Kate Motaung

It can be frustrating when your mind and body don’t do what you want them to. We all experience this unpleasant disjuncture between our desires and our reality, and that is part of the harsh truth of the human condition. For some among us, this disjuncture is connected to neurodevelopmental challenges that mean that their minds don’t function in typical ways. One such set of challenges takes the form of the condition known as autism. Autism is a spectrum.

The close-knit bond between spouses is something that God takes seriously. But it’s often true that what we want for ourselves and what God desires for us don’t always coincide, and this is to our detriment. So, it’s not surprising to read accounts such as the following in the pages of the Bible: And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?” He answered, “Have you not

Separation anxiety is recurrent stress that can make even anticipating the separation fraught with emotions. It can create unhealthy habits of codependency and lead to attachment disorders. It is more than just missing a loved one; there can be deep worries and fears that rise up in times of separation. For some people, they are not bothered by someone being out of sight and out of mind. For others, all unseen and unknown things can lead to debilitating anxiety

Depression is one of the most common mental health struggles facing the world today. Most people know someone, or have struggled with depression at some point in their lives, themselves. There are several different mood disorders where “dressed mood” is a large component. The most prevalent is Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Statistics of Major Depression Disorder in the U.S. The National Institute of Mental Health reported that the percentage range of people over the age of 18 who struggled

If you are looking to reduce anxiety, there are many simple ways to do this on your own. Try these 20 suggested methods, and if you need more help, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team of counselors for a customized treatment plan. 1. Practice deep breathing exercises Deep breathing exercises can reduce anxiety by activating the body’s relaxation response. When you breathe deeply, it sends a message to your brain to calm down and relax. The brain

God, the Creator of marriage, the first institution, has laid out His plan for marriage as a lifelong union. What happens when we stray from His intention? The Bible addresses marriage and divorce. God’s design for marriage never included abuse, violence, or coercive control. Emotional abuse can bruise or severely harm a person’s heart, mind, and soul. The apostle Paul further taught that the marital relationship is an ongoing demonstration of the sacrificial love that Christ showed His church.

There is help available for single moms who feel overwhelmed with all the tasks that they have to handle by themselves. If you are a single mom, there is encouragement for you today and we encourage you to seek out additional help from a Christian counselor. In the book, The 10 Best Decisions a Single Mom Can Make, authors Pam Farrel and PeggySue Wells outline several practical ways that moms can get help. Here is some advice on help

Breathing is a unique process that is both automatic and controllable. Even though it is something you usually do subconsciously and tend to take for granted, the way you breathe can be adjusted and manipulated. Studies indicate that paying attention to how you are breathing can have a major impact on your stress levels. They have shown that a state of anxiety or panic can be induced just by purposefully hyperventilating, which is taking short, shallow breaths from your

Sibling support for children with autism or other special needs is essential yet often overlooked. The phrase “it takes a village to raise a child” is true for all children, but especially for individuals with autism or other special needs. For instance, when a child is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it not only impacts their lives, but also their parents and siblings. Within the United States, 1 in 44 children are diagnosed with ASD each year (CDC,

The ability to form attachments with other human beings is an essential skill that typically begins early in life. The parent/caregiver-child relationship is the first crucial relationship that an infant forms. The health of this relationship has a profound effect on the child’s social and emotional development. Attachment disorder is a term that is typically used to describe problems with the emotional attachment that occurs in early childhood. While attachment disorder can occur in adults, it is typically seen

Have you ever caught yourself eating a bag of your favorite sweet or salty snack only to realize you ate way more than you intended to? I think many of us can relate to this unfortunate experience. Consequently, this is often quickly followed by a rush of self-directed negative emotions: frustration, guilt, regret, and even disgust. Then the next day, next week, or next month we find ourselves repeating the cycle. What is going on here and how can

Codependency refers to pain caused by the sufferings we encounter during childhood but becomes expressed in adulthood, leading to a higher chance of compulsive/addictive behavior and relationship problems. Codependency can be attributed to specific feelings and behaviors, resulting in an aversive relationship full of self-loathing and self-sacrificial behaviors. Codependency is a pattern of sacrificing your needs, well-being, and self-care and putting much of your energy into enabling or supporting the people in your life. If you have been unable