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10 Signs You Might Be a Highly Sensitive Person

10 Signs You Might Be a Highly Sensitive Person

Wade Van Staden2025-10-25T06:17:19+00:00October 27th, 2025|Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development|

Being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) means that your nervous system processes information more deeply and intensely than other people. This could be information that your brain gets through your five senses, but it also applies to the emotional experiences you go through. There is no official medical diagnosis for being highly sensitive. However, there is a collection of traits that most HSPs have in common. Ten Signs That You Might Be a Highly Sensitive Person 1. You might be a HSP if you often feel nervous and jumpy You might have been called “highly strung” or tense in the past since you tend to react strongly to physical touch and loud noises. Your nervous system is more finely tuned to a wider range of stimuli. This means that you respond and react to seemingly small things with reactions that might seem disproportionate. This is normal for you, though. 2. You might be an HSP if you have a low tolerance for pain, both physical and emotional Having a finely tuned nervous system means that you can derive both pain and pleasure from minor things. You might avoid getting your ears pierced or getting tattoos because you know that your pain tolerance is incredibly low. Similarly, medication and caffeine affect you more strongly than others. 3. You might be an HSP if you are deeply affected by visual media If you have ever cried over a commercial or felt deeply disturbed for days after seeing a single scene in a movie, you might be highly sensitive. You might feel embarrassed or ashamed to be so affected by something that didn’t affect others similarly, but this is what your nervous system does. It absorbs information and digests it painstakingly, providing an emotional experience that affects you. 4. You might be an [...]

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Is Counseling a Safe Space to Bare All My Secrets?

Is Counseling a Safe Space to Bare All My Secrets?

Mccartney Paul, Kate Motaung2025-10-22T06:28:07+00:00October 22nd, 2025|Featured, Individual Counseling, Men’s Issues, Personal Development|

In this day and age, with so many innovations, like virtual counseling, on the rise, many question if the joy of opening up in counseling is still safe and intact. We are all justified in wondering whether new methods like online therapy still provide that trusted sanctuary of face-to-face talk, where vulnerabilities are met with empathy and expertise. Now, let’s get into what makes today’s counseling climate challenging and reassuring at the same time for many people who share these questions. Why Traditional Counseling Was Always a Safe Space Traditional counseling has always been loved and respected because of its unique promise of an environment of trust and confidentiality. Counselors proudly adhered to strict ethical guidelines to keep your privacy intact while creating a therapeutic environment. It created a neutral zone, which allowed you to explore your feelings without fear of exposure. With increased knowledge related to the physiology of mental health over the years, this insight has helped clients gain immensely by making counseling an emotionally secure experience for all parties involved. Attachment dynamics and the traditional counselors’ grasp of how the mind and body connect and interlink helped this field grow and gain a reputation for being essential to overall well-being. If you speak to people who have received counseling throughout their lives, they will be quick to share the great joy and relief counseling has brought them. They loved that sense of solace in a space where active listening, empathy, and reflection thrived. They often laud the capacity they gained to lift burdens off their shoulders and make life’s challenges manageable. With this in mind, it is quite natural for some to wonder why, then the mental health fraternity has reinvented the wheel and incorporated new technologies into counseling. How Counseling Has Changed in the Digital [...]

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Bible Verses About Worry: Finding Support from Scripture When You’re Feeling Anxious

Bible Verses About Worry: Finding Support from Scripture When You’re Feeling Anxious

Ashlynn Barnette, Kate Motaung2025-10-16T06:44:15+00:00October 16th, 2025|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling, Spiritual Development|

