Faithfully Healed

In this final Lenten-focused episode of Faithfully Healed, Latisha Sternod explores the often misunderstood practice of fasting and reveals its deeper spiritual purpose.
Far beyond giving up food or checking religious boxes, fasting is presented as a powerful pathway to interior transformation. Through thoughtful reflection and practical insight, Latisha explains how fasting helps us rely less on ourselves and become more open to God’s grace. By gently stepping into discomfort, we build spiritual discipline, strengthen our ability to endure hardship, and grow in love toward others.
Drawing connections between spiritual tradition and psychological principles, this episode highlights how practices like fasting mirror concepts such as exposure and resilience—helping us break patterns of avoidance and become more grounded, present, and free.
Whether it’s fasting from food, social media, distractions, or self-centered habits, this episode invites you to see fasting not as deprivation—but as preparation. A preparation of the heart to receive, to give, and to live more fully aligned with Christ.
In this episode, we talk about:
What fasting really means in the Christian tradition
Why fasting is about transformation—not punishment
Traditional Lenten fasting practices (Ash Wednesday & Fridays)
Fasting beyond food: social media, distractions, and habits
How fasting builds discipline and spiritual resilience
The connection between fasting and psychological growth
Why discomfort can lead to healing and freedom
Moving from self-reliance to dependence on God
How fasting opens us to grace and deeper love
The role of fasting in becoming the hands and feet of Christ
Anchor Quote:“Fasting isn’t about depriving yourself—it’s about opening yourself to something greater.” – Latisha Sternod
Reflection:What if the discomfort you’re avoiding is actually the doorway to your growth?What if fasting isn’t about losing something—but gaining freedom?
This Lent, where might God be inviting you to release what you’re clinging to so you can receive something greater?
Resources & Mentions:
Spiritual Practices Referenced:
Lenten fasting traditions (Ash Wednesday & Good Friday)
Fasting from distractions (social media, habits, comforts)
Integration of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving
Practices Discussed:
Fasting from food and excess consumption
Fasting from self-centered behaviors
Building discipline through small acts of restraint
Embracing discomfort as a path to growth
Creating space to receive grace
Key Themes:
Fasting as spiritual transformation
Discipline and self-restraint
Discomfort as a pathway to healing
Dependence on God over self-reliance
Becoming more loving and present
Scripture References: Matthew 4:4 – “Man shall not live by bread alone…” The call to deny oneself and follow Christ
Connect with Us: 🌿 Website: thewonderfulcounselor.org 📖 Instagram: @the_wonderful_counselor 🕊 Facebook: The Wonderful Counselor
If this episode encouraged you to embrace fasting in a deeper, more meaningful way, would you leave a review? It helps more women discover this sacred space for Christ-centered healing and transformation.

