Wade Van Staden, Plano Christian Counseling

About Wade Van Staden

As a native of Zimbabwe, Africa I have always used what I have to help where and whomever I can. I became a certified counselor immediately after leaving school, and have worked in charities, missions, and community projects and churches ever since. I have worked with pre-teens, young adults, married couples, and the elderly. My hope is always that people know someone is there to walk next to them. I’ve had my fair share of mental health issues too, experiencing total burnout by the age of 24. As a result, I am passionate about helping people find their boundaries and establish habits that will boost their mental health. I started working online during the pandemic, teaching English to refugees around the globe, in hopes that they can find work. I believe that it doesn’t take much to make a lasting impact, and sometimes all people need is to know someone sees and hears them. I love being outdoors, tending to my 200 house plants, and having movie marathons with friends in my free time.

5 Things Parents Need to Know About Chemical Dependency

5 Things Parents Need to Know About Chemical Dependency

Wade Van Staden2025-03-22T05:34:06+00:00March 6th, 2025|Chemical Dependency, Featured, Individual Counseling|

Nothing can quite prepare you for the devastating shock of finding out that your child has developed a chemical dependency. Every parent can take the precaution of learning to recognize signs of drug use or addiction but actively confronting it can be terrifying. Navigating chemical dependency is a life-altering journey, but there is hope for every family. Five Things Parents Need to Know about Chemical Dependency There are resources for people wishing to learn more about addiction, including from parents who have already journeyed through chemical dependency with their families. Parents and family members should join support groups and seek out medical attention for chemical dependency. However, many parents do not know how to begin when confronting suspected chemical use. Chemical dependency is certainly not the end of the road for any child, but it might be the start of a long and difficult journey for everyone involved. Here are a few things to keep in mind. Chemical dependency is not a moral failing Addiction is a chronic disease. Medically speaking, it is a condition that lasts for more than a year and requires ongoing medical treatment, or else it will severely impact day-to-day activities. When viewed through this lens it is a far deeper issue than moral failure. You have not failed as a parent if your child has become addicted to substances, and they have not failed you by developing chemical dependency. The issue is far deeper and more serious than morals and even values; your child’s life could be at stake if you reduce the issue to simply being about right and wrong. Plano Christian Counseling provides faith-based support and guidance to help families navigate the challenges of addiction with hope and compassion. Playing the blame game is not helpful When it comes to facing substance [...]

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5 Ways to Grow After Betrayal Trauma

5 Ways to Grow After Betrayal Trauma

Wade Van Staden2025-03-25T14:49:19+00:00January 13th, 2025|Featured, Individual Counseling, Trauma|

People who have experienced infidelity, separation, or divorce will often tell you that it is the hardest thing they have had to face. Besides all of the emotions that come with the territory, you might also have to navigate practical challenges you have never had to face alone, like being a single parent or having to live alone. Let's consider some practical ways in which you might recover and thrive after betrayal trauma. 5 Ways to Grow After Betrayal Trauma While it certainly is going to be a rough ride, there are silver linings and things to look forward to. Here are five ways that you might find yourself growing after experiencing infidelity or betrayal trauma: You learn to live again Some people go through divorce or leave their spouses late in life. Others have barely reached their forties before they face the end of a marriage. Whatever age you are at, you have just survived potentially the biggest challenge you have had to face. You are a survivor. Not only that, but you now have the chance to figure out what the rest of your life will look like. Plano Christian Counseling is here to support you as you navigate this new chapter and find hope for the future. You reevaluate relationships When you go through trauma, you will quickly realize who the key people in your life are. They might be the ones who have always been there, but their consistency cannot be underestimated. You might be surprised by the person who shows up for you at this point, but don’t take anyone for granted. Friends are the family we choose, but they are also the ones who show up for us in practical, measurable, dependable ways. You begin exploring new horizons This might be [...]

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6 Tips for Better Communication in Relationships

6 Tips for Better Communication in Relationships

Wade Van Staden2025-03-27T09:34:05+00:00July 30th, 2024|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues|

A failure to use effective communication in relationships means a failure to connect with others. It’s one thing to be aware of these intimacy gaps in our relationships, but it’s not always easy knowing how to bridge them. 6 Tips for Better Communication Here are six tips for better communication in relationships: Check in by asking questions When we have communication breakdowns, we begin to experience distance from our partner because we have stopped being intentional in connecting with them. Every relationship has a rhythm that incorporates work, family, friends, and pressures. These things have a habit of stealing our energy and focus. Before we realize it, we have been swept up in the rhythm of life like a current dragging us away from our significant other. Plano Christian Counseling offers faith-based support to help couples restore communication, reconnect emotionally, and strengthen their bond through intentional love and understanding. It might seem odd to share personal space with someone each day and still have to ask a question like, “How are you doing?” but that is one effective way of reconnecting with your partner. It’s a case of putting off obligations, making time to be alone together, giving each other your full attention, and checking in. When we feel valued and safe, the conversation should flow effortlessly. Pay attention People communicate with more than words. There is as much meaning in the things we don’t say as in the things we do. A partner who is struggling with something and responds with a simple, “I’m fine” when asked, might be communicating that they are too overwhelmed to express themselves fully. That kind of guarded communication might come across as dismissive and it can be hurtful. We must ask ourselves what is behind their attitude, and pay attention to things [...]

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Wade Van Staden

About Wade Van Staden

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