Kate Motaung, Rockwall Christian Counseling

About Kate Motaung

Kate Motaung is the Senior Writer, Editor, and Content Manager for a multi-state company. She is the author of several books including Letters to Grief, 101 Prayers for Comfort in Difficult Times, and A Place to Land: A Story of Longing and Belonging. Kate is also the host of Five Minute Friday, an online writing community that equips and encourages Christian writers, and the owner of Refine Services, a company that offers editing services. She and her South African husband have three young adult children and currently live in West Michigan. Find Kate’s books at katemotaung.com/books.

What It Feels Like to Have Postpartum Blues

What It Feels Like to Have Postpartum Blues

Stacy Davis, Kate Motaung2024-11-13T10:47:18+00:00May 13th, 2024|Depression, Featured, Individual Counseling, Women’s Issues|

As complex, interesting, frustrating, talented, and everything in between as we may be, there is one thing all people have in common, and that’s the fact that we were all born of a woman and are all a miracle given to the world by God. The psalmist loudly proclaims: For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. – Psalms 139:13-14, NIV There is likely no greater joy than the creation of a new life. It is something joyful, marvelous, and mysterious even though we know so much about how human beings are conceived and developed in utero. Though the process of carrying and giving birth to a child is often anxiety-inducing, not to mention painful, there is joy in the aftermath. Understanding postpartum blues Welcoming a child into the world is meant to be a joyful occasion – after all, a new human being is alive and among us. However, while that may be the experience of the majority, it’s not that way for everyone. Postpartum blues, which is another way of talking about the “baby blues” is a common problem that affects a lot of women. Baby blues affect anywhere between 50% and 75% of women after delivery, and they usually begin within the first 2-3 days after delivery and may last for up to two weeks. There are some similarities between the baby blues and postpartum depression; however, the symptoms of baby blues last about two weeks and are less intense than those of postpartum depression. Typically, the symptoms of baby blues will disappear on their own without treatment. With postpartum depression, the symptoms last weeks or months, and the symptoms are [...]

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Bible Verses About Strength: Finding Help When You Need It

Bible Verses About Strength: Finding Help When You Need It

Kate Motaung2024-10-29T17:19:38+00:00April 15th, 2024|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Spiritual Development|

The people that we most often look up to are those that show extraordinary resilience, and who have weathered storms well. They can be moms, businesspeople, members of the armed forces, missionaries, artists, athletes, or just your average Joe trying to do life well. The characteristic these individuals evince is strength, and it is a great quality to possess in everyday life. What do you do, though, if you don’t have enough strength to face a challenge? Sickness, abandonment by friends, financial problems, messy and complicated relationships – all of these are examples of things that can tax your strength and push you beyond your mental, physical, and emotional limits. Admitting that you lack strength is hard for many people; after all, who wants to be considered weak? However, it can be a show of great strength and character to acknowledge your weakness and your need for help. On the night that He was betrayed, Jesus needed His friends there to watch and pray with Him. He felt overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, and He needed His friends with Him at that moment (Matthew 26: 36-46). Jesus’ example should embolden us to recognize when we are weak and to seek help from others when we need it. Bible verses about strength Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow [...]

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When Your Soul is Overwhelmed: Bible Verses About Depression

When Your Soul is Overwhelmed: Bible Verses About Depression

Stacy Davis, Kate Motaung2024-11-13T10:47:35+00:00March 27th, 2024|Depression, Featured, Individual Counseling, Spiritual Development|

Being a Christian or a disciple of Jesus does not mean that you are exempt from struggles in this life. On the contrary, being a follower of Jesus opens you up to persecution and suffering precisely because you follow Him. Consider these Bible verses about depression: In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. – 2 Timothy 3:12-13, NIV “Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.” – John 15:20, NIV We ought to banish the thought that following Jesus will mean smooth sailing in life, perfect health, and no issues in our relationships. Instead, in Jesus we have comfort, true meaning, and a purpose that can help us navigate this world well during these trials. When we face challenges of any sort, we can face them with the strength God provides, and with joy, peace, and hope. A quick explainer on depression It should come as no surprise that disciples of Jesus can also experience depression, just as everyone else in the world is vulnerable to depression. Being depressed doesn’t make you less godly or Spirit-filled; it simply makes you a human being living in a broken world that is in the grip of sin and death. For the believer, hope lies in the promise that though we face trouble, we have peace because Jesus has overcome the world (John 16: 33). Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for [...]

