Kate Motaung, Plano Christian Counseling

How to Get Closer to God: Nurturing Your Spiritual Growth

How to Get Closer to God: Nurturing Your Spiritual Growth

Kate Motaung2024-10-23T13:01:18+00:00April 19th, 2023|Featured, Individual Counseling, Spiritual Development|

Listen to this article Summary Our lives are defined by our relationships, and out of the bounty of one’s relationship with God flows flourishing throughout our lives. He is always close to us, but we can choose whether we want to be closer to God. Through Jesus Christ, we can know God and walk in humble obedience with Him as we follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. Even when we encounter tough times, we can continue to walk closely with God and grow to become the kind of people He wants us to be. Table of Contents Introduction What does it mean to get closer to God? Why being closer to God matters. How to begin getting closer to God. Am I walking closely with God? What do you do if you’re struggling to connect with God? Frequently Asked Questions. 1. Introduction Getting to know someone doesn’t happen overnight. It takes loads of time and shared experiences to get to know and trust them. This goes for platonic and romantic relationships, and it also applies to how we relate to God. Whether you’re simply curious about how intimacy with God works, or you’re serious about discovering how to grow closer to God, this article will help you on your journey. You may even have been journeying with God for a while, and need to remind yourself of the basics that get lost in the shuffle of daily life. 2. What does it mean to get closer to God? God already knows you. God knows you better than you know yourself, and nothing that you say, do, think, or feel is surprising to Him. Psalm 139 begins this way: You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you [...]

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What Does The Bible Say About Divorce? A Deep Dive On A Complex Topic

What Does The Bible Say About Divorce? A Deep Dive On A Complex Topic

Kate Motaung2024-10-23T13:01:29+00:00March 23rd, 2023|Marriage Counseling|

Summary Divorce is a painful reality whose full implications can only be rightly understood once placed alongside a Biblical understanding of marriage. Biblical marriage is the lifelong union of a man and a woman that reflects, albeit imperfectly, God’s commitment to His people. The deeper resonance of human marriage with God’s love for His people is one reason why divorce is a last resort, and why even if exceptions exist in Scripture that make divorce permissible, divorce isn’t encouraged or mandated. Table of Contents First Things: Understanding Biblical Marriage. Old Testament Perspective On Divorce. Circumstances under which one can get divorced. New Testament Perspective On Divorce. Circumstances under which one can get divorced. Circumstances for divorce not directly addressed in the Bible. Conclusions. References. Frequently Asked Questions. 1. First Things: Understanding Biblical Marriage Talking about divorce can be a little like navigating a field strewn with landmines. There are myriad perspectives out there on divorce, not to mention personal experiences with it. For some, they’ve gone through divorce themselves, while others have witnessed divorce with various degrees of separation from it – as children born of the relationship, or as siblings, friends and other loved ones of the couple getting divorced. In some cases, the divorce was drawn out and messy, while in others it was amicable. The marriage preceding the divorce may have had glimpses of goodness and light, or it may have been an excruciating ordeal from start to finish. To speak into this broad range of experiences seems hazardous and foolhardy, but it is important to do so. As divorce is a reality that touches many lives, understanding what the Bible says on the matter is important for Christians and non-Christians alike. When applying what the Bible says, it’s important to do so with pastoral compassion [...]

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What is Christian Family Counseling and How Do We Know if We Need It?

What is Christian Family Counseling and How Do We Know if We Need It?

