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Are You Ready to Date Again?

Are You Ready to Date Again?

Kate Motaung2025-04-09T07:17:21+00:00December 7th, 2022|Featured, Individual Counseling, Premarital Counseling, Relationship Issues|

It is not always easy to determine when you are ready to date again, particularly after a breakup or after spending a lot of time by yourself. If you are thinking about dating, consider thinking about some important things first. Some signs that you are ready are when you have personal passions and hobbies, when you have identified your goals and values, and when you have reflected on previous relationships. If you spend a lot of time talking about or thinking about your ex, or if you use dates as an escape from feeling lonely, you may have more work to do. Seeking guidance from a counselor at Flower Mound Christian Counseling can help you process these feelings and work through any unresolved issues. According to Victoria Goldenberg, a therapist and member of the media advisory group at the Hope for Depression Research Foundation, reflecting on your personal growth and previous relationships can help you gauge your ability to foster new and healthy connections with other singles. Goldenberg shared this insight with Insider. Signs that You are Ready to Date Again Keep an eye out for these signs to determine whether or not you are physically, mentally, and emotionally ready to date again. You may be ready to date if you are an individual with your own circle of friends and pursuits. According to Goldenberg, ensuring that you have a distinct sense of who you are will position you for a successful dating experience. This is regardless of how long you’ve been single or how recently you ended a previous romantic commitment. It is a good indicator that you are prepared to meet someone new if you can name several interests and activities that you pursue to provide yourself pleasure and satisfaction. It’s not healthy for a person [...]

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How to Become an Active Listener

How to Become an Active Listener

Joanna Kucherera2025-04-09T07:12:37+00:00November 18th, 2022|Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Relationship Issues|

As adults, we spend most of each day communicating, and 55% of this communication consists of listening and observing. We listen to gain information, we listen to understand, and we listen for enjoyment. Some people tend to be on the quieter side, talking less and being more observant of details like body language and people’s moods, making one a good active listener. Others, who are more talkative and less aware of details, make only decent listeners, but not good active listeners. However, with practice, both types can become better active listeners. Hearing or listening? The difference between listening and hearing is focus and intentionality. A person may relay information to us and, without trying at all, we will register the facts of the information and little else. This is hearing. We may only be hearing when it comes to instances like a child talking about their day at school, a teacher conducting a dull lesson, or a colleague sharing information you have already heard. We might call this “skim listening” or “scan listening,” meaning that we are simply listening for information and no other details. Active listening is when we pay careful attention to all that is being communicated to us, both verbally and non-verbally. Not only do we take in and understand what is being said, but we discern what remains unsaid, and we respond to, reflect and react appropriately to the communication. This makes the speaker feel valued, seen, heard, and understood. It takes practice and patience to become a good active listener. It begins with being intentional about absorbing as much information from the communication as possible. Working at developing and improving active listening can greatly impact our parenting, our relationships, and even our career. If you're looking to improve your active listening skills, a counselor [...]

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Implementing Stress Management Techniques

Implementing Stress Management Techniques

Melissa Plantz2025-04-09T07:09:31+00:00September 27th, 2022|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development|

Stress is unavoidable. Sometimes we stretch ourselves too thin with too much work and too little time. Or we are saddled with responsibilities and not enough help. Other times, trauma or natural disaster makes life seem almost unbearable. Stress is a fact of life. But you can decrease the effects of stress by practicing a few stress management techniques. If you're finding stress difficult to manage, seeking support from professionals at Flower Mound Christian Counseling can help guide you toward healthier coping strategies. Ideas for Implementing Stress Management Techniques Stress management techniques do not have to be complex. You can try as many or as few as you would like, but try to incorporate the activities into your daily routine, if possible. You want to decrease your stress, not add to it. If the list seems daunting, try adding just one activity for a week. If you notice a difference, add a new technique the following week. Avoid Alcohol and Chemical Substances Overconsumption of alcohol and using chemical substances can make stress worse. These addictions can also make you physically ill and exacerbate mental conditions like anxiety and depression. If you struggle with addiction, begin cutting back on your alcohol consumption and seek treatment for it and chemical dependence. The sooner you move away from these two vices, the better your overall health. Manage a Sleep Routine Insufficient sleep can leave you tired, irritable, and unable to handle stress. Stress can also interfere with rest causing sleep disturbances such as insomnia, nightmares, and the inability to fall back to sleep if awakened during the night. Winding down in the evening tells your brain that it is time to prepare for bed. Create a bedtime routine to signal that it is time to relax. Stop work earlier in the evening. [...]

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Scriptures On Forgiveness: What Does the Bible Say?

Scriptures On Forgiveness: What Does the Bible Say?

