NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHORS PASTOR JUDAH SMITH AND PSYCHOLOGIST DR. LES PARROTT DEBUT NEW BOOK, “BAD THOUGHTS,” BLENDING SERMON AND SCIENCE TO BREAK DOWN MENTAL HEALTH STIGMAS AND TACKLE THE THOUGHTS THAT KEEP PEOPLE STUCK
They’ve counseled celebrities, congregations and world leaders—now, their Christ-centered insights are available to readers worldwide in Bad Thoughts: A Preacher and a Shrink’s Guide to Reclaiming Your Mind and Soul—a practical, biblically grounded guide to overcoming destructive thinking, people pleasing, and comparison, and embracing the freedom and peace found in Christ.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 10, 2025) — There is a mental health crisis in the United States, with anxiety and depression at the forefront. A survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that half of young adults and one-third of all adults reported feeling anxious either always or often in the past year. “…People are bombarded with messages through the media and popular culture that erode their sense of self-worth — telling them they are not good-looking enough, popular enough, smart enough or rich enough,” U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy wrote in his advisory report. Additionally, according to a 2020 study on relationships within the Church conducted by Barna and the Boone Center for the Family at Pepperdine University, half of all U.S. adults and practicing Christians report at least one relational, emotional or mental health issue that impacts their relationship.
Against this backdrop, and straight from the pulpit and therapy couch, comes Bad Thoughts: A Preacher and a Shrink’s Guide to Reclaiming Your Mind and Soul (Zondervan, 9/23/2025), a raw, practical and sometimes humorous conversation between Churchome pastor Judah Smith and psychologist Dr. Les Parrott. These New York Times bestselling authors, known for being pivotal resources for celebrities and well-known personalities alike, are widely acclaimed in their respective fields. Parrott, the renowned author of Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts, a worldwide phenomenon that has sold over 20 million copies to-date, and Smith, the lead communicator of Churchome, known for its cultural relevance, commitment to biblical integrity, and love for Jesus, have joined forces, drawing on research-backed neuroscience, their unique relationship as therapist and client, and the principles of faith to bring readers a guide to curbing self-destructive thoughts and proving that spirituality can be a tool to find inner healing that lasts.
Smith and Parrott have spent their careers listening to people unload their fears, anxieties, and doubts – whether in pews or on therapy couches. Most people are struggling with a desire to “get better,” but no one seems to know how. Enter, this dynamic duo. Recognizing the staggering rates of anxiety and depression, Bad Thoughts proves to readers that faith and mental health aren’t enemies – they’re actually good friends. Through insightful conversation and deep, personal storytelling, Smith and Parrott get to the root of the poignant question: if we all have bad thoughts, where do we go from here?
“This is not a book about positive thinking,” Smith and Parrott say. “Motivational messages have their place. But we’re focused on something deeper. We’re not dispensing a mere pep talk or rehashing slogans from an inspirational poster. We’re going beneath the surface to help you create true transformation that does nothing less than shape your very identity.”
Readers will get a peek into this duo’s intimate conversations sprinkled with scripture, sarcasm, hard truths, and be equipped with a better understanding of themselves and the tools needed to kick those bad thoughts to the curb and live life to the fullest.
Smith’s personalized doodles in the margins of the book are a reflection of his innermost thoughts, highlighting important themes, giving readers pause for reflection and a reminder not to take themselves too seriously. Smith and Parrott tackle key topics including:
- Why it’s critical to bridge the faith and mental health divide.
- Ditching toxic positivity and cliche advice by getting to the bottom of how to change one’s mind without faking it.
- How equipping oneself with the tools to process and rewire thought patterns can help anyone avoid the “Public Meltdown” that has been seen of pastors, public leaders and celebrities alike.
- Learning how to live a mentally and spiritually healthy life.
- How unhealthy pride can prove how much a person needs faith.
- Why God’s grace is found in surrender, not striving.
“I bring the sermon, Les brings the science,” Smith says. “Together, we can bring a one-two punch to your bad thoughts and help you exchange them for positive, life-giving thoughts.”
Bad Thoughts: A Preacher and a Shrink’s Guide to Reclaiming Your Mind and Soul releases September 23, 2025 and is available for pre-order on Amazon. Learn more about Judah Smith and Churchome at churchome.com, and follow him on Instagram (@JudahSmith) and Facebook (@JudahSmith). Discover more about Les Parrott’s at lesandleslie.com, and follow him on Instagram (@LesandLeslie) and Facebook (@
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Judah Smith is the lead communicator of Churchome, a thriving community with multiple locations and a global app, known for its cultural relevance and deep love for Jesus. He is the New York Times bestselling author of Jesus Is __. Judah and his wife, Chelsea, live in Seattle, Washington.
Number-one New York Times bestselling author and psychologist Dr. Les Parrott has been featured on Oprah, CBS This Morning, the Today Show, CNN, and The View, as well as in USA Today and The New York Times. His books, which include Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts and many others, have sold over five million copies. Les and his wife, Leslie, a marriage therapist, are the creators of BetterLove.com, a resource for couples. Les and Leslie live in Seattle, Washington.
ABOUT THE PUBLISHER:
Zondervan is a HarperCollins company and part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Zondervan is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian communications. The company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan offices are located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For additional information, please visit zondervan.com.
“This book is highly recommended for anyone who takes seriously the need for emotional and spiritual transformation. Just like my dear friend Judah, the writing is funny, relatable, and powerful. He and Les are doing important work, helping us reclaim our minds in today’s world and guiding us toward grace.”
– Chris Pratt, actor
“Fluidly combining examples from scripture, science, and pop culture with actionable advice, the authors make a persuasive and upbeat case that the power to change comes from within. Christians stuck in a cycle of self-defeatism will want to pick this up.”
– Publishers Weekly
