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”Hope for the Mind” is a podcast dedicated to exploring the connection between mental health and Christian faith. Through real conversations, expert insights, and personal stories, we break the stigma surrounding mental health while offering encouragement, biblical wisdom, and practical strategies to help you navigate life’s challenges. Whether you’re struggling, healing, or seeking to support others, this podcast is here to remind you that faith and mental wellness go hand in hand. New episodes drop every week, featuring deep-dive interviews with therapists, counselors, and individuals sharing their journeys. Hosted by Kristin Ontiveros, who has an educational background in psychology and human services counseling specializing in PTSD, and is passionate about helping others thrive—mind, body, and spirit. Subscribe now and join the conversation. Let’s navigate mental health together with faith, hope, and healing.
Episodes
5 days ago
5 days ago
Today’s episode isn’t easy—but it’s urgent. Our children are growing up in a world we never had to navigate, and many are silently falling apart under the weight of anxiety, depression, identity confusion, and trauma. In this raw and necessary conversation, I open up about what’s really happening in the lives of our youth—and how the systems meant to support them (home, school, and church) are often missing the mark.
We’ll confront the hard truths: why suicide rates among teens are skyrocketing, why emotional disconnection is so prevalent in modern families, and how the Church sometimes fails to create space for real healing. But this episode isn’t just a lament—it’s a call to action. A call for parents to show up differently, for educators to rethink their role, and for churches to become true sanctuaries of hope and restoration.
This is a conversation about showing up. About listening. About creating safety. About becoming the hands and heart of Jesus to a generation drowning in silence. If you’re a parent, teacher, pastor, or mentor—this episode is for you.
Because it’s not too late. Because our kids are worth fighting for. Because hope is still alive.
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
Why does it seem like everyone thinks they have ADHD or Autism these days? In this episode of Hope for the Mind, Kristin unpacks the psychological phenomenon known as the Barnum Effect—the tendency to believe vague, general traits apply specifically to us. With the rise of mental health content online, it's easy to mistake common human struggles for clinical disorders. But not every relatable post equals a diagnosis.
Join Kristin as she explores:
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What the Barnum Effect is and how it tricks us
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Why self-diagnosing can be harmful, even with good intentions
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The difference between psychological traits and clinical criteria
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How to approach your mental health with both wisdom and faith
This episode is a must-listen for anyone questioning their identity, sifting through online content, or simply trying to better understand themselves without rushing to a label.
✨ You are more than a diagnosis. You are a story still being written.
Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
Shame doesn’t whisper—it screams. It tells you that you're unworthy, unlovable, too broken to be healed. But shame is a lie, and it’s time we call it out.
In this raw and powerful episode of Hope for the Mind, Kristin opens up about a topic many avoid: shame—how it infects our identity, sabotages relationships, distorts faith, and even leads some to the edge of despair. With biblical insight and psychological depth, she explores how shame differs from guilt, why it thrives in silence, and how even churches—places meant for healing—can become breeding grounds for shame if we’re not careful.
From Adam and Eve to the woman at the well, Scripture shows us a God who doesn't run from the ashamed but runs toward them. Shame may try to rewrite your story, but grace has the final word.
This episode speaks directly to the heart of anyone who has ever felt “less than,” who hides behind a smile, or who wonders if the world would be better without them. If that’s you—or someone you know—please listen. Please share. And if you’re struggling, don’t do it alone. Call or text 988, or visit hftmpodcast.com for more resources.
You are not your past. You are not your pain. You are not your shame. You are loved—and you are needed.
Wednesday May 28, 2025
Wednesday May 28, 2025
In this episode of Hope for the Mind, Kristin dives deep into Erik Erikson’s influential theory of psychosocial development. Discover how the eight stages—from infancy’s struggle with trust to late adulthood’s search for integrity—map out the human quest for identity, purpose, and connection. But this isn’t just psychology; it’s a spiritual journey. Kristin explores how each stage reflects challenges and opportunities for faith, showing how God meets us in our doubts, fears, and growth moments. Whether you’re wrestling with who you are, your relationships, or your legacy, this episode offers hope and insight to guide your path toward wholeness.
Friday May 16, 2025
Friday May 16, 2025
What do you do when the identity you built your life on suddenly collapses? When the roles, titles, and relationships that once defined you disappear? In this gripping episode, Kristin opens up about the gut-wrenching season after her divorce—a time when she lost not just her marriage, but also her sense of identity and self-worth. With raw vulnerability, she walks us through the pain of becoming “not a wife,” of missing her kids, of working jobs that barely covered the bills—and how God met her in the wreckage. Blending Scripture and psychology, this episode is a lifeline for anyone who’s ever looked in the mirror and said, “I don’t know who I am anymore.”
Friday May 09, 2025
Friday May 09, 2025
What do you do when your life feels like it’s burned to the ground? In this deeply moving episode of Hope for the Mind, host Kristin Ontiveros explores the raw and sacred terrain of trauma, loss, and the promise of redemption. Through the lens of Isaiah 61:3, neuroscience, and real-life restoration, we’ll unpack how God turns ashes into beauty—not by erasing the pain, but by transforming it.
We’ll journey through the physiological effects of trauma on the brain, the exile and devastation of the Israelites, and stories of biblical resilience—from Joseph to Job, Ruth to Jesus. This episode blends psychology and scripture to uncover how healing happens, how purpose is reborn from suffering, and how your story isn't over—even when everything feels ruined.
If you’re grieving, wrestling with anxiety, or feeling like the fire stole everything from you—this one’s for you. Because sometimes, the ashes aren’t the end. Sometimes, they’re just the beginning.
Thursday May 01, 2025
Thursday May 01, 2025
Forgiveness isn’t always a peaceful process—it’s a battle. A battle between pain and healing, justice and mercy, memory and release. In this episode, we dive into the emotional and psychological warfare that comes with choosing to forgive someone who hurt you. Why does it feel like surrender? Is it really possible to forgive without forgetting? And how can we make peace with the parts of us that still bleed long after the offense? Join us as we unpack the struggle, the scars, and the strength it takes to walk the hard road of forgiveness—with both biblical truth and psychological insight guiding the way.
Thursday Apr 17, 2025
Thursday Apr 17, 2025
Betrayal cuts deep—and healing from it can feel impossible, especially when forgiveness seems out of reach. In this raw and real episode, host Kristin Ontiveros unpacks the psychology behind betrayal, the gut-wrenching grief it causes, and the spiritual struggle of forgiving someone who shattered your trust. Whether you’ve been hurt by a friend, spouse, family member, or spiritual leader, this episode offers practical steps toward healing and biblical truths that prove you’re not alone in the pain. If you've ever said, “I just can’t forgive them”—this one’s for you.