In this reflective Lenten episode of Faithfully Healed, Latisha Sternod turns our attention to one of the most transformative spiritual practices in the Christian tradition: almsgiving.
Through scripture, contemplation, and practical spiritual insight, Latisha explores how true spiritual growth requires us to move beyond self-focus and become a gift to others. Drawing from Matthew 6 and the practice of Lectio Divina, she guides listeners through a reflective meditation on Christ’s teaching about giving in secret—where love is offered without recognition or reward.
In a culture that often encourages self-promotion and immediate gratification, this episode offers a countercultural invitation: to give quietly, love generously, and serve without needing to be seen. As we prepare our hearts during Lent, almsgiving becomes not just an act of charity—but a pathway toward deeper humility, community, and transformation.
Through prayerful reflection and gentle guidance, Latisha reminds us that when we shift our focus outward and act with sincere love, we begin to embody the hands and feet of Christ in the world.
In this episode, we talk about:
What almsgiving truly means in the Christian tradition
Why generosity is essential for spiritual growth
How self-focus can subtly pull us off course
Applying Lectio Divina to reflect on scripture
Matthew 6 and Jesus’ teaching on giving in secret
The difference between generosity and recognition-seeking
How serving others helps us become more spiritually mature
The importance of examining our motives for giving
Moving from self-centeredness to outward love
Becoming the hands and feet of Christ through action
Anchor Quote:“When we give quietly and without recognition, we become a true gift to others.” – Latisha Sternod
Reflection: What if generosity isn’t just about what we give—but why we give it? What if the quiet acts of love no one sees are the ones that transform us the most?
This Lent, where might God be inviting you to give freely, serve humbly, and love without needing recognition?
Resources & Mentions:
Spiritual Practices Referenced:
Lectio Divina (prayerful scripture meditation)
Reflective silence and contemplation
Lenten self-examination and renewal
Practices Discussed:
Giving without seeking praise or recognition
Reflecting on personal motives for generosity
Practicing hidden acts of service
Shifting focus from self to others
Becoming a vessel of love in daily life
Key Themes:
Almsgiving as spiritual transformation
Selflessness and humility
Generosity as love in action
Community and interconnectedness
Becoming the hands and feet of Christ
Scripture References:Matthew 6:1–4 – “Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”The call to give quietly and sincerely without seeking praise
Connect with Us:🌿 Website: thewonderfulcounselor.org📖 Instagram: @the_wonderful_counselor🕊 Facebook: The Wonderful Counselor
If this episode encouraged you to grow in generosity and humility this Lenten season, would you leave a review? It helps more women discover this sacred space for Christ-centered healing and transformation.

In this reflective Lenten episode of Faithfully Healed, Latisha Sternod explores a question many quietly ask: Why would I pray in 2026? Isn’t prayer outdated?
With clarity, theological depth, and psychological insight, Latisha reframes prayer not as an antiquated ritual, but as a transformative interior practice, one that aligns both spiritual tradition and modern research. Drawing from Psalm 51, Carmelite spirituality, contemplative silence, and even secular mindfulness studies, she reveals how prayer reshapes the heart, calms the body, and restores the mind.
This episode is an invitation to rediscover silence, not as emptiness, but as encounter. Whether you're new to prayer or returning after a long time away, this conversation offers practical encouragement to begin with just five minutes a day and allow God’s grace to do the rest.
In this episode, we talk about:
Why prayer is still relevant in 2026
The connection between counseling, support, and turning to God
Psalm 51 and the desire for a clean, renewed heart
Vocal prayer vs. contemplative silence
Carmelite spirituality and the richness of Christian meditation
How modern mindfulness research supports ancient prayer practices
The physical and emotional effects of silence and stillness
Prayer as reorienting toward love when we’ve “missed the mark”
Grace as a gift—not something we earn
Starting small: five minutes of intentional stillness
Anchor Quote:“Create in me a clean heart.” – Psalm 51
Reflection:
What if prayer isn’t outdated—but underused?
What if the peace you’re seeking isn’t found in doing more—but in being still?
This Lent, where might God be inviting you to pause, endure the silence, and rediscover that you are made from love?
Resources & Mentions:
Spiritual Traditions Referenced:
Carmelite contemplative prayer
Lectio Divina (scripture meditation)
Psalm 51 renewal prayer
Practices Discussed:
Five minutes of silent prayer daily
Focusing on something loving and good
Persevering through racing thoughts and discomfort
Reorienting toward love when “off course”
Receiving grace through openness
Key Themes:
Prayer as interior transformation
Silence as strength
Grace as gift
Staying aligned with love
Endurance in spiritual practice
Scripture References: Psalm 51 – “Create in me a clean heart.” The call to return to love when we’ve “missed the mark” (understanding sin as being off course)
Connect with Us:🌿 Website: thewonderfulcounselor.org📖 Instagram: @the_wonderful_counselor🕊 Facebook: The Wonderful Counselor
If this episode encouraged you to begin, or begin again, your prayer life, would you leave a review? It helps more women discover this sacred space for Christ-centered healing and transformation.

