Can you be grateful while grieving? Should you even try? In this episode, licensed marriage and family therapist Adam Cross tackles one of the most challenging tensions in Catholic spiritual life: how to honor our grief while maintaining gratitude for God's goodness.

Drawing on Scripture, theological insights from Father Raniero Cantalamessa and Dr. Shan Tobin, and his clinical experience, Adam explores:

• Why "just be grateful" advice can feel dismissive (even when well-intentioned)
• The biblical story of St. Paul singing hymns in prison
• How God became man to suffer with us, not just console us from a distance
• The connection between Mary's trust and her joy
• Practical ways to hold space for both grief and gratitude in your own life and with others

This isn't about dismissing pain or forcing positivity. It's about recognizing that grief and gratitude aren't mutually exclusive but can exist together as we wait for God's resurrection in our lives.

Key Quote: "The opposite of sin is not virtue, but praise. The opposite of sin is remembering that God is goodness."

Referenced Resources:

• "Big God Little Devil" by Dr. Shan Tobin
• Father Raniero Cantalamessa (Preacher to the Papal Household)
• Sister Miriam James on Mary's fiat

Whether you're navigating your own season of grief or walking alongside someone who is, this episode offers theological depth and practical wisdom for honoring both the weight of suffering and the hope of the Gospel.

About Adam Cross: Adam Cross is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) based in Southern California, specializing in Catholic therapy and integrating faith with mental health treatment.

Connect with Adam: Website: www.adamcrosslmft.com Instagram: @adamcrosslmft

What's it really like to sit across from a Catholic therapist who specializes in shame, addiction, and anxiety?

In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross, LMFT (#116623), sits down with Luis Lopez, AMFT (#147456) one of the clinicians at the Catholic Therapy Center, to explore what happens inside the therapy room when faith meets clinical practice.

Topics covered:

• Creating a safe space where honesty can actually happen
• Why shame makes us lie (even to our therapists)
• How attachment wounds impact our ability to trust and connect
• The purpose of suffering in both healing and spiritual growth
• Why therapy isn't about being comfortable all the time
• How mental health work prepares us for sainthood

If you've ever wondered whether therapy could help you grow not just mentally but spiritually, this conversation will give you hope that healing is possible, and holiness is within reach.

Have questions? Visit my website: adamcrossmft.com Adam Cross, LMFT #116623

Do you ever take yourself too seriously when it comes to healing?

In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross, LMFT (#116623), explores how humor can be a powerful healing tool in therapy and spiritual growth.

Drawing on GK Chesterton's wisdom and the reminder that seriousness is not a fruit of the Holy Spirit, Adam explains why taking ourselves lightly (while not taking sin lightly) creates space for genuine transformation. He unpacks the mystery of suffering, the limits of intellectual understanding, and why childlike levity helps us trust God more deeply in our brokenness.

Topics covered:

• Why humor belongs in the therapeutic process
• The difference between dismissing pain and laughing through it
• How taking ourselves lightly reflects childlike trust in God
• Why suffering is a mystery beyond full comprehension
• The role of laughter in building trust with your therapist
• How God's mercy makes our sin "not too special"

Healing doesn't always look serious. Sometimes the most profound growth happens when we remember we're children of God and trust that our struggles aren't too much for Him.

Have questions? Visit my website: adamcrossmft.com Adam Cross, LMFT #116623

What does Catholic therapy actually look like? And how does faith integration work when clients come from different backgrounds or beliefs?

In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross, LMFT (#116623), sits down with colleague Kolbe Young, APCC, a holistic trauma therapist at the Catholic Therapy Center. Together they unpack what makes Catholic therapy unique, how it serves people across all walks of life, and why working with the body is essential to emotional and psychological healing.

Topics covered:

• Why Kolbe chose to become a Catholic therapist
• How Catholic integration adapts to each client's needs
• The difference between therapy, spiritual direction, and confession
• What happens in a typical Catholic therapy session
• Understanding trauma through a body-based (somatic) lens
• Practical grounding techniques for everyday life
• The Catholic understanding of dignity, suffering, and healing

Whether you're curious about Catholic therapy or actively seeking a therapist, this conversation offers hope, clarity, and an invitation to take one small step toward healing.

