Join Matt as he opens up a brave and honest conversation with First Responder, Jeff Goodlet, about his journey in healing with Jesus. The world is a stressful place. You can see this stress boiling up in our relationships and on our streets and highways. Mental health has never been more important than it is today. But what if your job is filled with peril and calamity on a daily basis? I have invited my friend, Jeff Goodlet into the studio today. Jeff is a Fireman and has seen his share of horrors over the years. Jeff is a man on a mission to speak out about the power of Jesus in his life, as well as other vulnerable issues that he has encountered. Most importantly, he will share some of the support systems he has found on his journey of healing. I hope you enjoy our conversation and thanks for being a part of When Gathering Light. Peace,Matt

Are we in need of change within our family system?Victoria and Matt discuss change, the risks, the rewards, but mostly open a dialog about the often-vital need for change within our family systems. Every family system has some degree of dysfunction! How do we navigate our own healthy ways of coping and growing within these systems. Is God moving us towards change? Does the life of Jesus offer us a wonderful example of change? Come get curious with us as we discuss this important topic.

*Trigger Warning Episode about dissociation and complex PTSD Join Matt and Victoria as they dive into Matt's story of how dissociation protected him as a child and throughout his life.  Matt models the importance of story work as he unfolds for the listener his personal relationship with detaching from self so he could survive early trauma.  This protective barrier became second nature to him in adulthood, thus, negatively impacting our marriage and other aspects of his daily life.  Matt shares his journey of recovery and offers hope for anyone that has a personal relationship with dissociation.  Victoria walks alongside Matt in this episode as a spouse of a survivor and leans into the hard spaces they navigated in marriage.  Together, they desire to destigmatize the dissociative spectrum and how it's counter-parts amnesia, depersonalization, detachment, and derealization are parts that can be more known for healing of the soul-self.  Victoria and Matt incorporate their faith and personal relationship with Christ into the healing of their marriage.  Below are a few websites and resources for those wanting more information. There are many opinions and approaches when treating and understanding C-PTSD.  We encourage you to seek resources, counseling and support if you are personally impacted from trauma or are supporting a loved one with complex PTSD that is right for you.  Dr. Bessel van der Kolk "The Body Keeps the Score"Dr. Gabor Mate "When the Body Says No"Dr. Mike Lloyd  CTAD VIDEOS - Cheshire Psychology & The CTAD ClinicDr Jamie Marich "Dissociation Made Simple"

Join Victoria and Matt, with their guest Jaime as they explore the sacred nature of grief. Jaime talks of her suffering and the wonders of God’s love during the many in-betweens she endured with the loss of her father. We explore the choices we can make when faced with despair, loss, and grief. Jaime walks us through the grace-filled process she allowed God to take her into and out of in that difficult season. Jaime Blair is the CEO of RAHAB Ministries where she leads others in their mission to serve women and youth who have been trafficked in the sex industry.   Jaime has devoted her legal career to advocating for others.  She represented survivors in court who were impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault. In addition, she is a former Magistrate of Summit County Juvenile Court's Restore docket, a certified specialized program for juvenile victims of sex trafficking in the justice system. Jaime is not only a fierce advocate of those in need, most importantly, she is a child of God. Jaime loves to share Christ with others, and to come alongside those who desire to know more about an intimate life with The Savior.

Hi!  This is Victoria and Matt and this is the second season of When Gathering Light. We want to thank everyone who tuned in during our first season. We certainly enjoyed our many guests, and hopefully we brought some light to our listeners.  We now turn the page to season two. Today we are going to get a little personal and reflect on 2023, specifically the second half of the year when Matt struggled with a health issue, and we fell into and came out of the pit known as a home improvement. As the tribal elder said "we cried, we laughed, we shared." We have some wonderful guests planned in this second season, but first, we feel compelled to share our lives and honor the Lord.  Jesus brought us through these circumstances, offered us some wisdom in those moments and absolutely provided us with new light. Shalom,Matt and Victoria

Join Matt and Victoria as they sit down with Dan McGown to discuss multiple 12-step programs that support addicts and their loved ones. We continue to try to bring the most topical mental health issues to "When Gathering Light". We have discussed addiction in different forms. However, we have not talked about what it’s like to love someone battling addiction. We have invited our friend Dan to talk about the power of a 12-step program built to help find positive skills when dealing with the addicts in our lives. Dan has been sober for 20-plus years and is also involved in a support group for loved ones. Dan’s insights and extensive experience in the addiction world makes him a most valued resource.

Join Matt and Victoria as they explore the impact of unresolved anger and frustration in relationships.  They open up about their own personal journeys of growth in the art of fighting with dignity and respect of one another.  They often wonder how long Jesus held on to his anger before flipping the tables in the temple.  Healthy expressions of anger can be cleansing in a relationship and serve as an impetus of healing as well as growth.

