Family Counseling Archives | Plano Christian Counseling

3 Easy Ways to Improve Your Child’s Mental Health in Plano, Texas

3 Easy Ways to Improve Your Child’s Mental Health in Plano, Texas

Michelle Lazurek2025-02-18T19:23:59+00:00February 11th, 2025|Christian Counseling for Children, Family Counseling, Featured, Individual Counseling|

Because mental health issues are on the rise, it is important to protect your child’s mental health. In this article, we’ll look at three ways to help improve your child’s mental health, including specific ideas for addressing your child’s mental health in Plano, Texas. Children cannot always verbalize why they are feeling down or anxious about something. They might hide those feelings from their parent for fear of punishment or a lecture. Therefore, it’s more important than ever for a parent to be aware of their child’s mental health and make sure that they are well so that they can brave the circumstances of life. It may be difficult for you to discern what state your child’s mental health is. However, three easy ways exist to improve your child’s mental health today. 3 Ways to Improve Your Child’s Mental Health in Plano, Texas Positive Affirmations Positive affirmations are a great way to boost your child’s mood and remind them of their identity and who they are. Affirmations can be done quickly while a child is getting ready for school. All they must do is either look in the mirror and say positive statements to themselves or say them to themselves while they’re getting dressed in the morning. These types of affirmations can be something like, “I am strong,” “I am beautiful,” or “I can do this.” Children are not limited to saying this in the morning but can say it to themselves throughout the day. Sometimes, they need a reminder of the good characteristics of their lives as they go through peer pressure, issues with their teachers, performance at school, extracurricular activities, etc. They can take it one step further and write it in a journal or notebook to remind themselves throughout the day. If you’d like to get [...]

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Children and Emotional Behavior Disorders

Children and Emotional Behavior Disorders

Cyndi Kay Green2025-02-05T05:43:12+00:00February 5th, 2025|Christian Counseling for Children, Family Counseling, Featured|

Children can be affected by mental health issues that are related to emotional behavior disorders. These disorders make it hard for the child to regulate emotions. When this happens, they may not make the right choices for the proper behavior in certain situations. Understanding disorders that a child may have, such as emotional behavior disorder, can help caregivers choose strategies to manage behavioral issues. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. – John 14:27, NIV Causes of Emotional Behavior Disorders There are no defined causes of emotional behavior disorders in children. To properly identify these disorders, many factors are considered. The difference in brain chemistry and genetics are known to play a role in the presence of emotional behavior disorders when there are other mental health issues involved. Other causes connected with these disorders are traumatic experiences that result in behavior issues such as abuse and neglect. Types of Emotional Behavior Disorders Emotional disorders are related to mood disorders. When a professional refers to emotional behavior disorders, they are typically describing mental health conditions that affect a person’s mood. Children can suffer from emotional behavior disorders as well as adults. ADHD - Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder This is a neurobehavioral disorder that is typically diagnosed in childhood. Most of the symptoms are characteristic of inattention and impulsivity. Easily distracted. Restless. Interrupting others. Has difficulty following directions. Disruptive. Impulsive actions. Conduct Disorder Children with conduct disorder often express aggression toward others and violate normal behavior with peers. Bullying others. Cruel to animals or others. Destruction of property. Delinquent behavior. Stealing. Lying. Physical altercations. Oppositional-Defiant Disorder This disorder is characterized by aggression and defiant behavior. This is commonly [...]

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Easing Stress When Moving to a New House

Easing Stress When Moving to a New House

Jennifer Kooshian2024-12-30T07:03:08+00:00December 30th, 2024|Anxiety, Christian Counseling for Children, Depression, Family Counseling, Featured, Personal Development|

Relocating your whole life is not an easy thing to do. Moving house is one of the more stressful things that an average person goes through. That’s one of the reasons why one can read the biblical stories in Exodus and Numbers of the ancient Israelites grumbling on their desert sojourn with some sympathy. Imagine settling and uprooting yourself and your family so often! Unfortunately, moving house, while being extremely stressful, is one of the realities that we must contend with at some point in our lives. For many of us, we’d rather remain rooted right where we are. There is a sense of comfort, familiarity, and security in being in one place and building our lives there. And so, when a move needs to happen, it can be disruptive, unpleasant, and stressful. Why Moving House Is Stressful There are many reasons why moving house is stressful. Sometimes it’s the reasons behind the move that make it stressful, while in many cases the simple fact of moving itself is the issue. Each of us has our own level of tolerance for change and disruption to our daily routines. Often, it’s only when your routine is disturbed – when you don’t get that morning coffee or your morning commute is disrupted – that you see how out of sorts you are for the rest of the day. Moving house can be stressful for the following reasons: The circumstances behind the move There are many reasons why people move. Sometimes, those reasons are less than pleasant, and that can add to the stress one experiences. If you need to move because you couldn’t keep up with the mortgage payments, or if you’re moving due to a loss in the family, or if you’re moving to be close enough to support [...]

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A Life Lived Online: Adolescents and Social Media

A Life Lived Online: Adolescents and Social Media

Sarah Harris, Kate Motaung2024-12-09T11:07:37+00:00December 6th, 2024|Christian Counseling For Teens, Coaching, Family Counseling, Featured|

When we’re feeling nostalgic, it’s tempting to say that things were simpler, better, or easier in the past. Often, parents of adolescents find themselves saying this as they consider the brave new world their children are navigating and trying to make sense of. It can be scary, and nostalgia can be a form of retreat. There’s nothing wrong with nostalgia; however, it can paralyze you in the present or blind you from seeing the beauty and opportunities that exist in the present. When it comes to social media, many folks would rather things were simpler for their own sake or for the sake of their kids. There are some good reasons for this, but a more productive approach is to gain a better understanding of how to make the best use of these tools. The Various Uses of Social Media Social media is a relatively young invention. Throughout the last few decades, there have been different iterations of the same idea of connecting human beings to each other and giving them a platform to share themselves and what they care about. We are deeply social creatures, which was by God’s design. As the internet has created a space to share ideas across the globe, social media has grown apace to meet that need. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:2 Depending on the platform, the intention behind many social media applications is for individuals to be able to share whatever they find interesting, and for other people to interact with what’s been shared. It’s taking what we do in our everyday in-person interactions, and then scaling that up so that we’re communicating with a global audience. Instead of telling the person you’re with how much you’re enjoying your vacation, [...]

