Blog Category: Faith
Support & Inclusion Of Disadvantaged Children
Despite this great nation’s wealth and sustained economic growth, sadly in Australia there are children living in poverty and disadvantage. Research results showed confronting statistics that were presented to the Australian Government in the ACOSS report. The ACOSS Report showed: In Australia 1 in 6 children under 15 years of age are living in poverty…
How To Teach Kids that Boredom isn’t Boring
In Shauna Gallagher’s blog, ‘Boredom Isn’t Boring’ she gives some really good advice for equipping parents with tools for helping kids become productive when boredom strikes. How many times have you heard the words (in a whiney voice), “I’m bored” or “There’s nothing to do”? Those words can become our most dreaded words to hear…
Advice For Helping A Loved One With Depression
Mental health nurse, Shauna Gallagher gives advice for someone who wants to help a loved one who is suffering from depression. Many of you reading this won’t have a diagnosis of depression but will be wondering what you can do to help a loved one who does. You may even have been trying for many…
The Typical Counselling Room A Safe Place To Talk
Seeing a qualified counsellor for the first time without knowing what to expect can make us a little nervous. Lack of knowledge can also lead to misconceptions about counsellors, leading some to shun the counselling room for fear of judgement, or for concerns about breaches of confidentiality. What do trained counsellors do, what happens in…
Are You Ok Dragging Those Burdens Around?
The tendency to hide our vulnerabilities when we’ve been emotionally wounded is instinctive for most of us. As an emotional teen, I thought crying was a sign of weakness. There was a time when a stranger spotted me crying. She asked, “Are you ok?” What a shock!
The Epic Fails Of 5 Prominent Bible Characters
When we make mistakes we shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves. Some mistakes can be avoided by being careful as we are never fully emotionally prepared to face the consequences following bad decisions. The consequences of our actions or our inaction can lead to pain, loss and brokenness or even death. Despite all of that we…
Counselling – A Healing Journey of Connection
Seeking counselling help doesn’t mean we no longer believe in Christ and the healing power of God. Many Christians interpret seeking help from external sources as “not having enough faith.” However, equipping ourselves and the church with knowledge is an act of grace for the relief of those needing emotional support. Knowledge can save lives. Hosea…
Effective Communication For Conflict Resolution
Communication skills can be used for building up relationships rather than tearing them down with our; anger, words and actions. Effective communication requires; respect, grace, empathy, active listening for adding value to the person being heard. The list below has a few dos and don’ts of effective communication for conflict resolution. WAIT FOR THE RIGHT…
13 Tips For Resolving Family Feuds
Do you miss out on family birthdays? Do you turn away and cringe when you see that family member on the other side of the room or do you avoid being where they are altogether? Is your family split in two because of disagreements? Or are you simply just not talking to someone in your…
How I Defeated My Post-Natal Depression
When Hayley Solich suffered a bout of Post-Natal Depression (PND) after giving birth to her youngest child, she was a married 37 year old Christian woman with 4 children under the age of five. As a mother Hayley put all her efforts into an extremely busy life, taking care of her new business and the…
How A Lack Of Counselling Training Is Hurting The Church
Many of us feel a strong pull towards comforting those who are experiencing emotional turmoil. Even if we have a natural knack for counselling others, our empathy and listening skills might need fine tuning to help us reach a higher standard of counselling.
The Five Stages of Grief – A Journey
“Grief is the response to the loss of any significant object or person in our lives. The process of grief follows such losses as death, divorce, other broken relationships, financial loss, lost job, amputation, loss of health, ageing, and abandonment of significant life goals or dreams. It also includes the many subtle losses that affect…
Helping Families Break Free From Addiction & Co-dependency
Addiction and co-dependency in families are all too common. The Co-dependent becomes the enabler in the relationship in support of the addict.
Marriage in Crisis
Men and Women are very different as if from two different planets. Unresolved issues can lead to major conflict and crisis within the marriage. Below is some sound advice on what we can do to get our marriage back on track. Common Roots In order to resolve any crisis in your marriage, you must examine…
7 Different Types of Depression
All the various types of depression mostly share symptoms in common like; sadness, low mood & lack of interest in usual activities. However, the symptoms of depression can vary from one person to the next.
Give God Thanks in Everything
As a mother, Annette Spurr's heart was breaking for her son Jack who had just been in a serious accident. The toddler was just under two years of age when he fell fracturing his eye socket. How could a mother possibly be thankful in this situation?
When To Stop Talking To The Dog & Get Counselling
Taking care of pets can be therapeutic, but in no way should that replace the need to open up to someone about our problems. As a child I felt a great sense of relief after talking to my dog about my woes. He was a great listener. He didn’t answer back, he didn’t judge me,…
You Know You’re a Christian Mother When…
… even before conception you begin to pray for your unborn child knowing they are your gift from God. … when you’re nursing your newborn baby and you’re in awe of the creator with growing love for your child. …you go without sleep during those two hourly nappy changes and middle of the night baby…
Fearful Hesitant Responses In Decision Making
Making decisions can be difficult at the best of times, particularly where emotions or fear is involved. Making a decision can result in hesitant responses by answering questions with, “Maybe”, “I’ll look at my calendar” or “I’ll get back to you on that?” Quite often these verbal stop signs are used evasively for avoiding situations…
How To Find Contentment & Happiness As A Wife
Many women struggle to find happiness and contentment in their marriage or in their role as a wife. Some find themselves waiting for a man to change or they wait for circumstances in their lives to change. The truth is that there isn’t perfection to be found in another human being. However, when we shift…
How I Found God To Be A Mother To The Motherless
In ‘ ‘How I Found God To Be A Mother To The Motherless‘ Amy Simpson describes how she lost her mother to schizophrenia when she was only 14 years old and how in the journey to follow, she discovered that God is also a mother to the motherless. When I was 14, I lost my mother.…
The Journey Towards Self Awareness
Self-awareness plays a key role in building good relationships by allowing us to know our strengths, our weaknesses, what we like, what we dislike and where our boundaries are. Self-awareness also enables us to relate to others. In the ‘The Journey Towards Self Awareness‘ author Ben Dainton carefully maps out a time where he experienced…
Change Negative Thinking Patterns That Ruin Your Life
Change negative thinking patterns and self talk that can ruin your life. Learn how to change those inner slogans that you repeat to yourself.
4 Keys To Lasting Inner Joy That Comes From God
Most people believe that happiness comes from owning things like a car, a bike and a having the job they’ve always wanted. In which case happiness can also be considered a fleeting moment. Lasting inner Joy on the other hand comes from within. According to the bible real joy is something that nobody can steal…
