The Pull Up: Jesus N’ Therapy
The Pull Up: Jesus N’ Therapy
Tonight, I had the honor of co-facilitating The Pull Up, a powerful weekly bible-based gathering created by Jacksonville native and artist, Jarett Walker. Each session is rooted in real talk, scripture, and community. Tonight we asked an honest, layered question:
What happens when we stop treating God like a “phone-a-friend”… and actually invite Him into our healing process?
That question wasn’t just theoretical for me. It came from personal experience. I opened the night by sharing something vulnerable:
As a licensed therapist, I’ve spent years holding space for others. But for a long time, I unintentionally left God outside the therapy room. I only called on Him when things felt overwhelming—when I didn’t know what to say or when a client’s story triggered something in me. He was there, yes… but only as backup. Not as a co-healer.
That’s shifted. And it’s still shifting.
In this season of my life, The Pull Up has been more than a gathering for me—it’s been a sacred space where I’ve been drawing closer to God in a personal, transformative way.
And just one week before I facilitated this session, I made a decision that had been stirring in my spirit for a while: I got baptized at Neptune Beach.
I had been baptized once before as a teenager, but it was out of obligation—a rite of passage I didn’t fully understand. This time, it was different. This time, I knew I was closing some loops in my life. I was making a promise to God, stepping into alignment with who He’s called me to be, and doing what was necessary for this season of surrender and growth.
So when I speak about integrating therapy and the Holy Spirit, it’s not just theory. It’s what I’m living.
That night, someone in the audience said:
“Therapy is a tool God has given us to help us navigate through life.”
That’s the truth. And when we invite Jesus into our healing journey, something sacred happens.
I reminded the group that psychology—often viewed as secular—is actually rooted in the Greek word psyche, meaning soul, mind, or spirit. So soul work and spiritual work were never meant to be separate.
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
—Genesis 2:7 KJV
We talked about what it means to be a living soul—deeply human and divinely designed. We explored the connection between self-actualization and surrender, and how both require truth-telling: about ourselves, about our pain, and about who God is in our process.
We broke down the difference between joy and happiness—how joy is everlasting, a fruit of the Spirit, and not based on external conditions. And we reflected on how faith and therapy both invite us to see differently—to see deeper.
I shared how much of my own healing has come through undoing the way I thought things were supposed to be done. Old ways of thinking don’t fit in new seasons.
We looked at the story of the man possessed by Legion:
“And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.”
—Mark 5:9 KJV
Legion wasn’t the man’s name—it was a label for all the things that had attached to him. Trauma. Depression. Anxiety. Shame. Many of us carry similar “legions” that try to name us. But Christ calls us back to who we really are. He calls us to lay down the false identities we’ve built around pain.
We talked about how miracles don’t always look like fireworks. Sometimes, the miracle is waking up with peace. Or being able to forgive. Or trusting again. Sometimes, perspective is the miracle.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
—Hebrews 11:1 KJV
And sometimes, surrendering to God means asking:
Who am I without my pain?
What am I willing to release in order to be made whole?
We closed out the night with a few truths that are still sitting in my spirit:
Deep-rooted trees don’t worry about the weather —Reese the Poet
Every relationship takes us deeper into heaven or hell—including the one you have with yourself.
You don’t have to be perfect to be good. God said His creation was good. That includes you.
So if you're feeling the pull—if you’ve been craving healing that doesn’t force you to choose between therapy and Jesus, this space is for you.
Join us.
🕖 Every Tuesday at 7:15 PM (Starts at 7:30PM)
📍 Usually held at 2137 N. Liberty St, Jacksonville, FL 32206
(Fellowship locations may vary—follow @jwalkertheartist for updates.)
Whether I’m facilitating or sitting in the circle beside you, know this:
You are not alone. You are not too far gone.
And God wants all of you—even the parts you’ve tried to keep separate.
Bring your mind. Bring your spirit. Bring your questions.
And let God meet you there.
