Blog
As both a therapist and certified life coach, I teach spiritual growth, congruent living, mental health, financial freedom, and what neuroscience & Scripture have to say about all that.
Therapy or Coaching?
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between counseling and coaching? If you said yes, you’re certainly not alone! There is so much cross-over between these two helping fields, in fact, that if you ask 20 different counselors and coaches, you’ll likely get 50 different answers! Many say that counseling focuses on the past, while coaching focuses on the future. Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple.
Badly Behaved
Dogs are funny creatures…mostly because of the characteristics they share with humans.
People (like dogs) often behave terribly when they’re afraid. Although we have the ability to discuss our fears with others, we sometimes put on a bravado instead-to appear unafraid. But resisting and denying our emotions seldom works. Eventually, they show up when we least want them to! In this article, I’ll show you how to reduce the bark, growl, and threat, returning to people to their better versions of themselves.
Villainizing Part 3
We’re winding up the series that looks at how villainizing others ends up hurting ourselves. Keeping someone in the villain role robs you of forgiveness.
Forgiveness. It’s an ambivalent word. A verb and a noun. An emotion and construct. It’s both necessary and complicated. It sounds so kind &
lovely…until you have someone to forgive! But most importantly, forgiveness has the power to heal BOTH villain and victim.
Victimized Part Two
In this three-part series, we’re looking at the three things we do that victimize ourselves. Today, we look at the second thing that keeps us feeling like a victim of our circumstances. Isn’t it odd that when someone hurts us, we often choose THAT person to allow ownership of our emotions?! It’s wrought with hopelessness. Instead, I help clients look inward at the three things that are in their control: Their thoughts, feelings and (re)actions. It’s the only way to step out of the role of victim, to regain control of our lives.
Villainizing Others
Villainizing others may feel better in the moment, but it never produces long-term peace.
In this three-part series, I’ll show you three ways we victimize ourselves, and how to fight the good fight and end the war. Today, we’ll look at one way we cause harm to ourselves:
We refuse to acknowledge our role in the current circumstances.
Whether addressing a simple misunderstanding, or something as complex as brokenness within a marriage, the same principle applies. Our thoughts create emotions which drive our actions. When we repeat these actions, they create results in our lives.
When You “Can’t Take One More Thing”
Crisis turns up the heat on whatever is already occurring inside. What we have grows in crisis. This is why great marriages get stronger during the death of a child, whereas fractured marriages end.
When things are going great in our life, we pay little attention to our thinking…because there’s no reason to change our thoughts or feelings.
But crisis startles the brain, making it on high-alert for any signs of danger. This helps us regain a sense of security and control.
This makes us human. And it is NOT helpful.
Breaking Out of Boxes
We look to our past to see what’s possible in our lives. We let all the lies we’ve believed and the identity we’ve adopted (from the world-not from our Creator!) box us in and keep us from growing and expanding.
It’s important to challenge and fact-check our thoughts to make sure they’re valid before accepting them as truth. Especially when it comes to limiting who we are and what we can do…or rather, who God is and what He can do in and through us!
As pastor and author Steven Furtick said, “When lies are not confronted, callings are not fulfilled”
How to Refill When Your Cup Runs Dry
It seems we’re all running on or near empty these days. This week while grocery shopping, I looked at the sea of faces around me and saw tired eyes in all directions. Whether tired of wearing steamed up masks or exhausted from living a life that’s been turned on its head for nearly half a year, I can’t say, but tired nonetheless. So how do we refill when when our cup runs dry?
3 Reasons to Know Whose You Are
Our identities as humans are rich and multi-faceted. Knowing who we are gives us insight into how we interpret and show up for the world around us. Increased self-awareness can even help us become more aware of others. But far more important than knowing who we are is knowing whose we are. Because who we are will likely change more times than we can count over the course of our lifetime. But our Father is unchanging, and knowing this and who He is, brings a stability, comfort and peace that is unshakable!
The Worst Reason to Pursue a Goal
There are many reasons why people pursue a goal. To challenge themselves. To see what’s possible.
To offer something to others. …The list goes on.
But of all the reasons I hear from clients, there is one that waves a red flag every time it’s spoken: to find happiness or contentment.
Dream Police
So often, we second guess our dreams, or stop pursuing them all together! Why? Fear, confusion, doubt… Nothing needs to stop us from the dream God provides.
When God Takes Over
When was the last time you were up against a circumstance that felt impossible to overcome? If you’re like most people, you probably don’t have to think back too far!
Our first instinct as humans is to blame fear (or any other feeling!) on our circumstance. But that’s not really the culprit. It’s our thoughts that are responsible for generating our feelings. And those feelings matter. Because they determine how we’ll show up, and whether the actions (or reactions) will be effective…bringing on the results we want or wanted to avoid!