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Teaching Your Child How to Control Anger Well

Teaching Your Child How to Control Anger Well

Kate Motaung2024-10-29T17:19:47+00:00March 18th, 2024|Anger Issues, Christian Counseling for Children, Christian Counseling For Teens, Family Counseling, Featured|

When a child is born, they have a lot of things to figure out about themselves and the world around them. Everything, from moving about to eating, to playing, to communicating with others must all be learned. Another important part of what a child needs to learn is how to experience and express their emotions well, especially learning to control anger. Being able to regulate and express one’s emotions well has a positive impact on relationships and personal well-being. One of the key tasks of a parent or caregiver is to help a child understand their own emotions and to know what the most appropriate ways of expressing those emotions are. Much of this happens in the early, formative years of the child, though we are always growing and learning how to do better. Reasons children get angry When the words “temper tantrum” are uttered, more likely than not, the image that pops into our heads is a flailing, screaming child in the grocery store or park. Parents often wonder if their child’s behavior is normal, and they can find themselves thinking long and hard about what they can do to help their child. Younger children, below the age of four, can have multiple tantrums in a week. These can include kicking, crying, stomping, and pushing. As a child grows older, they ought to outgrow this behavior. There are many reasons a child gets angry, including the following: Family dysfunction and parenting styles A harsh parenting style that does not consider the child’s needs and personality, or parenting that is inconsistent can lead to a child exhibiting anger and aggression. Genetics This and other biological factors can play a role in a child displaying anger and aggression. Frustration Like any adult, children can get angry when their expectations and [...]

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How to Cope with Anxiety: 6 Practical Techniques

How to Cope with Anxiety: 6 Practical Techniques

Stacy Davis, Kate Motaung2024-11-13T10:47:54+00:00March 6th, 2024|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling|

We’ve all felt it at some point in our lives. Perhaps it was before an important first date, in a stressful situation such as taking a test, or when you had to do some public speaking. You felt your heart rate increase, your palms get a little sweaty, you started to feel a bit tense and restless, and your thoughts started to race. We’re talking about anxiety, that all too common feeling of dread and unease that descends upon us when we’re in a stressful situation or one where the outcome is important and uncertain. Occasional anxiety is common and even expected as we go through the everyday stresses of life. This is our body’s natural response to stress, and it helps us to prepare for and deal with those situations. However, for some people, anxiety doesn’t come and go. Instead, it is a more or less permanent state of being. When anxiety interferes with your daily functioning and enjoyment of life, becoming a hindrance rather than the help it is supposed to be, you may have an anxiety disorder. A key indicator of an anxiety disorder is having feelings of fear and worry that do not dissipate. The experience of anxiety in its more problematic forms is quite common, with around 40 million adults in the United States, or 18% of the population, being affected by anxiety each year. The good news is that the outlook is good for those struggling with anxiety as it is treatable. Anxiety can be dealt with using tried and true DIY coping mechanisms and these can be combined with treatment from a mental health professional when such treatment is required. Being able to cope with anxiety using these skills will help you in the moment, but also over time as you get [...]

