What if the marriage advice you were taught in church is actually what's ruining your marriage?

In this powerful and data-backed conversation, author and researcher Sheila Wray Gregoire joins Tabitha to unpack the myths evangelical culture has fed us about sex, submission, and "roles" in marriage and how those messages have led to entitlement, emotional immaturity, and deep harm for both men and women.

In this eye-opening episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook sits down with author, podcaster, and researcher Sheila Wray Gregoire (BareMarriage.com) to dive deep into the truth about evangelical messages on sex and marriage.

Drawing on data from over 32,000 survey responses, Sheila exposes the damaging beliefs that have shaped evangelical culture—from the “72-hour rule” to male headship—and replaces them with Christ-centered, evidence-based truth about healthy intimacy, mutuality, and emotional regulation.

They tackle:

• Why prioritizing sex is the wrong goal
• How purity culture harmed an entire generation
• The silent epidemic of emotionally immature marriages
• Why Christian men need real discipleship, not entitlement
• What love languages actually reveal (hint: it’s not what you think)
• How to build a marriage rooted in partnership, not power

Whether you’re single, married, deconstructing, or holding on by a thread—this conversation is the invitation to rethink what God-honoring marriage truly looks like.

📘 Grab Sheila’s latest book The Marriage You Want, and be sure to grab copies of The Great Sex Rescue and She Deserves Better if you don't already have them!

Find Shelia!

• Bare Marriage: https://www.baremarriage.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheilagregoire
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/baremarriageofficial
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SheilaWrayGregoire

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Order Body & Soul, Healed & Whole: An Invitational Guide to Healthy Sexuality After Trauma, Abuse, and Coercive Control

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📩 Connect with Tabitha:
💻 Tabitha's Website - www.tabithawestbrook.com
📲 Tabitha's Instagram - www.instagram.com/tabithathecounselor
🎙️ Podcast Homepage - https://heytabi.buzzsprout.com

💻 The Journey & The Process Website - www.thejourneyandtheprocess.com
📲 The Journey & The Process Instagram - www.instagram.com/_tjatp

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👍 If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share to help others who need this information!

🚨 Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy and is intended for educational purposes only. If you're in crisis or need therapy, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional.

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