Relationship Prescriptions with Dr. Carol

In this third installment of the special marriage challenges miniseries, the conversation turns to one of the most painful and complex struggles couples can face: sexual addiction, betrayal trauma, and the long road toward rebuilding intimacy. In this deeply honest conversation, Dr. Carol's guests Clinton and Charity Munoz pull back the curtain on their journey through pornography addiction and betrayal trauma and discuss what it actually took to come out the other side together. Together, they explain how healing and recovery isn't about managing behavior on the surface it's about the harder, slower work of heart transformation and the three foundational pillars essential for restoration. Brokenness does not have to be the end of the story. Healing, intimacy, and hope are still possible. For more tools and resources from the Munozes, including information about their 8-week course The Bridge Back to Us , visit their website Restored 2 More. Or connect on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube. Looking for a personal opportunity for healing from trauma in relationships? Dr. Carol Ministries offers an In-Person Intensive Weekend to help you find true healing and wholeness as you unpack your personal story around intimacy and relationships in a safe, caring, Christ-filled environment. Individual Coaching with Dr. Carol provides a one-on-one format to help you navigate your personal journey through practical encouragement and scriptural- based perspective. Dr. Carol loves to hear from you! You can send her a confidential message here.

What does take to really build a marriage that thrives, not just survives? In this episode, Pastor Mike Novotny discusses with Dr. Carol the foundational principles for building a lasting and healthy marriage, particularly during the first year of marriage. From issues like faith, communication, sex, finances, chores, in-laws, and more, Mike delves into one of the most common — and most overlooked — sources of conflict in marriage: colliding expectations. Mike also opens up about his struggle with pornography, explaining how embracing vulnerability and living out the principle of confession (James 5:16) brought healing not only to his personal life, but to his marriage as well. Whether you're a newlywed or decades in, this episode is packed with actionable insight and a reminder that marriage isn't a destination you reach on your wedding day; it's a lifelong journey. And the couples who thrive are the ones who keep showing up, keep investing, and keep choosing each other — one intentional day at a time. You can learn more about Pastor Mike Novotny at Time of Grace Ministries, or Facebook, X, or Instagram To order his book, go to Newlywed: A Christian Guide for Loving Year One More from Dr. Carol Ministries: In-Person Intensive Weekend - Experience true healing and wholeness as you unpack your personal story around intimacy and relationships in a safe, caring, Christ-filled environment. Individual Coaching with Dr. Carol provides a one-on-one format to help you navigate your personal journey through practical encouragement and scriptural- based perspective. Dr. Carol loves to hear from you! You can send her a confidential message here.

In a culture that often treats sexual abstinence before marriage as outdated, unrealistic, or merely rule-following, Dr. Carol sits down with author, professor, and researcher Dr. Emily McKnight, lovingly known as Dr. Em, for an honest conversation about why waiting for sex before marriage still matters, and why it's about far more than behavior. Dr. Em shares her own journey from sexual brokenness to conviction-led abstinence, and how that season shaped her relationship with God, her sense of identity, and ultimately her marriage. Together, they explore the deeper purpose of sexual integrity and the kind of character it forms in us over time. This conversation also tackles the real-world challenges of singleness, dating, desire, and early marriage. Dr. Carol and Dr. Em discuss how abstinence can cultivate communication, trust, friendship, and discernment long before the wedding day, and why sexual intimacy in marriage is a journey to grow into, not a finish line to cross. Whether you're single, dating, engaged, or wrestling with your own difficult sexual story, this episode offers hope-filled wisdom for pursuing sexual wholeness, resisting cultural pressure, and seeking God's best without settling for less. Connect with Dr. Emily McKnight on her website, faculty page, Facebook, or Instagram Find Dr. Em's book The Don't Before I Do Find out more about Dr. Carol Ministries In-Person Intensives Interested in a one-on-one format? Find out more about individual coaching with Dr. Carol. Dr. Carol loves to hear from you! You can send a confidential message here.

In this enlightening episode, Dr. Carol and Beth Broom dive deep into the complexities of trauma and its profound impact on relationships, particularly within the Christian community. Beth shares her unique perspective, distinguishing between traumatic experiences and the internal responses that shape how we process pain including how to rebuilding trust. Together, they explore the Christian Trauma Healing Network and the SAFE model—an innovative framework designed to offer accessible resources for trauma survivors and their supporters. The conversation reminds us of the importance of bringing our pain and emotions before God, framing this act as both a step of faith and wisdom. You can connect with Beth Broom on her website, Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Check out the Counsel for Life podcast Beth Broom co-hosts with Eliza Huie. Find out more about the Christian Trauma Healing Network Find out more about Dr. Carol Ministries In-Person Intensives - Experience true healing and wholeness in a safe environment as you unpack your story around intimacy and relationships while inviting Jesus to be part of that story. Interested in a one-on-one format? Find out more about individual coaching with Dr. Carol. Dr. Carol loves to hear from you! You can send a confidential message here.