Kate Motaung2024-09-27T11:56:21+00:00February 7th, 2023|Family Counseling, Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues|

Building a strong family can seem like an insurmountable task. Family is the center of our most intense and significant relationships. Yet these relationships can be fraught with conflict, or they can suffer from a lack of closeness or stress from internal and external pressures – all good reasons to take part in family counseling. We cannot underestimate the importance of building a strong family and strengthening the relationships among spouses, parents and children, siblings, and extended family, yet often we struggle to know how to set healthy boundaries, strengthen bonds, build interdependence, and overcome conflict. In today’s world, we have more outside influence in our families than ever before. Sometimes, it might feel like we’re living separately under one roof, with everyone distracted by their screens. Maybe we’ve just drifted apart over the years and have lost the rhythms that used to draw us together. Christian family counseling can provide family support for numerous challenges facing families today, and help build a Christ-centered foundation for your family. What is Christian family counseling? Christian family counseling is an approach to counseling that looks at patterns and dynamics within a family rather than primarily focusing on an individual. While individual counseling provides a setting for one person to focus on primarily themselves and their perspective on relationships, family counseling addresses the group dynamic first. The counselors at Plano Christian Counseling use an integrated approach, combining proven therapeutic techniques with a biblical worldview to help you build a Christ-centered foundation for your family. The goal of Christian family counseling is to help you find holistic solutions for the problems you’re facing. If you are struggling in any way or simply want to take a proactive approach to strengthen your family, Christian family counseling can be the perfect way to address concerns, [...]

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7 Ways to Increase Your Motivation

7 Ways to Increase Your Motivation

Kate Motaung2024-10-23T13:01:36+00:00January 31st, 2023|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Professional Development|

We all have goals that we’d like to realize in our lives. Despite this, many of us face challenges along the way as we work toward our objectives. We either do not have the motivation to get started, we do not have the energy to get started, or we do not know where to start. We put things off or come up with excuses. Then, we are harsh on ourselves, labeling ourselves as “lazy” or “slackers.” When we are feeling stuck or have been idling for an excessive amount of time, sometimes all we need is a jump-start or one or two strategies to boost our motivation. 7 Ways to Increase Your Motivation Here are some suggestions that have stood the test of time: 1. Prepare a timer for 15 minutes to boost motivation. You’re probably familiar with the pile of laundry that just emerged from the dryer and has to be folded. Or what about the dishes that suddenly materialized in the sink? Make it a personal challenge instead of wishing in the back of your mind that those things would go away, and turn it into a game. Put a fifteen-minute timer on yourself and see how much you can get done in that little amount of time. When you’re up against the clock, you might be amazed at how many tasks you can finish in a short amount of time. This is especially true when you’re trying to beat the clock. Knowing that there is a finish line to the work is also helpful. It won’t take more than a quarter of an hour to finish. Or, by that time, you will have deceived yourself into continuing the task, telling yourself that you are making good progress and that you would prefer to finish everything rather [...]

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The Root of Procrastination and How to Stop Procrastinating

The Root of Procrastination and How to Stop Procrastinating

Kate Motaung2024-10-23T13:01:43+00:00January 31st, 2023|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Professional Development|

Wondering how to stop procrastinating? Many of us obsess over the things we wish we could accomplish more effectively, frequently, or at all. We occasionally experience feelings of being stuck and unable to advance or move, or else we engage in procrastination. Paradoxically, it feels that looking into what maintains us in this state will simply add fuel to the fire. When this happens, we could feel scared, tense, apprehensive, or bewildered. In this situation, there is typically a feeling of overwhelm. As a result of the overpowering emotions, we experience more paralysis and become increasingly convinced that we are powerless to make the changes we want to see in our life. This procedure prompts the query: How do we stop postponing things? Each of us may have occasionally felt uncomfortable due to sporadic procrastination, but some people constantly struggle with the cycle of overload and procrastination when it comes to the majority of their goals and deadlines. When repeated, it may also start to feel exhausting to pursue our goals and embark on tasks, even if they are necessary. Remember that procrastination is a symptom of a more significant underlying issue. It is crucial to examine the root cause of procrastination to address it. Being overburdened frequently manifests as procrastination. In other words, it could feel impossible to move forward with those responsibilities if we are feeling overwhelmed by what might be expected of us. We need methods for preventing overwhelm to facilitate avoiding procrastination. Fear can drive procrastination. One reason we can feel scared by our responsibilities or what they might entail is that we are overburdened with our ambitions and objectives. Sometimes we may feel that the task is too difficult or that the stakes are too high. This may cause us to become numb or hide [...]