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What is Infidelity? The Nature and Impact

What is Infidelity? The Nature and Impact

Kate Motaung2025-01-08T06:53:23+00:00November 13th, 2023|Couples Counseling, Featured, Individual Counseling, Infidelity and Affairs, Marriage Counseling, Relationship Issues|

The best of relationships isn’t perfect. Even happy couples have their fair share of squabbles, miscommunication, or points of frustration. Of the many challenges to a relationship that a couple can encounter, infidelity is likely one of the more distressing. According to recent statistics, infidelity is one of the leading causes of divorce. Around 60% of couples cite a partner’s unfaithfulness as a reason their marriage ended. Getting a handle on what infidelity is and why it affects a marriage so deeply will help couples navigate these tricky waters if they ever find themselves there. Marriage has boundaries. In our culture, relationships take a variety of shapes and are meant to meet different needs. Marriage is, at least from a Christian perspective, a monogamous relationship that brings a man and a woman into a lifelong commitment. This commitment and mutual love are a mirror of the love and respect shared between Jesus Christ and the Church. Marital faithfulness is a reminder and picture of the exclusive relationship Jesus has with His people (Ephesians 5:22-33). The reality of this is why, whenever God’s people decide to worship anything other than God, it is called spiritual adultery (1 John 2:15-17; James 4:4-5; Jeremiah 3:20). Our marriages give us a reference point and language for understanding what is happening when we worship something that isn’t the Creator. It marks the marriage relationship itself as a distinct relationship that’s meant to be exclusive. In this situation, when one party fails to fulfill the obligation of exclusivity, trust can be lost, and the marriage may be irretrievably broken. Even for relationships that don’t fit the pattern of Christian marriage, the relationship has some sort of boundary whose transgression implies infidelity. There is an innate sense that certain relationships require exclusivity of some kind to [...]

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How ADHD in Children Can Make Life More Complicated

How ADHD in Children Can Make Life More Complicated

Kate Motaung2025-01-08T06:53:34+00:00June 5th, 2023|ADHD/ADD, Christian Counseling for Children, Christian Counseling For Teens, Family Counseling, Featured|

If your child is restless, impulsive, and has trouble concentrating, you may jump to the conclusion that he or she has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Read on to better understand ADHD in children. ADHD in children Many little children leap before they look. They run and jump, scream and shout, trip and get up again. They sometimes struggle to hear the directions given on how to complete a task, and even once started, there is no guarantee that they will finish the job. ADHD is different from the very normal stages of emotional and cognitive development children grow through as they age. While symptoms can be noticed earlier, ADHD in children often becomes especially pronounced when the child is faced with change, such as starting school or moving home. ADHD in children is often revealed when the child is unusually active, with the tendency to squirm in his or her seat or fidget with whatever is in front of him or her. Listening to, understanding, and following instructions seem to be abnormally difficult. The child with ADHD is characterized by careless mistakes, being absentminded and forgetful, unorganized, and hyperactive. Most cases of ADHD are recognized when the child is younger than 12 years old, although it can be diagnosed later in life, even as an adult. While the symptoms of ADHD most times get better with age, most adults with ADHD were recognized to have it while children and continue to experience the limitations the condition forces upon them. ADHD can also be seen in seemingly unrelated problems such as trouble sleeping or suffering from anxiety. How to assist children with ADHD It is natural for most children to at times feel restless or bored – and this does not predispose them to ADHD. If you are concerned [...]

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From the Heart: Healing Communication from the Inside Out

From the Heart: Healing Communication from the Inside Out

Kate Motaung2025-01-16T13:51:08+00:00May 9th, 2023|Couples Counseling, Featured, Marriage Counseling, Relationship Issues|

