Kate Motaung

As I continue this series of articles on healthy relationships, I once again express my gratitude and deep respect to Dr. David Ferguson, his book, Intimate Encounters, and The Great Commandment Ministries team in Cedar Park, Texas. Myths & Lies About Healthy Relationships Healthy relationships require specific ingredients that include intentionality and clear purpose. It is a sad commentary on Christian and non-Christian married life that few couples have a common vision for their lives. One doesn’t have to look very

If you've clicked through to this article, my guess is that you're either desperate to save your marriage, or trying to find ways to help another couple save theirs. In either case, I pray that the following tips shared here will be a practical help to you, and that God would use this offering, combined with His grace and power, to make a difference for good. Before we begin, allow me to lay some groundwork. I have been married

What is ADHD? The fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM-5) lists Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD) / Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as a “Neuro-developmental Disorder” and refers to it as a neurological disease. It notes that it is not only found in children, but in adolescents and adults. The DSM-5 states that “individuals with ADHD may present with both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, or one symptom pattern may predominate … Three presentations of ADHD are commonly referred to: combined-type,

Although the idea of codependency is a popular and often derogatory concept used in our self-help and pop culture society, it represents a real conceptualization of struggle and pain for a lot of people, especially those in committed relationships. Just as in most cases with emotional, psychological, and mental health problems, Christians and people of faith can and often do struggle with the prospect and reality of codependency in their marriages, committed relationships, and often in their relationships with

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression effects on women may include the following: Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions Fatigue and decreased energy Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping Irritability, restlessness Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex Overeating or appetite loss Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment Persistent sad, anxious,

So! You’ve decided to tie the knot, take the plunge, make it official – in short, to get hitched, hopefully permanently. With all the preparations and stress that go along with planning a wedding, Christian premarital counseling might seem like a waste of time or even a nuisance. Many pastors require couples to get premarital counseling before they will marry them. I suppose you could shop around and find one that didn’t care, or go to a Justice of the

When our children are born, none of us get an operation manual. How amazing would it be, on the day of a child’s birth, to get a document telling us the best way to nurture, discipline, grow, and in all other ways develop them into the very person they were meant to be from the beginning? Of course it doesn’t work that way, but when it comes to relationship issues, there are some general rules of engagement that, with

Hello there! If you’ve found your way here, you’re probably looking for some support for your little one at home. Maybe there are some behavioral issues your child is showing, or maybe they seem to be just stuck in the blues and unable to play like some of their peers can. First of all, this can be a scary and sad thing as a parent to see your kiddo not shining the way you know they can. I want

Through the years it has been humbling and an honor to be associated with David Ferguson and Great Commandment Ministries. Most of what I have written about originates from Dr. Ferguson's book and healing vehicle, Intimate Encounters. Achieving Relational Intimacy in Marriage With David's mentoring and my counseling journey (as client and professional), I have realized the significance and lethality of aloneness, the significance of authentic relational care, obstacles to relational intimacy, and the foundational ingredient of compassion vs.

In this article, we will discuss the effects of trauma and the benefits of trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy. The Trouble with Trauma Experiencing traumatic events can be overwhelming and disrupt a person’s ability to function. Serious cases can produce Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms, including: Haunting memories with accompanying emotional upheavals as if the traumatic event was being experienced again Overwhelming frustration in the form of feeling threatened, with a heightened sense of vigilance An urge to fight

In this article we'll discuss 15 tips for creating a personal development plan that works for you. Tips for Creating a Personal Development Plan Tip #1: Set smaller goals and work on large projects a little at a time. It is easy to get overwhelmed by the task and give up. Research from the field of change human psychology suggests that preparing for a change stage leads to the creating of reciprocal actions that facilitate change. Realize that actions

Hello, parent-of-a-teenager-with-problems (a.k.a. most parents of teenagers)! If you’ve found yourself here, you’re probably going through some tough times at home. Perhaps your child has grown up faster than you could have ever imagined and suddenly they are trying to claim independence at a rate you’re not ready for. Maybe your teenager is going through struggles of their own, like depression, bullying, or anxiety, and you are not sure how you can help. You might have multiple adolescents laying