What Parts of Your Past Affect Your Marriage? Featuring Dr. Dan Allender

What Parts of Your Past Affect Your Marriage? Featuring Dr. Dan Allender

Author: Heather Creekmore - Christian Body Image Author and Speaker February 25, 2025 Duration: 29:38

Today Heather Creekmore interviews an author, therapist, and pioneer in the trauma and abuse world, Dr. Dan Allender. As we wrap up our month-long series on marriage, today Heather and Dr. Allender explore how our past traumas impact our marriage, how our hurts from our family of origin may have actually impacted who we chose to marry, and how we can help our spouses heal and name their own woundings so that together we can have more than just a "good marriage," we instead can grow together as a couple who is able to honor and delight in each other.

🔹 Understanding Trauma in Marriage Relationships: Dr. Allender talks about how both capital T and small t traumas can shape our behaviors and even our choice of a marriage partner. Many of us aren't aware of these subtle influences rooted deep in past experiences.

🔹 Transformational Stories: A personal story shared by Dr. Allender highlights how pivotal moments in marriage, filled with exposure and invitation, can lead to profound transformation and healing.

🔹 The Promise of Deep Connection: Through challenges and growth, marriage offers an opportunity for unparalleled joy and awe, as Dr. Allender describes his journey of delight and honor in his relationship with his wife.

Come back for part 2 of this interview on Friday.

Learn more about Dr. Dan Allender and his new book: Deep-Rooted Marriage here. (Amazon affiliate link)

Learn more about Compared to Who? or join the next 40-Day Journey to Body Image Freedom here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com

 

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.


Heather Creekmore, a Christian body image author and speaker, hosts Compared to Who? Body Image for Christian Women. This space is for women who are exhausted by the constant pressure to measure up, whether it's to cultural ideals of beauty, fitness goals, or even spiritual performance. It’s common to know scripture about your worth in Christ yet feel a disconnect when you look in the mirror or navigate daily life. This podcast directly addresses that gap, moving beyond simplistic self-help or well-meaning clichés that often leave you feeling more defeated. Instead, conversations are grounded in a thoughtful blend of faith, mental health, and practical wellness. You’ll hear honest discussions about how spirituality intersects with the very real struggles of body image, diet culture, and personal comparison. Each episode aims to provide not just encouragement but tangible steps to help you live out your God-given identity with freedom and confidence. The goal is a stronger, more integrated faith that transforms how you see yourself, not by the world’s ever-changing standards, but through a lens of grace and truth. Tune in for a candid and compassionate resource that meets you right where you are.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Compared to Who? Body Image for Christian Women
Podcast Episodes
Faith Over FOMO: Biblical Truths for Contentment in a Comparison World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:50
In this encouraging episode of the Compared to Who? podcast, host Heather Creekmore delves deep into the ever-present fear of missing out—aka FOMO. As part of the “Fear Free Fall” series, Heather unpacks the spiritual ro…
Confronting the Fear of Suffering: Finding Faith in Uncertain Times [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:27
Struggling with the fear of suffering, control, and uncertainty? In this powerful episode, Heather Creekmore dives deep into why so many women wrestle with the need to avoid pain—especially when it comes to body image, h…
Fear It Will Never Be Good Enough: Finding Freedom from Discontent [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:05
Do you ever feel like nothing in your life will ever be good enough? In today’s honest and insightful episode, Heather Creekmore opens up about her struggles with CDD or “Chronic Disappointment Disorder”—a feeling that n…
Fear Free Fall: How to Have a Faith that Conquers Daily Fears [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:11
In this special "No Fear Fall" series kickoff episode, Heather Creekmore digs deep into the connection between faith and fear—two powerful forces that shape our daily lives. Have you ever wondered why “faith over fear” d…
A Christian Woman's Guide to Stop Overthinking: Featuring Erin Kerry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:45
Are you an overthinker? Do you find yourself replaying conversations from weeks ago, worrying about every possible outcome, or getting stuck in endless thought spirals? You’re not alone—and this episode is for you. Join…
Your Biggest Battle Is Not With Your Body [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:27
Heather speaks into the aftermath of last week’s tragic events to address how these unsettling times can actually serve as a wake-up call for Christian women struggling with body image and comparison. Instead of focusing…