Mind and Spirit: Episode 1
Hey friends! Welcome to the very first episode of Mind and Spirit, the podcast where Catholic faith meets psychology and we explore what real healing looks like. I’m Luke Johanni, and for this inaugural episode I’m sharing my “why”—why I chose to become a Catholic‑integrated therapist, and how God transformed my mess into a mission.
“How God transformed my mess into a mission.”
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
My Story: From Struggle to Calling
Let’s go back, way back, to when I was a kid. I grew up Catholic. Tradition and reverence everywhere. And yet, I somehow absorbed this idea that I had to earn God’s love. Maybe you’ve felt that too, like if you don’t hit some invisible standard, you don’t measure up.
It weighed on me. I remember sitting in church and thinking, “I can’t even say ‘I love You’ without feeling shame.” That shame spiraled into some very dark places.
Then everything shifted. The parable of the Prodigal Son, this story I’d heard a thousand times, became real. Suddenly, I wasn’t just listening to a parable; I was the younger son. I saw a Father who didn’t wait for me to clean up but ran to meet me. I felt mercy for the first time. That planted the seed for what I’m doing now.
I can’t even say ‘I love You.’ without feeling shame.
Brokenness & Breakthrough
My path from that moment to becoming a therapist? It’s been messy. I’ve seen corners of the Church that radiated grace and others that were rigid and cold. As a teenager, my depression got so bad that I became suicidal, not because I hated God, but because the version of God I’d been taught about didn’t feel loving.
Yet God never stopped pursuing me. He kept showing up in unexpected ways. For example, in conversations with priests that I had been told did not provide sound wisdom or counsel. Those conversations told me something that shook me: “God isn’t who you think He is.” It was like a crack of light in the dark.
Following that truth cost me. I was eventually kicked out of my home for doing what those priests suggested. It hurt. But it forced me onto a path toward freedom. I took a job, went to college, at Ave Maria University, and basically challenged God: “If You’re not who I have been taught You are, You’ve got these college years to show me.” Slowly but surely, He did. That journey led me to study psychology and eventually become the Catholic‑integrated therapist I wish I’d had when everything felt hopeless.
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
What I see & Why It Matters
Now, in my practice, one of the biggest heartbreaks I see is Catholics who think their mental health struggles mean they’re failing spiritually. They say, “I just need to pray more,” as if that alone will fix anxiety or depression.
Let’s be clear: prayer is powerful. But if you break your leg, you don’t just pray and ignore the doctor. You pray and go to the doctor. It’s the same with your mind and heart. Catholic spirituality and therapy aren’t enemies. Together they bring freedom. Breaking that stigma and helping people integrate sacramental life, prayer, and good clinical care is a huge part of why I’m here.
Catholic spirituality and therapy aren’t enemies. Together they bring freedom.
What Healing Means
When I talk about healing, I don’t just mean “stop feeling sad.” I mean restoration, like a torn tapestry being rewoven. It’s your mind being renewed, your emotions being healed, your spirit connecting with your identity as God’s beloved child, and your relationships being restored. This happens so addressing the Four Dimensions of each person, which are:
- Biological
- Psychological
- Social
- Spiritual
And in a Catholic context, that restoration is deepened through the sacraments, through prayer, and through the communal life of the Church. At Mind and Spirit, I look at all of that. You’re not a problem to be fixed; you’re a whole person to be loved back into wholeness.
Your not a problem to be fixed; your a whole person to be loved into wholeness.
Life Lessons: Marriage & Fatherhood
Marriage and fatherhood have shaped me more than any textbook. They’re like sanctification boot camps. I’ve learned that love isn’t always a feeling, it’s a choice you make daily. My wife and I have this habit: we check in with our “percentage.” I might say, “Hey, I’m at 20% today.” It’s shorthand for, “I’m running low; please give me grace.” It’s simple, but it’s changed our marriage.
Parenting keeps me humble. Kids will push your buttons and reveal your heart. They make you realize that patience and grace aren’t options; they’re necessities. And that’s true in therapy too. Healing is less about having it all together and more about showing up with honesty and receiving grace.
They make you realize that patience and grace aren’t options; they’re necessities.
Why Restored Christian Counseling?
Why call my practice “Restored”? Because that’s what happened to me. I was the prodigal son, and when I turned back, God didn’t scold me, He ran to me. Restoration isn’t a rewind; it’s a remake. It’s about becoming whole in a new, redeemed way. It takes time. It can hurt. But it’s beautiful.
Restoration isn’t a rewind; it’s a remake.
My dream is that everyone who walks through my doors will one day say, “I know who I am. I know why I was made. And I know that I’m loved.” That’s the heartbeat behind everything I do.
I know who I am. I know why I was made. And I know that I’m loved.
Closing Thought & Prayer
If you’re listening and you’re carrying shame, anxiety, or confusion about God and mental health hear me: You are not alone! There’s hope. There’s healing. And there’s a Father who runs toward you.
Let’s pray:
Father, for everyone who feels broken or weary or far from You, meet them right now. Remind them You are a God of mercy, not shame. Restore their hearts the way You’ve restored mine. Amen.
Taking Action
If this resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, or share this with someone who needs encouragement. For more reflections and bite‑sized reminders of how Catholic faith and mental health go hand in hand, follow me on Instagram @LukeJohanni or visit RestoredChristianCounseling.com. Each week, I’m sharing short clips and resources for Catholics seeking integration.
Thanks for joining me on this first episode. I’m Luke Johanni, and this has been Mind and Spirit. Your story isn’t over. Restoration is possible, and it starts with a Father who’s already running toward you.
Your story isn’t over. Restoration is possible, and it starts with a Father who’s already running toward you.
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