Soul Talks With Bill & Kristi Gaultiere

We each have habitual approaches to securing ourselves that come out of our unhealthy selves. When we learn to recognize these false messages operating in the background of our activities, we grow in awareness of our own needs and emotions.  Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi discuss how to use your  Enneagram map for growth and health. Through the example of Enneagram Twos, you’ll see how you can employ this map to recognize when you are depending on yourself to have your needs met rather than depending on Jesus. These targeted insights into your personality give you a path for growth and help you understand those you love.Resources for this Episode:Your Enneagram Map: Guides For Each Type to Flourish in God’s LoveHealthy Feelings, Thriving Faith: Growing Emotionally and Spiritually Through the EnneagramEnneagram & Emotional Free AssessmentEnneagram & Emotions CourseSoul Shepherding Enneagram Resources

Much of our personalities are unconscious and habitual defense mechanisms and coping patterns for dealing with pain, problems, and sin, causing us to miss God’s love and grace. The power of the Enneagram as a tool is to help us grow in self-awareness so we can receive God’s grace in areas we need it most.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi explore Your Enneagram Map: Guides For Each Type to Flourish in God’s Love. We each have three to four subsidiary types for our primary Enneagram type, and this resource will help you understand the patterns of interaction between these wing, stress, and growth types both in your personality and in your relationships with others. As you learn to receive empathy for your specific areas of struggle, you can discover authentic joy.Resources for this Episode:Your Enneagram Map: Guides For Each Type to Flourish in God’s LoveHealthy Feelings, Thriving Faith: Growing Emotionally and Spiritually Through the EnneagramEnneagram & Emotions CourseEnneagram &am

Our journey of self-awareness is intertwined with our journey of knowing God. Having language to describe our experiences and understand ourselves and others helps us to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves. This knowledge opens the door for repentance and personal growth.Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi unpack the benefits of the Enneagram for intimacy with Jesus and emotional health. The Enneagram helps us become healthier, whole, and holy as we gain awareness of our unconscious sin, stress, and pain and learn how our personality blocks us from depending on Jesus. As you understand the challenges you and your loved ones face in your personalities, you can minister the Lord’s empathy to one another and become more like Jesus. Resources for this Episode:Healthy Feelings, Thriving Faith: Growing Emotionally and Spiritually Through the EnneagramEnneagram & Emotions Course

Perhaps you have been curious about the Enneagram, but wonder about its origins and symbol. As Christians we ask questions of any tool we use — is this consistent with the teachings and values of the Bible? Is it helping me in my relationship with God? Is this helping me to become a more loving person? God is the source of truth, and all truth is God’s truth.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi discuss using the Enneagram as Christians. As teachers of the Enneagram for over 15 years, they have found it to be a powerful tool for personal growth to help us understand the complexities of our personality — including our unconscious sin, pain, and defense mechanisms. You’ll learn a discerning and Christ-centered approach to the Enneagram that will deepen your intimacy with Jesus so you can grow in Christ-likeness.Resources for this Episode:Enneagram & Emotions CourseHealthy Feelings, Thriving Faith: Growing Emotionally and Spiritually Through the EnneagramSoul Shepherding Sr. Spiritual Dir

Our thoughts influence how we feel and act, and some of the thoughts in our heads can keep us from fully embracing God’s life and love for us. Allowing all of these narratives to remain unchecked can hinder our growth, but there is hope for us to quiet the noise and discern the voice of our Lord.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Kristi and Gem Fadling discuss Gem’s newest book, Hold That Thought: Sorting Through the Voices in Our Heads. As they share some of the important questions you can ask of the thoughts in your head, you’ll learn to agree with God’s grace, become aware of the work of the enemy, and embrace a new pattern of noticing, discerning, and responding so you can be a vessel who overflows God’s love to others.Resources for this Episode:Hold That Thought: Sorting Through The Voices In Our HeadsSoul Shepherding Sr. Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding Sr. Coaches

Our stories are powerful. We make sense of our own soul stories as we find ourselves in God and his story becomes our story. Living reflectively, engaging curiosity, and cultivating a calm presence requires slowing down in our ordinary, day to day existence, so our story is woven together with Jesus.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi talk with Rich Villodas about his new book, Good and Beautiful and Kind: Becoming Whole in a Fractured World. You’ll be encouraged to live out of your true center, practicing abiding in Jesus, the calmest presence of all. As we live the contemplative life, Jesus himself enters our wounds, redeeming our stories so we can become wounded healers.Resources for this Episode:Good and Beautiful and Kind: Becoming Whole in a Fractured WorldEnneagram and Emotions ResourcesSoul Shepherding InstituteSoul Shepherding NetworkEarn a Certificate in Spiritual Direction