Join Matt and Victoria as they talk with Dr. Rob Miller about his recent experiences in suffering and the personal value he has gained from this deeper union with Jesus. Dr. Rob is a licensed psychologist, clinical counselor-supervisor, and social worker who brings over twenty-five years of experience providing vast administrative and clinical services. His dedication is continually demonstrated through helping hurting people. Dr. Rob has provided many hours of service to families, individuals and pastoral leaders by guiding them to effective solutions and life-changing paths as a humble servant of Christ. In his personal life, he has recently battled cancer twice and cared for his wife as she recovered from a life-threatening motor vehicle accident. He is a father to 4 adult children, and grandfather to many beautiful grandchildren. He is a retired pastor and is in a season of "slowing-down" in his clinical practice as he begins to follow the call of Jesus into a new season of his life.

Join Matt and Victoria as they navigate each other's systems (internal and external) in marriage.  They encourage the listener to begin a fundamental discovery of their own parts to benefit relationships with self and others.   This episode continues the conversation about systems theory and the application of it to our own personal healing journey.

Join Matt and Victoria as they explore with Nick Angelis, the owner of Ascend Health Center, newer mental health medications such as  Spravato and Ketamine infusions as well as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) as options for treatment resistant depression and anxiety.  Nick Angelis CRNA, Owner of Ascend Health Center Nick Angelis graduated from Youngstown State in 2004 and worked in multiple specialties ranging from the cardiothoracic ICU to inpatient psychiatric units. Nick completed his anesthesia degree in 2010 at the University of Akron, because the only mascot more random than a YSU penguin is a kangaroo. As a nurse anesthetist skilled in the pharmacology and administration of ketamine, Nick has worked in trauma hospitals with an interest in pain management and as the co-founder of a complementary alternative medicine practice. He combines the holistic, inclusive philosophy that some of our deepest wounds may be emotional or spiritual with the cutting-edge research and medical technology that Ascend offers. This approach allows him to target the specific chronic pain, addiction, and mental health needs of Akron and surrounding communities while emphasizing our innate strengths and resiliency.For more information about Ascend and the above-mentioned treatment modalities, visit https://ascendhealthcenter.com.

Join Matt and Victoria in a conversation with Sharon Dobbins Alberson as they explore how God meets people where they are at in their search for a personal relationship with Him. We ask, is it possible to find and trust a God of our own understanding as we explore what aspects from our family of origin brought us closer to God and what pushed us away? Sharon is an accomplished musician with multiple compositions of musicals and songs to her credit.  She studied law at University of Akron and Oxford University, in addition to completing her Master of Theology from Harvard. She is retired from her multi-dimensional career, so she can care for her grandson in this season of her life.

Join Matt and Victoria as they continue the conversation with Tish and Nell about how families navigate the complexities of intergenerational stories and secrets. Tish Granville is a licensed clinical counselor in the State of Ohio and specializes in Trauma, PTSD, family of origin issues and the integration of faith with psychological interventions. She is co-owner of Twinpowerment, LLC,. which is an online platform that educates the public on trauma and mental health issues. She resides in Northeast Ohio with her husband and two sons.Lanelle Jackson is a licensed clinical counselor in the State of Ohio. She is most passionate about the treatment of trauma and inner child wounds. She is co-owner of Twinpowerment, LLC,. She lives in Northeast Ohio with her daughter.

Join Matt and Victoria as they interview Tish Granville and Lanelle Jackson about their new book "Daddy Hunger".  Tish Granville is a licensed clinical counselor in the State of Ohio and specializes in Trauma, PTSD, family of origin issues and the integration of faith with psychological interventions. She is co-owner of Twinpowerment, LLC,. which is an online platform that educates the public on trauma and mental health issues. She resides in Northeast Ohio with her husband and two sons.Lanelle Jackson is a licensed clinical counselor in the State of Ohio. She is most passionate about the treatment of trauma and inner child wounds. She is co-owner of Twinpowerment, LLC,. She lives in Northeast Ohio with her daughter.

Join Matt and Victoria as they explore the importance of moving from a choice of sobriety into a life of recovery.  They will draw on their own personal and professional experiences to inspire others in their journey of physical, emotional and spiritual recovery.

Join Matt and Victoria in an interview with Laurie Bohrer as they explore the concept of our wounded inner-child. They will share how to discover, approach and develop a relationship with this part of us.  When we invite God into the places where our wounded child is held captive we can move forward with a deeper sense of healing. Laurie Bohrer, MA, LPCC:  Laurie has vast counseling experience in prison and grief ministry, as well as work with at-risk women through Rahab Ministries. She is passionate about the brokenhearted and is committed to serving the local community through her work at Renew Counseling Ministries.

Join Matt and Victoria as they interview Greg Colbeck about divine creativity. Greg is the artist on "Up Ahead" the intro and outtake song for When Gathering Light.

Join Victoria and Matt as they discuss addiction and recovery.

Join Matt and Victoria as they interview Jessica Smith LPCC-S about Family Systems Theory.

Join Victoria and Matt as they discuss the multiple systems related to the mind, body and spirt.

Meet Podcasters, Victoria and Matt as they introduce the podcast "When Gathering Light"