Sandra Stein2025-04-12T06:39:28+00:00September 14th, 2022|Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues, Spiritual Development|

Looking for Scriptures on forgiveness? Here are several Bible verses about how to forgive and what to do when you're battling with unforgiveness. When you have been hurt and the pain is deep, forgiveness may seem impossible, but living with bitterness and resentment in your heart can poison your soul and destroy you. It will hurt you far more than the other person, who may not even realize he or she has upset you. Not forgiving is like drinking rat poison and then waiting for the rat to die. – Anne Lamott If unforgiveness is something you struggle with, this article is for you. It contains key Scriptures on forgiveness that can serve as a guide. The Bible exhorts us to forgive others just as we have been forgiven through the blood Jesus shed for us on the cross. No matter what our transgressions may have been, God is always willing to forgive us when we repent and turn to Him. He commands us to extend this same grace to those who have offended us as well. Forgiveness is a choice. It is something you will yourself to do in obedience to God. This does not mean you are condoning what the person did, but you are letting go of the grip his or her offense has on you and releasing him or her to God. Forgiveness has the power to transform anger and hurt into healing and peace and to set you free to move forward with your own life. Flower Mound Christian Counseling supports this journey toward healing and peace. What do the Scriptures on forgiveness say? We are all in need of forgiveness. All of us have been born into sin, eternally separated from God, but God is merciful and willing to forgive us when we [...]

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5 Tips for Personal Development

5 Tips for Personal Development

Kate Motaung2025-04-12T06:34:02+00:00September 3rd, 2022|Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Spiritual Development|

Do you have goals for personal development? Any time of the year is a good time to make a fresh start on your personal development goals. You can use these five tips to improve your outlook, your focus, and your skills. These tips are practical and will make a big difference even though they don't take much time to implement. You can make good changes in your daily routines as you use these tips to inspire you. Mindfulness for personal development A fast-paced lifestyle keeps many of us focusing on what's most important. If you are a high achiever, you have many responsibilities on your plate. It may be easy to get caught up in these projects yet feel drained at the end of the day. If you always feel like you need to catch a breath from the fast pace of your life, mindfulness is a great way to do this, and Flower Mound Christian Counseling can help guide you in practicing mindfulness for better balance and peace. Mindfulness is an excellent way for Christians to boost their personal development in all kinds of areas. Research has proven that mindfulness improves concentration, lowers stress levels, encourages mental and physical health, and is a catalyst for spiritual growth. Only a few minutes of mindfulness each day can have a big impact on your peace level. To grow more mindful, you simply need to pay attention to what your five senses are taking in. Take a few moments to mentally record what you see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. Slow down while you are doing your daily devotions and Bible reading to bring extra layers of concentration to your spiritual experience. As you contemplate each sensation, thank God for giving you the ability to enjoy and appreciate his creation through [...]

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6 Reasons You Feel Like You Are Getting Old

6 Reasons You Feel Like You Are Getting Old

Brooke Turbyfill2025-04-12T06:30:03+00:00July 25th, 2022|Aging and Geriatric Issues, Featured, Individual Counseling|

While everyone ages at different rates, one thing all humanity shares is the fact that getting old is normal. We may put attractive labels on it, such as aging gracefully or advancing in years, but the truth is that there are multiple reasons you are getting old. Some of them may be associated with the reasons you feel you are getting old, and some may not. Genetics can play a huge role in your ability to feel like you are getting old or not, and Flower Mound Christian Counseling can support you in navigating these feelings. 6 Reasons You May Feel Like You're Getting Old Nonetheless, here are six reasons you may feel like you are getting old: Your skin has less color in it than it did a few years ago. When you notice a paler skin tone than what you’re used to, this can be an early sign of the aging process. Similarly, rough, blotchy skin can be a symptom of aging. Paying attention to the appearance of your skin can, over time, warn you that aging is imminent. Your heart rate doesn’t increase as much as it did when you exercise. If you were an athlete or just an active person, you’ve probably monitored your heart rate at times. This can be surprising if you’re used to having a higher beat-per-minute and it’s suddenly much lower. The heart rate struggles to “kick in,” which in some, may contribute to the early onset of diseases such as hypertension or diabetes if left unchecked. You’re getting injured more often, or you find yourself with aches and pains that you didn’t use to have. These are common symptoms of getting old. We think we can do what we did when we were in our twenties or thirties, but as [...]

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Bible Verses About Grief: Encouragement to Endure and Find Comfort

Bible Verses About Grief: Encouragement to Endure and Find Comfort

Kate Motaung2025-04-12T06:19:32+00:00July 21st, 2022|Featured, Grief Counseling, Individual Counseling, Spiritual Development|

Loss is part of life, but simply knowing so doesn't make it any easier. The death of loved ones often puts a strain on those left behind and at times it can feel like the pain never ends. For Christians, an important part of healing from grief is derived from Scripture. Consider the following Bible verses about grief to help you endure. Whether for private reading and reflection or as a message to put on a condolence note, the Bible has many meaningful verses to comfort those who are experiencing grief, and Flower Mound Christian Counseling can help guide individuals to these sources of comfort. And we want to help you by providing you with a list of some of the most powerful Bible verses about grief and loss. If faith is a big part of your life, or the life of your loved one, turning to the Bible’s timeless wisdom can significantly help with the healing process. Biblical verses have been used for millennia as a way of making sense of a tragedy and ultimately helping to heal. Highlighting encouraging verses, discussing comforting Scripture with loved ones, or otherwise getting involved in one’s faith-based practices can be a healthy way of mourning and showing sympathy. Grieving can be the most difficult time for people. Trying to balance the feelings of pain and loss as you go about your daily life. Give yourself space and time, be honest with your emotions, and don't just grieve and don't lose hope. With this collection of Bible verses about grief, you can turn to the Scriptures for ease and comfort as we look to overcome pain. Bible Verses About Grief Do you need some calming words right now? Here are some verses that will help put your troubles and tribulations into perspective. [...]