Weariness, compassion fatigue, and burnout are the natural result of statistics like these: 44% of pastors are not taking a regular day off, let alone a sabbath day, 63% are not getting enough exercise based on the recommended minimum, 31% get no exercise at all, and 85% of pastors have never taken a sabbatical. We need the renewal that comes from truly resting in God’s presence.  Tune in to Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi unpack our universal need for rest. You’ll receive practical tips for real rest through relational and individual disciplines that you can practice anywhere to draw in close to the Lord. Even small moments of time throughout your day can become opportunities for restorative intimacy with Jesus.Resources for this Episode:Sabbaticalguide.comSoul Shepherding InstituteSoul Shepherding Sr. Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding Sr. CoachesBreath Prayer Guides

Spiritual rest in God’s presence is so important for our mental health. Yet sometimes we avoid true rest because we fear the influx of unprocessed emotional distress that rises up when we create space to slow down. Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi examine the importance of rest for our mental health. Jesus set boundaries to care for his own soul by resting and prioritizing intimacy with his Abba. You can train in real rest with Jesus that invigorates you, focuses you, and makes you emotionally alive in order to flourish in your work, relationships, and ministry. Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding InstituteThe Mental Health CollectiveSoul Shepherding NetworkSoul Shepherding Sr. Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding Sr. CoachesSabbatical Guide and Sabbatical CoachingEnneagram & Emotions Video CourseHealthy Feelings, Thriving Faith: Growing Emotionally and Spiritually Through the EnneagramSoul Shepherding Enneagram Resources

How is therapy different from spiritual direction? How do I know which one I need? Understanding the difference is important, especially when there are not enough professionals to meet the growing mental health need. Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi explore the distinctives and overlap between therapy and spiritual direction. While mental health disorders require the skills and training of a therapist for diagnosis and treatment, many of the things we often associate with therapy can be discussed in spiritual direction. Emotions, anxiety, discouragement, relationship problems, distress, conflict, and hurt can be processed with a spiritual director in a prayerful, safe, and confidential space where you can be emotionally honest and receive the care and love of Jesus.Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding InstituteSoul Shepherding Sr. Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding Sr. CoachesSpiritual Direction Training CertificateHealthy Feelings, Thriving Faith: Growing Emotionally and Spir

We can use spiritual disciplines in ways that are healing and helpful or in ways that are ineffective and toxic for our mental health. If we deny or negate our emotions, disciplines are not helpful because they disconnect our deeper self from God and from other people.Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi discuss the mental health benefits of customized spiritual disciplines. If practiced with emotional honesty, spiritual disciplines tailored to your personality can help you become more aware of your emotions, needs, brokenness, and sin so you can confess them, ask for what you need, and receive compassion and grace where you need it most.Resources for this Episode:Healthy Feelings, Thriving Faith: Growing Emotionally and Spiritually Through the EnneagramEnneagram & Emotions CourseSoul Shepherding Enneagram Resources

When anxiety grips us, it can feel like the walls are closing in. Anxiety disorders affect 31% of Americans, and all of us will experience anxiety and stress overload at some point in our lives. Even though this feels like an inescapable part of life, it is possible to experience freedom from anxiety! Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi explore anxiety and panic attacks. Though it is common to think avoiding triggers is the answer, anxiety presents an opportunity from the Lord to dig deeper into underlying emotions. You will understand the roots of anxiety, find pathways for dealing with these feelings, and access the support you need. You don’t have to let anxiety limit your life.Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding’s Enneagram & Emotions CoursePre-order Healthy Feelings, Thriving FaithSoul Shepherding InstituteSpiritual Direction Training ProgramSoul Shepherding Sr. Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding Sr. Coaches

Many Christians are told their depression is a lack of faith, and if they only think differently and trust God their depression will go away. This sort of shaming holds us back from getting the help we need. Mental health conditions affect our ability to access our insight, intelligence, and brainpower and can disconnect us from God.  Depression is paralyzing, but action is curative.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi help us understand depression. You’ll learn about the spectrum of depression and various interventions that help so you can join Jesus in his love and ministry to those suffering in this way.Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding Sr. Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding Sr. CoachesSpiritual Direction Training CertificateCoaching Training Program

