Healing Your Wounded Soul: Growing from Pain to Peace

by Joshua Makoul

In our broken world, many Christians find their spiritual progress hindered or stalled by psychological wounds from their past. But these wounds can be healed with the proper treatment. Priest and licensed therapist Joshua Makoul shows how we can draw on the insights and resources of both the Church and modern psychology to help us come to terms with the past and use it to further our path to union with God.

Genres: Christianity

143 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 10, 2020

Reviews

[Jane G Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over ten years ago now, my oldest son was just beginning 8th grade and was seeking more independence. We encouraged him to walk or bike the two miles to school to allow him more space and responsibility. It all made logical sense, in theory, but when I kept thwarting his attempts at independence, by picking him up mid-route, or coming up with some after school plan to run errands together, I realized why. It was when I was in 8th grade that the most horrific thing happened in my life. A close friend was killed after walking home from school to an empty house. It took relating the entire event to my priest, something I had never told anyone aside from my husband, for me to work through that old terror, wound, and sadness, and move past my inability to allow my son the additional freedom that was appropriate for his age and emotional growth.

While reading through "Healing Your Wounded Soul: Grieving from Pain to Peace" I recalled this moment of struggle and then healing from years past. The author of the book, family therapist and Orthodox priest Father Joshua Makoul outlines how, in psychology speak, I had “transferred” my own experience of trauma and placed it upon my son. With grace and patience, using layman’s language, Father Joshua walked me, the reader and someone who has never been to therapy, through all sorts of potential psychological blocks and hindrances, where my past could be holding me back from finding peace and a fuller unity with God.

Thankfully, aside from this one horrible event that happened in my life in 8th grade, I am grateful to have survived childhood in Los Angeles in the 70s and 80s with very little trauma hitched to the bottom hem of my flared, then straight-legged jeans. Most of my friends had terrifying sob stories. Divorced parents, sexual abuse, drugs and alcohol instead of dinner… I still marvel at how many bullets I dodged. I was an LA anomaly—a young athlete— with an intact family who went to church.

Fast forward to me in my 50’s. Sitting in my backyard during a pandemic reading this book! What an odd time we are living through…

Though I didn’t have a series of giant “Aha!” moments while reading "Healing Your Wounded Soul," I was struck again and again with its purpose—of highlighting potential struggles that may live inside our heads and hearts that might be keeping us from deepening our spiritual walk with Christ. I found myself setting the book aside again and again to work through the concepts that were being presented. It created in me a deeper sense of compassion for those who have survived profound personal traumas, and it made me so grateful that this sort of resource is now available. It is a book that guides the reader back in time. It asks you to examine elements of your life, through the lens of Orthodox Christianity and the tenets of human psychology, considering past experiences that may have left you unhealed and wounded. We have all endured sadnesses and grieved losses. We have all wounded others or been wounded ourselves. We are all in need of healing—and have endured events that have led to shame, guilt, or a loss of trust. Through Father Joshua’s straightforward, yet loving words, we learn how old pain disrupts our present life, and how to go about rooting out that pain so that we can ultimately move closer in our union with God.

And, I am just as appreciative of what the book does NOT do. The book does not lead the reader to become a mini-psychologist, ready to diagnose a friend or neighbor. Instead, the information leads one to be less judgmental toward those who are still struggling with trauma. I found my heart opening a little more toward those in my life who didn’t dodge quite as many bullets as I did.

Finally, being a mother of a child on the autism spectrum, I was especially aware while reading the book of the traumas that my own son has suffered. I have spent the last many years trying to create a healing space for my child—a home where he can laugh and learn and be himself. Where he can grow in his strengths, and slowly work on his weaknesses, and eventually become the young man God has called him to be. I outlined almost an entire chapter that caught my attention and caused me to pray right there on the spot. Father Joshua writes:

"We would do well to think on the effect we have on the lives of others. Do we truly grasp the impact we all have on each other? Every act, every word, every gesture, and every interaction are stored away in some part of our mind. Indeed, all of us are memory makers. Everything we do in the lives of others is stored away in their memory. Is this not an awesome responsibility? None us is perfect; we all make mistakes. However, so often when we continue our lives having forgotten our error toward another, the other has not forgotten it. Whether we like it or not, we are responsible for those memories. Is this not a wonderful and terrible power?"

