You are invited to join Laura Williams, licensed professional counselor and co-host of ‘Out of the Dark’ with Mandisa as she tackles some of the tough issues in mental health and how they relate to your faith journey.
Encountering You will dive deeper into topics like trauma, struggling with my mental health as a Christian, what are boundaries and how do I grow from them, shame, abuse, dealing with resentment and anger, and more.
Each episode will be full of information and include reflection, so be prepared to be challenged, but know that if you're willing to move, even an inch, change will be inevitable.
New episodes of Encountering You will be available every Wednesday so make sure to subscribe as we embark on a journey of hearing the places God wants to bring you in your story.
"Narcissist" might be one of the most overused words online right now, thrown at exes, bosses, and parents alike. But narcissism isn't a light switch; it's a spectrum, from healthy self-regard all the way to a clinical diagnosis. In this episode, we unpack what narcissism actually means, why the loud, grandiose stereotype isn't the whole picture, and how to protect yourself in a relationship with someone high in narcissistic traits without turning pop psychology into a diagnosis you hand out to everyone who's hurt you.
In This Episode:
The difference between healthy narcissism, narcissistic traits, and Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)
What NPD actually involves clinically and why it's more than just "arrogant"
Grandiose (overt) vs. vulnerable (covert) narcissism, and why covert often goes unnoticed
A gentle look at where narcissistic traits tend to come from
How narcissistic traits show up in romantic relationships, families, and workplaces
Common myths about narcissism, debunked
How to set boundaries and protect yourself with or without a diagnosis
Key Takeaway
You don't need a diagnosis to set a boundary. Focus on the impact someone's behavior has on you, not on whether you can correctly label them and get support for yourself if you're navigating a relationship with someone high in narcissistic traits.
A Note Before You Listen
This episode is educational, not diagnostic. Please don't use it to diagnose a specific person in your life (or yourself) — only a qualified clinician can do that.
23 Sept 2026
Is It Stress, or Is It Trauma?
We often use "stressed" and "traumatized" like they're interchangeable but your nervous system treats them very differently. In this episode, we break down what's actually happening in your body during everyday stress versus a trauma response, why the same situation can trigger wildly different reactions in different people, and how to tell which one you're dealing with so you can actually reach for the right tool to help yourself.
In This Episode:
What's physiologically happening during a normal stress response (and why it's designed to resolve on its own)
What makes a trauma response different — including the lesser-known "freeze" and "fawn" responses beyond fight-or-flight
The "window of tolerance" and why trauma can make it feel smaller
A simple set of questions to help you tell whether you're having a stress reaction or a trauma response
Different coping tools for each — and why "just calm down" doesn't work for trauma responses
Why chronic, unmanaged stress can start to look and feel like trauma over time
Key Takeaway
You don't have to label your reaction perfectly to start taking care of yourself but naming it accurately helps you stop blaming yourself for "overreacting" and start reaching for what will actually help.
9 Sept 2026
Permission to Play
Ashley is back and this time we're talking about play, spontaneity, and joy through the HOCI lens of moderation. I grew up not knowing how to play. She grew up playing naturally but maybe using it for regulation. In this honest, funny, and personal conversation, we talk about what we've each had to learn from the other, why play and joy are core to healthy functioning, and what it looks like to find the middle, especially if you tend to live at one end of the spectrum.
What we will talk about:
What play actually is and what gets in the way of it for each of us
The HOCI moderation lens: too little play and too much unmoderated play both come at a cost
What our friendship has taught each of us about joy, spontaneity, and boundaries
What we see clinically in clients who have no play and in clients who use play to avoid
Honest, unscripted questions we asked each other for the first time, live on the podcast
Contact Encountering You VIDEO
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Encountering You VIDEO?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
