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11 Group Counseling Activities for Teens

11 Group Counseling Activities for Teens

Sandra Stein2024-09-27T12:23:56+00:00May 8th, 2024|Christian Counseling For Teens, Featured, Group Counseling|

Most teens have a tough time opening up to counselors and reaching them can be quite a challenge. Incorporating group counseling activities into the treatment modality, however, can make participants more likely to engage in the therapeutic experience by helping break down barriers, fostering open communication, and making the counseling experience less daunting. Group counseling activities are designed to help group members feel comfortable and safe with one another, as well as foster trust, understanding, and empathy between them. They provide teenagers with an opportunity to connect with other teens experiencing similar challenges, help them feel valued and heard, and reduce feelings of isolation. One of the main goals of group counseling activities is to break the ice and spark conversations and interactions in creative ways that help group members get to know each other, build rapport, form bonds, and open up about their thoughts and feelings. In addition to breaking the ice, group counseling activities typically target specific teen issues such as improving social and communication skills, building empathy, and understanding, boosting self-esteem, gaining new insights, and learning healthy ways to cope with the stressors in their lives. Some of the benefits of group counseling activities include challenging teens to practice thinking and acting in different ways, providing a safe platform for participants to work through their feelings and confront their fears, fostering self-discovery and personal growth, and building a sense of community in the group. This enables participants to feel validated and learn from each other’s experiences and perspectives. Examples of group counseling activities for teens People search Each group member receives a list of characteristics that describe one of the other members of the group and searches for the group member who fits it. Fun facts Each group member writes an anonymous fun fact about themselves [...]

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Diagnosing and Treating Signs of Early Onset Dementia

Diagnosing and Treating Signs of Early Onset Dementia

Kate Motaung2024-10-29T12:46:03+00:00April 22nd, 2024|Aging and Geriatric Issues, Family Counseling, Featured, Individual Counseling|

Early onset dementia is a frightening diagnosis to receive. Typically, we expect illnesses related to cognitive decline to affect people in their seventies and beyond. Signs of early onset dementia, however, can appear from the age of 30 and older, but before the age of 65. This is typically more difficult to diagnose, as it is not the first condition that medical professionals suspect. While there is currently no cure for any type of dementia, it is possible to take steps to treat the symptoms. This can decrease the rate at which the condition advances and improve the patient’s quality of life. Signs of early onset dementia The symptoms of dementia vary according to the specific condition the person is suffering from. An individual can experience several signs of early onset dementia, or just one or two. For this reason, a medical diagnosis needs to happen. Professional assessments are conducted by specialist psychiatrists and test aspects related to a person’s memory, communication, focus, and reasoning. Short-term memory loss is of course one of the most obvious symptoms. While most people forget things from time to time, including details of a conversation, or the reason why they have walked into a particular room, if these occurrences become more frequent, they should be noted with concern. Dementia typically does not affect long-term memory as quickly, but it is the retention of day-to-day events that tend to “go missing” from one’s brain. Language and communication are other areas where signs of early-onset dementia present themselves. A person who is typically erudite can start to falter over common language expressions and jumbled words. For example, instead of asking whether they should cook dinner, they might ask whether the food is eaten, confusing the listener. They start to repeat themselves, unaware that they have [...]

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How to Address Money Problems in Marriage

How to Address Money Problems in Marriage

Jennifer Kooshian2024-09-27T12:32:11+00:00April 10th, 2024|Couples Counseling, Featured, Marriage Counseling, Relationship Issues|

Several things can cause friction in a relationship, and money is one of those things. The best of friends can find themselves at odds because of disagreements about finances. Money is a sensitive subject that can stir up strong emotions in people, and those strong emotions can lend themselves to conflict that is difficult to resolve. In marriage, where a couple often holds their finances in common, money problems can become a source of significant stress. Money and marriage Financial issues are one of the leading causes of divorce, with between 20-40% of divorces being attributable to disagreements and problems about money. Money is such a key part of our existence. It’s how we eat, are housed, clothed, able to enjoy vacations, give to our favorite charities, and save up for retirement. It’s not surprising that when there are issues about money, it can affect every aspect of a couple’s life. Issues around money can emerge in several ways. Often, when there isn’t enough money to spend on everything one would want, disagreements can arise about what to prioritize with the limited resources there are. Conflict can arise based on the spending patterns of one or both spouses. Conflict can also spring up when financial problems are kept hidden from one spouse by the other. Money often comes through hard work, and that can complicate the use of money in the household. The spouse making more money may feel they have the right to determine how the family’s resources are spent. If one spouse is often working to provide for the family, they may become resentful of how much they work and insist on being able to enjoy the fruits of their labor. These are just some of the ways money affects the dynamic of a relationship. As money [...]

