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Signs of Early Onset Dementia: 5 Bible Verses to Cling to

Signs of Early Onset Dementia: 5 Bible Verses to Cling to

Kate MotaungApril 30th, 2024|Aging and Geriatric Issues, Featured, Individual Counseling|

It is quite frightening when you start to notice signs of early-onset dementia in yourself or a loved one. This incurable disease, which is caused by a variety of different conditions, causes a slow and disturbing cognitive decline, ending in death approximately eight years after symptoms appear. Although, the time frame varies between individuals and can be as long as twenty years. While this disease is tragic across the board, it is perhaps even more so for individuals who develop symptoms before the age of sixty-five. This is known as early-onset dementia and, while rare, changes can even begin in a person’s thirties, forties, or fifties. After having gained a clear diagnosis and a customized treatment plan, including medication and occupational therapies to assist with aiding one’s memory, it is important to focus on keeping oneself emotionally strong. For Christians, while the dying process is frightening, death is not something to fear as it means being with God. People with signs of early-onset dementia can find great encouragement in these five Bible verses: My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart. He is my mine forever. – Psalm 73:26, NLT Meditating on this verse is helpful as it reminds us that everyone’s physical health will decline at some stage, but it is the strength that God gives to one’s heart that remains and that counts eternally. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you. – Deuteronomy 31:8, NLT Experiencing signs of early-onset dementia can be a scary experience, fraught with “what ifs.” This verse from Deuteronomy is as relevant to us today as it was to the Israelites when [...]

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Pros and Cons of Online Therapy for Teens

Pros and Cons of Online Therapy for Teens

Sandra SteinApril 17th, 2024|Christian Counseling For Teens, Featured, Individual Counseling|

Online therapy for teens is a treatment option that uses digital technology to enable your teenager to meet with a trained mental health professional in a virtual setting over the internet. It is an alternative to a face-to-face meeting in the therapist’s office. Therapy sessions can be held via computer, tablet, or smartphone. Studies have found online therapy for teens to be a viable and effective treatment alternative for various behavioral and mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD, and bipolar disorder. It is particularly helpful for teenagers who are struggling with social anxiety or similar issues that make face-to-face interactions difficult. Likewise, it can make counseling more accessible for teens with busy schedules or whose local therapist selection is limited. Benefits of online therapy for teens Less intimidating Most teenagers today are tech-savvy and used to chatting online. They are likely to feel less intimidated and more comfortable and receptive to interacting with a therapist virtually than face-to-face. This is especially true for those who feel embarrassed or uneasy about discussing their problems with a stranger. For them, it may be easier to open up about difficult subjects online. Convenience Online therapy is a more convenient option, especially for teens who live in remote areas where services are limited, have mobility issues, or have no access to transportation. Geographical location is not an issue, and it is also a timesaver, as it does not require commuting to and from a physical location. Additionally, appointments can be scheduled outside of school hours and worked around your teen’s busy schedule. Privacy Many teenagers feel ashamed or embarrassed to get the help they need because they are afraid that their peers may find out if they do. With online therapy, no one needs to know. Being able to access [...]

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Catastrophizing: What’s Worse?

Catastrophizing: What’s Worse?

Cyndi Kay GreenApril 9th, 2024|Anxiety, Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling|

There are times when we all worry about something happening. However, some people have a cognitive disorder that will cause a person to elicit beliefs that the situation is far worse than it is in reality. This is known as catastrophizing. It is a disorder that causes a person to see every upsetting situation as catastrophic. We all face difficult situations but we don’t all see them as catastrophic. Some will dismiss this disorder as being overly dramatic or exaggerated, but it isn’t as simple as that. Most people don’t notice they are catastrophizing. They feel like they are thinking logically until they are made aware of the problem. God did not design us to worry about the small or big things in life. He designed us to seek Him and let the worry take care of itself. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you. “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:33-34, NASB Signs of catastrophizing Most of the time this type of thinking is a symptom of underlying mental health conditions. It’s not always easy to know when the negative thinking is spiraling so here are seven signs to help identify catastrophizing thought processes. Experience negative self-talk Self-talk is the inner dialog you have with yourself that helps navigate life. When this becomes critical and discouraging it is called negative self-talk. Racing thoughts This occurs when your thoughts are constantly coming one after the other jumping from one subject to another. Overthinking situations or events Overthinking is simply repeatedly dwelling on the same situation over and over again so much that it disrupts everyday life. Overwhelmed with feelings of anxiety, depression, or [...]

