Articles
Career Planning: A Christian Counselor’s Perspective on Personal Development
Choosing a career path or the next step in your career can be a daunting task. For those who are not typically planners, it can be difficult to conceptualize where to go next or how to achieve your ultimate goal(s). On the other hand, if you are the Type-A planning type, your struggles may be a little different. You may have exhaustive plans but struggle with flexibility when things change. Finding the Right Career Path No matter what background or personality type you have, choosing a career path that checks all of the right boxes can be tough. Some of the [...]
How Family Counseling Services Support the Whole Family
One of the biggest concerns that I hear from families is how they should deal with members of their families who struggle with mental health issues. This could include someone with schizophrenia, bipolar, or other mental illnesses. Or a family member might struggle with chemical dependency that alters their mental health and severely affects their behavior. How Do You Deal with a Mentally Ill Family Member? I usually speak with the family about what their role is and how they can help? Often families may not recognize their loved ones. They may say that this is a “new” person. The behavior [...]
Christian Counseling Exposes the Scene Set-Up of Pornography’s Pseudo-Story
Porn and Power: A Christian Counselor Explains Part 2 of a 4-Part Series The late psychoanalyst and author Erwin Singer observed how “active striving” or searching in life is essential for psychological survival – but the only action that carries with it the risk of significant loss and failure. Man’s undoing is not failure itself, Singer argued. Failure is inevitable and vital to the creative process. Failure spurs growth and discovery. The tragedy, Singer said, is when the threat of failure reduces man to mindless “pseudo-activity” – or surface-dwelling pursuits void of authentic ambition and meaning. Singer related pseudo-activity to “pseudo-listening,” or [...]
3 Weapons to Fight Fear
My Journey through Fear, Part 3 Part 3 of a 3-Part Series on Fear In my previous article, I discussed three spiritual truths that will help you to overthrow fear's rule in your life. First, fear is from the kingdom of darkness, not from God. Second, God does not use fearful tactics in order to punish us. When you feel condemned by fear, remember that you are the King's favored child who is seated in heavenly places. Third, peace comes when we let go of control and trust God. Do you feel defeated in your attempts to break free from fear's [...]
3 Truths You Need to Know to Overpower Fear
My Journey through Fear, Part 2 Part 2 of a 3-Part Series on Fear For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5, NKJV) Have you noticed how deeply fear entrenches people? It is able to incapacitate us, and to spread panic and despair like wildfire. The fight against fear is a spiritual battle. Ephesians 6:12 states, "For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, [...]
Defeating Fear through Love
My Journey through Fear, Part 1 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18 I would never have considered myself a fearful person, but storms have a way of unearthing what is hidden in us. Christa Black Gifford says, "If you are not anchored in the goodness of God you will lower your theology to match your pain." Especially during dark seasons, we are susceptible to allowing our bad circumstances to erode our beliefs about God. This [...]
Another 8 Ways to Combat Depression Naturally – Lifestyle and Depression
Part 3 of a 4-Part Series Depression is a complex state, with many potential contributors and remedies. In my previous articles, I discussed the role of nutrition and the use of herbs and supplements in mitigating the symptoms of depression. In this third article in my series on how to combat depression naturally, I turn my attention to lifestyle choices that can greatly impact mood. Sleep and Depression The role of sleep in depression can be something of a chicken-egg conundrum. Depression can lead to poor sleep, and a lack of adequate sleep can also perpetuate depression. Insomniacs are ten times [...]
The Temptation of Food Explained in 5 Bible Verses
A Common Problem The alarm goes off at 6:00 AM and it’s time to get ready for the day. This may mean it’s time to go to work, get the kids off to school, or go to an appointment (maybe all three!). Most people have some kind of a morning routine. This could mean taking a shower, exercising, eating breakfast, drinking coffee, spending time with God, or many other things. Where does food come into the picture? Our eating habits are as varied as our morning routine. However, the most common problems in the morning for people who are overweight include [...]
3 Reasons to Resist Fear
Part 2 of a 2-Part Series on Fear What are you afraid of? Illness, rejection, suffering, financial loss, death, loneliness, natural disaster? Fear is a basic human emotion that we have all felt in varying degrees. However, left unbridled fear can develop into a chronically destructive mindset. A person who suffers from chronic fear filters their life through the belief that "something bad is always going to happen to me." In my previous article, I discussed four ways in which fear steals from our quality of life. 1) Fear steals our hope for the future. It deceives us into thinking that [...]