Sex, Theology & Song of Songs: Meet Christian Sexologist Monica Cook
In This Episode:
Introduction: Breaking the Stigma Around Sex, Faith, and Mental Health
In the world of Christian mental health, few topics are as misunderstood—or as avoided—as sex. Too often, conversations about intimacy, guilt, anxiety, and depression are left in the shadows of church culture, leaving people to struggle alone. But God designed both our minds and our bodies with purpose.
In this episode of the Sunburnt Souls Christian Mental Health Podcast, host Pastor Dave Quak sits down with Monica Cook, a Sydney-based Christian sexologist from Life to the Full, to explore how faith and sexuality can coexist in healing and wholeness. Together, they unpack biblical mental health resources, break through stigma, and remind us that our bodies and souls are both sacred spaces where God desires to bring healing.
Faith, Sex, and the Whole Person
Monica’s work as a sexologist goes beyond clinical conversations—it’s deeply human and profoundly spiritual. She helps individuals and couples navigate complex issues like trauma, libido, anxiety, and shame.
“Sex is an embodied experience,” Monica explains. “Sometimes the mind understands something the body hasn’t caught up with.”
Her approach reflects the heart of Christian mental health: healing that touches the body, mind, and spirit. In her sessions, Monica encourages clients to explore how their emotional and spiritual wounds may be intertwined, reminding them that faith-based healing isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence.
The Church, Stigma, and the Silence on Sex
Historically, the Church has struggled to address sexuality in healthy, faith-based ways. Monica and Dave discuss how cultural influences—like purity culture, patriarchy, and stoicism—have contributed to shame around sex and emotion.
Yet scripture tells a different story. From Genesis to Song of Songs, God celebrates intimacy as a gift meant for connection, not condemnation.
“The Church could frame this conversation beautifully,” Monica says. “God created sex—it’s good, it’s sacred, and it’s worth doing well.”
By reclaiming this truth, Christians can dismantle the stigma that often keeps believers trapped in silence and guilt. Bringing these conversations into the light is a vital step toward mental and relational healing.
Song of Songs and the Sacred Echo of Intimacy
Few books in the Bible are as boldly poetic about love and desire as Song of Songs. Dave and Monica explore how this ancient text reveals both human and divine intimacy.
“There’s a Hebrew word—yada—that means ‘to know’ in the most intimate, covenantal way,” Monica shares. “That’s how God wants to know us—fully, safely, and without shame.”
Before the fall, Adam and Eve were naked and unashamed—fully seen and fully loved. That’s the kind of connection we long for in every area of life, including our sexuality. When approached through faith, intimacy becomes a reflection of divine love, not a distortion of it.
Healing Shame, Restoring Wholeness
So many Christians carry guilt or anxiety around sexuality, especially when trauma or past experiences shape how they view intimacy. Monica believes that the journey toward healing begins by slowing down and talking to someone safe.
She’s seen countless clients encounter not just psychological healing, but spiritual restoration.
“They come in wanting to fix a sexual issue,” she says, “but they end up encountering God’s grace in the middle of their pain. That’s the real treasure.”
When we bring our most vulnerable struggles before God, we discover that His love is not afraid of our humanity—it meets us in it.
Final Encouragement: Healing Begins in the Light
If you’ve ever felt broken, ashamed, or “too far gone,” this episode is a reminder that you are seen, loved, and called to wholeness. Shame thrives in secrecy, but healing begins in the light.
Whether you’re a pastor, a parent, or someone quietly battling depression or anxiety, God invites you into a journey of renewal. You don’t have to have it all figured out. As Monica prayed in the episode:
“Lord, let every listener sense Your presence. Surround them with support, healing, and peace.”
Call to Action: Start Your Healing Journey Today
If this conversation resonated with you, take the next step:
→ Start Your Free 30-Day Faith & Mental Health Journey
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→ Listen to the Sunburnt Souls Christian Mental Health Podcast
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You are not alone. Healing—body, mind, and spirit—starts here.