Worry and anxiety have always been a part of the human condition. They were one of the first things Jesus addressed in his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:25-34). Paul and other New Testament writers referenced worry and anxiety throughout the epistles (Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Peter 5:7). Anxiety disorders have become extremely prevalent. Whether it is that diagnoses are becoming more common, the ever-present 24-hour news cycle, constant social media updates, doomscrolling, or other factors, anxiety is flourishing in today’s culture. In 2019, about 15% of U.S. adults reported having anxiety issues. By 2022, that number had risen to 18% (U.S. News & World Report). In 2024, 43% of Americans said they had higher anxiety than the year before. No matter the cause, it’s clear that anxiety rates are continuing to rise, and people are becoming more self-aware of their struggles. As Christians, we may wonder – what does the Bible say about worry? Does it address the human condition of anxiety? Some people say that worry is a sin, and this can make someone who struggles with chronic worrying, panic, or fear feel even more defeated than before. The truth is, it is possible for worry to be sinful. Sometimes worry signifies a lack of trust in God. Are we doubting His goodness? Do we have a lack of confidence in His faithfulness? Are we worrying because we feel that the cares of the world are on our shoulders instead of His? Do we struggle with unbelief? It’s important to remember, though, that pain, fear, worry, and anxiety are not just sins – they are part of our broken human condition because of the fall. At the same time, brokenness does not always equate to sin. Just think of the many ways our physical bodies can be broken [...]

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How to Make Friends If You Have Social Anxiety

How to Make Friends If You Have Social Anxiety

Mccartney Paul, Kate Motaung2025-09-24T06:43:56+00:00September 24th, 2025|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues|

Most people crave friendships. Even the most introverted among us has a certain degree of God given desire for social connection. God made us social creatures for a reason. He created Eve when He recognized Adam’s social need. God brought us back into fellowship with Him when He saw the sin-induced divide. So, having people in your life is important and necessary for fellowship, mission work, and overall life satisfaction. If you’re craving relationships, there are a lot of ways to find those social connections, even if you’re socially awkward or suffer from social anxiety. Even if you have a shy personality or have been criticized publicly. Even if toxic friendships have made you afraid to trust others again. And even if you’re at a stage in your life where you are physically unable to socialize in the ways you always have. Tips for Overcoming Social Anxiety Whatever the reason for your isolation, it can be difficult to reach out to others when your insides are a jumbled-up mess of nerves, doubt, fear, hurt, and self-doubt. But there is hope. You can overcome those obstacles that prevent authentic connections and live a whole, fulfilling social life. You can be a part of a dynamic duo or be a main character in a friend group. You can find people who will support you in your endeavors and cry with you in your defeats. But first, you might have to put in a little work to overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of those authentic and meaningful connections. Get therapy Therapy can help you not only understand but also untangle the things that are standing in the way of quality relationships in your life. Sometimes what you need is someone trained to walk with you through the fear, trauma, and [...]

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Perfectionism and the Fear of Failure

Perfectionism and the Fear of Failure

Caitlin Mallery2025-09-17T06:24:11+00:00September 17th, 2025|Anxiety, Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Professional Development|

In a society that often equates success with flawlessness, it’s easy to develop a crippling fear of failure. However, failure is not the enemy; it’s a stepping-stone to success. Every successful person has experienced failure at some point in their life. However, it is easy for this to lead to perfectionism. Dealing with Perfectionism and the Fear of Failure People learn, grow, and ultimately achieve their goals through failure. Embracing failure as a natural part of the learning process allows us to take risks, push our boundaries, and ultimately reach our full potential. Embrace a beginner’s mindset It’s okay to be a beginner. Everyone starts somewhere. The most successful people are willing to learn, grow, and adapt. Embracing a beginner’s mindset allows us to approach new challenges with curiosity and openness rather than fear and anxiety. Remember, every expert was once a beginner. One of the attitudes that beginners often have is curiosity. They are open to new ideas and trying out different possibilities. A fixed mindset is unwilling to try other things, while a curious mindset is open to many options when learning. Embrace the journey The process of learning and growing is just as valuable, if not more so, than the result. You develop resilience, perseverance, and a strong work ethic through the process. Focusing solely on the end result can lead to disappointment and frustration, while appreciating the journey allows you to find joy and fulfillment in pursuing your goals. If you are looking at arrival as the point, then you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Embrace God’s perfect gifts Perfectionists can easily become trapped in a mindset that God wants them to be perfect. This can lead to a troubling view of God, one with high expectations. God meets all people where they are, and [...]

