Extending Branches

In this episode of Extending Branches, Dr. Mike Courtney sits down with Brad White, men's minister and associate pastor at New Vision Baptist Church, for a conversation that starts as a reunion between two families who met around a lunch table decades ago. Brad shares how a call to ministry he felt as a teenager gave way to a career in aquatics and leadership with the YMCA, and how God used a wife's honest question, a pastor's phon...

In this episode of Extending Branches, Dr. Mike Courtney sits down with pastoral counselor and life coach Bill Robison to talk about the father wound: how a father’s presence, absence, words, and example can shape identity, confidence, relationships, and the way we approach fatherhood ourselves.

Together, they discuss the impact of unmet needs, the importance of taking responsibility, and how humility, forgiveness, and faithfu...

In this episode of Extending Branches, Dr. Mike Courtney sits down with counselor Madison Grissom to talk about polyvagal theory: how our nervous systems respond to safety, stress, connection, and overwhelm. In simple, practical language, they explore why we may overreact, shut down emotionally, or feel anxious even when nothing obvious seems wrong.

Together, they discuss nervous system states, fight-or-flight, shutdown, glimmers, a...

In this episode of Extending Branches, Dr. Mike Courtney sits down with counselor Chandler Coley to talk about performance anxiety: what happens when pressure crosses the line from helpful focus into fear, panic, and self-doubt. Drawing from Chandler’s experience as a former athlete and his work as a counselor, they explore why teens and adults alike can tie their worth to a single moment, whether on the field, on the stage, ...

Ever feel busy and productive—yet unsure what you’re actually aiming at? In this episode of Extending Branches, Dr. Mike Courtney sits down with Christian life coach Tim Bell to talk about why goal setting isn’t just another performance checklist, but a way to ask honest questions: Who am I becoming? What matters right now? Where is God inviting me to grow?

Using the classic “Charlie Brown bullseye&rd...

In this episode of Extending Branches, Dr. Mike Courtney talks with counselor Kaci Jacobellis, ALPC, about social anxiety in teens and how parents can help. 

They explain the difference between normal social nervousness and diagnosable social anxiety, why adolescence can intensify fear of judgment or rejection, and how social media can add pressure through comparison. Kaci shares practical tools for parents, including staying c...

In this episode of Extending Branches, Dr. Mike Courtney sits down with Tracey Robison, Clinical Director at Branches, to talk about the hidden weight of trauma and the hope of healing. Together, they explore what trauma really is, how triggers show up in everyday life, why grief and painful experiences can stay with us, and how compassionate support can help people begin to heal.

Tracey also shares practical ways to care for yourse...

The only problem with pain is that it hurts. 

In this episode of Extending Branches, Dr. Mike Courtney is joined by Bethany Bratcher, a pastoral counselor and Director of Training at Branches, to talk about why pain is part of life and how it can shape us for the better. 

If you are walking through something hard, this conversation will help you find purpose, perspective, and hope in the middle of it.

Extending Branches is a...

What if the other rats are faster? 

In this episode of Extending Branches, Dr. Mike Courtney and Debi Russell, a trusted counselor at Branches, break down how burnout happens and how boundaries help you take your life back. 

If you feel overwhelmed, this conversation will help you reset. 

Extending Branches is a biweekly podcast from Branches, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people recover hope, find healing, and exper...

Prayer or therapy? Faith or mental health? 

In this episode of Extending Branches, Dr. Mike Courtney and Joshua Courtney, Executive Director and Psychiatric Physician Assistant at Branches, break down the false divide and show how real healing happens when you embrace both. 

If you are looking for hope, healing, and growth, this conversation is for you.

Extending Branches is a biweekly podcast from Branches, a nonprofit dedi...

Extending Branches is a podcast about growth, generosity, and the everyday choices that help us build stronger families, deeper faith, and more connected communities.

Each episode explores how small acts of service, intentional leadership, and meaningful relationships can extend hope to the people around us, whether that’s in our homes, our churches, or our neighborhoods.

Through honest conversations and practical insight, Exte...