The Catholic Couch
The Catholic Couch is the official podcast of the Catholic Counseling Institute, where Catholic faith and psychological science meet real life. Hosted by licensed Catholic therapist Amber Pilkington, this podcast explores the intersection of theology, mental health, and human relationships.
Each episode offers practical tools, grounded in Church teaching and peer-reviewed research, on topics like marriage, boundaries, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, parenting, trauma, forgiveness, and healing.
This is not therapy. This is faithful, formative support—so you can grow in clarity, peace, and purpose.
Pull up a seat. There's a place here for you.
The Catholic Couch
"Top 10 Lies that Destroy Mental Health: Unmasking Spiritual Sabotage"
Top 10 Lies from the Devil Affecting Your Mental Health
In this episode of the Catholic Couch podcast, Amber Pilkington, a Catholic therapist, addresses the silent suffering of Catholics dealing with anxiety. She debunks the top 10 subtle lies from the devil that erode mental health and spiritual peace, particularly among those struggling with scrupulosity, perfectionism, and intrusive thoughts. Amber emphasizes how these lies distort spiritual truths, impeding peace and joy, and offers practical psychological and spiritual solutions to counter these falsehoods. This episode combines faith and neuroscience to help listeners recognize, debunk, and overcome these pervasive lies. Amber invites listeners to engage further with a course designed to provide lasting relief from scrupulosity and intrusive thoughts.
00:00 Introduction: The Silent Struggle with Anxiety
00:32 Top 10 Lies from the Devil Wrecking Your Mental Health
01:34 Lie #10: If You Don't Feel Forgiven, You Aren't
03:50 Lie #9: Joy is Suspicious
05:29 Lie #8: You Are Too Damaged to Be a Good Parent, Spouse, or Catholic
07:52 Lie #7: If I Set Boundaries, I'm Being Unloving
10:45 Lie #6: You Are Only Valuable When You're Useful
13:22 Lie #5: If You Need Help, You Are Weak
15:42 Identifying the Root of Your Pain
16:15 Understanding Scrupulosity and Anxiety
19:51 The Lie: Anxiety Equals Spiritual Failure
23:10 The Lie: God is Disappointed in Me
25:59 The Lie: Holiness Means No Anxiety
28:03 Steps to Overcome These Lies
29:02 Final Thoughts and Next Steps
https://catholiccounselinginstitute.thrivecart.com/survival-homemaking/
Disclaimer:
This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional counseling, spiritual direction, or medical advice. While I’m a licensed Catholic therapist, I am not your therapist—and listening to this podcast does not create a therapeutic relationship.If you’re experiencing significant distress, please reach out to a licensed mental health provider in your area, your parish priest, or a trusted support resource. If you're in crisis, contact 988 or your local emergency services.The Catholic Counseling Institute exists to support women with resources that integrate faith and psychological insight. We’re here to walk with you, but we are not a crisis line or emergency care provider.