As Dr. Albert Rossi writes in his endorsement of the book, “I would recommend this book to all wounded souls, that is, to everyone.”

[Elizabeth Mikhael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional. Just what I needed to put my own suffering, struggles & grief into perspective. Looking forward to his next book!

[Anastasia Kline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This the greatest orthodox book about mental health and understanding why you are the way you are after experiencing trauma.

[Anna Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Healing Your Wounded Soul: Growing From Pain To Peace is one of those books that seem to be dropped down into the palm of your hands from the angels, themselves.

Upon the first page, the readers’ eyes will grow wide and their hearts warm as author Joshua Makoul manages to speak directly to them as if they were in his immediate care.

The reading style is straightforward and light in difficulty, however, this book is powerful and one that can deliver ease from emotional distress and help to lift any heavy burdens that may be weighing on their soul.

The book itself is written by a Christian Orthodox priest (who also holds a degree in psychology) yet one does not need to be “strictly religious” in order to connect with the healing messages revealed.

Although a current of theosis (or union with God) flows beautifully throughout the book, one must have only a resolve to revisit and delve into the painful moments of their past in order to establish the self-awareness necessary to free themselves from the chains of trauma and truly live grounded in the present moment.

Valuable insights are effortlessly interwoven throughout the chapters together with powerful quotes from early members of the Orthodox Church to create a seamless thread of support.

Practicing gratitude, learning the correct way to grieve, how to set healthy boundaries, and how to offer true forgiveness (to both themselves and others) are just a few of the many fruits of healing that are introduced to the reader and will indeed serve as continued gifts throughout this gift of life.

While reading through the chapters, it’s important to note that previous life events or even suppressed memories may come to light as well as subsequent questions or thoughts. As explained in the book, this process is an integral step on the path to gaining insight and self awareness.

Comfortingly enough, and as if the reader were engaging in a direct dialogue, those new questions or thoughts are addressed in a nearby chapter. It’s both fascinating and palpable that much time was taken to carefully lay out this blueprint for healing.

From the first page to the last, Fr. Joshua manages to initiate an objective yet personal conversation with the reader and consistently serves as a gentle (yet honest) friend to them as they navigate their journey of healing.

Within this fallen world, humans are bound to experience trauma; they are also allowed to heal from it. Healing Your Wounded Soul: Growing From Pain To Peace provides readers with a trusted toolbox to complete such challenging but rewarding work.

Ultimately, it reminds us all of our self worth and that although we are not “better” than another, we are certainly not “worse” either.

Recommended for the person who has experienced trauma during their lifetime – whether that comes in the form of a betrayal, loss, abuse, injury, abandonment, shame, guilt, or fear… Healing Your Wounded Soul: Growing From Pain To Peace is the perfect book for the brave soul who is ready to let “it” all go.

[elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was brought up in a Christian Orthodox community, and I grew apart with the whole practice and faith in my early twenties. In the meantime, through (sometimes pop) psychology and some social sciences, I got to the heart of some of the most destructive and limiting things I've learned and internalised during my childhood and youth through these religious ideas. In the psychology/self-help books I pick up, I always find something that shows me how toxic some of these early religious ideas were for me. So I stood away most of the last decade from orthodox stuff, but one self-help psychology book written by Joshua Makoul, an American priest, that was recommended to me caught my eye. I think I was curious to see if there is a chance that orthodox priests can talk without implicit condemnation and self-righteousness towards the 'sinner', as well as include some sober facts about the human mind and actual explanations and strategies beyond prayer and self-flagellation. Here, Makoul talks about healing, shame, and hope in a way that is informed by psychology and not alarmist superstition. The conclusion is a bit hard to take; it is indeed very deep in Christian theology, but up to that point, it is relatively easy to read the book as a good companion to leaving anger and shame behind you and cultivating hope. And for me personally, it also has some sort of reconciliatory quality. I wish I had read these two paragraphs as a teenager:

