Kate Motaung

Empowering Women to Balance their Lives If someone had told me five or even ten years ago that I would someday be a mom and would struggle with post-partum depression after a miscarriage, I don’t know what I would have said or thought. I am a licensed mental health counselor and we sometimes think that we can handle anything that comes our way, but  this is certainly not the case. In fact, I think that it is precisely the

With 50% of first marriages ending in divorce, it seems prudent to try and understand what causes this. While an array of factors contribute to the divorce statistics, most research cites arguments over money as the #1 cause of divorce. In fact, 22% of divorces are caused by money issues. Couples who argue about money once a week are twice as likely to divorce. Couples with $10,000 debt and no savings are more likely to divorce. Conversely, couples with

When they find out that I counsel people with eating disorders, many people ask me the same question: “Why don’t they like food?” Or, “I could never imagine throwing up all the time –  how awful!” We usually get into a discussion (a good one) and, as they are usually uninformed about eating disorders, I typically tell them that they are not really about food at all, but rather about control. Most people who suffer from eating disorders have

Jennifer cannot forget the day she saw a racy text from a female co-worker on her husband’s phone. As she looked through his text messages, she could see many exchanges between her husband and this other woman – and the texts were not about business. When she confronted her husband, he told her it was her fault that he had to seek out another woman’s affection. He blamed her for his unfaithfulness. Jennifer kept hearing his harsh words repeating

An article in the magazine Marie Claire, featured on WebMD in 2008, revealed that: 8% of Americans will suffer anxiety in their lifetime – the highest level in the world. $42 billion is spent annually in the U.S. on anxiety disorders. $22.8 billion of that goes to addressing anxiety symptoms that mimic physical illnesses. 7 million women suffer from phobias, the most common form of anxiety. How do you react to these figures, and do statistics really matter anyway?

When a couple enters into couples counseling, they are usually at some sort of an impasse. This can be anything from not communicating very well to living with outside pressures from their children, parents, friends, work, and finances. It may also be that one or both partners are looking at other men or women on Facebook or dating sites, or they may have begun an emotional and/or physical affair. In such situations and difficult times, one or both of

Marriage counseling with a Christian counselor can be extremely beneficial for couples who have reached an impasse in their relationship. A skilled Christian counselor can help couples to talk about their relationship problems in a safe way, and assist them in developing strategies to overcome these problems. In addition, a Christian counselor can help couples to evaluate their current priorities and point out possible areas of concern. Make Your Marriage Relationship a Priority In my work as a Christian

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is quite common and is estimated to affect over 2% of Americans. It is considered a chronic anxiety disorder that is fueled by obsessions (recurrent intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors or rituals). Obsessions and Compulsions Individuals suffering from this disorder are generally fully aware that their ruminations and rituals might appear ridiculous to others. Their anxiety compels them to engage in these rituals in rather scrupulous behavior. They are not usually aware why, but

Part 1 of a 2-Part Bullying Series We’ve all heard the saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” As a child, I was often told this by my mother when I came home crying because one of my friends had been unkind with their words or actions. I know my mother meant well and, as every parent knows, we don’t always know what to say in those times, so we do our

Endings and Leavings | Part 9 of a 9-part series on the deeper Self that awakens in laboring through grief, living through loss, and embracing endings as the seedbed of new beginnings. The first eight articles in this series sought to explore endings as a reflection of the mystery and complexity that both nuances and nurtures our humanity. That grief can pull us into the gray, and defy words, doesn’t mean that it lacks definition. At times grief work

Anger is an emotion that brings about mixed emotions for many people. Some feel an immense amount of shame and avoidance associated with their experience of anger. For others, anger is more of a familiar friend. There are two passages that I often refer to in my thoughts about anger and its application to emotional health.   You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But

Endings and Leavings | Part 8 of a 9-part series on the deeper Self that awakens in laboring through grief, living through loss, and embracing endings as the seedbed of new beginnings. Do not go gentle into that good night … rage, rage against the dying of the light. (poet Dylan Thomas) My wife’s voice, shrouded by muffled sobs, was barely audible on the phone. She did not want our daughter to overhear the shocking news. Not yet. The