Kate Motaung

Premarital counseling is for every engaged couple. That is a simple, but all-encompassing statement. There are many reasons why couples don’t sign up for premarital counseling. Some couples say that they don’t need counseling because they have been together for years, have lived together, or have already talked about all their issues. However, a therapist who has counseled many engaged and married couples, would tell you from experience that premarital counseling, even for those who have been in a

Just like the terrible twos, most parents dread the time their child becomes a teenager. This fear stems from all we know that teens go through during this time of transition. As a child enters their teen years, they go through many changes, including hormonal changes, as they navigate puberty. These changes are to be expected. However, teens also often experience depression and as parents and guides, we must watch for the signs of depression in young people. Depression

In the Lord of the Rings movies, the actor Bernard Hill delivered one of the more poignant lines in the film. When he was in Glasgow, Scotland, a woman had come up to him, telling him how one of her children had died recently, and then she said to him that parents shouldn’t have to bury their children. Hill, who plays a character named Theoden, was so moved by that conversation that he asked for that line to be

Gaslighting is a form of manipulation that messes with your mind and emotions, making you second guess your reality. It can make you question your memories, beliefs, and even your sanity. A skilled gaslighter has an interesting and sophisticated set of techniques to draw from. The gas lighter might deny facts, even though the victim is confident of the truth. They might twist the truth just enough that it retains its form but also paints themselves in a more

Anxiety affects millions of people each year in the U.S. Learning how to cope with anxiety can spare you from the physical and emotional ailments caused by this mental condition. Don’t suffer alone. Help is available for anxiety and its symptoms that interfere with daily activities. Physical and Mental Ailments Caused by Anxiety Anxiety is part of the natural reaction to stress. When our minds perceive danger, the body releases cortisol and adrenaline into the bloodstream to enable us

Are there some people in your life that you find hard to talk to, for whatever reason? Perhaps it’s because they are far away, and you prefer talking face to face with them than over the phone. Perhaps it’s because you’ve had a fractious relationship with them, or maybe even because you never developed what felt like the right language with which to address them and connect with them. Sometimes, our prayer life can feel like talking with a

Some people are reluctant to journal. It sounds to Pinterest-perfect. Can writing things down change anything? For those who finally do it, they can speak to its help. Believe it or not, keeping a journal, specifically a gratitude journal, can even halt an emotional or mental spiral. It can retrain brain pathways of negative and overwhelming thoughts. In a nutshell, it can bring hope. When you get started, it can seem like the things that come to mind seem

When we make our marital vows and declare that we will forsake all others, we tend to view it as a nod to the threats that infidelity poses. What we assume is that an affair is physical. However, Jesus revealed that what happens in the body first occurs in the mind (Matthew 5:27-28). It's the same with an emotional affair. It may seem intense, but we commit adultery, stepping outside of our marriage, when we share a part of

Relationships of all kinds bring together people who may have various similarities and differences that make their dynamic interesting. These differences may be in temperament, personality, life experiences, culture, or outlook. Unlikely friendships and connections can happen, and it’s such a joy when you find someone that you have a kinship with. Not all kinds of dynamics in relationships are happy ones, though. It could be a romantic relationship, a friendship, a parent-child situation, or a relationship between colleagues.

“Stop! Stop that now, I’m serious, Levi!!” an exasperated young mom yelled to her hyperactive child the other day in the store. To her dismay and frustration, the little boy’s behavior only worsened each time she tried to calm him down. We may feel Deja vu when we watch a scene like this if we have ever experienced the trials of raising a difficult child. Visions of screaming matches, the toy crashing, the glass smashing, and that feeling of utter

Can you find anxiety relief through art? Megan’s anxiety used to feel trapped within her own body. Anxiety would close in on her causing a racing heartbeat and brain that wouldn’t stop thinking of worst-case scenarios for all the important parts of her life. She had tried all the usual advice for anxiety relief. Ocean sounds playing in her earbuds only reminded her that she couldn’t afford a vacation, and those lavender essential oils made her sneeze. And that

The dawn of a New Year brings hope, hope for the future, and fresh starts. But unfortunately, it can also bring stress. The same problems you had on New Year’s Eve are probably still there on New Year’s Day. If only you could discover a way to find more time in your day to enjoy yourself with your family or to work on personal pursuits. Maybe you would not be as stressed as you are if you could spend