Individual Counseling Archives | Plano Christian Counseling

How to Communicate Better in the Workplace: Four Barriers to Effective Communication

How to Communicate Better in the Workplace: Four Barriers to Effective Communication

McCartney Paul, Kate Motaung2025-02-19T11:56:58+00:00February 19th, 2025|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Professional Development|

If you have ever seen a good communicator in the flow of expressing themselves, it can be both an inspiring and discouraging thing to witness. Some people seem to be able to express themselves naturally and effortlessly, while others have a host of issues to overcome. The encouraging news is that learning to communicate better is entirely possible; the first step is learning about the barriers that block effective communication. How to Communicate Better by Overcoming Assumptions Words are a small part of communication. People communicate with their personalities, their bodies, and even through silence. We take in and respond to large amounts of information daily without fully realizing that we are wordlessly communicating with those around us. For example, when a coworker who is normally chatty and vibrant comes into work and they are quiet, withdrawn, and disheveled in appearance, they are communicating something without even speaking. We might subconsciously take note of their behavior, body language, and appearance and deduce that they are struggling today. They have communicated something to us. How we treat them in response is us communicating back to them. We might be gracious to them, give them space by not engaging in small talk, or we might take the opportunity to ask them how they are. If we were to observe the changes in them and decide on the reasons for those changes, we would be assuming. It might be a correct assumption, but without asking them simple, non-invasive questions, we won’t know for sure what is going on. Assumptions might be correct, but by leaning on assumptions, we risk being incorrect. There remains a barrier between us and the person we’ve assumed about. Correct assumptions are just as unhelpful as incorrect assumptions, in some ways. Making assumptions means that there is a [...]

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Lifespan Integration Therapy in Plano, TX

Lifespan Integration Therapy in Plano, TX

Sandra Stein2025-02-19T11:57:34+00:00February 19th, 2025|Featured, Individual Counseling, Lifespan Integration Therapy|

Looking for Lifespan Integration Therapy in Plano, Texas? First, perhaps we should ask the question, “What is Lifespan Integration Therapy?” Lifespan Integration (LI) is a physical counseling technique that was developed by American psychologist Peggy Pace in 2002 to help people heal from trauma without getting re-traumatized in the process. Its goal was to enable them to connect ego states throughout every stage of their lives and integrate them to form a coherent story of who they are by putting the fragmented memories back together. Issues That Can Be Treated with Lifespan Integration Therapy in Plano Lifespan Integration Therapy was originally developed to help adult survivors of childhood abuse and neglect heal from past traumatic events and associated dissociative disorders. It was found to also be effective in treating a wide range of other issues such as anxiety, depression, codependency, low self-esteem, mood disorders, bereavement, loss, eating disorders, emotional dysregulation, substance abuse, addictions, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. How It Works Unlike traditional talk therapy which uses a cognitive approach that addresses thoughts, emotions, and beliefs to resolve problems and change behaviors, Lifespan Integration Therapy in Plano works at a deep neural level to increase connectivity between the brain’s neural networks and integrate and reset them to reflect the present so that you are no longer stuck in the past. It does not require you to discuss details of your traumatic experience or any part of your life. Using a panoramic approach that enables traumatic memories to resurface naturally, lifestyle integration therapy provides a way to tap into your body’s innate ability to heal from outdated beliefs, feelings, and ways of protecting itself that were once needed but that no longer serve a purpose, by creating a chronological timeline of memory cues that highlight significant events in your life. As you view [...]

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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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Natural Anxiety Relief in Plano, Texas

Natural Anxiety Relief in Plano, Texas

Caitlin Mallery2025-02-08T06:26:27+00:00February 10th, 2025|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling, Men’s Issues, Women’s Issues|

