Mike Emlet

Mike Emlet

Mike is a faculty member and counselor at CCEF, where he has served since 2001. He holds a doctor of medicine from the University of Pennsylvania and a master of divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary. Prior to joining CCEF, Mike worked as a family physician for eleven years. He has particular interests in working with ministry leaders and with those who struggle with anxiety, depression, and OCD. He has published numerous books, including CrossTalk (New Growth Press, 2009), Descriptions and Prescriptions (New Growth Press, 2017), and Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners (New Growth Press, 2021).

Blog posts written by Mike Emlet

A Liturgy for Rest Featured Image
Blog
November 25, 2024

A Liturgy for Rest

Mike Emlet
Stretching Joy: 10 Ways to Notice God’s Everyday Mercies Featured Image
Blog
October 16, 2024

Stretching Joy: 10 Ways to Notice God’s Everyday Mercies

Mike Emlet
­­Psalm 136 and the Blessing of Spiritual Speed Bumps Featured Image
Blog
April 10, 2024

­­Psalm 136 and the Blessing of Spiritual Speed Bumps

Mike Emlet
Fully Known, Fully Loved Featured Image
Blog
December 14, 2021

Fully Known, Fully Loved

Mike Emlet
Slot Machine Christianity Featured Image
Blog
July 8, 2021

Slot Machine Christianity

Mike Emlet
An Open Letter to a Sinner Featured Image
Blog
January 27, 2021

An Open Letter to a Sinner

Mike Emlet
An Open Letter to a Distressed Sufferer Featured Image
Blog
January 21, 2021

An Open Letter to a Distressed Sufferer

Mike Emlet
An Open Letter to a Discouraged Saint Featured Image
Blog
January 14, 2021

An Open Letter to a Discouraged Saint

Mike Emlet
God Is Not Red or Blue Featured Image
Blog
November 4, 2020

God Is Not Red or Blue

Mike Emlet
Love Is Inconvenient Featured Image
Blog
July 30, 2020

Love Is Inconvenient

Mike Emlet
The Monotony of the Wilderness: Are You Just Marking Time? Featured Image
Blog
June 10, 2020

The Monotony of the Wilderness: Are You Just Marking Time?

Mike Emlet
COVID-19: Living by Probabilities or Providence? Featured Image
Blog
March 25, 2020

COVID-19: Living by Probabilities or Providence?

Mike Emlet
Why We Give In to Temptation Featured Image
Blog
March 5, 2020

Why We Give In to Temptation

Mike Emlet
“Worthy?” Featured Image
Blog
November 19, 2019

“Worthy?”

Mike Emlet
Look Up Featured Image
Blog
October 3, 2019

Look Up

Mike Emlet
Learning About Sanctification from Groundhog Day Featured Image
Blog
February 13, 2019

Learning About Sanctification from Groundhog Day

Mike Emlet
Cares and Consolations Featured Image
Blog
January 22, 2019

Cares and Consolations

Mike Emlet
Applying Difficult Passages Featured Image
Blog
June 13, 2018

Applying Difficult Passages

Mike Emlet
Face to Face with Death Featured Image
Blog
February 5, 2018

Face to Face with Death

Mike Emlet
(Un)decorating the Christmas Tree Featured Image
Blog
January 16, 2018

(Un)decorating the Christmas Tree

Mike Emlet
Goldilocks, Psychiatric Diagnoses, and Psychoactive Medications Featured Image
Blog
September 8, 2017

Goldilocks, Psychiatric Diagnoses, and Psychoactive Medications

Mike Emlet
Just-Around-the-Corner Spirituality Featured Image
Blog
May 15, 2017

Just-Around-the-Corner Spirituality

Mike Emlet
Mind the Gap Featured Image
Blog
April 4, 2017

Mind the Gap

Mike Emlet
Help for the Caregiver: Facing the Challenges With Understanding and Strength Featured Image
Blog
April 14, 2016