"Healing from shame also means not allowing others to shame us. In much the same way that an alcoholic needs to shun alcohol, so the one who has suffered from shame must avoid sources of shame and be prepared to set boundaries against them. For some this may seem counterintuitive. Some may believe that in an attempt to stay humble they should let others shame them, believe the shame messages, and wallow in the belief that no good thing can come from themselves."

"Now that we have identified where so many of our troublesome expectations come from, it is time to shift our focus to replacing those expectations with hope. Hope is far healthier. Where expectations are rigid, hope is flexible. Where expectations are unforgiving, hope is forgiving. Where expectations lead to fragility, hope leads to resilience. Where expectations lead to repeated setbacks in our spiritual life, hope allows us to navigate life’s disappointments without losing ground. When we replace our expectations with hope, we are opening to ourselves a wellspring of humility. Expectations are often born from pride, whereas hope is born out of humility."

[Sarah Geana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Healing Your Wounded Soul by Joshua Makoul is a treasure. I will say that it was difficult wading through the early chapters because they seemed to read like a textbook; filled with all the different ways past pain and trauma can have a negative effect on our lives. I promise you; it is worth it to get through because the ending chapters are pure gold.
I think determining your reason for reading this book will help you decide how to approach reading it. If you are interested in learning more about trauma and the myriad ways it manifests, then a thorough read-through of the beginning is warranted. If you already have a basic knowledge of trauma etc… then you would really only need to scan the beginning and focus your attention more fully on the chapters dealing with how to heal.
I like to dog ear pages where I’ve found a particularly powerful quote. Starting from Chapter 5: The Fruits of Healing onward, pretty much every page is dog eared! Since I can’t write every quote that resonated, I will focus instead on Chapter 7: Keeping the Past in its Proper Place and the Conclusion. Joshua Makoul writes in Chapter 7 some different ways we can process our traumatic experiences in healthy Christ-centered ways. Prayer is perhaps the most obvious, but Makoul makes the point that prayer is not only communion and space to be with God, but it is also a tithe of our time. It is a way we can offer what we have. And then, here comes the real kicker, prayer is also our supply station. Makoul quotes St. Isaac the Syrian, saying that our prayer life is like a traveler going from island to island taking on supplies. “We go through our lives sailing from prayer to prayer until we reach our destination.” (p. 126) Prayer is the supply necessary to complete our journey. So beautiful!
And, finally, in the Conclusion, Makoul ends with the most powerful imagery…The Empty Tomb. Just like a child who derives comfort from knowing the end of the story ahead of time, so do we, as Christians derive comfort and strength to continue our journey, by knowing that the tomb is not just a symbol of sin and tragedy but that the Empty Tomb becomes our symbol of ultimate victory. We know the end of this story. And Good triumphs. Death is destroyed. Sickness, sorrow and sighing are obliterated. There is always hope. “We have an opportunity to go through our life in this world with the confidence of a child who knows how the story will end.” (p. 144)
I definitely recommend that anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of themselves and others read this book.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Bogdan Bucur · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful little book will be especially useful to Christians who may, in all sincerity, view Counseling as incompatible with (or even as a subversion of) Scriptural faith and true spirituality—something at worst dangerous and at best irrelevant for the faithful. It shows how our difficulty in cultivating a life of Christian discipleship and growth in the Spirit may stem from a variety of ways in which our soul is, indeed, “wounded,” as the title has it, numbed, distorted, or scarred. The first four chapters describe the ways in which these wounds may have been inflicted, the reactions and coping mechanism that they engendered, and how all of this impoverishes and distorts not only our daily interactions with our fellow human being, but also our faith and spiritual growth.

