Articles
Practical Help for Newly Married Couples
The big day is finally behind you. Hopefully, it was lovely and everything you dreamed it would be. No more planning, dress fitting, or meeting with people. Now you get to create a beautiful life with your new spouse. Easy, right? As much as we want it all to feel easy, there will be things that come up that are challenging. Little differences like how you fold t-shirts or if the glasses are stored right side up can cause more conflict than you care to admit. Add to those bigger changes like merging finances, delegating responsibilities, and even family planning, and [...]
When Getting Old Creeps Up on You
As you sprint past the point of young adulthood, you may miss some signs of aging along the way. How do you handle aging when getting old creeps up on you? Acknowledging the passage of time is a real struggle for many adults as they get older. Whether it’s triggered by a child’s graduation, a beloved niece or nephew getting married, or a parent who is struggling with his or her health, the realization that our time on earth is limited happens to us all. And the passage of time can make anyone feel like he or she is getting old. [...]
5 Reasons Why Counseling for Children May Be Good for Them
Counseling isn’t just beneficial for adults; counseling for children is a game-changer for kids! When life throws curveballs, families often need a neutral third party to help them work through these situations, and children may be internalizing many difficult emotions during this time in ways that go unnoticed. Children don’t yet have the emotional regulation skills to process anger, pain, sadness, or fear. A counselor can speak to them in a way they understand and explain the situation while offering helpful solutions. Reasons counseling for children may help your child Here are five reasons why counseling for children may be good [...]
Empathy Explained: Why It Matters and How to Cultivate It
There is nothing as comforting as knowing that you are being understood or seen in a conversation or interaction. The ability for others to share or perceive our emotions is called empathy. It is fair to say that empathy is an integral part of our interactions that allows us to connect deeply with others and respond with compassion. Without empathy, one would not know how to respond in conversations or how to hold the space for someone going through a difficult time. Different types of empathy People can experience empathy in different ways. Consider the following list: Cognitive empathy This is [...]
I Hear You: Guidelines for Active Listening and Effective Communication
In our world, there is no lack of chatter in the public sphere. Our headlines are characterized by opposing viewpoints and the clash of wills and agendas. While there is nothing wrong with having differences of opinion or experience, it seems that our society lacks civility in expressing our thoughts while demonstrating respect for others through active listening. We need not be deceived into thinking that this only fuels around the time for elections and political contests, but it shows itself in our interpersonal communication and connections. Regularly, we see evidence of people elevating a sense of rightness. We categorize people [...]
Overcoming the Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences
There is likely no more vulnerable time in a person’s life than when they are a child. When we are young, we are impressionable, lacking experience, resilience, and the necessary coping skills to deal with difficult circumstances. This is the time of life when we most need to be sheltered and nurtured. However, for many children, this is when they have adverse childhood experiences whose impact may linger for the rest of their lives. Many circumstances can lead to a child having traumatic experiences, and the more a child experiences trauma, the harder it will be for them to overcome the [...]
Finding Help for ADHD Symptoms
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common mental health disorder that affects millions of children and adults in the US. The ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) diagnosis is now included in ADHD even without the hyperactivity present. ADHD symptoms interfere with daily living and, in extreme cases, quality of life. ADHD diagnosed in childhood ADHD is typically diagnosed during childhood. Parents and teachers begin to notice the behavior between the ages of three and seven. Some children may be in their preteen or teen years before noticing their behavior is causing problems with their peers. The issue with diagnosing young children based [...]
Obstacles to Intimacy in Marriage: Reconnecting with Your Spouse
One of the keys to success in marriage is maintaining intimacy. Intimacy is about connection, being and feeling understood by the other person. When two people understand each other, and couple it with mutual appreciation and compassion, it makes for a rich and dynamic relationship. The difficulty with intimacy is that it can be hard to maintain, as many obstacles interfere with maintaining intimacy. Before exploring the obstacles that undermine intimacy in marriage, it’s helpful to firstly understand the facets of intimacy. They present themselves differently in each relationship, but keeping an eye on deepening intimacy in these areas will help [...]
Relationship Conflicts: When Not to Apologize
We are often conditioned at an early age to apologize quickly, sometimes even unnecessarily, such as when we accidentally bump into someone at the grocery store. While apologizing can be a polite gesture, are we always sincere? Insincere apologies can be counterproductive and can create even greater relationship conflict. They are often transparent and can undermine trust in the relationship and fail to address the underlying issues. The Bible emphasizes the importance of sincere apologies and genuine repentance. Proverbs 28:13 states, “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” When we wrong [...]