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When Your Teenager is Giving You the Silent Treatment

When Your Teenager is Giving You the Silent Treatment

Kate Motaung2024-10-23T13:01:51+00:00November 26th, 2022|Christian Counseling For Teens, Family Counseling, Featured, Individual Counseling|

Is your teenager giving you the silent treatment? The degree to which your child has stopped talking is really the most important factor in determining whether or not you should be concerned that they might be giving you the silent treatment. Three Examples of the Silent Treatment in Teenagers Let’s look at three possible scenarios: #1 In the past, you and your daughter were considered “best friends.” She once opened up to you about everything, but now all of a sudden, she is avoiding you and only confiding in her other friends about her innermost thoughts. In this scenario, there is not a whole lot that you need to be concerned about. As difficult as it may be, you have to make an effort not to let her decision affect how you feel about yourself. She may simply be going through the natural and healthy process of separating from you and becoming an adult. Here are the steps you can take in this situation: Do not lecture her or express to her how her silence has hurt you. Try to have constructive exchanges with her. Engage her in activities that both of you have found to be enjoyable in the past. Take a seat at the table with her. Don’t try to pry information out of her. Instead, be vulnerable and talk about something funny or interesting that happened to you in your own life. If you let your guard down, she may feel more comfortable doing the same. Talk to her like an adult and with respect, and make it clear that you value her opinions and expect respect in return. Show that you value her opinions and expect respect in return. #2 Your child, who used to be sweet and affectionate toward you, now gives you one-word [...]

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How to Forgive: Tips for True Forgiveness

How to Forgive: Tips for True Forgiveness

Kate Motaung2024-09-27T11:58:06+00:00November 22nd, 2022|Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues, Spiritual Development|

Who hasn’t been harmed by someone else’s deeds or words? Perhaps you experienced repeated criticism from a parent when you were a child, a coworker sabotaged a project, or your partner had an affair. Or perhaps you’ve gonethrough a terrible event, such as being physically or psychologically assaulted by a family member and have had a difficult time with forgiveness. You may experience lingering sentiments of rage, bitterness, and even vengeance as a result of these traumas. But if you don’t learn to forgive, you can end up paying the price. You can embrace joy, happiness, peace, hope, and thankfulness by practicing forgiveness. Think about how moving toward forgiveness might benefit your physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Describing forgiveness. To each person, forgiveness means something different. However, in most cases, it involves deciding to let go of resentment and thoughts of vengeance. Although the act that injured or offended you might always be with you, forgiving the offender might assist loosen its hold on you and help you break free from its grasp. Even feelings of comprehension, empathy, and compassion for the person who injured you might arise after you have forgiven them. Forgiveness does not entail forgetting or dismissing the hurt that was done to you or reconciling with the offender. You can go on with life more easily when you can forgive. What advantages come from forgiveness? It is possible to experience better health and mental tranquility by letting go of past wrongs and bitterness. What may forgiveness lead to? healthier connections elevated mental state less stress, anxiety, and hostility blood pressure reduction fewer depression symptoms enhanced immunological response better heart health higher self-esteem Why is it so easy to harbor resentment? Anger, anguish, and confusion can result when someone you love, and trust hurts you. Grudges fueled [...]

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Using the Psalms to Help You Overcome Anxiety

Using the Psalms to Help You Overcome Anxiety

Kate Motaung2024-09-27T11:58:14+00:00September 3rd, 2022|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling, Spiritual Development|

