Licensed clinical psychologist. Speaker. Encourager of hearts. This conversation with Dr. Karla Evans is like a breath of fresh air for anyone carrying heavy thoughts or longing for hope.

Whether you’re navigating your own mental health, supporting someone you love, or simply trying to be more present in your life, this episode will meet you right where you are.

Karla shares her story of growing up inspired by her mom’s kindness, and how that shaped her calling to help others heal, grow, and live with intention. She gives practical tools you can start using right now to reframe your thinking, feel your emotions, and anticipate joy—even in the middle of hard seasons.

Here’s what we’re diving into:
✻ The power of metacognition and how to question whether your thoughts are helping or harming you
✻ The ABCD model for reframing beliefs that hold you back
✻ Why mental health is for everyone, not just when you’re in crisis
✻ How to practice gratitude and affirmations that feel genuine
✻ What it looks like to sit with people in their pain without trying to fix it
✻ The deeper meaning of anticipating joy and how your struggles can be a catalyst for growth

LET’S DIVE IN. 🖤

Hey friends—welcome back to the show.

Today, I am so excited because I get to introduce you to someone who is not only doing amazing things in the world but is also a dear friend of mine—Dr. Karla Evans.

Karla and I actually met when I was living in Dallas. We connected online first and quickly realized we shared a lot of the same passions and values around mental health, faith, and helping people step into who they’re meant to be. She’s one of the first people I reached out to to befriend when I moved there, and she’s been a light in my life ever since.

Karla is a licensed clinical psychologist, a speaker, and truly one of the most encouraging humans you’ll ever meet. She has such a gift for helping people feel seen and reminding them that no matter what they’re walking through, hope is still possible.

In today’s conversation, we talk about so many things that I know are going to speak right to your heart—like:

✻ How to think about what you’re thinking about and decide if your thoughts are helping or harming you
✻ A really practical tool called the ABCD model that helps you reframe old beliefs and replace them with truth
✻ Why mental health is for everyone—not just something you turn to in crisis
✻ How to feel your feelings fully without judgment, and how to sit with other people in their pain without trying to fix it
✻ And what it really means to anticipate joy, even when life feels heavy

If you’ve been needing some encouragement, some truth, or just the reminder that you’re not alone in the hard stuff—this episode is for you.

I can’t wait for you to hear this conversation. Let’s dive into my chat with Dr. Karla Evans.

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE 👇🏼

① Karla shares how growing up watching her mom serve the underdogs inspired her passion for speaking encouragement and truth over others.

② We explore the power of metacognition—thinking about what you’re thinking about—and how to ask whether your thoughts are helping or harming you.

③ Karla teaches the ABCD model: identifying the activating event, the belief it created, the consequence that followed, and how to dispute the lies and reframe your thinking.

④ We talk about why mental health support is for everyone, not just people in crisis—and how to normalize seeking help.

⑤ Karla shares practical ways to practice gratitude and affirmations in your own life and the lives of others, without feeling performative.

⑥ She explains how to feel your emotions fully and sit with others in their pain without rushing to “fix” them.

⑦ Karla describes what it means to anticipate joy: not ignoring reality, but trusting that your challenges can be a catalyst for growth and strength in the season ahead.

CONNECT WITH DR KARLA EVANS 📲

If you LOVED today’s conversation then head over to Instagram and hang out with Karla
Learn more about Anticipate Joy

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