In this episode, we take up one of the most painful and frequently asked questions in the church: What about God and divorce? Whether someone is in a miserable marriage, has been left by a spouse, or is carrying the wounds of divorce, this conversation is both challenging and important. We unpack the biblical meaning of covenant, and why divorce is so devastating—not because it ranks highest on some hierarchy of sins, but because it tears apart something God intended to reflect His faithful love. "God hates divorce" is not condemnation, but is a window into the grief of a Father who sees His children wounded. Jesus' own words acknowledge that divorce exists "because of the hardness of human hearts," naming both the reality of human cruelty and the complexity of real-life situations. And we offer careful discernment rather than simplistic rules. There are reasons not to leave a marriage, and there are situations where separation or divorce may become necessary. This episode invites listeners to seek God's wisdom above all else, to invite trusted voices who will ask hard questions, and to pray honestly, "Lord, who are You calling me to be in this season?" Throughout Scripture, God speaks to His people as a betrayed yet faithful spouse—and this episode holds that tension: the seriousness of covenant, the pain of its rupture, and the relentless faithfulness of a God who does not abandon us, even when we break faith with Him. These articles from Dr. Carol may be helpful for you: 5 Ways to Pray About Your Troubled Marriage Is My Marriage Toxic? How to Know if You Are Released From Your Marriage Find out more about Dr. Carol Ministries in-person intensives - a safe place to unpack your story around intimacy and relationships, and experience Jesus coming into your story to bring healing and wholeness. Find out more about individual coaching with Dr. Carol Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can send a confidential message here.

You've heard of the Five Love Languages. But what's next? In this episode, we're joined by marriage and family therapist and author Leslie Parrot to explore what it really means to love in ways that are not just well-intended, but deeply felt. Good intentions alone aren't enough, but empathy and curiosity help bridge the gap between how we express love and how it's actually received. Drawing from decades of clinical experience and relational wisdom, Leslie offers insight into why a deeper understanding of love languages matters, not as a formula, but as a pathway to deeper connection. And what fills your "love tank", or that of someone you care about? This isn't only for marriage; we also widen the lens to consider how these principles apply in friendships, families, and other relationships. We discuss how personality shapes the way we give and receive love, why each love language includes different "dialects," and how becoming a better listener is central to loving well. This episode invites you to slow down, listen more deeply, and practice a kind of love that doesn't just get expressed, but truly lands. Connect with Les and Leslie Parrott on their website, Facebook, or Instagram. Find the book by Gary Chapman, and Les and Leslie Parrott: The Love Language That Matters Most: How to Personalize Love So They Really Feel It Check out the 5 Love Languages® Premium Assessment Join Les and Leslie Parrott and other experts online during National Marriage Week, February 7-14. Check it out. Check out the marriage resources at Dr. Carol Ministries Find out more about Dr. Carol Ministries in-person intensives - a safe place to unpack your story around intimacy and relationships, and experience Jesus coming into your story to bring healing and wholeness. Find out more about individual coaching with Dr. Carol Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can send a confidential message here.

Need some marriage wisdom? Greg Smalley has spent his entire life immersed in conversations about marriage. As the son of the late Gary Smalley—and now Vice President of Marriage and Family Formation at Focus on the Family—Greg has witnessed up close both the beauty and the messiness of intimate relationships. In this conversation, Greg reflects on why he chose to step into this demanding work, what drew him to a calling so intertwined with his family legacy, and how his own 30+ year marriage to Erin has shaped what he teaches today. We also explore how marriage challenges have shifted over the decades. From cultural pressure and emotional disconnection to technology, stress, and changing expectations, Greg offers perspective on what's new, what's intensified, and what remains surprisingly constant. Finally, he distills decades of ministry into a few core factors that consistently mark marriages that go the distance. Whether you're newly married, decades in, or simply hopeful about love, this episode offers grounded wisdom, encouragement, and a hopeful vision for building a marriage that lasts. Find out more and connect with Greg Smalley through his resources at Focus on the Family Check out the podcast Greg and his wife Erin Smalley do together - Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage Find Greg's book 9 Lies That Will Destroy Your Marriage: And the Truths That Will Save It and Set It Free Check out the marriage resources at Dr. Carol Ministries Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can send a confidential message here.

Have you ever been surprised by who someone turned out to be? Research shows we form impressions of people within seconds, but real life often proves those impressions wrong. In this episode, we explore how that gap between appearance and reality shows up in relationships –with others, and especially with God. These realities reveal a deeper truth; there's a profound difference between knowing about someone and truly knowing them. Many people believe in God, yet carry perhaps unconscious distortions about what He is really like. You may "know" that "God is love," but internally picture a God who is disappointed, withholding, harsh, or just waiting for us to fail. In this episode, we explore how our internal picture of God is often shaped by our past experiences, and why information alone doesn't heal it. Instead, healing comes through encountering Jesus. And we close with some practical ways to let God's love reshape your inner picture of who He really is. Find out more about Dr. Carol Ministries in-person intensives - a safe place to unpack your story around intimacy and relationships, and experience Jesus coming into your story to bring healing and wholeness. Check out Dr. Carol's article How to Develop a Healthy Internal Picture of God Find out more about individual coaching with Dr. Carol Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can send a confidential message here.