-
David Hodel : Author
As a counselor, I seek to be sensitive to my clients’ physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual condition during any given session, following their lead to determine which direction we’ll go with our conversation. I try not to push beyond their capacity, but rather gently guide and point things out as we travel together on the path toward healing and well-being. I provide a welcoming, judgment-free zone in which clients can share their burdens and feel heard and understood. I’d love to chat with you about how you can write a new chapter in your story.
-
Kate Motaung : Curator
Kate Motaung is the Senior Writer, Editor, and Content Manager for a multi-state company. She is the author of several books including Letters to Grief, 101 Prayers for Comfort in Difficult Times, and A Place to Land: A Story of Longing and Belonging. Kate is also the host of Five Minute Friday, an online writing community that equips and encourages Christian writers, and the owner of Refine Services, a company that offers editing services. She and her South African husband have three young adult children and currently live in West Michigan. Find Kate’s books at katemotaung.com/books.
One of the unexpected consequences of socially connective technologies like the Internet and cell phones is that new relationships can seem like they are just a click away. If we are single and looking, this can feel like a great opportunity to meet a lot of people and make connections, or avoid connections and bounce from one relationship to the next without ever actually getting involved. If we are married, with the advent of affair dating apps that facilitate
When we take time to consider ourselves and realize we are holistic beings, made up of body, mind, soul (emotions), and spirit, it might seem odd at first that discussions around one of our most essential bodily functions – sex – are often fraught with such a high level of discomfort. Sexuality goes to the core of our being, intersecting with all of those parts listed above, so there is no getting around the deeply personal nature of the subject.
One of the greatest joys, as well as the hardest parts, of my job, is working with children. What I love about working with children is that although circumstances can be overwhelming, even tragic, children possess an innate ability to grow, as well as a resiliency we often do not see in adults. Whether the issue stems from ADHD, depression, anxiety, or as a result of trauma, children have so much capacity to course correct and head towards a
Trauma Informed Care is a very important practice in many different fields, including physical health practices, schools, and therapy, especially since trauma effects so many people. Research tells us that an estimated 70% of adults in the United States have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lives. However, in order to understand what trauma-informed care is, we first must look at what trauma is. Trauma is defined differently to different people and can change across different platforms.
As a counselor, I have noticed that my clients with a belief in God tend to see results more quickly in treatment for mental health problems than those who do not have faith in God. This is not an anomaly; there are research articles out there concerning patients with faith having better survival outcomes in terminal diagnoses than their unbelieving counterparts. Why is this? What is it about trusting in God that tends to help us heal faster than those
For the purposes of this article we will discuss an affair within the confines of a marriage relationship. An affair can be physical, emotional, or a combination of the two. A physical affair might be described as an expression of lust or passion, without the intention of a relationship. This type of dynamic is more likely to be shorter in duration and to focus on physical/sexual intimacy. An emotional affair may not cross any physical boundaries, but instead may
As a parent, you are always making sure your children are healthy and taken care of. From day one, you have a primary care doctor working with you to ensure your children have all their physical health needs met. You are constantly looking for symptoms and signs that something might be wrong – a fever, a rash, a runny nose, or a cut. But what are parents supposed to look for to help their children with their mental health?
“When you’re lost in those woods, it sometimes takes you a while to realize that you are lost. For the longest time, you can convince yourself that you’ve just wandered off the path, that you’ll find your way back to the trailhead any moment now . . . Then night falls again and again, and you still have no idea where you are, and it’s time to admit that you have bewildered yourself so far off the path that
It’s that time of year again – school is out for summer, and you’re wondering how to keep your teenager busy so that they do not spend all of their free time glued to their devices. Thankfully, there is an abundance of group activities for teens that they can participate in! 21 Positive Group Activities for Teens Volunteering Learning to invest in the lives and welfare of others, is one of the best uses of time for anyone but
Surviving an affair and recovering from infidelity is a very unique struggle. Those who have been through this traumatic event will tell you there is really nothing quite like it. One of my callings as a counselor is to help people on all sides as they work through both the causes and the effects after the affair -- the pain, separation, confusion, grief, and conflict that can result. Throughout our sessions together, I will emphasize the importance of building
Congratulations! You’re getting married! This is surely one of the most exciting seasons of your life and for good reason. You are about to embark on a journey with your best friend, and the person you envision growing old with. A great adventure is about to begin! However, just like any adventure in life can be better prepared for, rather than just showing up and seeing how it all plays out, so too, can you take steps right now
In the past 50 years, the life expectancy in the United States has risen nearly 10 years, from around 70 years in 1969 (which yes, was already 50 years ago) to Around 79 in 2016 (the most recent year I could find data for). With advances in medicine and many general health practices that have improved in recent years, we are living longer and longer. However, we are not always thriving and this can mean many years of struggling