It is impossible to navigate this life without communication with other humans. Connection and the need for it are what bring people together. The lack of it, unfortunately, is often what can drive a wedge, forcing apart the closest of relationships. Our connection is enhanced by communication, that is the release and receipt of messages, both verbal and non-verbal. We employ sounds, gestures, and facial expressions to convey our meaning and gather messages in our communication with others. Somewhere in our contact with others, we will encounter conflict. As much as we might try to circumvent it, it can seem impossible. Billions of people populate the world, though one God created and formed each of us in His image. Yet as consistent as He is, He created us with such diversity. Within the realm of differences, we sometimes butt up against each other. Instead of our difference being a place where we celebrate the Father’s various facets of His person into humanity, we long for sameness. We enter a conflict ourselves, wanting to fit in and be like others. Yet, when we interact with others who are not like us, we persecute them as being inherently wrong. Essentially, pride and fear are at work, persuading us to make others over in our image instead of celebrating God’s image in each of us. This prompts us to spar with each other, leading to contention instead of cultivating connection, and gaining the traction to release more of the knowledge of God’s glory into the earth. Communication to solve people problems While it seems that this clamoring would be a “world” problem, far too often, those of us who are members of the worldwide church war and fight one another unnecessarily. This isn’t new; it’s an age-old people problem. Several of the apostles [...]

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The Basic Effects of Trauma

The Basic Effects of Trauma

Kate Motaung2025-01-08T06:53:55+00:00March 23rd, 2023|Featured, Individual Counseling, Trauma|

This article is an overview of how trauma is understood and how it may affect your mental health. It discusses the effects of trauma, lists some treatment options and discusses how to remove barriers that prevent you from securing the correct type of support. This article is also relevant to readers who want to be a better support to those who have undergone trauma. It will be useful to start with the question of the basic effects of trauma. After all, it seems that many of us are either in one of three life stages when it comes to life’s difficulties: we are either entering a tough time, in the middle of one or coming out of one. Now, as you can expect, trauma has a different impact on each person. This includes the ways our bodies respond to danger, the impact that trauma often has on mental health, the link between trauma and physical health problems, and other factors. There are quite broad touch points on trauma, so it is likely that you will have experienced or witnessed in others some of the impacts which appear in the article, and quite likely some others that are not mentioned. The ways our bodies respond to danger. Cortisol and adrenaline are both hormones that our bodies instinctively release when we are feeling stressed or threatened. Trauma is an involuntary and natural response by our bodies to help us prepare to respond to danger. These hormones will affect different people in different ways. Experts have coined these reactions in the following ways: fawn, fight, flight, flop, and freeze. Fawn – attempts to placate the one who is harming you. Fight – being belligerent, struggling, or dissenting. Flight – getting away from the danger and threat of trauma. Flop – simply obeying [...]

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11 Common Signs of Early Onset Dementia

11 Common Signs of Early Onset Dementia

Kate Motaung2025-01-08T06:54:07+00:00January 26th, 2023|Aging and Geriatric Issues, Featured, Individual Counseling|

Early onset dementia may be a term that you have heard of but do not know exactly what it means. Simply put, it describes a mix of symptoms affecting a person’s mental abilities such as learning, thinking, reasoning, remembering, problem-solving, decision-making, and paying attention. While dementia normally occurs in older people, when the nerve cells in a person’s brain stop working, it is not a foregone conclusion that older people will develop dementia. Of course, aging can cause a person’s brain to decline, but this deterioration happens quicker in those suffering from dementia. There are various types of dementia, with the most common being Alzheimer’s disease. Others include: Vascular disorders affecting the circulation of blood around the body. Lewy body dementia which leads to a decline in reasoning, thinking, and independence Frontotemporal dementia, a fairly uncommon type of dementia that affects the front and sides of the brain. It causes problems with behavior and language so people suffering from it may experience personality changes, changes in emotional reactions, having trouble planning as well as speaking and understanding sentences. Alzheimer’s disease causes a person to lose their memory, impedes their speech, and accentuates impulsive behavior. In the vast majority of cases, Alzheimer’s gets worse over time, with some of the signs being forgetfulness; and difficulty speaking, making decisions, and completing tasks. It can also bring on personality changes. Signs of early onset dementia There are a series of red flags which if people experience them earlier than usual are understood to be typical signs of dementia. When someone receives a diagnosis confirming dementia it is once they usually experience two or more of the symptoms described below at a level of intensity severe enough for it to interfere with their daily lives. Signs of early-onset dementia include: Losing memory. A common [...]

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