If you’re looking for natural anxiety relief in Plano, Texas, we are here to help. A tried-and-true method of coping with anxiety is to pay attention to your five senses. When you are in the midst of a panic attack some people do a simple countdown: five things you can see, four things you can hear, three things you can feel, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. This is effective because anxiety tends to spin you into a future-oriented state, so paying attention to the present is a helpful tool. This tool of focusing your senses can also help you cope with underlying anxiety. If you know that you are walking into an anxiety-inducing situation, maybe at work or with your family, use your senses to prepare. Some ideas: Hearing - listen to music that soothes or inspires you. Seeing - take moments to gaze into the distance and then up close. Feeling - wear a piece of jewelry or clothing that you love. Taste - have a food or beverage you enjoy (before, after, or during as appropriate). Smell - consider having a perfume/cologne that you love. There are a variety of ways that being outside can help with your anxiety. You can take short walks around your neighborhood or go on longer hike in nature, such as at the Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano. For some people, the sound of water is soothing. If that’s you, you might enjoy the sound of the fountain at White Rock Trail Park in Plano. Others may prefer to get their hands dirty with plants. Consider getting involved with the Plano Community Garden or visiting another local garden center in Plano. All of these are ways to be present with your body and the world [...]

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Why You Need a Personal Development Plan and How to Get Started

Why You Need a Personal Development Plan and How to Get Started

McCartney Paul, Kate Motaung2025-01-31T10:30:23+00:00January 31st, 2025|Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development|

Does the turn of the new year excite you? Do you think about what you want for your future? Or have you been living the same year repeatedly, much like Bill Murray’s character in Groundhog Day? You were created for a purpose, and it is not to repeat the same year over again. You can get clear on what you should do with a personal development plan. Why You Need a Personal Development Plan A personal development plan identifies your goals, strengths, and weaknesses. It uncovers what you need to learn or do to accomplish your goals. New skills will take you higher than you have ever been before in your personal and professional life. The following are more benefits of creating a personal development plan. It motivates you to accomplish goals A personal development plan motivates you to accomplish goals that otherwise might be out of reach. It gets to the bottom of why you want to achieve a specific goal. When the tasks to reach the goal become challenging and you no longer feel motivated, the reason why you chose this goal will motivate you once more. A personal development plan keeps you focused on the reason behind the goal. It teaches you goal setting principles There is an art to setting goals; people who understand the principles and follow through achieve more than those who make vague statements. Anyone can declare that they want to do something, but it will probably never happen if they do not make their goal specific and time bound. It helps identify your strengths and weaknesses To reach the next level, you must honestly assess your strengths and weaknesses. You will also need to discern what strengths you want to build upon and what weaknesses you need to tackle first. [...]

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Bible Verses About Trusting God in Challenging Times

Bible Verses About Trusting God in Challenging Times

Cyndi Kay Green2025-02-04T14:13:43+00:00January 22nd, 2025|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Spiritual Development|

There is no doubt that we will face difficult times. We live in a world that will affect our finances, relationships, and health. Every aspect of life can and will be affected by the hardness of this chaotic world. Understanding Bible verses about trusting God in difficult times can carry us through these challenging moments.Learning to trust God can be challenging when we don’t look to Him for guidance. If we are not engaging in His word, we won’t know where to turn for peace and comfort. There are many Bible verses about trusting God in difficult times that can give us hope and clarity about how to stand in faith.Bible Verses About Trusting GodIn the Bible, we find several passages of scripture that can encourage us to trust God during difficult times. When we turn to the truth of God’s word, we can find peace in the hard times and rest when we are weary. Here are several Bible verses for trusting God in the difficult times taken from the NASB.Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. – Proverbs 3:5When you don’t understand the situation or how it can be resolved, trust that God already has a plan. Nothing is a surprise to Him. Because He knows, He has the answers even when we don’t understand anything about the situation. Remember, God does not bring us confusion, only truthBlessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose trust is the LORD. “For he will be like a tree planted by the water That extends its roots by a stream, And does not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought, Nor cease to yield [...]

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5 Ways to Grow After Betrayal Trauma

5 Ways to Grow After Betrayal Trauma

Wade Van Staden2025-02-05T05:40:07+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. 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 the first time you have ever had the freedom, time, and space to make choices for yourself. It might not feel [...]