Help for the Caregiver: Facing the Challenges With Understanding and Strength

Mike Emlet
No More Bible Bandaids, Part 3 Featured Image
Blog
April 14, 2016

No More Bible Bandaids, Part 3

Mike Emlet
No More Bible Bandaids, Part 2 Featured Image
Blog
April 14, 2016

No More Bible Bandaids, Part 2

Mike Emlet
No More Bible Bandaids, Part 1 Featured Image
Blog
April 14, 2016

No More Bible Bandaids, Part 1

Mike Emlet
GPS sanctification Featured Image
Blog
April 14, 2016

GPS sanctification

Mike Emlet
DSM-5: The new normal? Featured Image
Blog
April 14, 2016

DSM-5: The new normal?

Mike Emlet
The doctor is in (Part 1) Featured Image
Blog
April 14, 2016

The doctor is in (Part 1)

Mike Emlet
The doctor is in (Part 7) Featured Image
Blog
April 14, 2016

The doctor is in (Part 7)

Mike Emlet
The doctor is in (Part 6) Featured Image
Blog
April 14, 2016

The doctor is in (Part 6)

Mike Emlet
The doctor is in (Part 5) Featured Image
Blog
April 14, 2016

The doctor is in (Part 5)

Mike Emlet
The doctor is in (Part 4) Featured Image
Blog
April 14, 2016

The doctor is in (Part 4)

Mike Emlet
The doctor is in (Part 2) Featured Image
Blog
April 14, 2016

The doctor is in (Part 2)

Mike Emlet
The doctor is in (Part 3) Featured Image
Blog
April 14, 2016

The doctor is in (Part 3)

Mike Emlet
Superhuman ministry (Part 3) Featured Image
Blog
April 14, 2016

Superhuman ministry (Part 3)

Mike Emlet
Superhuman ministry (Part 1) Featured Image
Blog
April 14, 2016

Superhuman ministry (Part 1)

Mike Emlet
Superhuman ministry (Part 2) Featured Image
Blog
April 14, 2016

Superhuman ministry (Part 2)

Mike Emlet
Superhuman ministry (Part 4) Featured Image
Blog
April 14, 2016

Superhuman ministry (Part 4)

Mike Emlet
“Living Biblically”? Featured Image
Blog
April 14, 2016

“Living Biblically”?

Mike Emlet
More on how to understand biological factors in counseling Featured Image
Blog
March 16, 2012

More on how to understand biological factors in counseling

Mike Emlet

Videos featuring Mike Emlet

My spouse has OCD and it’s very difficult for me. What do I do? Featured Image
video
May 1, 2025

My spouse has OCD and it’s very difficult for me. What do I do?

Mike Emlet
I am frequently debilitated by thoughts that I might not be saved. What do I do? Featured Image
video
February 24, 2025

I am frequently debilitated by thoughts that I might not be saved. What do I do?

Mike Emlet
How can I come alongside my child who has autism? Featured Image
video
August 27, 2024

How can I come alongside my child who has autism?

Mike Emlet
Reflections on Rest with Mike Emlet Featured Image
video
March 21, 2024

Reflections on Rest with Mike Emlet

Mike Emlet
Counseling & Physiology: Sample Lecture Featured Image
video
March 4, 2024

Counseling & Physiology: Sample Lecture

Mike Emlet
I struggle with dark intrusive thoughts that scare me. What do I do? Featured Image
video
February 9, 2023

I struggle with dark intrusive thoughts that scare me. What do I do?

Mike Emlet
How can I avoid the temptation to find my identity in my psychiatric diagnosis? Featured Image
video
October 27, 2022

How can I avoid the temptation to find my identity in my psychiatric diagnosis?

Mike Emlet
How do I find a balance between pressing ministry needs and my personal and family life? Featured Image
video
January 12, 2022

How do I find a balance between pressing ministry needs and my personal and family life?

Mike Emlet
Words of Hope: Psalm 118 Featured Image
video
April 15, 2020

Words of Hope: Psalm 118

Mike Emlet
My husband and I are struggling with infertility. How can we find hope in our disappointment? Featured Image
video
February 26, 2020

My husband and I are struggling with infertility. How can we find hope in our disappointment?

Mike Emlet
How does anxiety manifest in those with OCD? Featured Image
video
February 28, 2019

How does anxiety manifest in those with OCD?

Mike Emlet
Living Scripture Live Webinar Discussion Featured Image
video
March 13, 2018

Living Scripture Live Webinar Discussion

Darby Strickland, David Powlison, Mike Emlet
Next Steps: Writing Projects Featured Image
video
December 4, 2017

Next Steps: Writing Projects

Ed Welch, Jayne V. Clark, Julie Lowe, Mike Emlet
How do you love someone who is quick to speak and slow to listen? Featured Image
video
September 22, 2016

How do you love someone who is quick to speak and slow to listen?

Mike Emlet
How should biblical counselors demonstrate empathy toward those they counsel? Featured Image
video
September 15, 2016

How should biblical counselors demonstrate empathy toward those they counsel?

Mike Emlet
Does my child have obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)? Featured Image
video
September 13, 2016

Does my child have obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)?

Mike Emlet
When should a biblical counselor terminate a counseling relationship? Featured Image
video
September 8, 2016

When should a biblical counselor terminate a counseling relationship?

Mike Emlet
I struggle with depression and avoid going to church. Can I be saved? Featured Image
video
September 5, 2016

I struggle with depression and avoid going to church. Can I be saved?

Mike Emlet
What is Christian accountability? Featured Image
video
September 3, 2016

What is Christian accountability?

Mike Emlet
How do you minister to someone who is completely irrational? Featured Image
video
August 25, 2016

How do you minister to someone who is completely irrational?

Mike Emlet
I feel enslaved to the escape of the TV and Internet. What can I do? Featured Image
video
August 20, 2016

I feel enslaved to the escape of the TV and Internet. What can I do?

Mike Emlet
How should biblical counselors view material from secular psychology? Featured Image
video
August 19, 2016

How should biblical counselors view material from secular psychology?

Mike Emlet
What is the #1 mistake people make in using Scripture in giving advice? Featured Image
video
August 17, 2016

What is the #1 mistake people make in using Scripture in giving advice?

Mike Emlet
How can I love my spouse who suffers with Asperger’s? Featured Image
video
August 15, 2016

How can I love my spouse who suffers with Asperger’s?

Mike Emlet
How do I help a friend through postpartum depression? Featured Image
video
August 8, 2016

How do I help a friend through postpartum depression?

Mike Emlet
How can I stop persistent bad behavior? Featured Image
video
August 4, 2016

How can I stop persistent bad behavior?

Mike Emlet
How can we understand obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD)? Featured Image
video
July 16, 2016

How can we understand obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD)?

Mike Emlet
How do we love people who use suffering as an excuse for sin? Featured Image
video
June 5, 2016

How do we love people who use suffering as an excuse for sin?

Mike Emlet
How does God view people? Featured Image
video
June 4, 2016

How does God view people?

Mike Emlet
How do I help a friend who has suicidal thoughts? Featured Image
video
June 2, 2016

How do I help a friend who has suicidal thoughts?

Mike Emlet
Help! I am an emotionally drained counselor Featured Image
video
June 1, 2016

Help! I am an emotionally drained counselor

Mike Emlet
How do we understand biological factors in counseling? Featured Image
video
May 21, 2016

How do we understand biological factors in counseling?

Mike Emlet
How do I cultivate meaningful relationships in my small group? Featured Image
video
May 13, 2016

How do I cultivate meaningful relationships in my small group?

Mike Emlet
How do I cultivate male friendships? Featured Image
video
May 10, 2016

How do I cultivate male friendships?

Mike Emlet
How do you help a spiritual leader who is a workaholic? Featured Image
video
April 25, 2016

How do you help a spiritual leader who is a workaholic?

Mike Emlet
Can I seek community without feeling needy? Featured Image
video
April 18, 2016

Can I seek community without feeling needy?

Mike Emlet
When should a pastor recommend a psychiatrist? Featured Image
video
April 17, 2016

When should a pastor recommend a psychiatrist?

Mike Emlet

Podcast Episodes featuring Mike Emlet

Stories from Saints, Sufferers, & Sinners – Episode 5: Dave Featured Image
Podcast
March 11, 2021

Stories from Saints, Sufferers, & Sinners – Episode 5: Dave

Dave Casey, Mike Emlet
Stories from Saints, Sufferers, & Sinners – Episode 4: Jen Featured Image
Podcast
March 4, 2021

Stories from Saints, Sufferers, & Sinners – Episode 4: Jen

Mike Emlet
Stories from Saints, Sufferers, & Sinners – Episode 3: Sarah Featured Image
Podcast
February 25, 2021

Stories from Saints, Sufferers, & Sinners – Episode 3: Sarah

Mike Emlet, Sarah Gammage
Stories from Saints, Sufferers, & Sinners – Episode 2: Rona Featured Image
Podcast
February 18, 2021

Stories from Saints, Sufferers, & Sinners – Episode 2: Rona

Mike Emlet, Rona Babb
Stories from Saints, Sufferers, & Sinners – Episode 1: Myriam Featured Image
Podcast
February 11, 2021

Stories from Saints, Sufferers, & Sinners – Episode 1: Myriam

Mike Emlet
Parenting in Weakness Featured Image
Podcast
November 6, 2019

Parenting in Weakness

Alasdair Groves, Mike Emlet
Self-Care Featured Image
Podcast
April 5, 2019

Self-Care

Aaron Sironi, Alasdair Groves, Mike Emlet
Addictions (Part 2) Featured Image
Podcast
November 20, 2018

Addictions (Part 2)

Alasdair Groves, Mike Emlet
Addictions (Part 1) Featured Image
Podcast
November 2, 2018

Addictions (Part 1)

Alasdair Groves, Mike Emlet
How Do You Personally Engage with Scripture? Featured Image
Podcast
September 12, 2018

How Do You Personally Engage with Scripture?

Alasdair Groves, Mike Emlet
OCD with Mike Emlet (Part 2) Featured Image
Podcast
June 13, 2017

OCD with Mike Emlet (Part 2)

Alasdair Groves, Mike Emlet
OCD with Mike Emlet (Part 1) Featured Image
Podcast
June 5, 2017

OCD with Mike Emlet (Part 1)

Alasdair Groves, Mike Emlet
Psalm 42 and 43 with Mike Emlet Featured Image
Podcast
May 1, 2017

Psalm 42 and 43 with Mike Emlet

Alasdair Groves, Mike Emlet
Best of Psychology with Mike Emlet Featured Image
Podcast
February 21, 2017

Best of Psychology with Mike Emlet

Alasdair Groves, Mike Emlet
Masturbation and guilt Featured Image
Podcast
September 18, 2016

Masturbation and guilt

Mike Emlet, Winston Smith
Physical and spiritual well-being Featured Image
Podcast
September 14, 2016

Physical and spiritual well-being

Mike Emlet
Silver Linings Playbook Featured Image
Podcast
August 12, 2016

Silver Linings Playbook

CCEF, Ed Welch, Mike Emlet, Winston Smith
Working with what is right in front of you Featured Image
Podcast
August 10, 2016

Working with what is right in front of you

Alasdair Groves, Mike Emlet
Taking people seriously Featured Image
Podcast
August 8, 2016

Taking people seriously

Alasdair Groves, Mike Emlet
When is tough love appropriate for adult children? Featured Image
Podcast
August 7, 2016

When is tough love appropriate for adult children?

Mike Emlet, Winston Smith
Don’t take too many notes Featured Image
Podcast
August 6, 2016

Don’t take too many notes

Alasdair Groves, Mike Emlet
How should you address physical issues in counseling? Featured Image
Podcast
August 3, 2016

How should you address physical issues in counseling?

Alasdair Groves, Mike Emlet
Is competition biblical? Featured Image
Podcast
August 1, 2016

Is competition biblical?

Mike Emlet, Winston Smith
Can boredom be addressed scripturally? Featured Image
Podcast
July 30, 2016

Can boredom be addressed scripturally?

Mike Emlet, Winston Smith
How can I help my adult child suffering with Bipolar? Featured Image
Podcast
July 28, 2016

How can I help my adult child suffering with Bipolar?

Mike Emlet, Winston Smith
How directive should a counselor be? Featured Image
Podcast
July 25, 2016

How directive should a counselor be?

Mike Emlet, Winston Smith
How to love when you feel shy Featured Image
Podcast
July 24, 2016

How to love when you feel shy

Mike Emlet, Winston Smith
What’s in a name? Understanding labels and diagnoses Featured Image
Podcast
July 21, 2016

What’s in a name? Understanding labels and diagnoses

Mike Emlet
Help! I don’t know where my anxiety is coming from Featured Image
Podcast
July 20, 2016

Help! I don’t know where my anxiety is coming from

Mike Emlet, Winston Smith
How to guard against pride as a counselor Featured Image
Podcast
July 17, 2016

How to guard against pride as a counselor

David Powlison, Mike Emlet
When people try to be helpful but aren’t Featured Image
Podcast
July 16, 2016

When people try to be helpful but aren’t

David Powlison, Mike Emlet
Is it wrong to marry a friend (without romantic feelings for them)? Featured Image
Podcast
July 11, 2016

Is it wrong to marry a friend (without romantic feelings for them)?

David Powlison, Mike Emlet
Vital ingredients to growing marriages Featured Image
Podcast
July 7, 2016

Vital ingredients to growing marriages

Mike Emlet, Tim Lane
Grace and law in parenting Featured Image
Podcast
June 28, 2016

Grace and law in parenting

Mike Emlet, Tim Lane
Loving an elderly parent Featured Image
Podcast
June 25, 2016

Loving an elderly parent

Mike Emlet, Tim Lane
How have you grown in applying scripture during your counseling sessions? Featured Image
Podcast
June 23, 2016

How have you grown in applying scripture during your counseling sessions?

Mike Emlet, Tim Lane
Is biblical counseling simplistic? Featured Image
Podcast
June 22, 2016

Is biblical counseling simplistic?

Mike Emlet, Tim Lane
Counseling people after natural disasters Featured Image
Podcast
June 20, 2016

Counseling people after natural disasters

Mike Emlet, Tim Lane
What are some typical misunderstandings in the process of how people change? Featured Image
Podcast
June 18, 2016

What are some typical misunderstandings in the process of how people change?

Mike Emlet, Tim Lane
Difference between Counseling at CCEF and in a Church Featured Image
Podcast
June 16, 2016

Difference between Counseling at CCEF and in a Church

Mike Emlet, Tim Lane
Forgiving a parent who wronged you Featured Image
Podcast
June 14, 2016

Forgiving a parent who wronged you

Julie Lowe, Mike Emlet
Hoarding Featured Image
Podcast
June 13, 2016

Hoarding

Mike Emlet
Fees for biblical counseling Featured Image
Podcast
June 10, 2016

Fees for biblical counseling

Julie Lowe, Mike Emlet
Living in sin and unrepentant Featured Image
Podcast
June 9, 2016

Living in sin and unrepentant

Mike Emlet, Winston Smith
Teenagers and depression Featured Image
Podcast
June 7, 2016

Teenagers and depression

Julie Lowe, Mike Emlet
Inexperienced counselors Featured Image
Podcast
June 6, 2016

Inexperienced counselors

Mike Emlet, Winston Smith
Help and Hope: Dieting and love Featured Image
Podcast
June 1, 2016

Help and Hope: Dieting and love

Mike Emlet, Winston Smith
Endurance in suffering Featured Image
Podcast
May 30, 2016

Endurance in suffering

Ed Welch, Mike Emlet
Knowing the will of God Featured Image
Podcast
May 25, 2016

Knowing the will of God

Ed Welch, Mike Emlet
Biblical counseling for non-believers? Featured Image
Podcast
May 24, 2016

Biblical counseling for non-believers?

