Articles
Psychological Disorders That Can Be Tested
When you feel depressed, anxious, or wonder whether you possibly have one or more psychological disorders, do you ever think, “How do I find out what is wrong? What is my diagnosis? What if it is more than just one diagnosis? How does my therapist or clinician arrive at a correct diagnosis?” When you come to counseling with your problem(s), we as clinicians assess your symptoms to form a diagnosis. Sometimes, the criteria are quite clear. For example, most clients know when they feel depressed or anxious, or when they have experienced significant trauma. Other diagnoses, however, require more testing to [...]
Overeating: Gluttony in the Bible and Compulsive Eating Treatment
Our culture adores times with food. We are surrounded by delectable delights on all occasions, from football games to celebrations. During the holidays it is easy to overeat. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter are all times when families typically gather and prepare large feasts. But what if overeating isn’t a matter of an occasional feast? Binge eating, also known as compulsive eating, is the urge to continue eating past the stomach feeling the sensation of fullness. This compulsive behavior is warned about in the Bible and is detrimental to our health. How do we stop once we start eating? How do we [...]
How to Build Trust in a Relationship: Practical Steps You Can Take
So many things cause a lack of trust in a relationship. Infidelity, abandonment issues, paranoia, lying, addiction . . . the list could go on. Learning how to build trust in a relationship differs, depending on the lens that a person is looking through. The fact is that learning how to build trust in a relationship starts with the individual. Each person’s experiences shape the way they look at trust and relationships. We learn from heartache. Look at yourself and the lens through which you view life. Do you find that you are often too trusting at the beginning, but end [...]
Group Counseling Activities Recovering Addicts Can Expect in Session
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. – Matthew 18:20 Individual Counseling Vs. Group Counseling Let’s first look at the difference between individual counseling versus group counseling. For some people, individual therapy may be something with which they are more comfortable. A lot of times the first time you are talking about something it can be easier in a private office setting with a therapist one-on-one. Individual counseling can also be beneficial for people who have a lot to talk about. In an hour-long group counseling appointment, each participant [...]
How to Identify Codependent Behavior and Get the Help You Need
Codependency is a term that is often misused. People may think that someone is in a codependent relationship when the couple relies heavily on one another. Others may be concerned about codependent behavior in themselves, or someone they care about but are not fully sure what the signs of codependency are. God wired us for relationships. We all long to be connected, though sometimes those relationships don’t play out quite as God intended them. In this article, we are going to define codependency, look at common signs and behaviors, and talk about ways to help these relationships thrive. What is Codependency? [...]
Addressing Depression in Men
Depression is one of those diseases that doesn’t play favorites. It is not a respecter of persons, regardless of their age, gender, social status, or job description. Having and dealing with depression is not a sign of weak faith, nor is it because you did something wrong or didn’t spend enough time in prayer. This article will offer information about depression in men – where it comes from and how to deal with it. Permission to Be Depressed Our culture has shifted a lot in the last few years. Much of the world that our parents knew and grew up with [...]
FOMO: A Biblical Approach to the Fear of Missing Out
“I know it’s dinnertime, but I need my phone for just a sec! C’mon, Mom, everybody’s on the group chat.” Irene shakes her head, glancing down at the device pinging in her palm, upping the unread messages beyond 200. Elsewhere, a father sits with his collegiate son at a homey Asian restaurant. The waitress approaches with pad Thai, to find Dad perusing news clippings and his son playing a first-person shooter game. The men look up briefly to smile at her, then pick up their phones to eat one-handed. Are they really out to lunch together or simply “out to lunch”? [...]
How to Help Someone Having a Panic Attack
We are currently facing a pandemic that is creating a ton of uncertainty, anxiety, and panic. You may be closer than ever to family members as we are all in homes, unable to do normal self-care activities like going to the gym, getting pedicures, or engaging in social gatherings. If you or someone close to you is experiencing panic attacks, there are ways to help. If you have ever seen someone having a panic attack, it can be scary. It may feel like you are helpless and don’t know what to do. People who have experienced them know that it can [...]
COVID-19: Embracing Illusions of Control and Letting His Power Show
This is the third article in a three-part article series, reflecting on COVID-19 and what I believe the situation is revealing to us regarding human nature. A few weeks ago, I wrote an article entitled A Christian Counselor’s Contemplations on COVID-19; a reflection piece regarding the current COVID-19 situation and some of the deeper questions of life that I believe it’s forcing us to face. After doing so, I felt the Lord telling me to write on something else that this global situation is clearly teaching us -- that is, humanity’s need for power and control. In COVID-19: Revealing the Seduction [...]