Anxiety affects millions of Christians each day. Brought on by worry and stress anxiety causes many of us to feel overwhelmed. Finding ways to overcome anxiety without medication can be stressful in itself. Christian counselors can help you overcome anxiety using Scripture. Many verses address anxiety in the Bible. What is anxiety? Anxiety is a common health issue that comes from a feeling of fear or dread. It can cause many physical symptoms and even lead a person to believe they are having heart problems. Anxiety is most commonly a stress reaction. Learning to identify stressors can greatly reduce the amount of anxiety you experience. God gives us the wisdom to overcome anxiety in the Bible. He does this by teaching us how to change our way of thinking. Christian counselors often use secular-based treatment with scripture to battle anxiety Can listening to or reading Scripture help you overcome anxiety? Many Christians who battle anxiety have stated that listening to scripture helps calm them during an anxiety attack. While some have no preference as to what they listen to, others have said that Psalm 91 is one of the best chapters of the Bible to overcome anxiety. There are many scriptures about anxiety in the Bible. While you may not find the word anxiety you can refer to any Scripture that talks about overcoming fear. What is Psalm 91 about? When you are struggling to overcome an anxiety attack you become panicked about your health. This panic only enhances the symptoms of anxiety. Your heart continues to race faster, you feel lightheaded and weak, and you can’t seem to focus. The best thing you can do is to calm your mind and begin to take some deep breaths. Easier said than done in most cases. Psalm 91 is a [...]

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10 Signs of a Toxic Relationship

10 Signs of a Toxic Relationship

Kate Motaung2024-09-27T11:57:26+00:00July 12th, 2022|Couples Counseling, Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues|

In any relationship, things aren’t always going to be rosy. A few bumps in the road are par for the course because human beings are going to do what humans do. Even in the healthiest of relationships, some struggles and disagreements are to be expected. But these struggles don’t govern, or determine the course of healthy relationships; instead, the people in those relationships can navigate challenges in ways that preserve their dignity and allow the relationship to emerge stronger and with a deeper commitment. Just as there are healthy relationships, there are also relationships that can be labeled “toxic.” What precisely does “toxic” mean? It may be surprising, but toxic relationships aren’t always obviously toxic to the people in them. You may be in a toxic relationship and not know it. Or you might be the toxic partner in your relationship and you’re oblivious to it and how your behaviors are affecting your partner. That makes it even more important to know the signs of a toxic relationship and take steps to address things. A toxic relationship is characterized by behaviors that are emotionally and often physically damaging. One can expect that a healthy relationship will contribute to your sense of well-being, high self-esteem, and emotional energy, while a toxic relationship is damaging to one’s self-esteem and drains your energy. In a toxic relationship, one or both partners aren’t flourishing or thriving. Because relationships come in all shapes and sizes (some are romantic, others are platonic or familial) the following signs of a toxic relationship will differ and present in various ways. If you detect any of the following signs, take them as a cue that you should put some serious work into that relationship. Signs of a Toxic Relationship ‘Here we go again.’ It’s the hallmark of healthy relationships [...]

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Bible Verses to Help You Take Every Thought Captive

Bible Verses to Help You Take Every Thought Captive

Kate Motaung2024-09-27T11:57:01+00:00July 6th, 2022|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Spiritual Development|

There is a great deal of literature on the subject of positive thinking, and the beneficial outcomes of abolishing negativity in one’s life. These principles make sense, as our minds are powerful, and our thoughts shape the actions we take and the type of people we become. The Bible is not silent on the topic of learning to take every thought captive, and there are numerous references in Scripture that boldly claim that anxiety can be beaten, and a life of peace and joy claimed, through the thoughts we allow into our minds by the grace of God. The best thing about being able to attempt to take every thought captive is that, when we do it prayerfully and ask God for his help, we are changing ourselves in His strength and not through our own efforts. That brings with it a wonderful sense of relief and frees us to enjoy the process rather than lamenting our failings. Here are some verses to help you on your journey toward renewed thinking: We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. – 2 Corinthians 10:5, ESV The Christian life is based on faith and belief – what we think and know about God through His Word. There is also the very real existence of the devil, who knows how important our thoughts are, and “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). He works cunningly, going directly to our vulnerabilities and planting lies in our thought life. Think about how many thoughts cross our minds daily, how often these are negative ones, or are lies? Thoughts that we are not valuable or loved, that we are failures because we have not achieved a [...]

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Kate Motaung

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