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What to Expect from Counseling for Teenagers

What to Expect from Counseling for Teenagers

Joanna Kucherera2024-10-02T10:11:34+00:00July 21st, 2023|Christian Counseling For Teens, Featured, Individual Counseling|

As children grow and start the wonderful world of being teenagers, their worlds are changing in so many ways. As a way of supporting them through these turbulent times, some teens might need counseling for teenagers, which can also be referred to as adolescent counseling. This has been seen to be of immense value as it provides teenagers and parents with a safe space to deal with challenges, get support, seek information, and get tools for this stage of their lives. There are so many factors affecting teenagers as they start their adolescent journey. With the onset of puberty comes physical, sexual, hormonal, and interpersonal changes which can be confusing and challenging. Though some may go through this life stage unscathed, other teenagers might need a little bit of help. That’s where counseling for teenagers comes in. The counselor provides a space where their feelings, hurts, and thoughts are heard without judgment. They get help in making sense of what they are experiencing and are given tools to cope effectively. Benefits of counseling for teenagers There are a variety of reasons why a teenager might seek the help of a counselor. It might be scary or uncomfortable to think of taking your child to see a therapist, but below are some benefits that have been seen. Help with dealing with a crisis. Family interventions when there is transition or change. Recovery from an addiction. Help in diagnosing and treating mental health issues. Support when dealing with grief and loss. Recovery from abuse or bullying. Developing stress management skills. Engaging in personal development. What to expect in counseling for teenagers Counseling for teenagers is a lot like any other type of counseling in terms of how a counselor interacts with a client. A major concern usually for teenagers is the issue [...]

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4 Questions to Ask Your Partner in Premarital Counseling

4 Questions to Ask Your Partner in Premarital Counseling

Kate Motaung2024-10-30T11:19:52+00:00June 14th, 2023|Couples Counseling, Featured, Premarital Counseling, Relationship Issues|

The time you spend getting ready for your wedding is important, but the time you spend getting ready for your marriage is even more important. While you may be busy deciding about cake flavors and reception venues, premarital counseling is one of the best things you can do for your wedding and marriage. Premarital counseling offers the couple an opportunity to discuss important things before they start their married life together. There is no limit to what you can discuss, however, there are some important topics to cover. Some people do this with a pastor or minister at their church. Another option, however, is to talk with a Christian counselor. Meeting with a Christian counselor provides the couple with a trained, unbiased person who can guide them through important topics to discuss before marriage. Connecting with a Christian counselor is helpful because they understand and can offer wisdom from a faith-based perspective. This will help the couple build a strong foundation of faith in their marriage. While you can talk about anything, there are some important questions to discuss during this season: Premarital counseling and what you believe. It is important to start by talking about spiritual matters. For believers, this is the foundation of their identity as individuals and will become the foundation for their relationship. You do not need to agree on every aspect of your faith, but it is important to make sure your ideas fit together. Where do you see yourself? Looking ahead is what the premarital season is all about. It offers you a chance to talk about things like your hopes and dreams. These can be related to what you do, where you live, future family plans, and what type of life you want. Consider going beyond questions about the careers you pursue [...]

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Finding Peace in God: Scripture About Worry

Finding Peace in God: Scripture About Worry

Kate Motaung2024-10-30T11:20:00+00:00April 28th, 2023|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling, Spiritual Development|

Why do we worry? We typically don’t find ourselves feeling anxious or worrying that things will go well. We worry when we are confronted by a challenging situation whose outcome is either uncertain or likely unpleasant, which is why we need to read Scripture about worry. Being out of control leaves us grasping for what we want. We are eager to find some way to ensure that the outcome of a date, job interview, tax assessment, operation, or financial decision works out in our favor. Even when we can’t control the situation through any action we can take, we do what feels natural – worry and ruminate. The Bible and worry. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Bible has a lot to say about worry. For one thing, the people we encounter in the pages of Scripture were just as eager as we are to have healthy, productive lives, and for loved ones to be happy and safe. The Bible addresses the many ways people sought to deal with the stresses and uncertainties of life, and among them is worrying. But why is worry something that we shouldn’t do in our lives? Consider one of the many passages in Scripture about worry. Then Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the [...]