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How to Address Loneliness and Depression

How to Address Loneliness and Depression

Jennifer KooshianDecember 6th, 2023|Depression, Featured, Individual Counseling|

One of the ways people differ is in how they handle being with people. Some people thrive in the presence of others, and they relish company. You could say that they are energized by talking with others and feel the loss of company keenly. Other people enjoy people in small doses. They sometimes need to build up energy to be with people and can find interpersonal interactions enjoyable, but a little draining. Wherever you find yourself on the spectrum of whether you enjoy and thrive in the company of others, it’s safe to say that all people require human interaction for their well-being. People enjoy solitude in varying degrees, but they struggle with loneliness and isolation. Solitude is purposeful and deliberate withdrawal from others, while loneliness is when a person doesn’t get the social contact they desire or need. Often, depression and loneliness go hand in hand. The connection between depression and loneliness. When you’re going through something, having people around you who will support you makes a world of difference. Depression is a mood disorder that affects a person’s being. It affects their emotional, mental, and physical well-being and functioning. Being depressed is not a choice, and it certainly isn’t something that a person can simply get over with enough gumption or pep. Depression requires treatment, whether that’s talk therapy by itself, or in combination with medication and other interventions. Some of the signs of depression include the following: Anger and irritability. Escapist and risky behavior, such as substance abuse or an excessive focus on one’s work. Not finding pleasure in activities or hobbies that used to bring joy. Fatigue and a lack of energy. Changes in one’s eating patterns, such as eating too much or eating too little. This often leads to significant changes in one’s weight [...]

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9 Most Common Bipolar Symptoms in Women

9 Most Common Bipolar Symptoms in Women

Cyndi Kay GreenNovember 27th, 2023|Bipolar Disorder, Featured, Individual Counseling, Women’s Issues|

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition also referred to as manic depression. This disorder typically involves noticeable mood changes and emotional highs and lows. It is a lifelong condition that is managed through medications and counseling. Women have been prone to this disorder through hormonal changes but must also experience some of the additional symptoms associated with bipolar disorder. Understanding the causes of bipolar disorder can help with learning to identify bipolar symptoms in women. Bipolar disorder can be confusing and alarming to experience. You may feel like you are unable to find a steady rhythm in life. When you identify the symptoms, you can understand how to manage the disruptions bipolar disorder may cause. What is mania and hypomania? To understand bipolar symptoms in women, it is important to understand mania and hypomania. These terms define the emotional highs that accompany bipolar disorder. Mania is defined by the high energy, excitement, or euphoria in the state of mind during an episode of bipolar disorder. Hypomania is characterized by the same state of mind as mania, but it is less intense in its severity. What are the types of bipolar disorders? There are four common types of bipolar disorder. Each of them affects women, but they may not affect women in the same way as they do men. Sometimes bipolar symptoms in women are not noticed until later in life. The symptoms are most often characterized by age, hormone factors, and even seasonal factors. Bipolar I This type of bipolar is signified by having at least one manic episode that lasts for one week. Sometimes depression may follow mania, but not always. Bipolar II Most women with this type of bipolar will exhibit hypomania followed by a depressed episode. There is typically a return to normal functioning in [...]

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How to Talk to Your Spouse about Marriage Counseling

How to Talk to Your Spouse about Marriage Counseling

Kate MotaungNovember 9th, 2023|Couples Counseling, Featured, Marriage Counseling, Relationship Issues|

It can be difficult to suggest marriage counseling to your spouse. For many, counseling is a sensitive topic that brings up an array of feelings and responses. Bringing up a sensitive topic like marriage counseling with your spouse can be intimidating, especially if you don’t know how they will respond. How to Discuss Marriage Counseling with Your Spouse Since this is a potentially challenging conversation here are some things to consider when discussing marriage counseling with your spouse: Choose the right time and place. You need to talk to your spouse in a comfortable environment that is quiet and allows you both to talk without distractions. It is also important to choose a time when you’re both relatively calm to avoid arguing. Privacy is also important. It is not something to discuss in front of the family or out in public. Share your concerns. Start the conversation by sharing your honest concerns about how your relationship is going. Make sure to avoid casting blame. Using “I” statements is a helpful way to share your feelings and avoid blaming or accusing your partner. For example, “I feel overwhelmed by the number of responsibilities I have in the house.” Or “I am struggling at work and feel frustrated when I come home.” Use kind, non-judgmental language. The goal is that you and your spouse grow closer as a couple. Talk about counseling in a way that emphasizes your desire to work with your spouse to make your relationship stronger. Be kind in the words you use as well as your body language. It can even help to talk slowly and quietly to keep the atmosphere calm. Acknowledge your spouse’s feelings. Make sure you give your spouse time to share how they feel. Avoid interrupting them. Listen thoughtfully and respond with empathy. It [...]

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How to Remind Yourself of Truth

How to Remind Yourself of Truth

Kate MotaungAugust 2nd, 2023|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Spiritual Development|

We all know it’s not easy to remember that what God says is truth. Some things in life can overwhelm us, making us forget the things God tells us in His Word. When this happens, reminding yourself of what He says can help change your whole outlook on life. Problems, feelings, and difficult relationships can make it hard to keep our eyes on what God says. When that happens, we can remind ourselves and the people in our lives of the things God declares about who He is and who we are through Him. All hope is not lost. Life can feel overwhelmingly hopeless. When situations arise again and again it can be hard to see the way out. People tend to give up hope, feeling like the problem will never be resolved, the relationship will never be restored, or we will never make it through. But that isn’t what God says. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11, ESV You don’t need to find hope on your own. You can rest in the promise that God provides the hope you long for. He has a future for you. The truth that God is trustworthy. In a world that lets you down, knowing who to trust is difficult. Sometimes it feels like no one is trustworthy. Whether it’s a loved one who isn’t there for you, a job that didn’t give you what you expected, or a situation that just didn’t happen the way it was supposed to, trust can feel foolish. But there is one you can always trust. our Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your [...]

