Bridging Faith and Mental Health

On the latest episode of the Project I AM podcast, I sat down with my longtime friend and colleague, Pastor April Karli, for an insightful and heartfelt conversation about mental health within Christian communities. What started as a casual catch-up between two friends quickly evolved into an important dialogue on the spiritual and emotional well-being of believers today.

Old Friends, New Conversations

April and I opened the conversation in our usual style—informal, light-hearted, and real. We laughed about life’s everyday balancing acts—like helping my daughter Zoe with car maintenance during her hectic work schedule. April joked about how she’s all for gender roles, at least when it gets her out of inconvenient tasks! We also traded updates on our families. My sons, Noah and Levi, came up—Noah’s enjoying his spring break, while Levi, in a move that made us both proud, recently took his SATs and is exploring life with wisdom and courage well beyond his years.

But soon, the conversation shifted gears as April shared about her role as Lead Pastor at Austin Mustard Seed Church. Her journey there is anything but traditional. She stepped into leadership unexpectedly six years ago when the founding pastor left. Since then, April has guided the church through profound changes, including transitioning from a conventional Sunday morning service to an intimate Sunday evening dinner church. As a female lead pastor—particularly one who grew up a pastor’s kid—April has faced her share of challenges, especially within church traditions that have not always welcomed women in leadership.

Dismantling Misogyny and Building New Spaces

One of the things April is most passionate about is creating a church community that actively works to dismantle misogyny and patriarchal structures. It hasn’t always been easy. April was candid about losing members over decisions like editing gendered language out of prayers and creating space for conversations about power dynamics. But she sees this work as an act of love, and as she put it, “an intentional labor” that fosters healing and belonging.

Naming the Wounds: Spiritual Abuse and Its Impact on Mental Health

When we dove into the mental health needs of Christians today, April named something we both see often in our respective roles: spiritual abuse. She described it as harm inflicted by people in spiritual authority, often under the guise of “helping.” The consequences can be devastating—anxiety, depression, self-doubt, and an eroded ability to trust oneself or others. What makes it uniquely painful is the spiritual dimension. When the abuse comes from someone who claims to speak for God, it cuts deeper and complicates the path to healing.

April stressed how hard it can be for survivors of spiritual abuse to seek help within their church community, which is often where the harm originated. It’s a call to church leaders to become safe, trustworthy people—something April has worked tirelessly to embody.

Breaking the Stigma: Embracing Mental Health Resources in Faith Communities

We talked about the lingering stigma in some Christian circles toward mental health professionals. In certain churches or “tribes,” as April put it, there’s suspicion toward psychiatrists or counselors. Some believers are encouraged to just “white-knuckle it” through mental health struggles, relying solely on prayer and personal willpower. April rejected that mindset wholeheartedly, pointing to a more holistic understanding of the human experience. The Bible speaks to the integration of mind, body, and spirit. If one part suffers, the whole person suffers—and seeking help from professionals, whether therapists, psychiatrists, or through medication, can be an act of faith and stewardship.

Pastoral Counseling and the Need for Better Training

One area where April and I found deep agreement was in the limitations of pastoral counseling. Many pastors simply aren’t trained to address serious mental health issues. While spiritual guidance is invaluable, there’s a real need for clergy to refer people to trained mental health professionals when appropriate. We discussed how Christian clients can sometimes hesitate to seek therapy, feeling torn between their faith and their mental health needs. It’s why community, trust, and understanding are so vital in the healing process.

Practicing Discernment and Reclaiming Trust

April spoke powerfully about discernment—about learning to trust oneself again after spiritual abuse or toxic church experiences. She reflected on the importance of questioning inherited beliefs and exploring how we might create God in our own image, whether knowingly or not. She also shared her admiration for author Barbara Brown Taylor, a retired Episcopalian  priest, and the ways Taylor invites people to find God in nature, suggesting that reconnecting with creation can be an important part of spiritual healing.

Bridging the Gap Between Clergy and Therapists

One of the most hopeful parts of our conversation was the vision April and I share for better collaboration between clergy and therapists. While there can be misunderstandings on both sides, April believes—and I agree—that when pastors and mental health professionals work together, we can offer truly holistic care. April generously offered her time to consult with therapists working with Christian clients—her email is in be in the podcast notes also below for anyone interested.

Moving Forward: Encouraging Collaboration and Growth

As we wrapped up, we talked about the future. April mentioned a potential collaboration with consultant Jim Pace, someone who’s helped churches across the theological spectrum. I shared a little about my new children’s book and the live sessions I’m offering for counseling students. We also reflected on what drives human behavior—fear being at the heart of so much hatred and division—and how the work we do, in ministry and counseling alike, is ultimately about healing that fear.

We ended, as old friends do, with plans for coffee soon and gratitude for the ongoing conversation.

Final Thoughts

This conversation with Pastor April illuminated so many of the complexities and opportunities at the intersection of faith and mental health. As Christians and therapists, pastors and laypeople, we all have a role to play in fostering healing and dismantling barriers to mental wellness. My hope is that April’s insights inspire you to be part of this important work—whether in your church, your practice, or your own life.

Listen to the full episode here.

More about April

April Karli is a lifetime resident of Austin, Texas. She has been a pastor at Austin Mustard Seed for six years. As a PK (pastor's kid) she spent her life in the church, and has served in leadership roles in a variety of churches throughout her adult life. April has a heart for people who have been wounded by their experiences in church settings and longs to see them find healing. She's been married to Matt for 27 years. They have two grown daughters and two dogs. She prefers tea over coffee.

Austin Mustard Seed: https://www.austinmustardseed.org/

April's socials: Insta: https://www.instagram.com/aprilkarli/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@aprilkarli

Resources:

These are therapists and resources who are Christians, and licensed therapists, who write and talk about the intersection of mental health and faith:
Aundi Kolber https://aundikolber.com/

Chuck DeGroat https://www.chuckdegroat.net/

Broken to Beloved https://www.brokentobeloved.org/