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Sticks and Stones: Revisiting Communication In Marriage

Sticks and Stones: Revisiting Communication In Marriage

Kate Motaung2024-10-30T11:20:08+00:00March 23rd, 2023|Couples Counseling, Featured, Marriage Counseling, Relationship Issues|

Arguable and unknown are the origins of the childhood rhyme, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Children on playgrounds have echoed a variation of that phrase for years, perhaps with the intent to barricade themselves physically and emotionally from the rage of bullies. Though we would like to believe that we are immune to the harm that that sort of communication incurs, it simply isn’t true. Words are powerful, retaining the ability to hurt upon impact. If we haven’t resolved the lingering pain, the memory itself can revive wounds long after the bruises have faded. While our words have the power to harm, they also can be repurposed in alignment with God’s original intent: to bring life, heal, and restore to wholeness. When we use our words well, we sometimes see the immediacy of impact, though other times, the benefits blossom as a result of long-term investment. When words of appreciation are crafted and delivered to admire, uplift, or encourage, we demonstrate the love and action of the Father. Our communication releases light in places where darkness has ruled. The Bible offers sage advice and examples of how to use our words as well as what to avoid. Although these principles are not limited to marriage, they can enhance our relationships and our communication in marriage. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. – Proverbs 15:1, NIV When we cut our hearts off from our spouses, we dampen our ability to hear, receive, and properly interpret the messages that they send. The pain from relational trauma and lingering wounds also distort the words and nonverbal cues that we convey. This can be problematic, not only concerning our marriagesand the state of our households; but the treatment [...]

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Coping with Loss as We Age

Coping with Loss as We Age

Kate Motaung2024-10-30T11:20:16+00:00January 18th, 2023|Aging and Geriatric Issues, Featured, Grief Counseling, Individual Counseling|

Coping with loss is a constant in life as we get older. There are both minor and significant losses. We can lose our hair, bone density, eyesight, hearing, best friend, and spouse, among other physical traits, abilities, and relationships. Grief, loneliness, and despair can result from these losses. When we are coping with loss, it’s possible that when we wake up in the morning, we experience an intense sadness that begins before our conscious mind even becomes aware. This sadness serves as a reminder that what happened wasn’t just a bad dream. Geriatric and aging-related issues While some adults may eagerly look forward to retirement, grandchildren, or simply a new stage of life as they enter their golden years, others may dread the negative effects of aging on their bodies and minds. If they do encounter physical difficulties that restrict their mobility, it might be challenging for some adults to make the transition to retirement, deal with new frailty or medical conditions, or find enjoyable, fulfilling activities. Some older adults may find it difficult to accept their mortality, especially when friends, peers, spouses, or partners pass away. As a result, they may experience isolation after several such deaths. Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, which affect one in ten Americans of retirement age, may make it difficult for older adults to take care of basic needs. Some older adults may experience discrimination based on one’s age known as ageism. This practice may result in forced retirement or cause well-meaning family members to disregard an older adult’s preferences or opinions. A United Nations Population Survey found that 43% of people over the age of 60 were concerned about personal violence, and 37% of adults over the age of 60 reported experiencing age discrimination in the previous year. Only 49% [...]

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Help for Depression: How to Support a Loved One

Help for Depression: How to Support a Loved One

Kate Motaung2024-10-30T11:20:23+00:00January 6th, 2023|Depression, Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues|

You can make a serious difference by supporting and encouraging your loved one as they find help for depression and journey toward recovery. How to provide help for depression Do you know that depression affects people from all cultures no matter what their age? It affects millions of people across the globe from all levels of society. It is a psychological illness that is serious, affecting not just the people that suffer from it, but also those who care for them, as well as everyone else around them like co-workers or anyone else they are regularly in contact with. Experiencing difficult emotions is common for those who love someone who is depressed. You may be experiencing helplessness, frustration, guilt, anger, fear, and even sadness. It is certainly not an easy task trying to help and support a family member or friend with depression and these feelings are perfectly normal. And if you neglect your health, and expend too much of yourself in your efforts to provide help, the task of caring can become overwhelming and relentless. So while making sure you pour from a full cup, the support and love you show to the person in your life with depression are critical. Receiving help from a trusted source to help navigate the symptoms of depression; work through negative thoughts; figure out how to raise their energy levels; how to find hope and hold onto it; and start to enjoy life again make a key difference to those who are feeling depressed and busy wading through it. Step 1: Learn all you can about depression. If you can start learning about depression early on in the support of your family member or friend, then all the better. Coming to an understanding of how to talk about depression to the person [...]