In this powerful Lenten-focused episode of Faithfully Healed, Latisha Sternod and Jen Clark invite listeners into a sacred interior journey, from feeling like a burden to embracing the truth of being beloved.
As Ash Wednesday approaches, they unpack the deeper meaning of Lent beyond giving up chocolate or checking religious boxes. Through thoughtful dialogue, practical examples, and spiritual insight, they explore prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as transformative tools for interior renewal. This episode reframes Lent as an intentional season of metanoia, a change of mind and heart, where we confront distraction, soften hardened places, and allow Christ to shine more fully through us.
With warmth and clarity, Jen and Latisha explain how fasting isn’t just about food, prayer isn’t just reciting words, and almsgiving isn’t just donating money. Instead, Lent becomes a deeply personal invitation to spiritual growth, humility, and love, preparing us to receive Easter not just as a date on the calendar, but as a resurrection within.
In this episode, we talk about:
What Lent really means, and why it matters
The purpose of Ash Wednesday and receiving ashes
Repentance as metanoia: changing the way we think
Moving from negative self-beliefs to beloved identity
How prayer softens the heart in difficult relationships
Almsgiving as hidden acts of love and service
Fasting as sacrifice—not self-improvement
Fasting from devices, distractions, or harsh words
Why silence is essential for hearing God’s voice
How intentional interior work prepares us for Easter
Anchor Quote:“You are not burdened. You are beloved.” – Latisha Sternod
Reflection:What if Lent isn’t about losing something, but becoming someone?What if repentance isn’t shame, but renewal?This season, where might God be inviting you to soften, surrender, and step into the truth that you are deeply loved?
Resources & Mentions:
Books:A New Day, A New Start: Seek Your Sunshine by Jen ClarkThe Wonderful Counselor by Latisha Sternod
Lenten Practices Discussed:
Prayer: Honest, humble conversation with God
Almsgiving: Intentional, hidden acts of service
Fasting: Sacrifice that creates space for Christ
Silence: Reducing distraction to hear God clearly
Interior renewal before exterior expression
Key Themes:
Metanoia (repentance as a change of mind)
From self-focus to Christ-focus
From distraction to silence
From burdened identity to beloved truth
Scripture References:Genesis 3:19 – “Remember that you are dust…”Mark 1:15 – “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”Matthew 6:1–18 – Prayer, fasting, and almsgivingPsalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that I am God.”
Connect with Us:🌿 Website: thewonderfulcounselor.org📖 Instagram: @the_wonderful_counselor🕊 Facebook: The Wonderful Counselor
If this episode encouraged you as you enter the Lenten season, would you leave a review? It helps more women discover this sacred space for Christ-centered healing and identity renewal.

