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Even Tacos Fall ApartAuthor: MommaFoxFire
The "Even Tacos Fall Apart" talk show includes interviews with actual mental health professionals and conversations where real people talk about the messy side of mental illness, disabilities, wellness and life in general. My goal is to normalize mental health conversations and reduce the stigma around illnesses. We all struggle at different times in our lives, but that doesn't mean we're unlovable - after all, Tacos Fall Apart and WE STILL LOVE THOSE! mommafoxfire is a MH advocate and variety gaming streamer on Twitch: twitch.tv/mommafoxfire tacosfallapart.com Language: en Genres: Health & Fitness, Mental Health Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Religion & Mental Health with Richard Tierney
Episode 30
Tuesday, 21 October, 2025
If you're questioning whether traditional therapy and religion have all the answers, or you're caught between faith and mental health frameworks that don't quite fit, this episode is for you.More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/richard-tierneyRichard Tierney works with trauma survivors using a combination of visualization, spiritual practice and a modified 12-step program. He frames his approach around the idea that mental disorders stem from past trauma held by younger versions of ourselves, rather than being inherent mental illnesses requiring lifelong management.Tierney's core premise involves separating your current self from the person who experienced trauma. He argues that if you're 40 now and experienced abuse at 12, you're not the same person. Therefore, you shouldn't carry that trauma as your own identity. His healing process involves visualizing your younger self, mentally transferring the trauma back to them, and releasing it through ritualistic acts like burning written lists of grievances.He emphasizes three eight-hour segments daily: eight hours for sleep (given to God/your chosen higher power through prayer), eight hours for work, and eight hours for personal activities, hobbies and relationships. This framework aims to create resilience by diversifying your life rather than depending on one job or one person for identity.Tierney's spiritual approach doesn't require traditional religion. He encourages people to develop a personal relationship with God/your higher power through practices like writing out worries, burning the list as a burnt offering, and repeating affirmations starting with "I am" to reprogram unconscious thinking. He's explicit that this works regardless of church attendance or denomination.The conversation touched on how his approach relates to conventional mental health treatment. Tierney distinguishes between mental illness (which requires professional treatment) and mental disorders (which he believes stem from trauma). He's critical of treating symptoms through medication alone, arguing this ignores the root cause. He acknowledges that many clients struggle with letting go of victim identity, especially if their sense of purpose comes from advocacy around their diagnosis.Tierney shared his own history: childhood trauma at 12, decades spent in victim mentality, struggles with addiction and isolation and eventual recovery through 12-step programs and therapy work in Thailand. He moved from Catholicism to a more individualized spiritual practice after witnessing the church deny funeral rites to suicide victims.On forgiveness, he argues that wishing abusers well and leaving judgment to God removes their power over you, though this doesn't mean condoning their actions. He encourages people to share their stories but distinguish between what happened to their younger self and who they are today.The interview emphasized personal agency and spiritual reframing over diagnosis and medication. Tierney frames mental health challenges as soul wounds rather than brain disorders, presenting his methodology as an alternative path rather than a complement to conventional treatment.