To many it will probably become one of the important moments of journey towards acknowledging the need for a psychological and spiritual turning-point in one’s life. Whatever wisdom and practical knowledge is brought to the table by the counseling discipline, it are here clearly subservient to a deeper and more important concern, namely that of clearing one’s path to acquiring the mind of a disciple, the mind the Church, and allowing Christ to do His work in us. The second half of the book offers an appealing sketch of what this may look like—the healing of our soul’s wounds, the enlargement of our heart towards God and neighbor, our gradually becoming alive with the life of the risen Christ in us.

A number of important concepts are introduced (transference, projection, parentified child, displacement, splitting, disenfranchised losses, etc), but terms are always clearly explained, and explanations are supplemented by examples that give a clear and vivid picture of what is meant. Although written in clear prose, the book is far from dry and schematic; it is accessible, but does not deliver platitudes; it is sober, but obviously written with great compassion and care. Above all, this book is unpolluted by arrogance, or by a desire to prove a point, or to persuade the reader at all cost, or to debunk, defeat, and deride other opinions.

In short: a wonderful book, well worth buying, reading, learning from, and keeping. Fair warning: once you start reading, it is difficult to put it down!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Healing Your Wounded Soul is exactly the book I was looking for. I participate in a reviewer group for Ancient Faith Publishing, and I have received a number of free review copies from Ancient Faith through that group. However, Healing Your Wounded Soul is a book that I purchased on my own, and I’m so glad that I did.

Fr. Joshua Makoul is a spiritual father and therapist with many years of experience helping people to heal. His expert-level approach is so apparent through the gentle, understanding demeanor that he conveys and the masterful way he lays out the material of his book and guides the reader through it.

Healing Your Wounded Soul really strikes me as a masterpiece. Much of what Fr. Makoul writes perfectly addressed my own struggles. I repeatedly thought, “He knows exactly how I feel!”

The book conveys deep meaning and genuine hope. It helps the reader understand common sources of trauma, which continue to bring harm in our lives if we don’t come to terms with our experiences and bring them before God for healing. Fr. Makoul masterfully strikes a balance between generality and specificity with his examples. I often felt as though he were speaking directly to me about what I’ve gone through, even though the examples he gave were never exactly the same as what I’ve experienced.

I felt the love of God coming through the page and was so convinced that He brought this book into my life. I’ve been copying large sections of the book into my journal, which is not something I’ve done before! I feel compelled to write them down in order to help me absorb them better.

I’ve been working through some major past trauma for a long time now, and this book both affirmed the healing that I’ve experienced so far and led me toward the next stage of my journey toward wholeness. I especially appreciate how Fr. Makoul makes the book truly Orthodox by describing “this healing work,” as he calls it, as an integral part of our path of theosis.

I strongly recommend Healing Your Wounded Soul for anyone who wants to better understand how trauma may be affecting our lives and how, with our Lord’s help, we can choose healing and growth.

[Pauline Magnússon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fr. Joshua Makoul has written a beautiful invitation and guide to healing the wounded soul (which is, in fact, all of us). His insights from psychology and the healing wisdom of the Orthodox Church are intertwined in such a way that there is no tension between them at all (as well there shouldn't be). His words radiate compassion, nonjudgment, and kindness as he lays out simple-to-apply ways to begin discerning one's woundedness along with concrete ways to begin moving toward healing.

The book is laid out very helpfully and moves from helping the reader understand the link between past unresolved wounds and difficulties in spiritual growth. While there are many reasons to consider therapeutic work, I hadn't ever considered that avoiding dealing with one's own brokenness might also make the spiritual life and progress more difficult or even cause it to stall out.