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How to Walk Alongside Your Depressed Husband

How to Walk Alongside Your Depressed Husband

McCartney Paul, Kate Motaung2025-01-07T04:05:06+00:00January 6th, 2025|Couples Counseling, Depression, Featured, Individual Counseling, Marriage Counseling, Men’s Issues, Relationship Issues|

Seeing a person we love going through a hard time is heart-wrenching. We want to do all we can to love them, to make them feel loved, supported, and understood. It is possible in many situations – especially that of a depressed husband – to begin to feel powerless, especially when our presence does not seem to be making a difference. In this and other situations, remember that your empathetic presence by itself can make a difference, and you must hold onto that when it seems otherwise. If your husband is struggling with depression, you may not know how to be that empathetic presence for him. On the other hand, you may wonder if what you are doing is making a difference. Hopefully, the words below will encourage you in your journey with your depressed husband. Supporting a Loved One with Depression Depression is a common mental health problem that afflicts people from all walks of life, all genders, cultures, and ethnic backgrounds. It can afflict those whom we may perceive as strong. It is often shocking for many wives to see their husbands bowed down by depression. As with any other condition or situation, one of the first ways you can function as a meaningful support is to understand what it is your husband is dealing with. Depression is a mood disorder that affects how a person feels, thinks, and functions in daily life. Something is going on not only in the person’s body but also in their mind and brain chemistry as well. Often, depression is signaled by feelings of intense sadness which last for weeks and months. It can be tempting to think that your depressed husband just needs to push through this and get to the other side. Depression requires treatment, and it does not [...]

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PTSD and Relationships: Coming Alongside Your Loved One with PTSD

PTSD and Relationships: Coming Alongside Your Loved One with PTSD

Bryan Ferguson, Kate Motaung2025-01-03T06:05:24+00:00January 3rd, 2025|Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues, Trauma|

We all experience feelings of anxiety occasionally; from low levels of stress to sometimes even crushing anxiety. These feelings can vary in intensity and duration and what triggers them will also differ from person to person. For some people, being called upon in class or during a work meeting is terrifying, while for others meeting new people or being in crowds can make them anxious. Therefore, anxiety can ebb and flow depending on circumstances. However, for some individuals, anxiety never lets up. There are times when a person’s anxiety is so bad that it impedes their day-to-day functioning, diminishing their sense of well-being. When anxiety is like this, you should consider visiting a health professional, who can help you understand the reasons for your anxiety and find skills to help you to better manage it. PTSD is one form of anxiety that can affect one’s relationships significantly and lessen your quality of life. The good news is that a trained therapist assist you in lessening the severity of these symptoms. PTSD and Its Causes Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental health condition that’s caused when a person witnesses or is involved in an extremely stressful or terrifying event that involves actual or threatened death. Sometimes, even when a person learns about such an event and is not directly involved, it could lead to PTSD, which is considered secondary trauma. PTSD can result from events like serious injury, sexual violence, war, physical assault, childhood abuse, traffic accidents, or being threatened with a weapon. It is not altogether clear why some people experience traumatic events and get PTSD, while others do not. At the root of PTSD, there may be a few possible causes, and some of these include the severity of trauma you’ve experienced in your life, your [...]

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How to Build Intimacy When You Have Trust Issues in a Relationship

How to Build Intimacy When You Have Trust Issues in a Relationship

Sarah Harris, Kate Motaung2024-12-20T05:37:08+00:00December 20th, 2024|Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues|

When two people are in a relationship with each other, they have the opportunity to open themselves up to each other and build up a history of fruitful and positive interactions. If you accumulate enough of these positive and fruitful interactions with a person, that usually allows you to continue being open to them, and avoid trust issues. Trusting other people with pieces of ourselves isn’t an easy thing. For one thing, not everyone is trustworthy, and it isn’t always easy to let other people into our inner world. If there are trust issues in a relationship, such as in a marriage, between friends, colleagues, or family members, it makes that situation difficult to navigate. But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. – 1 Corinthians 7:2–5 What causes trust issues in a relationship? But what lies at the root of trust issues in a relationship? Many possible causes can account for why trust never blossomed in a relationship, or why the trust that existed in a relationship has faltered or been lost and is now hard to recover. Emotional vulnerability with another person is a fragile thing, and so it can be both hard to form a bond of trust, and [...]

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