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Anger Management Tips: How to Curb Your Anger and Stay Calm

Anger Management Tips: How to Curb Your Anger and Stay Calm

Sandra Stein2024-10-02T10:12:22+00:00November 21st, 2022|Anger Issues, Featured, Individual Counseling|

Anger is a normal human emotion that can be either good or bad, depending (at least in part) on whether it gets out of control and leads you to act irrationally or aggressively. Uncontrolled anger can take a toll on your health and relationships, lead to problems at work, and have a destructive impact on the overall quality of your life. This article offers some practical anger management tips to help you overcome it. Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured. – Mark Twain Often there’s a more significant issue behind what triggers your wrath. Anger can be a mask for deeper feelings such as hurt, fear, shame, guilt, or insecurity. Anger management can help you uncover those hidden emotions and teach you how to express yourself in a healthy, appropriate way without being physically or verbally abusive. You may not be able to avoid the people or things that push your buttons and make your blood boil, but you always have a choice as to how you respond. The following are some anger management tips that can help empower you to take control of your anger before it takes control of you. Ten anger management tips to get you started Think before you speak. Once you say or do something, you cannot take it back. Stop and think before you react. Pretend your lips are glued shut. If possible, walk away from a triggering situation to buy yourself time to reflect on the issue at hand. Maybe go for a short walk around the block, or take a deep breath and slowly count to ten. For example, taking a timeout when a conversation starts to get heated can help you avoid [...]

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Overcoming Resentment in Relationships

Overcoming Resentment in Relationships

Kate Motaung2024-10-30T11:20:39+00:00September 28th, 2022|Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues|

You are dating someone you love and enjoy a relationship characterized by love and respect. Implicitly or explicitly, you have expressed the desire to marry someday. But there is something (or even several things for that matter) that bugs you and fosters resentment in relationships. So much so that you wonder if you are seeing a red flag waving in the distance. You are married to a loving partner. You have been through many difficulties, but some issues are not going away, and in fact, they rear their nasty heads every time you disagree about something. It starts small, but the conflict grows and suddenly you are both overcome with rage and emotional outbursts that break down your precious relationship. You do not know how to approach those issues in a way that will resolve them. It may be that you do not know one another well enough yet and it is still early in your relationship, or you feel that the subjects are just too sensitive to confront and perhaps you fear the consequences of them being aired out between you. How to overcome resentment in relationships is a relevant question for many couples and seeks to find tools and techniques to equip you both. It is often quite helpful to speak to a trained counselor about how to best overcome challenges in a relationship. You do not have to wait for the level of resentment to build up and calcify before ironing out relationship creases. Prevention is usually a better option than a cure. How we can act in ways that build resentment in relationships Anger is a common emotion. It can make itself known in any relationship in a variety of ways despite not being directly addressed to the person who provoked it. As we know, [...]

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Common Signs of Anxiety: Can You Relate?

Common Signs of Anxiety: Can You Relate?

Kate Motaung2024-10-30T11:20:46+00:00August 3rd, 2022|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling|

Do you ever wonder whether the way you worry is normal? Do you question whether you are worrying or whether you might have signs of anxiety? Perhaps your worrying could lead to anxiety. The good news is that everyone worries. You worry about health, money, career, and family. Worry is most commonly a temporary response of fear to these thoughts. But when you find the worry lingers for a long time and you start feeling overwhelmed with fear, it could be one of the signs of anxiety. Common Signs of Anxiety to Watch For Anxiety is when the worry doesn’t stop, and it starts affecting your everyday life. Panic sets in and you struggle to control the thoughts and your body’s response to these thoughts. These signs of anxiety start to interfere with job performance, friendships, relationships, schoolwork, and your overall health. The following signs of anxiety are indicators of whether you are experiencing anxiety and how it could affect you. Nervousness, restlessness, and tension To worry makes you nervous, but to be consistently anxious creates muscle tension in your body. Your body is hardened, tensed, and restless. You are constantly fidgeting and uncomfortable. You struggle to relax even when you set the mood for a relaxing evening. You try to rest while on a holiday or a weekend break, but you struggle to let go of the tension in your body. What you don’t realize is that the body gets tenser and tenser while we have these anxious thoughts. When you become aware of your anxious thoughts, you find that your shoulders are pulled up close to your ears. You must intentionally lower your shoulders for your body to stop this tension. Before you know it, you realize that your body has tensed up again. Due to the [...]

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