In the final part of the New Year, New Start series, Latisha Sternod and Jen Clark round out the SPIES wellness framework by diving into Intellectual, Emotional, and Social wellness. This episode is an uplifting, wisdom-filled guide to growing your mind, nurturing your heart, and fostering healthy relationships, key areas that often go overlooked in personal development plans.
Through heartfelt stories, expert insight, and faith-filled encouragement, Jen and Latisha inspire listeners to embrace lifelong learning, emotional resilience, and vibrant community connection in 2026. Whether you're an introvert finding your pace or a couple looking to grow together, this episode offers practical steps to thrive in every season.
In this episode, we talk about:
What intellectual wellness looks like beyond school and degrees
How learning a new skill or language stimulates brain health
Tips for setting intellectual goals without pressure
Why a growth mindset and grace matter in adult learning
Healthy emotional processing and personal emotional strategies
The impact of inner dialogue and speaking life over yourself
The role of community in emotional health
How social connection boosts longevity and joy
Creating intentional relationships in every season of life
The importance of putting yourself “in the arena” to connect
Anchor Quote:“Put yourself in the arena. You were made for connection. God created us to be in communion with one another.” – Jen Clark
Reflection:What if this year you didn’t aim to master everything—but simply chose to start something new, feel more deeply, and connect more intentionally? What if learning, healing, and community were your holiest pursuits? Step into this season of growth, knowing that every step matters and grace meets you in every new beginning.
Resources & Mentions:
Framework:SPIES – Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, Social(This episode focuses on Intellectual, Emotional, and Social wellness)
Books:
A New Day, A New Start: Seek Your Sunshine by Jen Clark
The Wonderful Counselor by Latisha Sternod
Tools & Tips:
Intellectual goals: Read 5 books, learn an instrument, take an adventure
Emotional strategies: Music, journaling, exercise, prayer, solitude
Inner dialogue: Speak life over your body and your efforts
Social tips: Connect through shared interests, service, or faith groups
Grace reminder: Mastery takes 10,000 hours—start with your first 10
Scripture Reference:
Proverbs 18:21 – “The tongue has the power of life and death…”
Luke 5:16 – “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 – “Two are better than one… if either of them falls, one can help the other up.”
Connect with Us:🌿 Website: thewonderfulcounselor.org📖 Instagram: @the_wonderful_counselor🕊 Facebook: The Wonderful Counselor
If this episode inspired you, please leave a review. It helps more women walk into healing, wholeness, and wholehearted connection.

In this powerful continuation of our New Year, New Start series, Latisha Sternod and Jen Clark shift the focus from spiritual growth to physical and intellectual renewal. This episode is full of practical encouragement and expert insight to help you step into 2026 with clarity, intention, and grace—especially when it comes to your body and your mind.
From cardio and strength training to lifelong learning and curiosity, Jen and Latisha explore how to set sustainable goals rooted in love, not shame. You’ll learn how to embrace the physical body as a temple of the Holy Spirit and how to expand your intellectual life in alignment with your calling and gifts.
In this episode, we talk about:
Why traditional New Year’s resolutions often fail—and what works instead
A holistic approach to physical wellness: cardio, strength, flexibility, rest, and nutrition
How to create realistic fitness goals at any age or ability level
Viewing self-care as sacred, not selfish
How to listen to your body to prevent burnout or injury
Nutritional basics: clean eating without shame or extremes
The importance of water and movement to detox the body and spirit
Intellectual wellness: lifelong learning as worship
How to expand your knowledge through reading, research, and creative expression
Anchor Quote:“Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Taking care of your body isn’t vanity—it’s honoring God’s presence in you.” – Jen Clark
Reflection:What if your fitness goal wasn’t about changing your body, but loving it well? What if nourishing your mind could be a form of prayer? This year, don’t just grow stronger—grow truer to the person God created you to be.
Resources & Mentions:
Framework:
SPIES – Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, Social(This episode focuses on Physical & Intellectual; Emotional & Social coming in Part 3)
Books:
A New Day, A New Start: Seek Your Sunshine by Jen Clark
The Wonderful Counselor by Latisha Sternod
Tools & Tips:
SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound
Nutrition tip: “If you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it.”
Fitness tip: Cardio (aerobic & anaerobic), strength, flexibility, and rest are all essential
Intellectual growth idea: Read books, explore saints’ writings, try a new creative outlet
Scripture Reference:1 Corinthians 6:19 – “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit?”
Matthew 22:39 – “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Connect with Us:🌿 Website: thewonderfulcounselor.org📖 Instagram: @the_wonderful_counselor🕊 Facebook: The Wonderful Counselor
If this episode encouraged you, would you leave a review? It helps more women embrace healing and wholeness, body, mind, and soul.

