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
What Should You Do When You Feel Fat? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:46
Today's summer replay will encourage you if you're a Christian women who has ever just woken up and felt less-than in her body. Maybe you call it feeling "fat" or maybe you feel "bleh" or "bloated" -- whatever your choic…
Is God Happy When I Lose Weight? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:33
Has the weigh-in woman at Weight Watchers shaped your concept of God? Today's episode was inspired when Heather heard a story of a woman whose body image issues and eating disorders could be traced back to the ever-prese…
What if I Just Want a Body I'm Proud of? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:42
In this summer replay, Heather digs into this common sentiment, "I just want to feel good" or "I just want to feel okay" about my body. What's wrong with wanting a body you can be "proud of?" She explores how this is a s…
Surrendering Certainty: How Do We Trust in God and Not Our Plans [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:15
Heather interviews author and speaker, Abby McDonald about her new book, "Surrendering Certainty: Hearing God Today By Letting Go of Tomorrow." Abby and Heather talk about how we can hear and receive direction from God e…
How Do I Get Over What Others Think of Me Coaching Presli [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:09
Today's live coaching call with Presli will make you think and encourage your heart. Heather coaches Presli through what to do when she panics, freezes, and feels insecure around women who are thinner, prettier, or more…
What to Do if You Feel Like the Fattest Person in the Room? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:54
Have you ever felt like you were the fattest or ugliest person in the room? Maybe you showed up at an event and feel self-conscious because everyone is smaller or better looking than you. It's happened to all of us, but…
Should I Worry About My BMI? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:37
Stressing over your BMI? Perhaps a recent doctor's visit has you spiraling over what you need to do to change your Body Mass Index. Today, Heather sits down with two authors who have researched the history, background, a…
Will Dance Give My Daughter Body Image Issues? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:59
Have you ever wondered if participating in dance could lead to body image issues? Heather talks to clients with a dance background and have body image issues from what a dance instructor said or from participating in an…
Will Ozempic Weight Loss Drugs Fix My Body Image Issues? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:55
In today's "Me vs. ChatGPT" episode, Heather tackles the topic of Ozempic and other GLP-1 agonist medications that are now being prescribed to people for weight loss. She uses ChatGPT to help answer the question, "Will O…