Articles
Premarital Counseling: Why Should We Seek Counseling Before We Say I Do?
Congratulations! You’re getting married! This is surely one of the most exciting seasons of your life and for good reason. You are about to embark on a journey with your best friend, and the person you envision growing old with. A great adventure is about to begin! However, just like any adventure in life can be better prepared for, rather than just showing up and seeing how it all plays out, so too, can you take steps right now to ensure a smoother journey ahead for you and your beloved. I am sure you have a million questions, and unfortunately, most [...]
Fair Fighting Rules in Relationships
Have you ever found yourself fighting with the same person about the same thing over and over again without getting anywhere? Maybe you fight about every little thing without coming to any type of agreement or solution. You have no control over the other person, which means you cannot base your behavior on the other person in the fight. In this article, we'll discuss some fair fighting rules for effective and productive conflict resolution in relationships. Fair Fighting Rules for Relationships Before you begin, ask yourself why you are upset Have you ever started a fight just because you were upset? [...]
Anxiety and Anger: Are They Related?
The thoughts that may come up when thinking about what anxiety and anger feel like can often be connected with a sense of losing control. Often times, anxiety and anger are more connected and related to each other than one may imagine. Anxiety comes from the root feeling often related to stress, often due to a feeling of worry about a particular outcome, and can lead to feelings of being unable to cope with or control one’s situation. These feelings of being unable to manage your routine or choices can either lead to feeling frustrated or furious. Anger often begins with [...]
The Crossover Between Personal Development at Work and Home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P5p8e3UVpw In my practice of coaching and counseling people over the years, personal development does cross over between from workplace to personal development. As much as we would all love to compartmentalize these two spheres of work and personal life, crossover can be exciting, challenging, and lead to transferring of skills from one area into another. The crossover of skills from personal to work life and work life into personal life can lead to creating new associations and frameworks that yield growth spiritually and existentially. Crossover Areas: Personal Development to Work Development 1) Worship and Experience Joy in the Lord [...]
Common Signs of Codependency: What Should You Look For?
Typically, the first sign that indicates a need for me to investigate possible codependency with a client, is when they introduce themselves to me and describe themselves as “a people pleaser.” As we continue, I tend to find out that these people have very poor boundaries within their interpersonal relationships. One of the most prominent researchers into codependency, Melody Beattie, describes codependency like this: “A codependent person is one who has let another person’s behavior affect him or her, and who is obsessed with controlling that person’s behavior.” – Codependent No More, 1992 ed. Have I lost you with that definition? [...]
What is the Definition of Forgiveness? Can’t I Just Say I’m Sorry?
A Definition of Forgiveness The Hebrew word for forgiveness means pardon, to cover or atone for, to lift up. Repentance in the Hebrew sense always connoted not just acceptance and feelings of remorse but also changing behavior, seeking pardon, and making amends. The Greek word for repentance is metanoia, which means to make plans, change intention, change of heart and mind. Putting the Hebrew and Greek definitions together gives us the ontology to change direction from accomplishing evil deeds and move towards accomplishing good deeds that are aligned with God’s will. Why Sorry is Not Enough In Israel’s history, repentance meant [...]
How Can Christian Counseling Help My Relationship with God?
Have you ever had a friend who seemed to know you better than you know yourself? Someone who could see right through you when you said, “I’m okay. Everything is fine”? Did that friendship enable you to feel vulnerable and safe in a way that few others have? That type of friendship brings healing to our souls. Now, I want you to imagine taking that level of familiarity up a notch better yet, take it up 1,000 notches. Now we are talking about someone who does know you better than you know yourself. Now, we are talking about not only One [...]
Most Unusual Symptoms of ADD: Often Overlooked and Misdiagnosed
Attention Deficit Disorder, known as ADD, is commonly recognized and present in children as an inability to remain focused in structured environments, such as school. Some of the more well-known symptoms of ADD that are easily identified include fleeting memory recall, very short attention span, and trouble with impulse control. These paint a picture of ADD, especially with children, as one of the more difficult and misdiagnosed conditions. However, often some of the more unusual symptoms of ADD are overlooked and misdiagnosed. Most school environments are not designed for free movement for those who are more hands-on learners. Often, restlessness and [...]
Need Internet Addiction Treatment? Here’s How Counseling Helps
How Can Counseling Help with Internet Addiction? Before, I start talking about how counseling strategies can help with internet addiction, I would like to discuss the gravity of the issue with regard to internet addiction in our society. Internet addiction is quite widespread. On average, Americans spends 6-8 hours per day on their screens. We are so willing to be distracted through online media. This distraction can propel the under-utilization of our spiritual gifts. The problem is so real that I will be speaking as part of a panel discussion at Bellevue Christian School after the screening of the indie movie [...]