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Training and Development in the Workplace: Why it’s Worth the Effort

Training and Development in the Workplace: Why it’s Worth the Effort

Marcia Deah, Kate Motaung2025-08-20T08:30:45+00:00August 20th, 2025|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Professional Development|

“‘Cause it’s a bittersweet symphony, that’s life. Tryna make ends meet, you’re a slave to money, then you die.” – The Verve The lyrics from this song couldn’t have been more authentic. How bittersweet it is to spend more than half of your life working just to make sure you are able to live. My philosophy is, if you are required to work to live and more than half of your life is spent on work, why not enjoy what you do? In some cases, that might be fairly easy depending on your career path. In other cases, work is not the greatest, and it is just a means for survival. This is why you, as a supervisor, hold an important responsibility to create and maintain a healthy working environment for your employees. The less rewarding or more stressful a job is, the more difficult it can be to show up and/or be mentally present day after day. Job satisfaction is a hard task, and even harder when you are not considerate of your employees. In my experience, I have witnessed the difference it makes when an employee has a supervisor who invests in them versus a supervisor who does not put in that effort or just tolerates them. Statistics also support that one key factor in retention is employee recognition. The question is, as the employer, how can you make your workplace environment a place where an employee wants to stay? Inevitably, people will get promoted. Also, people will quit or get terminated. That is just a part of the territory. However, there are things you can do as an employer to improve retention. Pour resources into your employees. It is cheaper to train and develop the staff you have than to hire new people. The first people [...]

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Why We Indulge in Emotional Eating Even When We’re Happy

Why We Indulge in Emotional Eating Even When We’re Happy

Grace Mavindidze2025-08-19T07:59:53+00:00August 19th, 2025|Eating Disorders, Featured, Individual Counseling|

It might come as a surprise, but emotional eating isn’t only tied to stress or sadness. There are times when life is great, and you’re celebrating something special, spending time with friends or family, or simply enjoying the moment, and often, food plays a big part. Food has a way of connecting us to our feelings, whether we’re feeling down or on top of the world. When we’re happy, we also unconsciously turn to food to make the good feelings last longer or to enjoy the moment even more. Many times, we’re left wondering why we ate so much, especially if it happens often enough to notice. So, why do we reach for food in an unhealthy way even when things are going well? Let’s look at the connection between happiness and emotional eating, how it sneaks up on us, and what we can do to keep things in balance while still enjoying life’s happy moments. Why Emotional Eating Isn’t Good, Even When We’re Happy Emotional eating tied to happiness might not seem harmful, but it’s still possible for it to cause serious problems if we’re not careful. Eating because we’re feeling good does lead to overeating sometimes, especially when we focus on keeping the joy going instead of listening to our hunger. Also, the foods we enjoy more in these emotional moments, like sugary treats or fatty snacks, if eaten excessively, contribute to weight gain or other health concerns. Relying on food in an unhealthy way when we’re happy has a way of distracting us from enjoying other ways of celebrating. Of course, eating in happy moments isn’t necessarily bad, but it’s important to find balance so that it doesn’t become a habit that replaces other rewarding experiences. Positive emotions disrupt our eating habits without us even realizing it [...]

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Signs of Social Anxiety to Look Out for in a Loved One

Signs of Social Anxiety to Look Out for in a Loved One

Mccartney Paul, Kate Motaung2025-08-14T06:55:17+00:00August 14th, 2025|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling|