I appreciated his use of the first person plural, i.e., "we" and "our," throughout the text. This made the book more inviting, avoiding the accusation of "you" or the sterility of third person. Instead, it created the feel of walking with a kind guide through unknown territory, such as a Virgil or Beatrice was to Dante in The Divine Comedy.

One insight I especially appreciated was his frequent warm invitations to bring discoveries of brokenness along this process to confession. As one who grew up Roman Catholic, this was a helpful reinforcement of the Orthodox approach to this beautiful mystery. It's not meant to be a guilt-ridden experience, but a place where we can bring the truth of ourselves in honesty and humility, so as to welcome in the healing light of Christ.

I also appreciated the narrator chosen for this work. His voice is simultaneously clear and soothing, and makes even the experience of listening a healing and nourishing one.

The audiobook is very much a worthy experience, but I find myself thinking I'll pick up the print edition in addition. This is a book well worth coming back to in both forms.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished Healing Your Wounded Soul: Growing From Pain to Peace by Father Joshua Makoul. I found reading this book to be extremely uncomfortable—but in all the right ways. I was first interested in this book as a means of attempting to work through one particular incidence of tragedy and grief. However, this book truly awakened in me a better sense of the many ways in which I allow a variety of factors—regrets over the past, worries over the future, reacting out of shame or in a defensive fashion—to draw me away from God. I believe that this book is very unique in that it approaches the scientific field of psychology through the lens of the Church and of God. I have tended to steer away from self-help books in the past as I feel the topics are either sugar coated and diluted to the extreme or so overly scientific that one needed a psychology degree to make it through the first page. This book forced me to look in a mirror at the truth of my own challenges, struggles and hurdles. Yet, before such a reflection was allowed to result in devestation or a sense of helplessness, Father Makoul helped bring all things back to God, reminding me that I am His child and, no matter what, He wants me to return to Him in all things. I can’t say that all of my grief is gone, or that my struggles are overcome; rather, I think that I have a better sense of the path I should strive to take to work through such feelings. Even better, I think that I am seeing the path as the place I need to be, rather than regretting that I have yet to reach my destination. As I tell my children, growing pains are a real thing, but that struggling through them will help make them bigger and stronger. The same is still true—the uncomfortable truths of this book are growing pains, but the good kind, the kind that result in growth, change, and hope.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Father Joshua for compiling this book; I personally experienced how this book can benefit one who is trying to heal and also see it benefiting those who are wanting to understand and support another that, is in need of healing.

In the first part of the book the reader comes to understand the basics of our psychological minds and how they work with processing and dealing with various struggles in life to include: abuse, addiction, trauma, and/or grief.

Towards the middle and ending of the book the reader starts to put the psychology that has been reviewed in the correct perspective to deal with their struggle in a balanced way, all the while striving to make Christ the center of their life. Through the writings you experience the intertwining of psychology with the teachings embodied in the Holy Orthodox church. Father Joshua beautifully ties together the teachings found in the parables of holy Scripture as well teachings from the holy fathers and saints to help us truly heal.

The writings also aid one in becoming more compassionate, empathetic, and understanding to those that are in need of healing. In addition, the book provides guidance for one to foster a state of gratitude and to be able to fully share the love of Christ.

I think this book could be of value to any person who is wanting to make Christ the center of their life when trying to heal and simply deal with the challenges, life imposes. In addition, I see it benefiting many in the field that are trying to counsel people utilizing the ancient Christian teachings as their guide.

[Erin Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Healing Your Wounded Soul: Growing from Pain to Peace is a practical, down-to-earth book that packs a strong punch for anyone who needs firm, yet gentle encouragement to do what it takes to delve deep and do the tough work to repair the spiritual hurts that affect us all. Fr. Makoul’s book is not just a book for those who have a specific trauma to work through, but it is a book for anyone living in this broken world who has ever felt the pain that inevitably comes with human relationships. The advice and explanations found in this book educate the reader while giving the reader a firm call to action. Fr. Makoul suggests that delving into the work of healing is not only for oneself but for humanity. All of his advice and prose is relational and he uses the pronouns “we” and “us” throughout.