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Counseling For Children: 9 Roles of a Child Counselor

Counseling For Children: 9 Roles of a Child Counselor

Joanna KuchereraJuly 21st, 2023|Christian Counseling for Children, Family Counseling, Featured, Individual Counseling|

Our little people are so lovely and innocent when they come into the world. A parent would not want to believe that his or child might be struggling in any way emotionally. Sometimes we would want to believe that the world can spare children from its struggles. However, just like adults, children also go through many different emotions due to the world and environment around them. Being so young, they might not understand what is going on, let alone have the skills needed to cope. This is where counseling for children comes in to help. Counseling for children or child counseling is a specialized therapeutic intervention that helps children break down their problems and best explain their emotions to a trained professional. Child psychologists, child psychiatrists, child counselors, family therapists, and social workers are some of the professionals that are trained to help children deal with a wide range of challenging emotions or situations. These professionals provide insight, guidance, and support, not only to the child needing help but the family. They will be equipped with knowledge about their child’s condition and how best to help them. The roles of a child counselor Create a safe space. Children generally find it hard to talk to strangers, especially if those strangers are adults. It’s the job of counselors to create an environment that will make children feel safe and heard. It is not only the workspace that matters but also their persona. Beyond their professional qualifications, to get children to open up and trust them child counselors should exhibit a welcoming, playful, encouraging, and supportive in their character. Assess and diagnose. Using several observation and listening techniques, the counselor must assess children to come up with a diagnosis. Child counselors already have expert knowledge about the developmental trajectory of children and [...]

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Scriptures About Worry: How to Cope with Anxiety

Scriptures About Worry: How to Cope with Anxiety

Kate MotaungJune 16th, 2023|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling, Spiritual Development|

It seems that worry and anxiety are a part of almost everyone’s experience these days. We try to apply our minds to our concerns in the hopes of resolving them. But often this ruminating leaves us feeling unsettled, and our peace of mind is disrupted. One way we can bring things into perspective is to turn to God and Scriptures about worry and anxiety. This helps us to regain our strength and reminds us of what’s important. Finding Quiet Rest: Scriptures About Worry The people we encounter in the Bible are just like us. They had jobs and families, got sick, fell into debt, experienced death, and felt fear of the future. Taking a step of faith was as difficult for them as it is for us. This is important to process because what the Scriptures offer us is not untested theory, but it is testimony from real lives across thousands of years. My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore. – Psalm 131:1-3, NIV This psalm is one of the songs that the ancient people of Israel would sing as they made their way to Jerusalem for worship and various festivals. That journey would be long and hazardous, traversing different kinds of terrain. One can imagine the myriad worries that would accumulate before and during that journey. These would include worries about safety from bandits, concerns about the health of your traveling party, anxieties about whether you’ve made sufficient provision for the journey, and so on. Amid all this, the psalmist [...]

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Why Respecting Boundaries is a Form of Love

Why Respecting Boundaries is a Form of Love

Kate MotaungMay 26th, 2023|Couples Counseling, Featured, Marriage Counseling, Relationship Issues|

Loving someone means moving toward them and seeking their well-being and interests. Seeking their welfare often entails seeing them for who they are here and now, and not as you imagine them to be, and respecting boundaries they consider important. For example, some people are huggers, but other people simply aren’t, and hugging them doesn’t feel like you’re loving them. That can be a tough pill to swallow for the person who views hugs as the physical embodiment of love. However, that’s what it means for us to be individuals. We’re wired differently, and that’s okay. What are boundaries? Boundaries are like an invisible line between two people that keep them separate and distinct as individuals. In the example above, there was a boundary regarding hugging. That boundary is something that helps the two distinguish themselves from each other, and it helps prevent them from collapsing their personalities and individuality into an amalgam of the two. Boundaries, in other words, allow individuals to remain themselves so they can have their needs met and they can be loved according to their personalities and inclinations. Boundaries can be physical, emotional, or anything else. A person may not like public displays of affection, or they may guard their digital presence fiercely by refusing to have photos of themselves posted online. Others have boundaries such as not wanting to be shouted at, or they may have a zero-tolerance policy for any breaches of trust such as infidelity or telling another person their secrets. Respecting healthy boundaries is loving It may be tempting to get offended if your friend or loved one sets up a boundary. Instinctually it may seem like they’re putting up a barrier, or it can even come off as being pretentious to insist on being treated a certain way. However, we [...]

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