Kate Motaung

Have you ever asked yourself, "Why am I so angry all the time?" If so, this article is for you. A tightened jaw, clinched fist, flushed skin, and feelings of rage can be signs of anger that is out of control. The minor annoyance that leaves you feeling frustrated and wanting a different outcome for a situation can also be a form of anger. Anger can also be a stage of grief. Most of us have felt our blood

A common theme with new parents is to stimulate and help our children to meet their developmental milestones. We are constantly looking for our children to coo, to grab for things, to roll over, to crawl, and eventually to begin talking and walking. However, our children’s cognitive development is just as important as those physical milestones as well. Parents should be aware of how their children’s cognitive development is evolving. This is not just for new parents, but also

Depression. A word that is commonly used, but often misunderstood. Is it a state of mind? A sickness? Is it permanent? Is there a cure? As a counselor, I have encountered individuals with many of these questions. I think one of the biggest hindrances in receiving help with depression is knowing how to identify it. Many times I have heard the words, "I'm depressed" as an answer or expression after asking how someone is doing, but what does that

A few years ago, a good friend of mine wanted my take on a relationship that she would only describe as “kinda weird.” Shortly after her family was reassigned to a new duty station, her husband’s unit was sent on a six-month mission to yet another country. Although she was used to being separated from him for months at time, this deployment was particularly hard for her emotionally. To distract herself, she decided to start hanging out more with

We have all had “that friend” at some point in our lives – the friend who never quite fits in with your other friends because of their behavior. Maybe it’s the long, awkward pauses, the inappropriate or out of place comments, the unexpected responses that baffle and confuse others. You may have found that you were hesitant to include that friend in your get-togethers for fear of the question, “Who invited that person?” But what if you have come

Sexual addiction is a heavy topic. Unfortunately, it is a prevalent and painful reality for many people, and it is a struggle with sin that keeps on giving (not in a good way). For this article, I am specifically speaking to the partner of the addicted person. This is such a vast topic, that I need to break it into several parts, so please forgive me for not giving you all of the information at once, but it requires

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