Have questions? Visit my website: adamcrossmft.com Adam Cross, LMFT #116623

Do you approach confession with anxiety, feeling like you're about to be judged and condemned?

In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross, LMFT (#116623) unpacks how to heal an unhealthy, fear-based approach to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Drawing on insights from Father Jacques Philippe and reflecting on God's justice as restoration (not punishment), Adam helps listeners understand confession as a return to spousal love rather than a trip to the principal's office.

Topics covered:

• Why confession often feels like judgment instead of mercy
• Understanding God's justice as restoration, not retribution
• The spousal love context between Christ and the Church
• Why God's forgiveness is available immediately when we sin
• How to avoid the lie that "nothing matters until I get to confession"
• Staying focused on God's mercy instead of our own weakness

This is an invitation to approach the sacrament with peace, freedom, and trust in the Father's love.

Have questions? Visit my website: adamcrossmft.com Adam Cross, LMFT #116623

Many Catholics wonder whether online therapy can truly offer the same healing as meeting face-to-face. In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross, LMFT (#116623) explores the question: Does telehealth therapy really work?

Drawing from his own clinical experience, Adam breaks down the pros and cons of telehealth and in-person therapy, how both approaches serve the human person, and what it means to encounter Christ in the digital age of counseling.

Topics covered: • Why telehealth became essential after COVID and how it changed therapy • The spiritual and relational power of being physically present • Accessibility and opportunity—how telehealth expands Catholic therapy • What research says about the effectiveness of online sessions • When in-person therapy is better for children and teens • How trust, honesty, and fit matter more than format • Finding faithful Catholic therapists, wherever you live • Why healing begins in vulnerability, not proximity

Tune in for a thoughtful and encouraging reflection on how faith and technology can work together for healing—showing that grace can reach us anywhere, even through a screen.

Have questions? Visit my website: adamcrossmft.com Adam Cross, LMFT #116623

Many Catholics hesitate to begin therapy because it can feel clinical, impersonal, or disconnected from faith. In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross is joined by Danielle Enriquez, LMFT #152199, for a candid conversation about what Catholic therapy really looks like in practice. Together, they explore how clinical tools and Catholic spirituality unite to bring authentic healing rooted in Christ.

Topics covered:

• Why Catholic integration in therapy matters and how it protects faith and conscience • Danielle’s personal story of anxiety, healing, and her call to become a therapist • What to expect in your first sessions and why healing can feel harder before it feels better • How tools like CBT, Internal Family Systems, and the Empty Chair can deepen healing • Anxiety, scrupulosity, and perfectionism—finding freedom through grace • “Progress, not perfection,” how faith reframes growth and recovery • Why identity as God’s beloved is the foundation of lasting peace

Tune in for a hopeful, faith-filled conversation on what it means to encounter Christ in therapy—where psychology meets prayer, and wounded hearts discover they are seen, loved, and capable.

Have questions? Visit my website: adamcrossmft.com Adam Cross, LMFT #116623

Many Catholics wonder if they need a Catholic therapist, and if so, how to find one. In this episode, licensed marriage and family therapist Adam Cross shares why trust is essential in any therapy relationship, what makes Catholic therapy unique, and where to look for faithful resources.

Drawing from his clinical practice and Catholic tradition, Adam explains the importance of Catholic anthropology in healing, why faith matters in therapy, and how to discern if a therapist is a good fit for your needs.

Topics covered:

• Do you need a Catholic therapist? Why any therapy is better than none, and when faith becomes essential.

• Trust and fit in therapy, why the relationship itself is part of healing.

• Catholic anthropology, what it means to view healing through a Catholic lens.

• Resources for finding Catholic therapists, including CatholicTherapist.com, the Catholic Psychotherapist Association, and the Catholic Therapy Center.

• The role of the Holy Spirit in the healing journey.

• How to use online tools and directories to connect with the right therapist.

Tune in for a hopeful and practical conversation on faith, psychology, and taking the next step toward healing.

Have questions? Visit my website: adamcrossmft.com Adam Cross LMFT #116623