In this Heart Set Above episode, Georgia and Ellen pull back the curtain on what therapists actually learn—and why it matters for everyday relationships and Christian living. From trauma-training surprises (“we paid to learn how to be quiet!”) to Jesus’ non-anxious presence with Mary and Martha, they unpack how simply being with someone can be more healing than any quick fix.
You’ll hear real stories (joy and grief in parenting, the power of a shared sigh), practical tools you can try today, and a gentle invitation to surrender what we can’t carry to the One who can.
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Connect with Ellen
https://heartsetabove.com/
https://linktr.ee/ellenradcliff
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Listen to the Podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ra0vlh...
In this episode of the Heart Set Above Podcast, host Ellen Radcliff, LMFT pauses the Nearness series to set clear expectations: drawing near to God doesn’t mean all of life’s problems vanish. Fear, grief, and anxiety still come—but God’s presence changes how we experience them.
Ellen shares stories from her own life, Scripture, and pastoral counseling to remind us that the antidote to fear is not the absence of fear—it’s the presence of God. His nearness anchors us, even in chaos, heartbreak, or uncertainty. Like a child comforted by a parent’s arms, God’s presence doesn’t always remove the pain, but it transforms how we walk through it.
✨ In this episode, you’ll learn:
Whether you’re carrying fear, walking through loss, or simply weary of life’s brokenness, this conversation will point you back to the one truth that steadies us: God is with us, always.
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Connect with Ellen
https://heartsetabove.com/
https://linktr.ee/ellenradcliff
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Listen to the Podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ra0vlh...
In this episode of the Heart Set Above Podcast, host Ellen Radcliff, LMFT continues the Nearness series by exploring how we can move beyond simply making space in our lives to truly filling that space with God’s presence.
Drawing from Matthew 12:43–45, Ellen reminds us that empty space doesn’t stay empty for long—if we don’t fill it with God, it will be filled with fear, distraction, or anxiety. She shares two powerful visualization practices she uses personally and with clients to help release fear, surrender to God, and experience the reality of His love.
✨ In this episode, you’ll discover:
Why pruning space in your life is only the beginning of nearness to God
The difference between distraction and true soul restoration
A powerful visualization for surrendering fear and anxiety into God’s hands
A second visualization of beholding Jesus’ gaze of unconditional love
A simple exercise to sit in God’s presence without striving
These practices will help you slow down, breathe, and anchor yourself in the truth that God sees you, knows you, and loves you fully. Nearness to Him isn’t something you earn—it’s a gift freely given.
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Connect with Ellen
https://heartsetabove.com/
https://linktr.ee/ellenradcliff
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Listen to the Podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ra0vlh...
In this episode of Heart Set Above, Ellen Radcliff, LMFT takes us into one of the deepest and most universal emotions: grief. Far from being just about death or tragedy, grief shows up in everyday disappointments, broken relationships, feelings of inadequacy, and the ache of living in a fallen world.
She Explores:
Why unprocessed grief fuels anxiety
A fresh way to picture grief as a shrinking “ball in a box” that never disappears but becomes less overwhelming over time
The reality that the stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance) are fluid, not linear
Grief is not weakness—it is holy ground. When we bring our sorrow before God, we discover we are not alone in it. Scripture reminds us, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted.” That nearness transforms grief from isolation into connection, from despair into surrender, and from fear into trust.
🙏 If you’ve ever wondered how to navigate grief faithfully—or how God meets you in your sorrow—this episode offers hope, perspective, and a way forward.
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Connect with Ellen
https://heartsetabove.com/
https://linktr.ee/ellenradcliff
--
Listen to the Podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ra0vlh...
In this episode of Heart Set Above (part of the Nearness series), Ellen Radcliff, LMFT, explores the hidden world of emotions and how they shape our walk with God.
She talks about:
The difference between primary and secondary emotions
Why anger, sarcasm, or withdrawal often mask deeper feelings like fear, shame, or grief
How our culture teaches us to erase or numb emotions—while scripture shows us another way
Practical steps for bringing tender emotions into God’s presence
Ellen shares a simple but life-changing truth: feelings are meant to be felt. When we pause to notice what lies beneath the surface and invite God into our vulnerability, emotions become a bridge to intimacy with Him, not a barrier.
