Kate Motaung

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a potentially debilitating disorder that causes repetitive and intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive time-consuming rituals (compulsions) that are often distressing, debilitating, and life-altering. OCD is lifelong and occurs on a continuum with symptoms of OCD possibly increasing or decreasing throughout a person’s life. As a parent of a child or teen with symptoms of OCD, it can sometimes be frightening to watch your child suffer from this debilitating disorder. A natural reaction to such symptoms is

Depression in children is more common than most people think, and it was once believed that children were too developmentally and emotionally immature to suffer from depression. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020), approximately 3.2%, or 1.9 million, of children and teens aged 3-17 years in the U.S. have been diagnosed with depression. Comorbidity, or having a simultaneous coexisting condition in addition to depression, is common among this age group. Common coexisting conditions include but

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” - Proverbs  4:23, NIV ". . . It determines the course of your life.” - Proverbs 4:23, NLT In an article published by The Harvard Business Review entitled, "The Daily Routines of Geniuses," the author compared the schedules and lifestyles of 161 artists, scientists, philosophers, and other exceptional thinkers and found several commonalities among them, such as: Creating a workspace that is fresh and calming with

No matter if you’ve been married one year, ten years, or twenty years and beyond, marriage can be trying at times. It’s normal to get in relationship ruts, and that’s why it’s good to look for ways for improving your marriage. 10 Tips for Improving Your Marriage Improving your marriage is possible by being intentional with several small changes. These ten tips for improving your marriage can get you back on the right path and move toward closeness. 1.

To understand what causes codependency in relationships, it is first necessary to understand what codependency is and what it is not. One dictionary definition of codependency says it is based on a psychological state of mutual dependence between two people, especially when one partner relies emotionally on support and care for the other partner. This can sound a lot like normal care in a loving relationship, but in actual practice, it is something quite different. Perhaps the most important

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, right? The holiday season doesn’t feel wonderful for everyone. Some people deal with grief every time the holidays roll around. Others have new changes to navigate and may feel overwhelmed instead of joyful. If you are feeling depressed during the holidays, here are practical steps you can take for dealing with depression and to get the help you need. Are You Depressed? If you have felt overwhelmed by feelings of isolation,

Do you have a tough time figuring out how to control your anger? Are you sick of feeling like anger controls you? You can learn to overcome anger with God’s help and the help of a Christian counselor. The Roots of Anger Most people have grown up in homes where anger was not handled well. Perhaps you grew up in a home where anger was explosive and damaging. Or maybe your parents swept everything under the rug, stuffing situations

Many Christians struggle to understand how to relate to their anger. It often feels taboo – an emotion that we shouldn’t be experiencing. After all, regarding anger in the Bible we learn that “Love is patient, it is kind,” and so we often tend to shy away from anger as a result. What Do We Read about Anger in the Bible? The fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We learn

Premarital or (pre-marriage) counseling is a short-term form of counseling for couples that plan to get married. Often required by pastors or priests, premarital counseling is typically done by clergy. However, it is also done by Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs), Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs), and Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) who have been trained in the work. Christian premarital or couples counseling (whether done by clergy or not) is something that could benefit all Christian couples pre-marriage.

When God created us, He created us as sexual beings. This was good. Sex is good. Not only is sex good, but sexuality and sexual pleasure is a good gift from our Creator.  Unfortunately, many “religious” communities often cast sex as inherently shameful—as though God winced His way through His creation of human sexual passion. These shame narratives have made talking about sex uncomfortable and complicated for many people. We no longer live in the “before,” when all was

Relationships are a gift from God, but they are also complicated to navigate. They can be uplifting and encouraging when they go right, yet confusing and hurtful when they go wrong. If you are struggling in a relationship, Bible verses about relationships offer guidance for how to proceed. Whether you need advice for a friendship, work relationship, or romantic relationship, the Bible has solid advice for you. We will look at several different verses that apply to various types

Most often, individuals do not get married with the intent to divorce. For many, divorce is rarely a sudden decision but rather a culmination of unresolved differences over the lifetime of the marriage. Divorce represents heartache, brokenness, and the inability to regain the love that once was. In Christian environments, divorce is often condemned and stigmatized. On the one hand, we hear an oft-quoted Scripture saying that God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16). But what we don’t know is exactly