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How to Deal with Loneliness: Causes and Coping Strategies

How to Deal with Loneliness: Causes and Coping Strategies

Joanna Kucherera2025-05-14T08:15:03+00:00July 13th, 2022|Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development|

Everyone needs social connection and fulfilling friendships, whether they are aware of it or not. We desire to be seen, understood, and appreciated for who we are. When those needs are not met, we may feel distressed and uneasy. This uncomfortable feeling is loneliness. Loneliness can be experienced on a spectrum of intensity, from occasional and mild to chronic and debilitating. No one is immune from experiencing loneliness, including married people, partnered people, and children. Flower Mound Christian Counseling offers support and guidance for those navigating these feelings. Before 2020, loneliness was so prevalent across the United States, Asia, and the United Kingdom that it was already labeled a “behavioral epidemic.” In the post-pandemic world, the number of people experiencing loneliness has only climbed. Loneliness has been linked to an array of health issues, including heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, arthritis, increased production of stress hormones, poor sleep patterns, and weakened immune systems. This may not be an easy topic for people to tackle. In the case of a lonely spouse, there may be shame and even guilt in admitting to feelings of loneliness. However, before we can determine how to cope with loneliness, it is important to understand where it stems from in your life, and how it manifests. Causes of Loneliness Research into the topic, such as the UCLA Loneliness Scale, looks at various aspects of a person’s life, to what degree they feel left out or included, how “in tune” they feel with those around them (including their spouse or romantic partner and family), and whether they feel that they have at least one person they can turn to in times of strife Among the adult population aged between twenty-two and thirty-five, the majority who experience loneliness are the unemployed and those of a lower income [...]

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Scriptures about Worry to Help You Find Peace in God

Scriptures about Worry to Help You Find Peace in God

Kate Motaung2025-04-03T17:55:38+00:00July 7th, 2022|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling, Spiritual Development|

What is worry? Our English word “worry” comes from an old word that means “to strangle,” and worry certainly does strangle people physically mentally, and spiritually. There are many Scriptures about worry. In the Bible, the term translated “be careful” or “be anxious” comes from a root meaning “to be torn apart.” Worry comes when the thoughts in our minds and feelings in our hearts pull in different directions and tear us apart. The mind thinks about problems and this feeds additional feelings into the heart, and there is a vicious cycle set up that tears the person apart. With the mind, we know we should not fret; but with the heart, we cannot help ourselves. If you're struggling with these overwhelming feelings, Flower Mound Christian Counseling can help guide you through this cycle with Biblical wisdom and professional support. But what if these problems are more than the late bills? More than a missed appointment. More than a flat tire. What if it’s more? More on top of more!! What if it’s a sickbed? The death of a loved one? An affair? There are many Scriptures about worry. Consider how God comforts His people with the book of Joshua and his story. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 God had buried His workman, but His work had to go on. Israel had just finished mourning for Moses and now God speaks to Joshua concerning his responsibilities as the new leader of the nation. What a tall order, right? Can you imagine following in Moses’ steps to fill his shoes? All this time Joshua no doubt missed and mourned his friend. His confidant. [...]

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Fighting that Feeling: What to Do When You Feel Depressed

Fighting that Feeling: What to Do When You Feel Depressed

Melissa Plantz2025-04-03T17:50:14+00:00June 22nd, 2022|Depression, Featured, Individual Counseling|

The “blues” hit everyone at one time or another. However, pervading sadness can lead to depression. Depression is a mental health condition that is treatable with professional help. But you can work at lifting your mood when you feel depressed and changing your emotional state. God did not intend for you to live defeated and discouraged, let alone depressed. If you are struggling with these feelings, Flower Mound Christian Counseling can offer support and guidance to help you find healing and restore your emotional well-being. Do You Feel Depressed? What are the symptoms of depression? A deep, persistent sadness Feeling worthless or as if the world would be better without you Sleeping too much or having trouble sleeping Rapid weight changes Appetite changes A negative outlook on life Thoughts of harming yourself, self-harm Fatigue or little energy Loss of interest in hobbies and things you enjoyed Trouble concentrating or focusing on tasks Anger or irritability Unexplained physical ailments like headaches and stomachaches Thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts If you are having thoughts of suicide, reach out for help today. It is not too late to reverse the effects of depression and get your life back. How to Pull Yourself Out of Depression Depression can rear its ugly head from any number of causes. You might be depressed from trauma, neglect, circumstances, guilt, shame, chemical imbalance, or something else entirely. Sometimes it can feel difficult to beat. You might not want to get out of bed. You no longer feel any interest in the things you once loved. Nothing seems worth the effort. Depression is a liar. It tries to overshadow our joy. The following are some tips you can use today when you feel depressed: Get Outdoors Researchers are confirming what many of us have known for a [...]

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