🙏 Whether you’re carrying grief, shame, fear, or hurt, this episode offers encouragement to stop running from your emotions and start bringing them into the safety of God’s arms.
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Connect with Ellen
https://heartsetabove.com/
https://linktr.ee/ellenradcliff
--
Listen to the Podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ra0vlh...
Welcome back to the Heart Set Above Podcast with Ellen Radcliff, LMFT. In today’s episode of our Nearness series, Ellen explores the beauty and depth of the Sabbath—a rhythm designed by God not just for rest, but for true restoration.
In a culture that confuses “rest” with binging Netflix or scrolling social media, the Sabbath calls us into something deeper. It’s a God-given invitation to reconnect with Him, with ourselves, with others, and even with creation. Sabbath is not just about stopping work—it’s about remembering who you are and whose you are.
✨ In this episode, Ellen unpacks:
Why Sabbath is more than rest—it’s restoration for the soul
How Sabbath roots us in God so we can love people well
Why the Sabbath command sits at the hinge between loving God and loving others
Sabbath is a bridge back to Eden and a glimpse of the wholeness we were created for. This conversation will inspire you to step into God’s design for rest—not just as a break from work, but as a weekly rhythm of identity, trust, and joy.
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Connect with Ellen
https://heartsetabove.com/
https://linktr.ee/ellenradcliff
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Listen to the Podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ra0vlh...
Welcome back to the Heart Set Above Podcast with Ellen Radcliff, LMFT. In this episode from our Nearness series, Ellen shares practical wisdom on how reflection and intentional connection draw us closer to God and to the people we love.
Too often, life runs us instead of us running it. But by creating regular rhythms of reflection—annually, seasonally, weekly, and even daily—we can flip the script and live with greater intention. Ellen walks through how reflection protects us from overwhelm, keeps us aligned with God’s heart, and opens the door for deeper connection.
✨ What you’ll discover in this episode:
This episode will encourage you to pause, reflect, and invest in the relationships that matter most—your connection with God, yourself, and others.
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Connect with Ellen
https://heartsetabove.com/
https://linktr.ee/ellenradcliff
--
Listen to the Podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ra0vlh...
So many of us—whether as parents, spouses, friends, leaders, or coworkers—find ourselves juggling endless responsibilities while feeling spiritually and emotionally stretched thin. If that sounds familiar, this episode of the Heart Set Above Podcast will meet you right where you are.
Host Ellen Radcliff, LMFT, continues our Nearness series with a powerful truth: if we want to draw close to God, we must first create time and space in our lives. Without pruning back, our souls remain restless, anxious, and overstuffed.
✨ In this conversation, you’ll learn:
Why busyness leaves us drained and disconnected from God
Why pruning isn’t about loss, but about making room for life to grow
Simple, practical ways to begin creating space for God this week
This isn’t about doing more—it’s about finding freedom in doing less, so that you can truly be with God.
🙏 Stay tuned for the next episode in our Nearness series, where we’ll explore another everyday practice that can help you experience a deeper walk with Him.
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Connect with Ellen
https://heartsetabove.com/
https://linktr.ee/ellenradcliff
--
Listen to the Podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ra0vlh...
Welcome back to the Heart Set Above Podcast with Ellen Radcliff, LMFT. In this second episode of our new series, Ellen explores the powerful truth that “nearness is never without effect.” Through stories, psychology insights, and Scripture, she reveals how proximity shapes us in relationships, in our emotions, in our bodies—and ultimately, in our walk with God.
Ellen unpacks how:
This series is designed to move beyond abstract phrases like “cast your burdens” or “rest in His presence.” Ellen gives you practical, faithful, and psychologically grounded tools to actually live in God’s nearness—even in the mess of daily life.
✨ May this conversation help you notice His presence in the small, ordinary moments of your week, and let it begin to soothe your soul.
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Connect with Ellen
https://heartsetabove.com/
https://linktr.ee/ellenradcliff
--
Listen to the Podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ra0vlh...
In this episode of the Heart Set Above Podcast, Ellen Radcliff, LMFT, unpacks the profound truth that “nearness is never without effect.” From synced heartbeats to shared emotions, Ellen shows how proximity transforms us in relationships, in our bodies, and in nature itself—and ultimately, how drawing near to God is the antidote to fear and anxiety.
