The Christian Clinician cover art

The Christian Clinician

The Christian Clinician

Written by: Dr. Tanya Paynter
Listen for free

The Christian Clinician explores faith, physiology, and the nervous system—how biblical practices impact anxiety, sleep, stress physiology, hormones, and emotional resilience. Hosted by Dr. Tanya Paynter, a licensed naturopathic physician with a master's in Christian apologetics, this podcast connects Scripture with evidence-based physiology to help Christian women understand how our relationship with God shapes our physical and emotional health.

Episodes include highlighting current research around biblical practices such as prayer or gratitude, testimonies, and thoughtful interviews with practitioners, theologians, and authors —all grounded in biblical truth and clinical insight. Explore how to pursue health without separating the body from the spirit or treating faith as an afterthought.

© 2026 Psalm Medical 2026 Christianity Hygiene & Healthy Living Ministry & Evangelism Physical Illness & Disease Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Spirituality
Episodes
  • When Faith Feels Like Duty: How to Awaken Delight in God Again with Stephanie Rousselle (S3E26)

    When Faith Feels Like Duty: How to Awaken Delight in God Again with Stephanie Rousselle (S3E26)
    Jul 23 2026
    Is your Christian life full of activity but missing delight?Many Christians are doing the right things: going to church, studying Scripture, serving, praying, listening to podcasts, and trying to live faithfully. But underneath it all, they feel tired, distracted, spiritually dry, or disconnected from the deep delight they once had in God.In this episode of The Christian Clinician, Dr. Tanya Paynter talks with Stephanie Roussel, author of Awaken Delight. Stephanie shares her story of growing up as an atheist in France, coming to faith through the witness of an American Christian family, and eventually building a ministry around helping weary Christians rediscover delight in God.This conversation explores why delight in God may be one of the missing pieces in Western Christianity. Stephanie and Dr. Paynter discuss chronic pain, migraines, suffering, busyness, self-sufficiency, and the painful but gracious ways God uses trials to prune what is good in order to make room for what is best.They also talk about the “counterfeit flavors” that steal delight: anxiety, guilt, shame, fear, overwhelm, addiction, busyness, and the distractions that can masquerade as something meaningful while leaving the soul empty. True delight in God is not shallow happiness, self-help, or pretending life is easy. It is a deep relational orientation toward God that can hold us steady even in pain.If you feel like Jesus has slipped to the edges of your life, if faith has started to feel more like duty than delight, or if suffering has left you wondering how to experience God’s goodness again, this episode offers a thoughtful and hope-filled invitation back to the joy of knowing Him.In this episode, you’ll exploreWhy delight in God may be the missing piece in many Christians’ faithHow Stephanie Roussel came to Christ after growing up as an atheist in FranceWhy chronic pain and suffering can deepen trust in GodHow God uses trials to prune good things so better fruit can growWhy busyness, anxiety, guilt, shame, fear, and overwhelm often counterfeit delightHow delight in God changes the way we approach our daily to-do listsWhy Jesus modeled delight in the Father by regularly withdrawing to be with HimThe difference between self-help and asking God to awaken delightWhy knowing the true Jesus of Scripture is essential for real relationship with GodThree practices for awakening delightEpisode Timestamps00:00 Why this episode may bring an unexpected “aha” moment01:32 From atheist in France to follower of Christ04:37 Why Gospel Spice began and who Stephanie serves06:48 Is delight in God the missing piece in Western Christianity?07:57 Chronic pain, migraines, and learning to trust God in suffering10:50 Philippians 3:10 and fellowship in Christ’s sufferings13:14 Pain, self-sufficiency, surrender, and God’s cleansing work17:14 The gardener, pruning, and why God cuts even good branches21:32 What plants and suffering teach us about strength and fruit23:34 Counterfeit delight: busyness, anxiety, guilt, shame, fear, and overwhelm26:33 The expulsive power of a new affection27:20 Sabbath, delight, and relational time with God30:52 When your to-do list is not the list God gave you33:27 Why divine delight must be remembered daily39:31 Three steps to awaken delight in God51:10 Where to find Stephanie Roussel and Awaken DelightJoin The Christian Clinician Facebook GroupChristian Women Health and Wellness: Support for Anxiety, Hormones, and FaithJoin us for encouragement, practical health conversations, and weekly discussion tied to the podcast.https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianwomenhealthandwellnessResources MentionedAwaken Delight by Stephanie Roussel and Gospel Spice Ministrieshttps://www.amazon.com/dp/1514013584?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallbackhttps://www.gospelspice.com/Free 5-day digital devotional from Gospel Spicehttps://www.gospelspice.com/freeBible ReferencesPhilippians 3:10John 15Psalm 37:4A.W. Tozer quote: “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”Tozer, A.W. The Knowledge of the Holy. New York: Harper & Row, 1961.C.S. Lewis, The Problem of PainThomas Chalmers: “The Expulsive Power of a New Affection”https://www.amazon.com/s?k=expulsive+power+of+a+new+affection&i=stripbooks&hvadid=694414042713&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9033785&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=15656855367537345453--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=15656855367537345453&hvtargid=kwd-377306261441&hydadcr=22595_13531227&mcid=eeb453d0cbbf381d941b31c2fa271784&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_39xz77npm2_e_p67About the GuestStephanie Roussel is a Bible teacher, speaker, host of the Gospel Spice podcast, and founder of Gospel Spice Ministries. Born and raised in France, Stephanie grew up as an atheist before coming to faith in Christ as a foreign exchange student in the United States. Her life motto is now “God’s glory, our delight.” Having lived in four countries, Stephanie now lives with her family in Pennsylvania ...
    Show More Show Less
    53 mins
  • When Evangelism Feels Like a Dirty Word: The Psychology of Sharing Your Faith with Dr. Mark Teasdale (S3E25)

