Kate Motaung

There is no doubt that the world we live in feels like a curious mixture of good and bad. Our world has beauty in it, both natural and created by people, but it also has a lot in it that brings tears to one’s eyes. Families are generally a good thing; they are the first place we learn what belonging means, and that’s beautiful. However, families can also be hotbeds of dysfunction, and they can be places of deep [...]

There are many sources of generational family conflict; disagreements, misunderstandings, and tensions that can arise between family members of different generations. These conflicts can be influenced by a variety of factors, including differences in values, beliefs, lifestyles, and communication styles. Have you ever found yourself engaged in a conversation something like this: “Back in my day . . .” “Things aren’t the same for you as they are for me.” “You just don’t want to work.” “Well, you don’t [...]

The term “narcissist” is used in popular culture to define anyone who is vain, arrogant, or brimming with confidence. This makes for an unpleasant person to deal with, and perhaps the sort of person you would rather avoid. However, the psychological understanding of narcissism goes a little deeper, and those who are in a relationship with a narcissist, or work for one, may benefit from understanding a little more about this trait. When we don’t have the option of [...]

Dealing with infidelity, separation, or divorce in a marriage is one of the most disruptive, emotionally tumultuous chapters in anyone’s life. It can take years to sort through your emotions and find some kind of closure, enough to move on and start again. Before you see some sort of resolution, however, there will be a period where you cycle through all different kinds of thoughts and feelings. Infidelity doesn’t only damage a marriage, but it causes all manner of harm [...]

Would you consider yourself a person with anger problems? Most of us probably have a mental image of what we think an angry person looks like, and it probably isn’t us. There are some well-known ways to express anger that are often understood to be what anger is all about. Incidents of road rage that go viral, instances of domestic abuse, or fights breaking out between sports fans often come to mind when the word “anger” is mentioned. Anger [...]

Why Music is Good for Us I have to admit my bias: I am a marching band mom. Yes, one of those. I am also the mother of a teen with ADHD and Anxiety. I used to play the flute in middle school. I have admitted all of my biases, let me explain why I love music and why it’s wonderful for our brains. The Pacific Symphony’s website states “Studies have shown that engaging with music can lead to increased [...]

Relationships don’t always work out the way you would like. Instead of finding the person you’ll spend the rest of your life with, you can end up feeling dejected and heartbroken because expectation and reality collide with horrible results. Heartbreak is common for both men and women, but how we handle those challenges and disappointments will vary from person to person. A breakup can happen for several reasons at any stage of a relationship. Maybe you just weren’t compatible, [...]

Sex is a wonderful gift from God. As something created by God, sex was meant to be enjoyed within the bond of marriage, without shame. The Bible tells us that in the beginning, “the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed” (Genesis 2:25). Shame was the result of the rebellion that separated us from God, one another and created discord within ourselves. With an increase in connectivity to the internet has come an ease in [...]

Anxiety can interfere with your work, relationships, and goals. For many, the symptoms of anxiety, such as rapid heart rate, palpitations, panic attacks, trembling, dizziness, shortness of breath, and physical ailments, cause them to avoid situations that can make them anxious. Learning how to beat anxiety includes skills you can use for years to come. Practical Tips to Beat Anxiety Depending on your anxiety level, you may want to take your time adopting the following tips for how to [...]

What does this even mean? Counselors often hear “I just want some peace!” from clients. While this sometimes happens with our male clients, most often it happens with our female clients, especially those over forty. But why? Usually, it’s because they have reached an age where the children are grown or are grown and out of the house, the husband has been working for many years by now, leaving her alone during the day and things just have not [...]

There comes a moment in many of our lives when it slowly dawns on us that our best friend might not be such a good person. Sometimes it takes ages to see this, because a best friend is usually the person that we spend the most time with, and the person we trust the most. In some cases, we have grown up with them, and have known them our whole lives, so realizing that they exhibit toxic behavior can [...]

Relationships can be a mix of blessings and challenges. Sometimes, depending on the season you’re in, your relationships with others could be spaces of nurture, joy, and fulfillment. Alternatively, they could be challenging, a source of deep stress, or perhaps just unpleasant to be in. Romantic relationships can be like this, too. If you do find yourself struggling, Christian couples counseling is available to help you through it. How Christian Couples Counseling Works Christian couples counseling is a form [...]