wisdom and honest encouragement for parents at every stage.Whether you're raising young children, walking through a difficult season, or simply longing to lead your family with greater purpose, this conversation is a reminder that God is often preparing redemption long before we recognize it. Raising Light invites us to see parenting not as the pursuit of perfection, but as the daily opportunity to point our children toward hope, grace, and the enduring light of Christ.Get Lindsey's Book

This episode features Lori Kroll, the founder of Love and Lean, an initiative created to honor her son Zak’s life and legacy. What began as grief has turned into purpose—impacting lives, building awareness, and creating a lasting ripple effect of hope and meaning.Love and Lean exists to ensure Zak’s story continues to make a difference—transforming loss into legacy and pain into purpose.This conversation explores the intersection of grief, legacy, faith, and how one life—though gone too soon—can continue shaping others in powerful ways.LOVE yourself and know that your pain is real, but so is hope.    &LEAN on others (faith, family, friends, teachers, neighbors, co-workers, coaches, counselors, healthcare professionals and community) for help, because the more you lean, the stronger you grow in mental fitness.Sign up for the race!Learn more about Care Portal

In this powerful conversation, we sit down with the leader of the Walk for Warriors and his efforts to focus on suicide prevention and mental health through Operation Injured Soldiers to talk about the unseen battles many Veterans continue to fight long after their military service ends.We explore the realities of Veteran mental health — including isolation, identity shifts after transition to civilian life, trauma, and the heartbreaking reality of suicide risk. But this episode isn’t just about statistics. It’s about people. It’s about stories. And it’s about hope.Learn more about the Walk for WarriorsLearn more about CarePortal

In this episode of Chaplaincy on the Go, Josh sits down with Dr. Benjamin Long to explore the powerful connection between mental health, sleep, and a Jesus-centered spirituality. Together, they unpack how chronic sleep deprivation impacts the brain, amplifies anxiety, and disrupts emotional regulation.We talk about why exhaustion shrinks emotional margin, how the nervous system influences spiritual clarity, and why you candeeply love Jesus and still need better sleep and struggle with sleeplessness.But this conversation isn’t just neuroscience — it’s deeply spiritual.Scripture reminds us that God is not distant from our sleepless nights:“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for youalone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” — Psalms4:8If you’ve ever felt anxious, spiritually distant, mentally foggy, or emotionally reactive — this episode will help you understand why rest is not weakness. It is alignment.You’ll walk away with:A clearer understanding of how sleep affects mental and spiritual healthCompassion for your body and limitsPractical rhythms for improving sleepA renewed vision of rest as spiritual formationBecause sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do… is go to bed.Learn more about BenGet Ben’s BookLearn more about CarePortal

In a world filled with constant notifications, endless demands, and the steady hum of distraction, many people quietly wonder: Why is it so hard to hear God anymore? In this thoughtful andgrounding conversation, we sit down with AnthonyCozzello, Lead Pastor of Cultivate Community Church, to explore how modern noise—both external and internal—can crowd out the still, steady voice of God.Anthony shares practical wisdom on the differentkinds of “noise” that shape our lives today: digital overload, emotional stress, hurried schedules, and even the internal narratives we carry. Together, we unpack how these layers of distraction don’t just affect our attention—theyimpact our spiritual awareness, our capacity for peace, and our ability to discern God’s guidance.This episode also offers hope-filled, practical steps for creating space to listen again. From rediscovering rhythms of silenceto learning how God often speaks through subtle, quiet impressions rather than dramatic moments, listeners will walk away encouraged to slow down, tune in, and reconnect with the voice that has been present all along.Whether you feel overwhelmed, mentally exhausted, or simply longing for deeper clarity, this conversation invites you to step out of the noise—and back into attentive, life-giving listening.Learn more about Care Portal: https://www.careportal.org/Learn more about Cultivate: https://cultivateff.org/Watch Anthony's message: https://www.youtube.com/live/IqDLa3tTfnU?si=5pYzcgq6xn16Kf1P

In this episode, we explore one of the most essential yet often overlooked aspects of human life and workplace culture — the power of connection and the profound dangers of isolation.We dive into how meaningful relationships affect our mental, emotional, and physical health, why connection is central to thriving at work, and practical ways you can build stronger relational bonds in your daily life.You’ll learn:How isolation impacts your brain and body — from stress hormones to sleep cyclesWhy humans are wired for connection — and what happens when that wiring is neglectedThe real workplace cost of disconnection — burnout, disengagement, and turnoverPractical connection habits you can start today — from relational check-ins to building safe spacesLeadership strategies that cultivate care, belonging, and resilienceThis episode isn’t just about feeling good — it’s about being well, performing well, and living well in community with others.👉 Download the full talk PDF here:https://fearlessfollower.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/The-Power-of-Connection-1.pdfLearn More About Our Partner:🌍 CarePortal — connecting churches and community services to children and families in crisis:https://www.careportal.org/Whether you’re a leader, coworker, friend, or human being navigating life in community, this episode will inspire you to choose connection over isolation — because we are stronger together.

Our attention is under constant attack—and our mental health is paying the price. In this episode, we explore how excessive digital technology reshapes the brain, fuels anxiety, fragments focus, and quietly erodes our capacity for deep thought and meaningful connection. We unpack why modern apps are designed to keep us hooked—and what that’s doingbeneath the surface.Joined by guest speaker Dave McGovern, LPC, we connect the science to real-life mental health outcomes and offer a hopeful alternative: Digital Minimalism—a values-based approach to using technology intentionally rather than compulsively.If you’ve felt distracted, mentally exhausted, or stuck in constantstimulation, this conversation offers clarity, practical insight, and a path toward reclaiming focus and emotional health.Check Out These Resources: Resource GuideDigital Detox GuideCheck out Cal Newport’s BookCheck out The BrickLearn More About CarePortal

Holiday gatherings are meant to bring us together—but sometimes the dinner table can feel like the hardest place to have a healthy conversation. In this episode/resource, we explore how to create meaningful, life-giving dialogue with your family this season by using gratitude, curiosity, and Dan Sullivan’s powerful Gap and the Gain framework.Whether your family dynamic is peaceful, complicated, or somewhere in between, this guide will help you turn holiday meals into opportunities for connection—not conflict.✨ What You’ll Discover:Simple ways to navigate difficult family discussionsConversation starters that build safety and warmthHow to shift from the “Gap” (what’s missing) to the “Gain” (what’s growing)A practical “Gains & Gratitude” ritual to transform your dinner tableTools to help every person—kids, teens, and adults—feel seen and valuedDownload the Holiday Dinner Conversations Worksheet to guide your table this season:👉 https://fearlessfollower.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Holiday-Dinner-Conversations-1.pdfBring intention. Create connection. Experience the holidays in the Gain.

In this episode, we sit down with pastor, speaker, and author Faith Eury Cho to explore what it truly means to experience friendship with God—especially in seasons marked by depression, anxiety, emotional heaviness, or spiritual wilderness. Faith brings a deeply compassionate and Spirit-filled perspective on how God meets us in our most tender places and how the Holy Spirit becomes our Companion through every valley.Faith Eury Cho is a pastor, speaker, and author passionate about helping people encounter the presence of God in their everyday lives. She co-pastors Mosaic Covenant Church in New Jersey.Guest Website:https://www.faitheurycho.com/Book — Experiencing Friendship with God (Amazon):https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593445570/