Articles
4 Ways Christian Couples Counseling Turns Marriages Around
In Part 1 of this article series, I shared three ways Christian counselors turn marriages around. Here in Part 2, I will examine four more ways in which Christian couples counseling can help couples grow toward wholeness. 4) Communicating: Speaking Truth in Love In Scripture we find the Apostle Paul asking believers to speak “the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). To get a full grasp of the meaning of this often quoted and misquoted verse, we need to study its context: Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by [...]
How to Deal with Grief by Understanding These 13 Guidelines
Losing a loved one may be one of the most painful and charged experiences of your lifetime. You may feel as though you were hurled into an unrecognizable world. Your normal life is nowhere to be found. The emptiness of loss feels assaulting. Some days the emotional and mental turmoil feels brutal and unbearable. You were not given a choice to receive grief; it came to you. You may wonder, Will I ever heal? There are no quick fixes. There are no easy steps. But understanding the process of grieving and knowing how to deal with grief and pain can help [...]
I Have a Difficult Child. What Do I Do? (Part 1)
Children can be one of the biggest blessings and sources of joy that God can possibly give us in life. They can also be some of the greatest sources of pain and frustration. As a parent myself, I personally know both sides of the coin. Having a child whom you always seem to be contending with can be both discouraging and emotionally draining. It’s very easy to feel like a complete failure as a parent at times. Perhaps you’re looking at an angry distant son or daughter, thinking back on some of your own past missteps, and believe that you’ve messed [...]
I Have a Difficult Child. What Do I Do? (Part 2)
Are you the parent of a child whom you would categorize as being “difficult”? If so, you’ve come to the right place. As a father myself, there have been many times dealing with my own children, in which my patience has been tested. To be quite candid, I must admit that there have been times in the past where I’ve flipped my own lid. After having talked to and counseled many parents though, I’ve come to one undeniable unmistakable conclusion – that struggles between parents and children are completely normal. In Part 1 of this article series, we began taking a [...]
ADHD in Children: Engaging the ADHD Child in His or Her Learning
Today’s article concludes a three-part series aimed at educating parents on ADHD. In Part 1 of this series, we discussed some of the issues associated with accurately diagnosing ADHD in America today. We also explained some of the theory behind what we believe is happening with people who have ADHD as well as exploring some of the latest research. In Part 2, we provided characteristics, tendencies, and insights related to children who have ADHD and talked about the overall process on how clinicians generally arrive at a diagnosis. We’ll conclude Part 3 of this series today with some teaching tips for parents [...]
ADHD in Children: Characteristics, Tendencies, and Insights
This article continues a series of three articles aimed at educating parents on ADHD. In Part 1, we explored some of the issues associated with accurately diagnosing ADHD. We also explained some of the theory behind what we believe is happening with people who have ADHD, as well as some of the latest research. Today in Part 2, we’ll focus on providing characteristics and insights related to children who have ADHD and conclude by discussing the general overall process on how clinicians arrive at a diagnosis. What does ADHD actually look like in everyday life? Edward Hallowell, M.D. and John Ratey, M.D. [...]
Common Causes of Depression and How to Deal with Them
The winter months are once again upon us. As our thoughts turn to turkey, tinsel, and holiday cheer, an unwanted companion will be joining many in their living rooms as well this season: depression. Depression is one of those mental health conditions that’s quite complex and a bit hard to wrap one’s mind around. Depression can manifest itself in many ways. I’ve found that to be quite true not only in the lives of those I’ve worked with throughout the years, but in my own life and struggles with it as well. Depression is caused by many things and there are [...]
3 Ways Christian Marriage Counselors Turn Marriages Around
In this first article in a two-part series, I will look at three ways in which Christian marriage counselors can positively influence marriages. In the next portion of this series, I'll share four more benefits of Christian marriage counseling. How Christian Marriage Counselors Help Relationships 1: Validate Feelings The core of this skill is empathetic understanding. Caring for your spouse means truly understanding yourself and your spouse better. In Luke 15 we get a picture of God’s empathetic understanding of the lost son. The parable by Jesus captures empathetic understanding and love from God’s perspective. This is the story of the [...]
ADHD in Children: Signs and Symptoms Every Parent Should Know
This is the first in a series of three articles aimed at educating parents on ADHD. In Part 1, we’ll explore some of the issues associated with accurately diagnosing ADHD in children. We’ll also explain some of the theory behind what we believe is happening with people who have ADHD as well as discussing some of the latest research. Part 2 will focus on providing characteristics and insights related ADHD in children. Part 3 will then wrap up the conversation with some teaching tips for parents in order to support your child’s learning. Let’s start off by explaining why it isn’t always easy [...]