Kate Motaung

What makes me as a Christian counselor different from a counselor who does not profess the Christian faith? Is it the person of the counselor, or the techniques used? Is it because I am familiar with the Bible and can and apply relevant Bible verses to a client’s situation, being able to match Biblical teaching with the topics that my client is concerned about? Or does being a Christian mean that I know the “right” steps to use? In

Those of you who have had a baby know how overwhelmingly difficult it can be . The reality of having a baby, and the physical, emotional, and relationship changes that it brings, impact women in enormous ways. With all of these changes, many women never expect to experience Postpartum Depression (PPD). Yet one in five women will develop PPD sometime in their life. People need to understand that Postpartum Depression is a real and treatable medical illness, not a mental defect

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:14) Love. The word was printed on the cover of my wedding invitations, yet only years later did I realize that I had no idea what love really was. After getting married, the euphoric feelings slowly faded and love somehow became difficult, awkward and just plain inconvenient. Frustrated and looking for answers, I read Gary Chapman’s book The Five Love Languages and realized that, although

When working with individuals I often find that people would appreciate the support and participation of their partner in counseling, yet the partner is reluctant to participate in counseling. This article is based on a book by Mark S. Komrad and will help by giving you practical ideas to assist you in encouraging your spouse to take part in couples counseling. It is important to remember that timing is everything. Choosing the Right Moment Ecclesiastes 3:1 states, “to everything there is

An important aspect of psychological well-being is living in accordance with your own beliefs and values. Often problems such as relationship stress, low self-esteem, behavioral problems, and mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, are strongly rooted in a lack of congruency between our beliefs and values and how we actually live. What is Congruent Living? Congruence means conformity or agreement. To live in congruence with your beliefs and values means that your lifestyle choices, day-to-day activities, conversation and

EXTERNAL CAUSES: Part I I explored the five internal causes of eating disorders and I examined how the combination of a sinful nature, free will, spiritual depravity, and poor self-control can cause us to develop disordered eating habits. Though I believe eating disorders are mostly a result of an internal condition, there are external factors which play a role. In this third article in our series on the causes of eating disorders, I will look at two primary external

Part I: Internal Causes People with eating disorders – and those who treat them – often try to place the blame beyond the control of the person with the disorder; we want to believe that our problem happens to us, rather than in us. Personal responsibility is not a popular concept in today’s world. Before I address the external dynamics that can lead to an eating disorder, I would like to look at the spiritual dimensions to disordered eating. This

“Ok here’s a little bedroom tip. Put a bag of popcorn in the microwave before hand. That way, when you’re done you have a treat.” –Liz Lemon “30 Rock”   References “A Celebration of Sex for Newlyweds” Dr. Douglas Rosenau Consider this the biblical alternative to the top left corner of Cosmo. (You know what they print there every month.) Sex is tricky. Both of you have different preferences and desires, and then there’s the insecurity you are not

Scripture on Marriage: Rediscovering God’s View The Bible says that when two people come together in marriage, they become one flesh (Mark 10:8, NIV). Does this mean that we are to abandon our personal identity to live as one with our partner in Christian marriage? Does God—who formed each of us uniquely in the womb—really wish us to give up our individuality when we enter into the covenant of marriage? I don’t know about you, but I have never

Trying to “fight fair” and “be reasonable” when you’re arguing with your partner is kind of like trying to recite the alphabet backwards after you’ve fallen out of an airplane. All that adrenaline, fear, and inertia makes it impossible to keep your mind on anything other than the danger you feel. Marriage counselor Dr. Susan Johnson says trying to teach couples a list of rules to follow during conflict sets them up for failure. Instead, she counsels couples to

I realize that romance goes both ways. It’s not just about the man needing to provide an adequate level of romance to satisfy the woman. But for the purposes of this article, I am writing from the perspective of the woman who is looking for more romance than her husband is giving her. Please, women, don’t assume that romance is only the responsibility of the man, because it is not. Romance is a two-way street.  Does your husband define romance

Sex is everywhere: The magazine rack at the grocery store; clothing catalogs; billboards; television and of course, the Internet, to name just a few. It’s nearly impossible to go through one’s day in the United States without seeing a sexually charged image. Our culture is awash with sex. Sex sells. And whether we claim to like it or not, we seem to buy a lot of it, because it keeps selling. But what about love? Does love sell? Not