Suicide is an issue that isn’t often discussed in church. Yet it is the 12th leading cause of death in the US and the 3rd leading cause of death for ages 10-19. As soul shepherds, we have an opportunity to compassionately love those struggling with mental health challenges, and most tenderly, anyone who is suicidal.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi discuss suicide and God’s mercy for the hurting. You will learn some warning signs of suicide, ways to check in with someone who is struggling, and steps to get them help. As we care for those in a vulnerable state, we want to minister God’s kindness, empathy, and love to them.Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding Institute

When you picture Jesus looking at you, do you see a smile? Many of us find we project a frown or a distant look on the face of God. But Jesus’ shining face is looking at you with a smile of love, and you can learn to see it! Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi discuss the shelter of Jesus’ smiling face against the attacks of the enemy. Reflecting on an older translation of Psalm 31:20, they share the importance of agreeing with God’s grace and the challenges we face with that based on our stage of faith and our personality. You’ll learn ways of training to overcome unhealthy aspects of your personality that limit you from seeing his smile for you.Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding InstituteHealthy Feelings, Thriving Faith: Growing Emotionally and Spiritually Through the Enneagram

Areas of stress are opportunities for the enemy to drive us down. The father of lies takes something that is true and twists it into a half-truth with a lie embedded in it, hitting us right in the most vulnerable parts of our personality. Yet, with God as our shield, we can refute the lies of the enemy!Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi share personally about recent attacks from the enemy. Understanding our emotions is the key to understanding our personality, particularly the four core emotions of anger, shame, anxiety and sadness. By working through those emotions we grow in self-awareness, intimacy with Jesus, and the ability to wake up and reject the lies of the enemy.Resources for this Episode:Healthy Feelings, Thriving Faith: Growing Emotionally and Spiritually Through the EnneagramBreath Prayer Guides

Each day we experience the accusations and lies of the enemy that target our specific areas of weakness and bury us in fear, anxiety, resentment, shame, and isolation. Yet scripture tells us we are safe when we submit to God Almighty, our Creator and Redeemer, and resist the devil.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi unpack the accusations of the enemy and how we can learn to agree with God’s grace instead. As you understand the ways the enemy attacks you personally, you can resist his lies and seek the help of brothers and sisters to receive God’s grace.Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding InstitutePre-order Healthy Feelings, Thriving Faith:Growing Emotionally and Spiritually Through the Enneagram

You don’t have to be perfect. God often does his best work of grace telling the story of Jesus through our brokenness. As he meets us right where we are, we can learn to move from the cycle of works to the cycle of grace. Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi discuss Spirit-led Ministry from the CHRIST stages. While there isn’t less stress during this stage, there is less striving. In Spirit-led ministry you can learn to depend on the presence of the Risen Christ at work to empower you with his strength, giftings, abilities, and power like a sailboat is activated by the wind. Resources for this Episode:Journey of the Soul: A Practical Guide to Emotional and Spiritual GrowthJourney of the Soul: Leader GuideJourney of the Soul: Soul Talk CardsSpiritual Growth Path AssessmentSoul Shepherding InstituteEarn a Certificate in Spiritual Direction

Have you ever wondered if your current experience of spiritual life is all there is? Seasons of feeling distant and dry can be reframed as opportunities for a journey of deeper intimacy with God as you come to understand the stages of spiritual growth.Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi explore the pathway for a life-changing spiritual journey. Understanding this roadmap gives you language for your own experience and opens doors for greater emotional honesty, freedom from shame, and deeper connection with the grace and power of God in your life.Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding InstituteJourney of the SoulSpiritual Direction Training ProgramSpiritual Growth Path Assessment

As Jesus’ apprentices, we have an invitation to live a life that is immersed in God’s presence. But sometimes we default to serving him out of our own strength or trying to earn his love without realizing it. When we focus on our enthrallment with Jesus, we return to live with him as our ultimate mentor!Tune in to this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi explore this immersive life expressed in the great commission. By reminding yourself of past times in God’s presence and discovering new ways to awaken to his presence all around you, you’ll cultivate habits of thinking and feeling that deepen your apprenticeship to Jesus.Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding InstituteSoul Shepherding Sr. Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding Sr. Coaches

We tend to focus our attention and effort on our skills in ministry and the needs of those around us. Yet there is another way to encourage others to draw close to the Lord — through cultivating our own devotion to Jesus.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi discuss a meditation on Song of Solomon 1:3. “Draw me and we will run after the fragrance of your love,” from The Story of a Soul by St. Teresa of Lisieux.  You will be encouraged that your own devotion to Jesus can overflow and inspire others in their intimacy with Jesus, creating a community where we spur one another on to love and good deeds. Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding InstituteSoul Care Groups — Soul Shepherding Network