Fr. Makoul focuses on the fundamentally paralyzing emotions of shame and overcontrol and shows how replacing them with humility and surrender towards God and his love can mobilize the reader in the quest for healing. The ultimate insight Fr. Mokoul gives is to know oneself - an undertaking that can only be achieved through intentionally doing the hard work of letting go, having sincere hope instead of expectations, and diving into forgiveness of self and others.

As a therapist, Fr. Makoul’s writing is not only educational, it is peppered with concrete suggestions for websites, therapies, and specific tasks (like going to Confession grateful) readers can use to begin and continue on their healing journey making Healing Your Wounded Soul a spiritually helpful book for all.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our spiritual journey is influenced by many factors, especially emotional and psychological health. Yet many Christians are justly skeptical or nervous about how the field of psychology pertains to our faith and if the benefits of emotional healing are worth the risks of the healing process. In this book, “Healing Your Wounded Soul: Growing from Pain to Peace,” Fr. Makoul aptly addresses this problem. Fr. Makoul has 16 years of professional counseling experiences in addition to his many years as an Orthodox priest. Fr. Makoul graciously explores situations when people might seek healing from emotional wounds, why this state of wellness benefits everyone: our individual walks with God, our ability to love our neighbors, and our ability to love ourselves. Throughout the book, Fr. Makoul delves into several common types of emotional wounds, their sources, and the path to healing and peace. Although many might feel fear or despair when reflecting upon their emotional wounds, this book offers hope and encouragement, allowing listeners to believe healing can occur. The audiobook edition is quite excellent: although Fr. Makoul did not record the narration for the audiobook, the narrator read the audiobook with compassion and empathy, which is necessary when the listener is listening to sensitive subjects. I highly recommend this book to any Christians who want to responsibly integrate emotional healing into their spiritual journey.

[Haycaseygmail.Com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in a beautifully simple and conversational style, this book blends the science of psychology with the wisdom and spirit of faith.

Fr. Joshua Makoul has a wealth of educational and experiential background, yet tackles this challenging topic in a humble and unassuming manner, making this a book with something for everyone. Even if the idea of “self-help” books make you cringe, or God as the answer makes you roll your eyes, there is something deeply meaningful to be found in this book.

For those with past trauma this book provides a framework to understand the complexity of how past experiences impact the present, and explores ways to approach and make peace with these experiences. For those with less past trauma, the comfortable flow of the writing makes this an easy read, and the sections that don’t apply directly to an individual reader will assuredly be worthwhile as they enlighten the reader to others’ experiences and perspectives.

This is not the type of book I normally choose, but this is truly an exceptional work, and I whole-heartedly recommend this to anyone willing to commit a small amount of time and an open mind to better understanding themselves and those around them.

[Jamie Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really excellent, helpful book. Highly recommend. Easy to digest. Solid thoughts/ recommendations. Incorporates ideas/ concepts from psychology and ties them into an Orthodox framework/perspective. Acknowledges how our traumas can affect our lived experiences now and encourages active work towards healing. This book excels at helping change our mindset. While it has some practical recommendations it is not a self help manual. More of a big picture overview - here are some guiding principles, work with your priest and maybe a therapist, these are things you may want to consider, and don’t be afraid- you are not doomed to keep repeating patterns and there is much you can use/learn from modern psychology. This is neither a whole hearted endorsement for all psychology methods/concepts, nor is it a recommendation for healing only through “spiritual” means. This is a very balanced and thoughtful book.