You’ll learn:
This episode is the start of a new series exploring what it really means to live in God’s presence, not just in abstract phrases, but in simple, practical rhythms that bring calm and clarity.
✨ May you notice His nearness in ordinary moments this week—and let it soothe your soul.
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Connect with Ellen
https://heartsetabove.com/
https://linktr.ee/ellenradcliff
--
Listen to the Podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ra0vlh...
In this episode, Ellen and Georgia open up about the rhythms of retreat, rest, and pilgrimage in their own lives. Georgia reflects on her recent journey to the island of Iona in Scotland—an experience filled with awe, joy, and the surprising intimacy of being “whisked away” by God. Ellen shares her anticipation (and nerves) about an upcoming silent retreat, unpacking what it means to step away from constant noise and distraction to be still in God’s presence.
Together, they wrestle with the sacrifice and reward of carving out intentional space with God, comparing it to a honeymoon or getaway in a marriage—demanding effort, but always worth it. They discuss the role of silence, joy, and letting go of agendas, offering both theological insight and practical encouragement for listeners who long for more spaciousness in their lives.
Whether your “pilgrimage” looks like three days in the Highlands, a one-hour walk, or simply a Sabbath at home, this conversation invites you to consider how God might be wooing you into deeper rest and relationship with Him.
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Connect with Ellen
https://heartsetabove.com/
https://linktr.ee/ellenradcliff
--
Listen to the Podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ra0vlh...
Welcome to the final episode of the Holding On & Letting Go series on the Heart Set Above Podcast with Ellen Radcliff, LMFT—a space where therapy meets theology and grace meets grit.
In Part 5, we’re getting practical. What does it actually look like to love your adult child well when their choices, beliefs, or lifestyle don't align with your Christian values?
This episode is all about navigating the messy middle—the sacred, complex space where truth and grace meet. Ellen offers grounded tools and biblical wisdom to help parents:
Set healthy, respectful boundaries
Stay connected without compromising convictions
Speak truth without pressure or panic
📖 “Can you stand before God with a clear conscience, knowing that you acted with integrity in the light He gave you?”
Whether you’re navigating pronoun changes, wedding invitations, or just deeply emotional conversations, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and practical hope for real-life dilemmas.
🛑 You don’t have to choose between conviction and connection.
💬 You can speak truth with love.🤝 You are not alone in this.
This is Part 4 of our series with host Ellen Radcliff, LMFT—for Christian parents navigating complicated or strained relationships with their adult children—especially those who have stepped away from the faith.
In this episode, Ellen explores the spiritual invitation of surrender—not as weakness or defeat, but as a powerful act of trust. When control fades, and answers seem elusive, how do you stay connected to your child and to God?
💡You’ll learn:
What surrender actually means (hint: it’s not giving up)
Why your role as a parent shifts from action to influence
Why your spiritual formation still matters—even now
📖 “Maybe it’s time to stop trying to be your child’s savior… and start being God’s daughter again.”
If you feel spiritually depleted, emotionally exhausted, or unsure of what’s next—this episode is a gentle invitation to rest, reconnect, and release.
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Connect with Ellen
https://heartsetabove.com/
https://linktr.ee/ellenradcliff
--
Listen to the Podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ra0vlh...
In Part 3 of our series for Christian parents of adult children who’ve drifted from faith, Ellen Radcliff, LMFT, explores the unspoken grief that often sits beneath fear, shame, and confusion. This isn’t grief from loss by death—it’s the sorrow of watching your child become someone you didn’t expect… and mourning a future that never came.
💔 You’ll hear about:
Why this kind of grief is so isolating—and so real
How to "name it to tame it"
God grieves too—and joins you in yours
If you’ve ever whispered, "This isn’t the life I imagined for my child…", this episode is for you.
📖 “Hope deferred makes the heart sick…” – Proverbs 13:12
🤝 You’re not alone. God is near to the brokenhearted—and the story isn’t over yet.
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Connect with Ellen
https://heartsetabove.com/
https://linktr.ee/ellenradcliff
--
Listen to the Podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ra0vlh...
In Part 2 of this series for Christian parents of adult children who are no longer (or not yet) walking with God, Ellen Radcliff, LMFT, unpacks two common burdens many faithful parents carry: delayed development and parental guilt.
💭 Is your grown child making choices that leave you confused, hurt, or worried?