    When Evangelism Feels Like a Dirty Word: The Psychology of Sharing Your Faith with Dr. Mark Teasdale (S3E25)
    Jul 9 2026
    What if the reason sharing your faith feels so hard isn't a character flaw — it's actually completely understandable, and there's a name for it?For many Christians, evangelism doesn't feel joyful or natural. It feels intimidating, shame-loaded, confrontational, or even manipulative. Maybe you were taught that evangelism meant knocking on doors, handing out tracts, arguing someone into belief, or reporting whether you "saved any souls" that week. If that sounds familiar, it makes complete sense that the word evangelism still carries anxiety, guilt, or dread.In this episode of The Christian Clinician, Dr. Tanya Paynter talks with Dr. Mark Teasdale — President of United Theological Seminary and author of Socially Awkward Evangelism — about why sharing your faith can feel so uncomfortable, what psychology tells us is actually happening beneath the surface, and what a more biblical, grace-filled approach actually looks like.Dr. Teasdale explains how fear of judgment, social anxiety, shame, fear of harming others, and deeply ingrained bad assumptions about evangelism can keep Christians silent. He and Dr. Paynter also unpack a fact that may change everything: research suggests it takes an average of 76 interactions with Christians before a non-Christian comes to faith. You are almost never closing the deal — you are one faithful link in a long chain. And the Holy Spirit is the one doing the converting.This conversation also explores how tools like body awareness, prayer, and acceptance-based practices can help you recognize fear without being ruled by it — and why miracles follow mission when we take even small, faithful steps.Note: Dr. Teasdale's publisher InterVarsity Press offers 14 free downloadable practice appendices from the book — including prayer and mindfulness exercises. No purchase required. Find them at the https://www.ivpress.com/Media/Default/Downloads/Excerpts-and-Samples/A1425-online-appendixes.pdf.In This Episode, You'll Explore:Why evangelism often feels awkward, shame-filled, or like a dirty word — and why that's understandableHow social anxiety and fear of judgment affect sharing your faithWhy some Christians fear harming others or coming across as pushy and judgmentalHow bad evangelism training creates pressure, guilt, and long-term avoidanceWhy evangelism is not about "saving souls" yourself — and who actually does the convertingThe 76 interactions research and what it means for how you share your faithHow prayer can be your first step when you're not ready to speakWhy body awareness and mindfulness can help you notice and move through fearHow to share your faith persuasively and ethically — without manipulationWhy different Christians witness differently — and all of it countsEpisode Timestamps:00:00 — Evangelism shame and why you are not alone00:50 — Introducing Dr. Mark Teasdale and Socially Awkward Evangelism01:35 — Why evangelism can feel like a dirty word02:20 — Dr. Teasdale's background in evangelism and practical theology03:04 — How social anxiety shaped the book05:17 — Why de-churched culture makes evangelism harder07:01 — Fear of being judged vs. fear of harming others08:39 — Why this book is practical, not a psychology textbook09:55 — Free online practices and appendices from InterVarsity Press10:34 — Can Christians use mindfulness?12:09 — Why the body matters in fear, anxiety, and evangelism14:52 — Mindfulness as body awareness, not New Age spirituality16:17 — Social anxiety, shame, and sharing the gospel17:42 — Jesus calling people into socially uncomfortable witness20:10 — Persuasion without manipulation22:25 — Who actually converts people?23:55 — Faulty assumptions about evangelism26:38 — Shame from youth group evangelism training27:48 — Different evangelism styles and spiritual gifts30:04 — The 76 interactions idea and being one link in the chain32:31 — Evangelism through acts of love and service34:15 — Start with prayer before speaking36:00 — Asking God for courage over time38:26 — Miracles follow mission39:27 — Where to find Socially Awkward Evangelism and Dr. TeasdaleResources Mentioned:Socially Awkward Evangelism by Dr. Mark Teasdale (InterVarsity Press)https://www.amazon.com/s?k=socially+awkward+evangelism&hvadid=778082422458&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9033785&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=15095986227276099829--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=15095986227276099829&hvtargid=kwd-2481543952978&hydadcr=17809_13794547&mcid=229f3f4e12a933c3b56455ed6f4fdf1f&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_5qh8risejz_e_p67Free downloadable appendices and practice exercises — https://www.ivpress.com/Media/Default/Downloads/Excerpts-and-Samples/A1425-online-appendixes.pdfAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Alan Hirsch and Tim Catchim's evangelism matrix (Permanent Revolution) Dr. Mark Teasdale's website: https://markteasdale.net/About the Guest Dr. Mark Teasdale is President of United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, and previously...
    Show More Show Less
    43 mins
  • Why the Church Is So Tired — Sabbath, Rest, and the Science of Stress with Dr. Amy Erickson and Dr. Gregory Wagenfuhr

