Kate Motaung

If you find yourself reading this article, chances are that you or someone you love has been expressing symptoms of depression or mania. Like a pendulum, those who suffer from manic depression experience dramatic mood swings between incredible highs and devastating lows. More appropriately referred to as bipolar disorder, this can be an incredibly difficult and stunting emotional experience that can hinder one’s emotional progress. For many, manic depression feels like being stuck on a boat with no rudder and

Effective communication is the lifeblood of a relationship. From making sure they know what’s on one another’s weekly schedule, to staying connected emotionally and knowing one another’s needs, being able to communicate well helps a couple to maintain, deepen and strengthen their relationship. As we’ll find a bit later, there’s a difference between talking and communicating, and that difference is one reason why difficulties sometimes pop up within relationships. In this article we'll look at some practical couples therapy

When you have bipolar behavior related to bipolar disorder, everyday life can feel like living on a rollercoaster over which you have zero control. Psychiatrists will prescribe mood stabilizers and recommend secular counseling, but for Christians, trusting in God throughout the healing journey can be vital to recovery. That’s especially true if you’re facing both the challenges of bipolar disorder and being in Christian ministry. There’s hope to be found when you work with a Christian Counselor to develop

Practicing good self-care is an important priority for me as a person and a practitioner. I am often working on self-care in my own life. I will say things to myself like, “Eat slowly, enjoy dinner time conversation, there is no need to rush.” Or “Take a deep breath, pray, don’t worry.” I also remind my clients of the importance of self-care as an important strategy to combat stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. In Part 1 of

🎧 Listen to this article In this article, we will discuss how to identify the symptoms of codependency in a relationship with an adult child and a codependent parent. What is a Codependent Parent? A codependent parent has an unhealthy attachment with their child and tries to control many aspects of their life. Codependent parents often did not have their needs met in childhood, so their sense of self is muddled, confused, and unhealthy. Consequently, they often

Anger is a natural human emotion. We all feel angry from time to time. Yet we live in a world that doesn’t fully know what to do with anger. It often ends up repressed or hidden. People often report feeling shameful about their anger while others don’t even know how to identify when they are angry. For others, anger can be difficult to control and may even become out of control. In this article, we’re going to look at

There is a lot in this world that is worth celebrating. The smile of a child, a bright sunny summer day, time with family over the holidays. However, there is also a lot in the world to lament and that brings us to despair. Some events we experience in life are traumatic, and they affect us physically, mentally, or emotionally in negative ways. In this article we will look at some of the common effects of trauma. What is

When Sally was eight, her father suddenly left her mother for another woman. Sally desperately loved her father, but he never showed any interest in being involved in her life. As she grew, she found it difficult to trust others enough to get close to them. Eventually, she fell in love with Tom, a man with whom she had grown up, and they were married. Throughout their life together, Sally was consumed by a nagging sense of anxiety. She

What is emotional well-being? There are a few different ways to define it, but Healthline describes three components of emotional wellness: Emotional attunement (identifying how you feel). Vulnerability (the ability to express your emotions). Authenticity (the capacity to share your feelings honestly). As you can see, two of the primary aspects of emotional well-being involve relating to others. When we are adept at emotional regulation and wellness, we can have healthier relationships and model well-being for others. We also

As we continue to navigate this world during a pandemic and adjust to changing rules and mandates, children and adolescents may be the hardest hit group of all. Data is already emerging that shows the detrimental impact of the pandemic on children’s mental health. The pandemic, and its ensuing consequences, will likely have long-term negative effects, possibly altering an entire generation’s mental health and way of life permanently. Children and adolescents have experienced increased stress every day during the

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) – formerly known as multiple personality disorder – is a mental health issue that’s often misunderstood. Blockbuster movies like Split have created a lot of misinformation about DID, leading to people with DID being feared and considered dangerous. The stigma surrounding DID means that people with the condition are often fearful of how others will react to them. It’s common for DID sufferers to avoid becoming part of a church community simply because they don’t

Almost 40% of marriages end in divorce in America today. Another interesting area of research is the divorce rate for couples who did not date long before marriage. “A host of studies have found that a longer romance before marriage is linked to higher marital satisfaction and lower risk of divorce. One 2015 study in the journal Economic Inquiry, for example, found that couples who dated for one to two years were 20 percent less likely to later get