[Adira · Rating 5 out of 5]

As individual who both grew up in the church and suffered from multiple traumatic experiences in my life I found this book to be an insightful, validating, and compassionate read. It bridged the gap between modern psychology and the insights of the spiritual life from an Orthodox perspective as it relates to the maladaptive patterns we may develop in response to various dysfunctions or traumas in our life. It then serves with helpful ways to help spiritually and cognitively address the issues to bring about healing.

I personally found the section that discussed persons who struggle with shame/shameful self talk and it's spiritual ramifications as well as ways to health through the shame to be most helpful and hope inducing!

I would highly recommend this book for those of all walks of life and healing.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fr. Joshua’s book provides introspective insights about ourselves and our mental and spiritual health. Although written primarily for those healing from painful or traumatic experiences, I would recommend to anyone wanting to develop their self-knowledge within the Orthodox phronema or a greater compassion for their neighbor, who suffer and struggle with their past experiences.

For those who have heard Fr. Joshua speak either at the Antiochian Village or elsewhere – you hear his peaceful, meditative and inspiring words speak to you through the pages. He has a knack for explaining concepts and situations simply and bringing relevance of his message to daily life. This is a short and very easy read.

[Thomas Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

In his book, Healing Your Wounded Soul, Fr. Joshua Makoul addresses the needs of many Christians living in the world today. As an Orthodox priest and as a licensed practicing counselor, Fr. Joshua discusses in a way that is entirely accessible to readers the psychological wounds that many of us have been carrying throughout our lives, the effect they have on our lives today, our relationships with those around us and with God. Most importantly, he addresses the remedy for these wounds in prayer, silence, and gratitude. Quoting from Church Fathers such as St. Isaac the Syrian, St. Sophrony of Essex , as well as from Holy Scripture, Fr. Joshua gently directs the reader to seek the peace the Lord offers us at all times and all places, if only we will but take time to listen.

[CT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revealing the congruence between some of the current and widely used psychological concepts and those of the Desert Fathers, Fr. Joshua’s book has encouraged me to see it a spiritual opportunity to engage in the healing process. He shares that we find God’s grace throughout such process – from the neuroplasticity of our brain’s design to His accessibility through prayer, readers are motivated by the great hope of this sanctifying work. The practical strategies that are outlined in the text make what can seem an overwhelming task one that is attainable. Fr. Joshua joins with us as a fellow pilgrim in his restorative framework. I highly recommend the read to anyone seeking to know more about the healing journey for personal or peer navigation.

[Laila M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life’s struggles are abundant and daunting from anyone’s perspective. Fr. Joshua’s book focuses on the importance of facing what ails us from our past, the benefits of altering our perspective and actions in the present, and the gift of hope for a future lived with a more mature, authentic and grateful mindset. Written with humility and a well-paced presentation of both psychological and spiritual truths, we find practical strategies for beginning to overcome these obstacles by a person who is clearly a fellow struggler and traveler, yet wise and caring in his approach.

[Fr. George · Rating 5 out of 5]

By writing this book, Fr. Joshua has done a great service to both those suffering from painful past experiences in their lives, and those who strive to help them. He skillfully blends his expertise as a counselor, with his passion as an Orthodox priest to bring a loving and compassionate approach to this serious problem. In the book, he takes us on a journey from the causes of emotional and spiritual pain, to the recognition of the problems, to the eventual healing through our faith in God. I highly recommend this book to all who have been hurt in their past who are now seeking healing.

[Stephanie Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of wisdom towards deep healing of the soul

This is a very profound book that I will reread to really sit with and take from the deep nuggets of wisdom. I have never encountered a book quite like it in the same way. It faithfully adheres to the Orthodox Church, but marries inner work we must undergo to be healed and become closer to God.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives a beautiful picture of where spiritual life and mental health can and do overlap. As a counselor myself, I feel I will be recommending this book to clients for years to come. Thank you Father Joshua for this amazing text.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://relishedliving.wordpress.com/...

[Anna Corazza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helped me infinitely! It made me smile & cry. I cannot recommend it enough!