💔 Do you find yourself replaying the past, wondering what you could’ve done differently?
This episode is for you.
Ellen explores:
Whether your child has left the church, is questioning everything, or simply isn’t where you hoped they’d be — this episode offers hope, perspective, and peace.
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Connect with Ellen
https://heartsetabove.com/
https://linktr.ee/ellenradcliff
--
Listen to the Podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ra0vlh...
When your adult child walks away from the faith—or chooses a path that feels deeply at odds with what they were raised to believe—how do you respond as a Christian parent?
In this heartfelt opening episode of our new series, Holding On and Letting Go, Ellen Radcliff, LMFT shares her own powerful journey of coming out to her parents at 19, hitting rock bottom in a foreign country, and ultimately returning to faith through the steady, surrendered love of her mom and dad.
This episode is not just for parents of LGBTQ kids—it's for any parent walking through grief, fear, or spiritual disconnection with their adult child. Ellen offers deep encouragement, hard-won wisdom, and a reminder that there is a way to walk this road with your heart open and your conscience clear.
🛠️ In this episode, you'll hear about:
Ellen’s personal story of coming out and coming back
How her parents’ non-reactive, Spirit-led love made all the difference
How to hold space for your child without compromising your convictions
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Connect with Ellen
https://heartsetabove.com/
https://linktr.ee/ellenradcliff
--
Listen to the Podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ra0vlh...
Ellen and Georgia dive deep into one of the most transformative therapeutic concepts—Unconditional Positive Regard—and why it's essential not only for therapists, but for every Christian seeking to love like Christ. Drawing from their graduate training and personal faith journeys, they unpack how UPR mirrors the agape love of God, how it shapes our self-worth, and how it allows us to sit with others in their pain without rushing to fix.
They also wrestle with the tension between surrender and challenge, between love and truth, and what it really means to be your brother or sister's keeper. Whether you're a therapist, a friend, a parent, or a disciple—this episode will challenge you to reflect more deeply on the way you love, listen, and live out God's character in your relationships.
Themes:
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Connect with Ellen
https://heartsetabove.com/
https://linktr.ee/ellenradcliff
--
Listen to the Podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ra0vlh...
In this episode of Heart Set Above, therapists Ellen and Georgia dive into the vast and often misunderstood landscape of trauma. Why does trauma affect us so differently? How do we define it—and more importantly, how do we begin to heal from it? Together, they explore what trauma really is, why it so often leads to disconnection, and how healing starts with restoring connection to ourselves, to others, and to God.
With personal insights, clinical wisdom, and spiritual reflection, this conversation invites listeners to be curious, compassionate, and patient in their journey through pain. Whether you’ve experienced big “T” trauma, little “t” trauma, or are simply walking alongside someone who has, this episode offers grounding, clarity, and hope.
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☕ Grab your coffee, take a breath, and join us in the stillness.
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Connect with Ellen
https://heartsetabove.com/
https://linktr.ee/ellenradcliff
--
Listen to the Podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ra0vlh...
Is self-care just trendy pop psychology—or is it deeply biblical?
In this episode of Heart Set Above, Ellen & Georgia have an honest & insightful conversation on what rest really means in a world running on burnout. They unpack the overlap between theology and therapy, explore the spiritual depth of Sabbath, and redefine self-care as sacred connection—with God, self, others, and creation.
Whether you're wrestling with exhaustion, trying to build healthy rhythms, or just wondering how to slow down without guilt, this conversation is for you.
☕ Grab your coffee, take a breath, and join us in the stillness.
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Connect with Ellen
https://heartsetabove.com/
https://linktr.ee/ellenradcliff
--
Listen to the Podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ra0vlh...
In this episode, Ellen and Georgia dive deep into the reality of living "Out of Eden." Why do we feel grief, homesickness, or a sense that we were made for something more? How does brokenness show up in our lives in both big and small ways? Together, they explore the ache that comes from living in a fallen world and how connecting with God becomes the only true solace in that ache.
From personal stories, therapy insights, to deep spiritual reflections, Ellen and Georgia wrestle with grief, powerlessness, and God's grief with us — offering a raw, honest, and hopeful perspective for anyone navigating the messiness of life outside of Eden.
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Connect with Ellen
https://heartsetabove.com/
https://linktr.ee/ellenradcliff
--
Listen to the Podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ra0vlh...