Pastors are trained to teach, preach, and fix problems, but very few are trained to actually listen. In this episode, Dr. Flood breaks down what active listening really is, why nodding and waiting to talk does not count, and how rushing to solutions quietly shuts people down instead of helping them heal.

You will learn the three components of active listening, how reflective listening works in real counseling conversations, and why minimal encouragers, strategic silence, and open ended questions create trust and depth. This episode also addresses the most common listening mistakes pastors make and why resisting the urge to fix is one of the most important pastoral disciplines.

This week’s “Name That Pattern” introduces hyperreligiosity and explains when intense spiritual behavior may indicate a neurological or mental health concern rather than genuine spiritual growth, and how pastors can wisely discern the difference.

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🎙 The Flood Zone: Where clinical insight meets biblical wisdom to address real marriage struggles. Each episode serves both couples and the pastors shepherding them.

📚 Explore Our Work

We operate on the Luke 6:38 and Galatians 6:2 model which means we give freely, bear one another's burdens, and trust God to provide what's needed to continue our work. There is never a cost for anything we do, to include all podcasts, ministries, programs, training initiatives, counseling, and more. To view everything we offer and ways you can partner with us, visit:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠floodlegacy.org⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Pastors are expected to counsel everyone, but most have never been trained how to do empathy without drowning in it. In this inaugural episode, Dr. Lance Flood breaks down the difference between empathy and sympathy, introduces the three components of clinical empathy, and gives you five practical tools for being fully present without being fully consumed.

You'll learn about the empathy window, recognize the red flags of compassion fatigue, and understand the four self-care challenges every pastor faces: compassion fatigue, vicarious traumatization, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout. Plus, strategies to combat them so you can care for your people without destroying yourself.

This week's "Name That Pattern" introduces the Dunning-Kruger Effect and why mastering empathy takes longer than you think.

• • •

🎙 The Flood Zone: Where clinical insight meets biblical wisdom to address real marriage struggles. Each episode serves both couples and the pastors shepherding them.

📚 Explore Our Work

We operate on the Luke 6:38 and Galatians 6:2 model which means we give freely, bear one another's burdens, and trust God to provide what's needed to continue our work. There is never a cost for anything we do, to include all podcasts, ministries, programs, training initiatives, counseling, and more. To view everything we offer and ways you can partner with us, visit: ⁠⁠⁠floodlegacy.org⁠⁠⁠.

📲 Connect

Follow @DrFloodOfficial on ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ for all ministry updates and daily content.