Kate Motaung

Grayson is a lively 7-year-old in the first grade, whose parents are concerned about whether he is “normal.” They love his excitable spirit. Yet, when they try to do even simple things as a family, they have grown increasingly frustrated with what other parents, even friends, have labeled “over-the-top” behavior. A simple trip to the grocery store seems to send Grayson spinning. His mom never knows if he’s going to be singing at the top of his lungs or

Are you feeling overwhelmed in your work, relationships, responsibilities, or something else? The feeling of being overwhelmed is common in our fast-paced culture. But God is ready to help you when you feel overwhelmed. Bible Verses to Help When You Feel Overwhelmed It’s not enough just to cut things out of your schedule. You need help to manage your thoughts and emotions when you feel overwhelmed. A caring Christian counselor can help you prioritize your schedule, manage your emotions,

When we feel like we’re under threat, our bodies respond by activating our fight-or-flight response. Oxygen is diverted from the organs and is directed towards our muscles; our hearts beat faster to get that oxygenated blood to those muscles faster, and our breathing also changes. All these physiological responses allow our body to either stand and fight the threat we’re facing, or to flee from it. While our fight-or-flight response helps us as it helped our ancestors to face

“Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands. As the stress continues, you begin to lose the interest and motivation that led you to take on a certain role in the first place.” – www.helpguide.org/articles/stress In American culture, hard work, hustle, and financial gain are such high values that burnout is all too common. People who struggle

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