    Why the Church Is So Tired — Sabbath, Rest, and the Science of Stress with Dr. Amy Erickson and Dr. Gregory Wagenfuhr
    Jun 25 2026
    Why does the church feel so tired?Many Christians know they need rest, but even after a day off, a vacation, or a slower weekend, the deeper restlessness often remains. In this episode of The Christian Clinician, Dr. Tanya Paynter talks with Dr. Amy Erickson and Dr. Gregory Wagenfuhr about their book Sabbath Gospel and a renewed vision of Sabbath, work, rest, and the mission of the church.This conversation moves beyond Sabbath as a personal health practice or weekly day off. Dr. Erickson and Dr. Wagenfuhr explain Sabbath as a much larger gospel reality: God’s rest, God’s kingdom, and the household of God breaking into a restless world. They discuss why the church is weary, how Christians often try to create rest on their own terms, and why false versions of rest can leave us more anxious, self-focused, and disconnected from one another.Together, they explore the idea of the “dream home”—the personal, cultural, and institutional ways we try to control life enough to finally feel secure. But that kind of rest never satisfies for long. True Sabbath rest is not found in control, success, productivity, or self-protection. It is received from God and then lived out in community as we learn to carry one another’s burdens.This episode also connects Sabbath to stress physiology, nervous system health, and Christian formation. When we stop seeing church as only a worship event and begin seeing it as a formative household of God, rest becomes more than something we take for ourselves. It becomes something we receive, practice, and give.In this episode, you’ll exploreWhy the church feels tired, weary, and spiritually exhaustedHow Sabbath Gospel reframes Sabbath as more than a weekly day offThe difference between taking rest for yourself and giving rest to othersWhy trying to build your own “dream home” often leads to deeper restlessnessHow Sabbath exposes the false promise of control, success, and self-protectionWhy Sabbath is connected to God’s kingdom, not just personal wellnessHow the church can become a household of rest instead of another system of exhaustionWhy serving through your God-given gifts can become restful, life-giving workHow community, burden-bearing, and Christian fellowship shape stress physiology and formationEpisode Timestamps00:00 Sabbath, physiology, and why church forms us00:45 Introducing Sabbath Gospel01:38 Why write a book on Sabbath and the tired church?04:12 Who this book is for: pastors, churches, and thoughtful Christians06:14 Sacrifice, Christ’s blood, and Sabbath in the biblical story10:02 The “dream home” and the false promise of control13:53 Sin as something we commit and something we are caught in16:26 Sabbath as more than a day off18:14 Giving rest, not just taking rest20:25 Sabbath as heart posture and practice22:41 Sabbath, the Ten Commandments, Sabbath year, and Jubilee26:40 The danger of using Sabbath only as a health practice30:39 Why the church is tired: wrong work vs life-giving work35:13 Church as a place of formation, not just a worship event38:19 Practical questions for churches and communities42:09 Where to find Sabbath Gospel and the authorsJoin The Christian Clinician Facebook GroupChristian Women Health and Wellness: Support for Anxiety, Hormones, and FaithJoin us for encouragement, practical health conversations, and weekly discussion tied to the podcast.https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianwomenhealthandwellnessResources MentionedSabbath Gospel by Dr. Amy Erickson and Dr. Gregory Wagenfuhrhttps://www.amazon.com/Sabbath-Gospel-Narrative-Time-Church/dp/1514009544 Matthew 11: “Come to me, all who are weary…”1 Corinthians 12 and the body of ChristDr. Gregory Wagenfuhr: www.gpwagenfuhr.comDr. Amy Erickson: https://stmarks.edu.au/about-our-people-dr-amy-erickson/About the GuestsDr. Gregory Wagenfuhr is a pastor, theologian, and co-author of Sabbath Gospel. His work explores theology, church formation, Scripture, and the life of the church in a tired and restless age.Dr. Amy Erickson is a theologian, scholar, and co-author of Sabbath Gospel. She serves at St. Mark’s National Theological Centre in Canberra, Australia, and brings deep biblical and theological insight into Sabbath, rest, the household of God, and the work of the church.About the HostDr. Tanya Paynter is the host of The Christian Clinician, a podcast built on the belief that true whole-person health rests on five pillars: physical health, mental health, emotional health, relationship with God, and Christian fellowship — all connected and communicated through the nervous system. As a licensed naturopathic physician, Dr. Paynter bridges biblical truth and clinical science — helping Christians understand how our relationship with God and faith practices like worship, prayer, Sabbath, and community shape stress physiology, nervous system health, and long-term wellbeing. If you're searching for a faith-based functional medicine approach to health that ...
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet