EP #18 - Kent Ernsting’s 35-Year Calling to Walk With the Wounded

In this week’s conversation, we sit down with therapist Kent Ernsting, a man shaped by a lifetime of caring for wounded hearts. Trained in Marriage and Family Therapy and Theology at Fuller Seminary, Kent has spent 35 years walking with people through trauma, addiction, attachment wounds, and the long road toward healing. His story begins with adoption, loss, and a defining question, “What will I do with this one wild and precious life?” and unfolds into a calling to invest deeply in people. Kent shares how early family experiences, a radical encounter with Christ, and decades of counseling have formed his gentle, steady way of entering another person’s pain without judgment. From stories of neglected children in L.A. to adults battling hidden addictions, his work centers on one truth: healing begins when someone is willing to climb down into the dark with you. It’s a conversation about compassion, presence, and the God who never stops pursuing us. Find out more about Kent and his work at: https://www.hopesourcecounseling.org/ This conversation encapsulates what we hope to do here with the Plain Values Podcast , telling stories that matter and bring us closer to the table. If this conversation filled your coffee cup, we would humbly invite you to leave a thoughtful comment below and please, don’t be shy … the Like and Subscribe buttons help more friends find this episode. We’re always looking for more friends. Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com .