In this energizing and soul-centered start to 2026, Latisha Sternod and Jen Clark kick off a special three-part series: New Year, New Start. This episode focuses on the most essential dimension of personal growth, spiritual formation. Whether you’re brand new to faith or a lifelong Christian ready to go deeper, this conversation offers powerful tools, reflections, and ideas to ground your goals in divine purpose.
Latisha and Jen introduce the “SPIES” framework for holistic living—spiritual, physical, intellectual, emotional, and social—and dive deep into the S: spirituality. They offer practical guidance on how to explore or strengthen your faith life through prayer, tradition, scripture, and community.
In this episode, we talk about:
How to create spiritual goals that match your unique starting point
Exploring faith for the first time or returning after a long pause
The promise of God when you seek Him with a sincere heart
Practical ideas for growing spiritually: Mass, Adoration, retreats, pilgrimages
Using tools like the Catechism in a Year and Bible in a Year
The value of Christian spiritual traditions (Carmelites, Franciscans, Jesuits)
Why community matters in your spiritual journey
How to approach prayer with patience, grace, and real expectations
Anchor Quote:“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can… Make your spiritual goal achievable so you feel victory—not shame.” – Jen Clark
 
Reflection:Your spiritual life doesn’t need to be impressive—it just needs to be intentional. Whether you’re lighting a candle for the first time or signing up for your first pilgrimage, God meets you where you are. And He walks with you every step of the way.
Resources & Mentions:Framework:SPIES – Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, Social (Full series continues in future episodes)
Apps & Tools:
Formed – Catholic digital content platform
Hallow – Prayer & meditation app
Catechism in a Year and Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz
Books:
A New Day, A New Start: Seek Your Sunshine by Jen Clark
The Wonderful Counselor by Latisha Sternod
Scripture Reference:Matthew 7:7 – “Seek and you will find.”Psalm 34:4 – “I sought the Lord, and He answered me.”
Connect with Us:🌿 Website: thewonderfulcounselor.org📖 Instagram: @the_wonderful_counselor🕊 Facebook: The Wonderful Counselor
If this episode blessed you, please leave a review. It helps other women find the space they need to grow, heal, and walk closely with Christ in the year ahead.

In this heartfelt and theologically-rich episode of Faithfully Healed, Latisha Sternod and Jen Clark explore what true healing really means, from the physical pain in our bodies to the hidden wounds in our spirits. With honesty, compassion, and practical wisdom, they unpack how healing is more than symptom relief, it’s a full-body, full-soul transformation.
Drawing from scripture, personal stories, and decades of counseling and coaching experience, they reveal why healing often includes suffering, how Christ models embodied wholeness, and what it means to truly answer the question: Do you want to be healed?
In this episode, we talk about:
The intersection of spiritual, emotional, and physical healing
John 1:14 and the meaning of the Word becoming flesh
Why some pain remains—and how God still heals through it
The example of Paul’s thorn and suffering as spiritual refinement
Exposure therapy, scripture, and facing the thing that hurts
How bitterness or grief can block healing—and how to release it
Why anger at God is normal—and where it can lead you
The deeper “why” of healing and how it connects to our purpose
Anchor Quote: “With a strong, healthy body, you can be your best you. You bring joy to God by loving others with renewed energy, which brings renewed life.” – Jen Clark
Reflection: Healing may not come the way you imagined—but it is coming. It might look like tears. Or truth. Or doing that painful stretch one more time. Christ doesn't just want to fix you. He wants to transform you.
Resources & Mentions:Books:
A New Day, A New Start: Seek Your Sunshine by Jen Clark (Page 102: Final reflection)
The Wonderful Counselor by Latisha Sternod (Page 38: John 1:14 – “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us”)
Scripture References:
John 1:14 – “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
2 Corinthians 12:7–9 – Paul’s thorn and God's grace
John 5:6 – “Do you want to be healed?”
Connect with Us:🌿 Website: thewonderfulcounselor.org📖 Instagram: @the_wonderful_counselor🕊 Facebook: The Wonderful Counselor
If this episode blessed you, would you leave a review? It helps more women find this sacred space for Christ-centered healing in body, mind, and soul.

