When a child is upset, overwhelmed, or melting down, it’s easy for parents to feel pulled into the chaos.

In this short Skills Episode, Luke Johanni, LGPC, NCC, focuses on what actually helps in those moments; not controlling behavior, but staying steady when your child can’t.

Building off Episode 12, this episode introduces a simple skill for responding to child distress by regulating yourself first, lowering the intensity, and helping your child deescalate before any teaching or correction happens.

If you’ve ever felt unsure of what to do when emotions run high, this episode offers a clear, grounded way to respond with a calm presence and leadership when it matters most.

Follow @LukeJohanni for more tools and updates.

Fatherhood isn’t just about raising children. It’s about who a man becomes in the process.

In Episode 12 of Mind and Spirit, Catholic-integrative therapist Luke Johanni explores the inner growth of being a father. Drawing from psychology, attachment research, and lived experience, this episode looks at how fatherhood forms a man from the inside out.

You’ll learn why presence matters, how emotional regulation shapes a child’s sense of safety, and why moments of struggle (crying, conflict, and repair) are often where the deepest growth happens.

This episode also reflects on fatherhood through a faith-integrated lens, showing how steady, attuned presence mirrors both secure attachment and the heart of a good Father.

Whether you’re a new dad, a seasoned father, or reflecting on your own experience of being fathered, this episode offers clarity, encouragement, and a grounded vision of fatherhood as being rooted in formation.

If this conversation spoke to you, share it with another father who could benefit. Subscribe to Mind and Spirit for future episodes, and explore more resources at RestoredChristianCounseling.com.

Season 2 of Mind and Spirit is HERE!

Today, Luke Johanni, LGPC, NCC, guides you through a calming, prayerful guided imagery exercise designed to help you slow down, release stress, and meet your God-guided future self.

Through visualization, Scripture, and gentle reflection, you’ll explore the desires God is placing on your heart and the next steps He may be inviting you to take.

A free PDF version of this guided imagery script is available at RestoredChristianCounseling.com under the Resources tab.

Your support helps make this show possible. Be sure to subscribe and follow me on Instagram @LukeJohanni.