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How to Practice Debt-Free Living

How to Practice Debt-Free Living

Joanna Kucherera2024-09-27T12:24:36+00:00April 1st, 2024|Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Professional Development|

When it comes to money and our finances, one aspect that has not been given much attention is our mindset toward it. We know from psychology that behavior, whether about money or anything else, is greatly influenced by our thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and attitudes. Our financial habits are no exception. How we choose to spend or not spend money is directly linked to what we believe and how we view money. All of this has been shaped by our upbringing, fears, past experiences, and education. Our understanding of money and financial matters also influences our relationship and understanding of debt. In America, debt has been seen to be a way of life. Most people and households are living with debt because, for the longest time, it has been taught and believed that one cannot function or live without debt. This is not true. A debt-free life is possible, it’s not easy, but it is possible. Each person’s journey with debt is different and it is important not to blanket everyone’s reasons for debt, however, it is of vital importance for us as individuals to ask ourselves honest questions about why we are in debt and how we can achieve debt-free living. Below are some common reasons why people find themselves in debt. Student loans. Unplanned expenses. Lack of financial literacy. Job loss. Impulse buying. Consumerism. Gambling and addictions. Income loss due to disasters or emergencies. How to live debt-free Go against the grain Dave Ramsey is quoted as saying “Debt is normal so be weird!” It has almost been ingrained in us that it is impossible to live without debt unless you are super rich, but that is simply not true. With the right education and changing attitudes and beliefs, many people are choosing to live debt-free. This is [...]

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Bullying Prevention: How to Help Your Child

Bullying Prevention: How to Help Your Child

Cyndi Kay Green2024-09-27T12:23:42+00:00January 10th, 2024|Christian Counseling for Children, Christian Counseling For Teens, Family Counseling, Featured, Relationship Issues|

School is more than just a place of academic learning. It is also a place for making connections with others. Children enjoy playing with other children. Bullying is defined as aggressive behavior displayed when a person intentionally and repeatedly causes another person fear, injury, or distress. Bullying prevention starts with being committed to providing safe places for children to grow without fear. What makes a bully? Children who bully aren’t necessarily bad kids. Occasionally, they are simply okay kids who made a bad decision. It is important to know that a child bullies another child for many reasons. They seek attention because they lack attention at home. They are bullied by older siblings. They were once a victim of bullying. They are unable to accept the differences of others. They look down on others who are from a lower social class. They want to feel popular, powerful, and in control. They are jealous of their victim. They think that they are entitled to have everything they want. What makes a victim? A child doesn’t just decide that they want to be the victim of bullying. A child can fall prey to a bully just because they happen to be in the wrong place and at the wrong time. Bullying doesn’t just happen to weak children. Some victims are strong and popular. The thing to remember is that the fault does not lie with the victim. It is a choice that the bully makes based on some other issue. Most of the targets of a bully have the following characteristics: Creativity and/or intelligence. Success. Social isolation with few friends. Popularity. Disabilities. A different physical appearance. Different religious beliefs. Cultural differences. Supposed sexual orientation that is different from their biology. Vulnerability. Recognizing that your child is being bullied. The signs of [...]

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Signs of Infidelity to Look Out For

Signs of Infidelity to Look Out For

Kate Motaung2024-10-29T12:46:58+00:00December 29th, 2023|Couples Counseling, Featured, Individual Counseling, Infidelity and Affairs, Relationship Issues|

It is probably true to say that you know your spouse or significant other better than anyone else. When you spend a lot of time with someone, you learn their moods, likes, weaknesses, and strengths. When something is wrong in their life, you usually will be the first person to detect it. In the unfortunate case that your spouse or partner is being unfaithful, you will likely have the intuit to detect signs of infidelity. Understanding infidelity in relationships. Infidelity is one of many things that could go wrong in a relationship. If it happens, you hope that you would be able to tell. Unfortunately, even the happiest of relationships can be affected by infidelity, as the reasons for it are myriad and often not obvious. Typically, people assume that affairs happen only where there is some sort of unhappiness or neglect. Though this is often enough, infidelity happens for other reasons too, including: A spontaneous act when the opportunity presents itself, combined with poor boundaries. As a form of revenge for a real or perceived wrong inflicted by the other partner. As part of one’s self-exploration. Due to low self-esteem and being unable to say “No!” to someone’s. Poor emotional self-care that leaves one vulnerable to a quick escape in an affair. Sexual dysfunction with one’s current partner. Difficulty communicating with and feeling connected to one’s partner. Unfortunately, infidelity is quite common, with some studies indicating that around a fifth to a little under half of heterosexual married men, and a fifth to a quarter of heterosexual married women will engage in an extramarital affair at some point in their lives. The betrayal of infidelity can occur in a variety of ways, including an emotional affair, flirty texting, or a porn habit. Some signs of infidelity. It can [...]