In this rich and spiritually grounding episode of Faithfully Healed, Latisha Sternod and Jen Clark explore the beauty of sacred movement, how prayer and physical embodiment unite to bring deeper peace, healing, and wholeness. From walking rosaries and kneeling postures to mountain biking meditations, they reveal that your body isn’t just a vessel, it’s a participant in prayer.
Latisha breaks down how somatic practices, backed by neuroscience and Christian tradition, invite us into deeper communion with God. Whether you’re holding tension in your body, struggling to focus during prayer, or simply yearning for more integration between your faith and daily life, this episode offers hope and practical tools.
In this episode, we talk about:
What it means to pray with your body, not just your words
The neuroscience behind emotions, thoughts, and behaviors
How Catholic liturgy is deeply somatic, engaging all the senses
Walking rosaries as embodied meditation
Why stretching can be a spiritual practice
Practical ways to regulate anxiety while staying present with God
The power of posture in prayer: kneeling, lying down, or biking with the Lord
Why it’s okay for your prayers to feel “crummy”, God still meets you there
Anchor Quote:“Our heart determines our thoughts. Our thoughts determine our words. Our words determine our behavior… therefore, our heart determines our destiny.” – Jen Clark
Reflection:Your body is not a distraction to prayer—it’s the place God wants to meet you. What if your healing isn’t about praying harder, but about praying truer—with your breath, your stretch, your tears, your steps?
Resources & Mentions:Books:
A New Day, A New Start: Seek Your Sunshine by Jen Clark (Page 79: Chapter “The Power of Seeking Joy”)
The Wonderful Counselor by Latisha Sternod (Page 97: Pursuing wellness and sanctity)
Scripture Reference:Colossians 3:15 – “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…”
Connect with Us: 🌿 Website: thewonderfulcounselor.org 📖 Instagram: @the_wonderful_counselor 🕊 Facebook: The Wonderful Counselor
If this episode stirred your soul, please consider leaving a review. It helps other women find this sacred space for body-based, faith-filled healing.

In this energizing and emotionally-rich episode of Faithfully Healed, Latisha Sternod and Jen Clark dive deep into the intersection of physical movement, emotional healing, and spiritual wholeness. Whether you're just starting a fitness journey or you're navigating post-surgical recovery, this conversation will remind you that God meets you in your body and in your breath.
Jen shares real-world insights from working with clients facing shame, obesity, injury, and trauma. You’ll learn how integrating fitness with faith creates more than physical change. It transforms your soul. Together, they unpack how mindset, grace, and small steps lead to a renewed, joy-filled way of being.
In this episode, we talk about:
Why fitness is more than weight loss—it’s spiritual transformation
How to overcome shame and harsh self-talk in the gym
Why just showing up can be a huge win
The emotional barriers that come with healing physical trauma
Why delayed results don’t mean failure—they’re proof of perseverance
Metanoia and the call to renew your mindset
The connection between physical suffering and holy transformation
Scripture, psychology, and somatic healing tools that empower change
Anchor Quote:“Sometimes just getting to the gym is a win. You walked in here. It’s a win. And if you just need to cry—cry. I’ll sit here with you.” – Jen Clark
Reflection:Your body is not a burden—it’s a temple. You don’t need to earn your worth by changing it. Healing starts where you are. Grace meets you in your first step.
Resources & Mentions:Books:
A New Day, A New Start: Seek Your Sunshine by Jen Clark (Page 40: “Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit…”)
The Wonderful Counselor by Latisha Sternod (Appendix A, Page 96: Regulating your nervous system for healing)
Scripture Reference:1 Corinthians 6:19 – “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit?”
Connect with Us:🌿 Website: thewonderfulcounselor.org📖 Instagram: @the_wonderful_counselor🕊 Facebook: The Wonderful Counselor
If this episode blessed you, would you leave a review? It helps more women find hope, healing, and holy wholeness.