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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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Dealing with Anxiety in Adolescence

Dealing with Anxiety in Adolescence

Sandra Stein2024-09-27T10:35:17+00:00January 23rd, 2024|Anxiety, Christian Counseling For Teens, Family Counseling, Featured|

Adolescence is a vulnerable period between childhood and adulthood marked by a rapidly changing body and fluctuating hormones. Anxiety is a natural response as teenagers try to adjust to these changes, figure out their identity, become more independent, try new things and deal with a major life transition. It is a deluge of newness. They may not yet be fully equipped to handle these added responsibilities and pressures as their brain is still developing and will not reach full physiological maturation until they are in their twenties. Anxiety in adolescence becomes cause for concern when it is excessive and irrational, and interferes with your teen’s school performance, sleep, social interactions, and ability to go about daily life. Things that cause anxiety in adolescence. There are countless things that contribute to anxiety in adolescence. From parental expectation to conform to their parents’ value system or pressure to succeed, to the demands they, their teachers, and society may put on them to meet societal norms, worry can spin out of control. As they attempt to juggle school, friends, and activities, they become overwhelmed. Much like newborns and babies, adolescents require more sleep than people in other stages of life. With all the activities, commitments, and young adult responsibilities, sleep deprivation significantly impacts a young person’s ability to cope with all that is going on in their lives, particularly when they overextend themselves, trying to do too much. Likewise, shame haunts and drives anxiety. Whether an adolescent fails in a competitive environment or just fears it, they can feel overwhelmed with life. How they are perceived by others, what they believe others think of them, peer pressure, concerns of body image, inadequate feelings driven by social media, all drive anxiety and fear about being humiliated and embarrassed. Physical and hormonal changes fuel [...]

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Breaking the Generational Cycle of Emotional Wounds in Families

Breaking the Generational Cycle of Emotional Wounds in Families

Sandra Stein2024-09-27T10:35:02+00:00January 4th, 2024|Family Counseling, Featured, Relationship Issues|

Emotional wounds are caused by the deep psychological pain of being hurt by someone you love. Your mind does not differentiate between physical and emotional pain. Both register in the same part of your brain. However, unlike physical wounds such as a broken leg that others can see and empathize with, emotional wounds are often kept hidden or minimized. We try to cope by creating defense mechanisms that, instead of healing the wound, subconsciously create situations that cause us to feel wounded repeatedly. Left unaddressed, emotional wounds tend to grow deeper and fester, causing trust issues, damaging your feelings of self-worth, and negatively impacting your thoughts, beliefs, actions, and the way you interact with others. They can also get passed down from one generation to another, causing a cycle of pain that perpetuates itself and continues to affect the family’s dynamics and emotional health. Inter-generationality. Children unwittingly pick up on and internalize their parents’ sense of self-worth. No matter how much you may love your child(ren), or how good the guidance and advice you give them is as you try to teach them the important lessons of life, it is not enough to break the cycle. If you are still carrying around unhealed emotional wounds from your childhood that have not been addressed and dealt with, you will inadvertently model and pass them on to your children as well. Examples of things that can cause emotional wounds. Being lied to or betrayed. Injustice. Humiliation or shame. Abandonment. Physical or emotional neglect. Lack of emotional connection. Real or perceived rejection. Verbal or physical abuse. Invasion of privacy. Having one’s possessions stolen or destroyed. Breaking the cycle of emotional wounds in families. Acknowledge the pain. The first step to breaking the cycle is to recognize and acknowledge the emotional wound. Talk [...]

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Understanding Mental Wellness: 4 Key Areas

Understanding Mental Wellness: 4 Key Areas

Cyndi Kay Green2024-09-27T10:38:21+00:00December 29th, 2023|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Spiritual Development|

There are so many conversations revolving around mental wellness. It seems like there is a rise in the diagnosis of various mental health disorders. This makes it important to understand what mental wellness means. A variety of areas can be included in mental wellness. Mental wellness is not about being happy all the time. It is a balance of mind, body, emotions, and lifestyle. Keeping these four areas of ourselves in harmony in such a way that we can navigate the situations in life is how we experience it. It is being able to understand and accept our abilities to endure stress and attain personal peace. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. – John 14:27, NIV Those diagnosed with a mental health disorder can maintain healthy mental wellness. Being able to maintain a positive mental outlook doesn’t depend on the illness. It is a result of understanding how well the person can handle life events. What are the four key areas of mental wellness? Because it is not simply based on the diagnosis of a mental illness, it is important to understand how the mind, body, emotions, and lifestyle play a part in the wellness of a person. Area of the mind. Our mind is a big part of mental health. It is where we learn and understand how we interact with the world around us. A healthy mind is dealing with stressors and understanding how our reaction to them can affect other areas of our well-being. A mental illness doesn’t always prohibit this ability. Proper treatment of mental illness can increase the ability to cope with stress and develop skills to react [...]

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How Codependency Affects Children

How Codependency Affects Children

Jennifer Kooshian2024-09-27T10:48:55+00:00November 16th, 2023|Christian Counseling for Children, Christian Counseling For Teens, Codependency, Family Counseling, Featured|

Within the family, codependency can have a significant impact on children. From their emotional well-being and development to current and future relationships, codependency has a deep impact on how children grow to view themselves and others. Codependent behavior can feel complex, which is why it is helpful to understand how codependency can influence children. Codependency can be a learned behavior. One of the most significant modes of learning for children is copying what they see. As a child observes their parents, they learn about how to behave and interact with others. When a parent models codependent behavior, children learn unhealthy behaviors by observing the parent. Witnessing codependent behaviors can lead children to internalize these patterns. The patterns they learn can end up affecting future relationships as children carry them into their teen years and adulthood. The emotional impact of codependency. Every child experiences different emotions based on their unique tendencies, how they are raised, and the circumstances in which they live. When a child grows up in a codependent household they can sometimes feel responsible for the well-being of their parent or another family member. This can lead to experiencing an array of emotions, including confusion, anxiety, guilt, shame, and resentment. Loss of individuality from codependency. As a child grows up in a codependent home, they learn to prioritize the needs of others over their own. This shifts the focus from developing a sense of self as they are always concerned about the other person. As the child grows they may find it difficult to form their own identity. Codependency leads to a lack of boundaries. The lines between personal boundaries are often blurred in codependent relationships. The lack of personal boundaries being modeled for the child can make it difficult to understand how to implement them later in [...]

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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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