More than anything, we want our loved ones to be happy. As well-placed as this intention can be, one challenge that can come up is that our definition of “happiness” and our loved one’s definition of happiness might not always align perfectly. This can be a source of conflict as two people who love each other try to navigate life together. Knowing your loved one’s struggles can put you in a position where you can stand in the gap for them, supporting them as they need it. With social anxiety, it’s important to know the signs of it, as well as how best to support your loved one if they are socially anxious. Just as there are helpful ways to be present and supportive, there are also unhelpful ones, and knowing the difference matters. The Signs of Social Anxiety People have feelings of anxiety in a variety of circumstances. Some people thrive in a setting with lots of people, engaging in conversation with strangers, or talking through ideas in a public forum like a meeting or classroom. For other people, these things are dreadful, in the literal sense. It takes enormous amounts of energy to be in those kinds of spaces, and once there, it’s a matter of hanging on until it’s all over. A person’s anxiety in social settings can become so severe that it begins to interfere with their daily functioning. At that point, it could be diagnosed as a social anxiety disorder by a mental health professional. Social anxiety disorder can make life – whether that’s hanging out with loved ones, going to work, doing your grocery shopping, or going to the doctor – hard. Anxiety has tell-tale signs, as it affects you physically, mentally, and emotionally. If your loved one has social anxiety, you may [...]

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Hoarding and Family Obligations

Hoarding and Family Obligations

Stephanie Kramer2025-07-29T11:02:49+00:00July 29th, 2025|Family Counseling, Featured, Relationship Issues|

Your eye can’t help but focus in on that orange vase your sister-in-law gave for your wedding. The bright color makes it a beacon to anyone who enters the family room. The glass glistens in the sunlight and casts a bright stream of orange across your otherwise neutral-colored living space. You grimace a little at the eyesore, resent your sister-in-law a little for thrusting her décor preferences on you, and feel a little guilty for feeling this way. This is only one example of how family obligation can result in the keeping of excessive possessions. But there are many more ways that family loyalty, or should I say forced obligation, can snowball into a problematic, cluttered environment. The Frog Story Therapists are privileged to walk alongside many families as they deal with death and ensuing grief. Even in these dark seasons, there are humorous moments, just like the story I am about to tell you. Patti sat across from her therapist as she unpacked the emotions surrounding her mother’s recent death. She spoke about cleaning out her mother’s home and how she and her siblings were being fair about dividing her possessions. “Everyone got the frog collectibles that they gave to mom returned to them,” she said. “Except for the frog toilet seat. No one wanted that,” she smiled. “Toilet seat in the shape of a frog?” her therapist asked, seeking clarity. “Yes,” she said with a smile. Patti went on to explain that her mother had an extensive frog collection that spanned every room of her house. “And the funny part is,” Patti continued, “my mom really didn’t like frogs.” Patti’s mom had received a frog figurine as a joke twenty years ago. Not knowing if the giver had been serious or if it was meant to be [...]

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When ADHD Interferes With Your Relationships

When ADHD Interferes With Your Relationships

Mccartney Paul, Kate Motaung2025-07-23T06:18:26+00:00July 23rd, 2025|ADHD/ADD, Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues|

Relationships are important. They are part of God’s plan. He made us social creatures. In Genesis, we find that God didn’t want Adam to be alone, so He created Eve. The Bible is full of stories of how God has provided people to do his work and to love His followers. So, when you long for relationships, it’s not unusual – it’s part of God’s plan. But if you have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (also known as ADHD), you may be struggling in your relationships. It’s one thing to desire deep, meaningful, and mutually beneficial relationships, and it’s a whole other thing to make and preserve them. ADHD Relationship Obstacles If you have ADHD, you’re probably already familiar with some of the obstacles that this disorder presents when it comes to interpersonal relationships. You’re probably acutely aware of the fact that you interrupt people when they’re talking or that you have a hard time focusing on a conversation. You probably cringe when you think about the time that you were pacing the floor acting disinterested in a conversation. But your mind and your body often follow the directions of ADHD rather than social norms. A romantic relationship adds a whole other layer of confusion and misunderstanding. You might be in a fully committed, loving relationship, ready to make a life together, but if your partner doesn’t understand your ADHD, you might not be perceiving the relationship in the same way. When you forget something they just said or lose track of the task that you promised to handle, it can feel to them like you’re careless or indifferent or even worse, that you simply don’t prioritize them or their needs. If they don’t understand that your brain works just a little differently, they may interpret your actions as lazy, [...]

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