• How to Stem Codependency in Friendships 

    In his book The Four Loves, C.S. Lewis wrote, “Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.” Our lives are made richer by our friendships, and they are sources of growth, joy, and mutual respect. These "unnecessary" relationships provide us with the support we need, making life a more beautiful venture. While recognizing the value of friendships and how they nurture us, it’s also important [...]

  • How to Recognize Signs of Codependency and What to Do About It

    Codependency is a dysfunctional way of relating to others marked by a lack of boundaries and an excessive emotional reliance on another person to dictate your value. Instead of looking to God for identity and affirmation, you draw your sense of self-worth from how other people perceive you, and on their approval and need for you. Rooted in fear, signs of codependency are at the heart of people pleasing. Healthy Relationships vs. Codependent Relationships In a healthy relationship, the needs [...]

  • Christian Life Coaching for Young Adults

    You have made it through high school or college. Now what? After being told what you need to get done, what now that there is no mandatory direction? Or maybe family life hit you hard before adulthood and you are unsure what is next for you. Many young adults find themselves at a crossroads where life decisions feel overwhelming, and uncertainty lingers in the path forward. Transitioning from adolescence into adulthood brings unique challenges that leave some young adults [...]

  • Cultivating Self-Improvement Through Biblical Self-Compassion

    Cultivating biblical self-compassion feels like you’re swimming upstream against the current of everything you’ve been taught about spiritual growth. Many believers are hard on themselves, thinking it demonstrates humility and spiritual maturity, or creates an internal environment where grace exists, just not for them. This is a contradiction, leaving them exhausted and confused. They know intellectually that God loves them, yet they feel as though they don’t quite measure up. Faith then becomes a performance, rather than a relationship. [...]

  • Holistic Therapy: What is it?

    Holistic Therapy Holistic therapy. Holistic therapy. No matter how many times I say it, it still sounds strange in my mind. According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, holistic means comprehensive and all-inclusive, so let’s talk about what holistic therapy is and who could benefit from it. As a therapist who practices holistic therapy, I still wanted to hear Google’s definition (does not going straight to ChatGPT make me not with the times?). Google states, “Holistic therapy is a comprehensive approach to [...]

  • Getting Help for Depression: You Don’t Have to Struggle Alone

    The sun shines through the curtains, implying that the world is awakening, and it is time to arise again, but she barely notices. Her entire being is pulled down in weight, and her mind is trapped in a graveyard of sadness. The only relief from the sorrow seems to be sleep. His smile quirks at the corners but never reaches his eyes. He cannot let his family know he is a failure in his mind. I should feel something…right? [...]

  • How to Recover From Caregiver Burnout in McKinney, Texas

    Although most of us think of caregiving for a loved one as a blessing, it is hard work that can lead to physical, emotional, and mental burnout. Caregiver burnout can lead to a diminished immune system, making it harder for you to recover from illnesses and raising your risk for cardiovascular disease and other conditions. The responsibility of a caregiver may fall on many of us with aging parents, ill children, or disabled spouses. Learn how to balance the [...]

  • Teen Help For Parents of Troubled Teens

    Teens go through major physical and emotional changes as they transition into adulthood. Growth spurts triggered by surges in hormones can contribute to mood swings, as can changes still happening in their brains. A teen’s brain is wired differently from a mature adult’s brain. It is still in the process of developing and being restructured, and does not reach full maturity until the mid-20s. The prefrontal cortex, which is the area primarily responsible for executive functions such as decision-making, [...]

  • Couples Counseling: A Renewed Commitment, Not a Failure

    Couples counseling is exciting. You have the opportunity to discuss your relationship with a perfect stranger. You get to talk about the ups, the downs, the in-betweens, and the mundane of your relationship. Again, exciting, right? Likely, that’s not what you thought about when you thought of the words couples counseling. For so many, it is a difficult subject to start to think about, let alone go further and meet with a counselor. Why? Simply put, stigma surrounding couples [...]

  • Controlling or Repressing Anger? Addressing Repressed Anger

    For the most part, whenever the topic of anger comes up, the call is to control our anger better and find ways to blow off steam to avoid bringing destruction into our lives and relationships. It can feel odd to then say that in some instances, a person may not be angry enough. There are many different issues a person may have with anger, and sometimes that might include avoiding it or pretending it doesn’t exist. The Idea Of Repressing [...]

  • Dealing With the Loss of a Parent

    Everything changes, and things don’t stay the same. These common reminders are especially true when something as tragic as the loss of a loved one occurs. In particular, the loss of a parent can set off a variety of emotions, thoughts, and memories that reinforce the painful reality that things don’t stay the same. If you lose a parent, there are healthy and unhealthy ways of dealing with the loss and grief that follows. Ways of Losing a Parent The [...]

  • What to Do with Childhood Emotional Neglect as an Adult 

    A common misconception is that the things we experienced as children can affect us as adults. However, that is exactly the case for so many. From a child’s perspective, neglect does not always feel harmful when it is happening, and they might not show signs of being affected by their environment. Neglect does not leave literal scars, but it shapes our belief systems. It is only decades later that childhood emotional neglect begins affecting us, leaving us unsure of what to do about it. Latchkey Love In the 1970s [...]