How Empathy with Drs. Bill and Kristi Gaultiere
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp Online Therapy.
Get 10% off your first month with discount code TYPOLOGYPODCAST.
What if the real key to spiritual transformation isn’t trying harder—but receiving love more deeply?
In this heartfelt conversation, I sit down once again with Drs. Bill and Kristi Gaultiere—spiritual directors, therapists, and founders of Soul Shepherding—to explore what it means to truly receive and reflect God’s empathy.
Drawing from their new book, Deeply Loved, the Gaultieres invite us to consider a radical truth: that spiritual transformation begins not with striving or self-critique, but with allowing ourselves to be seen, known, and loved—just as we are.
Together, we unpack how shame, unconscious resistance, and old emotional wounds can block us from receiving love—from God, from others, and even from ourselves. Through vulnerable stories and spiritual wisdom, Bill and Kristi reveal how empathy heals the deepest fractures in our souls, allowing us to move from performance and perfectionism into grace-filled presence.
We explore:
Why self-empathy is essential to emotional and spiritual health.
How each Enneagram type misses empathy in distinct ways.
The difference between tactical and transformational empathy.
How empathy, truth, and responsibility work together to produce growth.
What it looks like to experience God’s empathy even in suffering and loss.
ABOUT BILL AND KRISTI GAULTIERE
Bill is a psychologist (PhD) and ordained pastor and Kristi is a licensed professional counselor (PsyD). Together, they lead Soul Shepherding, which is a nonprofit ministry to help pastors, leaders, churches, and others to go deeper with Jesus in emotional health and loving leadership. They lead immersive retreats that integrate Jesus-centered psychology and spiritual formation. Participants have the option to earn a Certificate in Spiritual Direction to improve their relationship skills and earn side income as a spiritual director or coach. They are authors of a number of soul care books, including Journey of the Soul, which was #1 on Amazon in Christian Counseling, and Healthy Feelings, Thriving Faith. Their newest book is Deeply Loved: Receiving and Reflecting God’s Great Empathy for You.
Their podcast, SoulTalks, has over 750,000 downloads
P.S. Follow the Typology Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player to hear the latest episodes. You can also follow us @typologypodcast on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
CONNECT WITH IAN
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook
Typology Institute Online Courses
Typology Institute Enneagram Assessment
CONNECT WITH BILL AND KRISTI
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Website
SoulTalks Podcast
Deeply Loved: Receiving and Reflecting God’s Great Love for You