Ed Welch, Mike Emlet
On prayer Featured Image
Podcast
May 16, 2016

On prayer

Ed Welch, Mike Emlet
Help and Hope: Sex gone bad Featured Image
Podcast
April 23, 2016

Help and Hope: Sex gone bad

Julie Lowe, Mike Emlet

JBC Articles written by Mike Emlet

Using Scripture to Address Common Patterns of Thinking in OCD Featured Image
JBC Article

Using Scripture to Address Common Patterns of Thinking in OCD

Mike Emlet
A Biblical Rationale for Embodied Spiritual Practices Featured Image
JBC Article

A Biblical Rationale for Embodied Spiritual Practices

Mike Emlet
Futility, Meaning, and Life under the Sun: Ecclesiastes for Everyday Life Featured Image
JBC Article

Futility, Meaning, and Life under the Sun: Ecclesiastes for Everyday Life

Mike Emlet
Why Cultural Context Matters in Biblical Counseling Featured Image
JBC Article

Why Cultural Context Matters in Biblical Counseling

Esther Liu, Mike Emlet, Samuel J. Alex
Benediction: Living under God’s Good Word Featured Image
JBC Article

Benediction: Living under God’s Good Word

Mike Emlet
The “Biblical” in Biblical Counseling Featured Image
JBC Article

The “Biblical” in Biblical Counseling

Mike Emlet
Scrupulosity: When Doubts Devour Featured Image
JBC Article

Scrupulosity: When Doubts Devour

Mike Emlet
Overeating: When Enough Isn’t Enough Featured Image
JBC Article

Overeating: When Enough Isn’t Enough

Mike Emlet
Loving Others as Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners (Part 2) Featured Image
JBC Article

Loving Others as Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners (Part 2)

Mike Emlet
Loving Others as Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners (Part 1) Featured Image
JBC Article

Loving Others as Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners (Part 1)

Mike Emlet
Persevering in Ministry Featured Image
JBC Article

Persevering in Ministry

Mike Emlet
What’s in a Name? Understanding Psychiatric Diagnoses Featured Image
JBC Article

What’s in a Name? Understanding Psychiatric Diagnoses

Mike Emlet
Five Ministry Priorities for Those Struggling with Same-Sex Attraction Featured Image
JBC Article

Five Ministry Priorities for Those Struggling with Same-Sex Attraction

Mike Emlet
Book Review Featured Image
JBC Article

Book Review

Mike Emlet
Practice Makes Perfect? Exploring the Relationship Between Knowledge, Desire, and Habit Featured Image
JBC Article

Practice Makes Perfect? Exploring the Relationship Between Knowledge, Desire, and Habit

Mike Emlet
Book Reviews Featured Image
JBC Article

Book Reviews

Cecelia Bernhardt, Ed Welch, Mike Emlet
Evaluating a Person with Suicidal Desires Featured Image
JBC Article

Evaluating a Person with Suicidal Desires

Aaron Sironi, Mike Emlet
Listening to Prozac…and to the Scriptures: A Primer on Psychoactive Medications Featured Image
JBC Article

Listening to Prozac…and to the Scriptures: A Primer on Psychoactive Medications

Mike Emlet
Helping the Parents of an Angry Child Featured Image
JBC Article

Helping the Parents of an Angry Child

David Powlison, Mike Emlet
When It Won’t Go Away: A Biblical Response to Chronic Pain Featured Image
JBC Article

When It Won’t Go Away: A Biblical Response to Chronic Pain

Mike Emlet
Book Reviews Featured Image
JBC Article

Book Reviews

David Covington, David White, Mike Emlet, Sharon Covington, Winston Smith
Obsessions and Compulsions: Breaking Free of the Tyranny Featured Image
JBC Article

Obsessions and Compulsions: Breaking Free of the Tyranny

Mike Emlet
Understanding the Influences on the Human Heart Featured Image
JBC Article

Understanding the Influences on the Human Heart

Mike Emlet