Episode Summary:

Anxiety is common in our community, and rarely talked about. Family therapist Lisa Makhlouf joins Debbie Draybi and Monsignor Shora to unpack From Anxiety to Anchored, the Hills Sanctuary House programme that brings psychology and faith together rather than setting them against each other. They talk honestly about spiritual bypassing, shame, and why praying harder is not the same as getting help. You will learn what anchored really means, how to spot faith being used as a mask, and why healing rarely happens alone.

Key Takeaways:

• Integrating spiritual practices with psychological insights can enhance mental health and spiritual wellbeing.
• Programs like "Anxiety to Anchored" demonstrate the effective fusion of faith and clinical therapy, fostering community healing.
• Addressing cultural stigmas around mental health within faith communities is vital for encouraging help-seeking behavior.
• Group-based programs provide not only education and support but also create spaces for collective healing and vulnerability sharing.
• There is a pressing need to tailor mental health programs to address specific demographics, such as women experiencing perimenopause-related anxiety.

Notable Quotes:

1. "The movement from anxiety to anchored is the faith. It's the knowing that I am here in this hard time, and yet I am not alone here." - Lisa Makhlouf
2. "When you do sit with someone and you do open up, it's not so complicated. It takes time, but it's a beautiful journey." - Monsignor Shora
3. "It's seeing all of them together and that they work together. They're connected." - Monsignor Shora
4. "I believe in the slow work of God. There is this slow work of God. I am held, I am loved, I am here." - Lisa Makhlouf
5. "Your presence matters for you and for the rest of the community because we benefit from being with each other." - Lisa Makhlouf

You and your mental health is important to us. If this episode brought up any heavy emotions, please know you do not need to carry them alone. Reach out to Lifeline, Beyond Blue, or the counselling service at Hills Sanctuary house at hshl.org.au 

Do subscribe to this podcast to get the latest episodes of Finding Sanctuary.

Follow us on
Facebook - Christ the Redeemer Maronite Catholic Parish of The Hills
Instagram - @hills_sanctuary_house
Blog - https://hshl.org.au/blog/