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Teaching Your Children Safe and Healthy Ways to Use Social Media Platforms

Teaching Your Children Safe and Healthy Ways to Use Social Media Platforms

Vanessa Gross, Kate Motaung2024-11-13T11:31:36+00:00August 8th, 2024|Christian Counseling for Children, Christian Counseling For Teens, Family Counseling, Featured|

Parenting has always been a daunting task, but with the advent of social media platforms and hyper-connectivity changing the social landscape, parental guidelines are getting even blurrier. It has become imperative for parents to be vigilant regarding the challenges the younger generation faces each day online. Knowing the amount of time your child spends on social media According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, kids ages eight to eighteen spend, on average, a whopping seven and a half hours on a screen for entertainment each day, four and a half hours of which are spent watching TV. Over the course of a year, that adds up to 114 full days watching a screen for fun. In effect, this means that children spend almost half of their waking hours each year engaged in online activities. Networks like TikTok, X, Snapchat, Pinterest, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook are designed not only to grab your attention but also to maintain your continued interest. In these first few months of 2024, the American government has been up-in-arms with TikTok over its controversial new TikTok-Lite promotional incentive that seeks to reward its users with gift packs for spending more time on the site. That means people will be paid to spend more time online, with potentially catastrophic consequences for their mental health. Children spending even more time on leading social media platforms like TikTok means the problems caused by excessive use of the internet are only exacerbated. How social media platforms can endanger children’s well-being In this day and age, the long-held moral stance of simply forbidding kids from socially immoral places to keep them safe is no longer enough to keep them safe or protected. Con artists, criminals, and every form of predator are now just a click away each time your [...]

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Are There Different Types of Autism?

Are There Different Types of Autism?

Brooke Turbyfill2024-09-27T11:50:31+00:00July 4th, 2024|Autism Spectrum Disorder, Christian Counseling for Children, Christian Counseling For Teens, Family Counseling, Featured, Individual Counseling|

If you are not familiar with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, you may also be unaware that psychologists no longer separate different types of autism. Because they share diagnosis characteristics, childhood disintegrative disorder, Asperger’s syndrome, and Rett’s syndrome are all under the umbrella of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Many psychologists shorten it to simply autism. While the diagnosis may be autism, the way different types of autism are displayed still resonates. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder believed to have genetic components. To specify various aspects of autism in this article, we will distinguish between the classifiers as different types of autism, even though they are given one diagnosis, Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD. Level 1 autism Once the term Asperger’s syndrome was terminated from the DSM in 2013, level 1 ASD replaced it. Another way you may have heard this is high-functioning autism. However, there is little agreement among experts as to what exactly qualifies as high functioning. A level 1 ASD diagnosis is assigned to a person who exhibits similar cognitive development to peers but struggles with social development and mild repetitive patterns. Someone with level 1 autism may struggle: To interact with peers. To broaden his or her interests (only interested in a few fields of study). To maintain certain physical gestures such as eye contact, coordination, and specific bodily and facial cues. To switch gears when changing from one activity to the next. To understand what non-verbal cues, such as facial expressions, mean in a social context. With enjoying or seeking out typical social situations. The level 1 diagnosis signifies that a person can manage fairly well and exceeds his or her peers in specific areas of interest. The person requires some support, but they are usually also highly intelligent and don’t need the level [...]

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Counseling for Children: 5 Principles to Bear in Mind

Counseling for Children: 5 Principles to Bear in Mind

Kate Motaung2025-01-08T06:04:59+00:00July 8th, 2023|Christian Counseling for Children, Christian Counseling For Teens, Family Counseling, Featured|

There are many reasons why a family might want to make use of counseling for children. A child may have experienced a traumatic event, such as death or divorce in the family; or been a victim of abuse or bullying. Other less serious circumstances can be perceived as traumatic for a child, for example, a move to a new school or another unexpected change. While children may be less equipped to verbalize their feelings than adults, it is important to bear in mind that counseling for children is not all that different from counseling adults. Children are people created in God’s image and sinners in a fallen world. The struggles and desires they face are not unique to those experienced by all people, and their only hope – as with adults – is the hope presented in Jesus Christ. This reality is encouraging when considering biblical counseling for children which can sometimes be deemed inappropriate or inaccessible for younger counselees. The following five principles are good to bear in mind. Involving parents in counseling for children is a priority. Where possible, it is important for parents as the primary caregivers of their children to be involved in the counseling process. In some circumstances, this might not be suitable. For example, if there is an incidence of abuse by a parent or if the relationship between parent and child is strained. It might be that the parents are immature in their faith. But if they are open to bringing their child to a Christian counselor, then it is a great opportunity for the whole family to be exposed to the redeeming power of God’s Word. Children can grasp wisdom from God’s Word. The Bible is accessible to every person, regardless of their education level or intellect, provided that they can [...]

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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 Motaung2025-01-08T06:06:10+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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When Your Teenager is Giving You the Silent Treatment

When Your Teenager is Giving You the Silent Treatment

Kate Motaung2025-01-08T06:06:56+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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