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Stress Eating as an Unhealthy Coping Mechanism

Stress Eating as an Unhealthy Coping Mechanism

Kate Motaung2024-10-29T12:47:03+00:00November 29th, 2023|Eating Disorders, Featured, Individual Counseling|

Life can get hectic and overwhelming at times. Between work, school, difficult relationships, financial concerns, relationship conflicts, or the many social and other issues one faces daily, there is a lot to deal with. When we’re under enormous pressure, various coping options present themselves, though we don’t always make healthy choices. One of the ways people deal with stress is through stress eating, which is also known as emotional eating. Why stress eating is working against you. Stress eating is a common way for people to deal with difficult emotions or situations. Research indicates this connection between stress and food, as people tend to seek high-calorie, high-fat foods during periods of stress. This occurs despite the fact that when people are stressed. their bodies store more fat than when they are relaxed, and this leads to weight gain. According to the American Psychological Association, a survey showed that 38% of US adults said they overate or ate unhealthy foods in the past month because of stress. Around 49% of these adults reported engaging in these behaviors weekly or more. We can turn to food for comfort and to soothe unwanted emotions such as stress, anger, loneliness, or sadness. This impulse to turn to these comfort foods can become an automatic reaction, and that means you reach for those treats in a stressful situation without even thinking about it. Physiologically, what happens when we’re feeling stressed is that our bodies release cortisol, the stress hormone. Cortisol increases a person’s appetite, and distress increases the intake of foods that tend to be either sugary, high in fat, or both. These types of foods, once you eat them, seem to have a dampening effect on stress, and so they really do seem to comfort you. That pizza or pint of ice cream [...]

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Biblical Support for Counseling

Biblical Support for Counseling

Kate Motaung2024-10-29T12:47:06+00:00November 6th, 2023|Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Spiritual Development|

Are you unsure about counseling? Are you wondering if it’s the right step for you? Do you worry that it isn’t biblical? Sometimes it can be hard to pursue something new, especially something as personal as counseling. Just because it feels hard or different, doesn’t mean it isn’t helpful. Counseling can provide the support you need to help you with whatever you are facing. What counseling offers. When you think about counseling, you may have an image in your head of what it looks like. It may seem like it is just about sitting in a chair and talking to a stranger about your problems. Counseling can provide more than just a listening ear. Some of the things counseling can offer include: A trained professional to help you understand your feelings. An unbiased party to listen and offer thoughts. A person to pray with you. Someone who can point you to Biblical truths. Strategies for coping with common issues like stress, anxiety, and relationship concerns. A person who can help you sort through your past. These are just a few of the things a trained counselor can offer you. Why some Christians struggle with counseling. Sometimes believers have the idea that they need to rely solely on God for handling every feeling and situation they face. While relying on God is essential, God provides help in a variety of ways. This can be through prayer, Scripture, Bible study, and waiting on God. It can also be through things like good nutrition, self-care, rest, movement, sunshine, breathing, meditation, and counsel from wise people. What the Bible says. The Bible is full of advice on everything from faith to relationships. God knew we would need direction, so He filled His Word with stories and directives that help us live a life of [...]

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Growing Through the Pain: Bible Verses About Life Struggles

Growing Through the Pain: Bible Verses About Life Struggles

Kate Motaung2024-10-29T12:47:15+00:00August 17th, 2023|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Spiritual Development|

Life comes with struggle; it’s as inevitable as the day following night. That is the reality of the human condition in a world broken by sin. The struggle will come - the question is what you’ll do when those struggles come. Consider these Bible verses about life struggles to find encouragement and support. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, who is known for conceptualizing the five stages of grief, has been quoted as saying, “The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of those depths.” When you go through a hard time, lots of questions go through your head that you might not otherwise entertain or contemplate, such as: Is God there? Does He care about me? Have I done something wrong to deserve what’s happening to me? How long will God let this carry on? These and many other questions are real in seasons of struggles, and they don’t always have answers. Scripture can help orient us as we encounter and seek to overcome life struggles of various kinds. Bible verses about life struggles Being a follower of Jesus does not insulate you from pain or struggle. Arriving at that truth will help you avoid bewilderment. Jesus said to His disciples, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33, ESV Another word for tribulation is trouble. Trouble comes in many guises, and it happens to us as well as because of us. Sometimes it’s easy to tell when we’ve brought trouble to ourselves and other people. In other circumstances, trouble comes unexpectedly or without an obvious cause. We can get trapped in [...]

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12 Habits for a Healthy Morning Routine

12 Habits for a Healthy Morning Routine

Joanna Kucherera2024-09-27T12:24:26+00:00June 30th, 2023|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development|

It can be hard to wake up motivated and energized to face the day without a morning routine. However, it is important to learn how to get the morning right so that it sets you up for the rest of the day. You can start as you intend to finish. Because we all have different demands each morning, it can be hard to have a routine that fits everyone. Certain habits need to be followed in the morning that have been proven to aid us in starting our day. 12 Habits for a Healthy Morning Routine Below are some habits to adhere to for a healthy morning routine. Start the day before. A healthy morning starts the day before. To avoid the rush of the morning, it is advisable to tie up all the loose ends of the day the night before. Things like doing the dishes, picking your outfit for the next day, and packing lunches mean you do not have lots of tasks you need to do in the morning. This makes you less anxious as you start the day. Wake up early. Waking up early has so many benefits. The world is still quiet during that time. It is the best time to take care of yourself as you begin the day. Waking up early makes you feel good about yourself, which will be a great start to the day. Change your alarm tone. We are all familiar with the loud, unforgiving alarm tone that jerks us awake in the morning. This usually leaves us annoyed and grumpy. Choosing a more melodious tone for our alarm means that it wakes us up in stages and we get to ease into being fully awake. It helps more if it is a favorite song. Hydrate. Drinking water first thing [...]

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