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5 Good Boundaries to Draw With People Who Have Caused Trauma

5 Good Boundaries to Draw With People Who Have Caused Trauma

McCartney Paul, Kate Motaung2025-03-21T09:20:10+00:00March 10th, 2025|Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues, Trauma|

` One of the most critical aspects of our emotional freedom is to forgive those who have hurt us. This is especially true for people who have suffered trauma or abuse. A person with a traumatic past may need the help of forgiveness to move past it and thrive in their lives. However, just because a person has forgiven someone does not mean they need to give them access to their lives. Good Boundaries to Draw With Causers of Trauma Boundaries help people limit access to interaction with them and what they can know about them. A person who wants to protect themselves from suffering trauma again needs to draw proper boundaries with that person. Here are five good boundaries to draw with people who have caused trauma: Time Boundaries Limit the amount of time you spend with a person. If you see that person regularly, limiting the time you spend talking with that person is essential. A person who has subjected you to trauma and is not repentant may quickly come back to that topic and cause you pain and harm by denying the behavior even existed. This can re-trigger the pain you are trying to get past. Furthermore, a person who has subjected you to trauma wants to know more about you. By spending more time with you, they can learn more details about your life. Draw a reasonable time boundary and limit their time with you or your loved ones. Plano Christian Counseling can help you set healthy boundaries and find healing from past trauma. Space Boundaries Similarly, limit or restrict their ability to get close to you. A person who is close to you in proximity can try to hug you or, even worse, abuse you. To protect yourself, you need to draw a space [...]

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Common Questions When Dealing with Grief and the Holidays

Common Questions When Dealing with Grief and the Holidays

Bryan Ferguson, Kate Motaung2025-03-21T09:23:16+00:00March 7th, 2025|Family Counseling, Featured, Grief Counseling, Individual Counseling, Trauma|

The holidays, like grief, are a mixed bag of unpredictable events and the emotions that grow from them. Put dealing with grief and important holidays like Christmas together and you have the recipe for a tumultuous and volatile storm of emotions. Throw in the pressure of expectations, family dynamics, financial obligations, dreary weather, and even more and you have a season that can be anything but merry and bright. If you’re struggling this holiday season, you’re not alone. There are a variety of reasons why people struggle during the Christmas season and grieving a lost loved one is often a trigger. So much of the holidays are built on family and friends and love and tradition and when something interrupts those relational bonds, the loss can be significant. So where do you go from here? Tips for Dealing with Grief During the Holidays Here are some ideas on how to make you feel a little merrier this holiday season, even in the midst of your grief. Be Realistic: Understand that the holidays are tough for everyone, especially those who are missing someone special, so be kind to yourself, as you would be kind to others. Know that your experience will be different in those first few years without your loved one. Plano Christian Counseling offers compassionate support to help you navigate grief and find comfort during the holiday season. It’s impossible to recreate your special moments and duplicate your memories when a key person is missing. Accept this reality as fact and you will have less stress. Instead, focus on moving forward and creating new memorable moments. Keep Expectations In Check: You may be used to an amazing home-cooked dinner and a tree surrounded by gifts from loved ones. That was certainly a nice memory, but it doesn’t have [...]

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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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How to Cultivate a Positive Body Image In Our Social Media Age

How to Cultivate a Positive Body Image In Our Social Media Age

Sarah Harris, Kate Motaung2025-03-22T05:54:38+00:00February 27th, 2025|Christian Counseling For Teens, Featured, Individual Counseling, Women’s Issues|

Some people are comfortable with who they are, especially when it comes to their bodies. When you gaze at yourself in the mirror, do you like what you see? As winter draws to a close and the summer months set in, do you feel comfortable as you shed those heavy coats and snow boots for t-shirts, shorts, and pool/beach wear? If there’s a camera around, do you feel comfortable and confident to have your picture taken? Our bodies are always with us, and we can have a positive relationship with them or we can have a negative relationship. What shapes our relationship with our bodies, and can it have a negative effect on our overall well-being? Understanding issues about body image is important, particularly when we are constantly bombarded with images that keep us hyperaware and hyper-focused on the bodies of others as well as our own. Definitions The American Psychological Association (APA) describes body image as the mental picture a person forms of their body as a whole, including its physical characteristics and one’s attitudes toward these characteristics. Your body image is how you see your body, how you feel about your body, and the thoughts that come to mind when you’re considering your body. Plano Christian Counseling offers faith-based guidance to help individuals develop a healthy and positive body image. You could also say that your body image is the self-talk that you engage in about your body, a sort of ongoing dialogue with yourself. This complex dialogue can also include other people, as you express your feelings and perceptions about your bodies with other people such as your friends or even a stranger helping you find the right size of an article of clothing. We all have thoughts about our bodies and feelings we associate with [...]

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Self-Forgiveness: Learning How to Forgive Yourself and Why It’s Important

Self-Forgiveness: Learning How to Forgive Yourself and Why It’s Important

Ashlynn Barnette, Kate Motaung2025-03-22T06:01:59+00:00February 25th, 2025|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Spiritual Development|

Ever find it hard to forgive yourself? Or asked how to forgive yourself? You are not alone. Forgiveness itself can be a difficult task. Even the band Chicago devoted a whole song about it Hard To Say I’m Sorry. Self-forgiveness can seem impossible and hopeless but when achieved it produces healing and freedom. The inability to forgive yourself can cause some significant issues. Shame Shame is the reason why forgiving yourself can seem impossible. Behind shame is a negative core belief of “I am bad.” A negative core belief is something that we believe to be true but is not. Walking around with this belief can lead to feelings of insecurity and behaviors that go along with it. Plano Christian Counseling can help you break free from shame, embrace self-forgiveness, and find healing through faith-based support. It can be difficult to recognize when shame is tainting your view, but damaging, nonetheless. Shame says “You don’t deserve forgiveness.” or “You are not worthy of forgiveness.” These thoughts from shame can cause you to feel stuck. Imagine shame as a dark prison cell – dark because shame festers and grows in darkness. Darkness allows for secrecy so others will not learn the lie that shame has told you (“You are bad.”) Shame festers in this darkness by convincing you “Oh if he/she only knew…” which causes you to feel isolated. The prison cell bars are the lies shame tells you that keep you locked in. Walking aimlessly, desperately searching for a way out of pitch-black darkness. So how can you overcome shame and free yourself from the dark prison cell? First, we need some light. Humbly ask the Light of the World, Jesus, into your cell (1 John 1:5). Don’t feel hesitant, because the truth is He already knows. Ask Him [...]

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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 Motaung2025-03-22T06:28:26+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. Plano Christian Counseling can help individuals build confidence and develop effective communication skills through faith-based guidance and support. 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 [...]

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Lifespan Integration Therapy in Plano, TX

Lifespan Integration Therapy in Plano, TX

Sandra Stein2025-03-22T06:48:42+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. Plano Christian Counseling offers faith-based support and guidance for those seeking healing through Lifespan Integration Therapy. 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 [...]

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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 Lazurek2025-03-22T06:50:51+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. Plano Christian Counseling provides faith-based guidance and support to help parents nurture their child’s emotional well-being. 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 [...]

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Natural Anxiety Relief in Plano, Texas

Natural Anxiety Relief in Plano, Texas

Caitlin Mallery2025-03-22T06:57:04+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. Plano Christian Counseling offers faith-based support to help individuals manage anxiety and find peace in the present moment. 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 [...]

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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 Motaung2025-03-27T18:28:21+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. Plano Christian Counseling offers faith-based guidance to help individuals create and achieve their personal development goals. 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 [...]

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