Blog Category: Wellbeing
The Two Reasons we Hide from Love
For a variety of reasons, most of us live two lives: an external life and an internal life.
A Lament for Overthinkers Everywhere
Many of us struggle with habitual feelings of guilt and shame, worried that we are not doing, earning or being enough.
Reflections on Learning in Wartimes – Part 1
Friends, in 1939, during WWII, C.S. Lewis wrote Learning in Wartime. If you haven’t read it yet, I encourage you to do so. You can access it here. C.S. Lewis’ words are wise words indeed and have much to say to us here and now. And, whilst we are not in a war per se…
Reflections on Learning in Wartimes – Part 2
We look into the seven things you can put in place in your situation to optimise your learning and growth.
Siblings, Snacks and Social Media
Here are some helpful tips to help you deal with three of the most common issues reported by parents under pressure: sibling rivalry, food habits, and how to safely manage technology use.
5 Ideas to Foster Gratitude
It’s amazing how much happier a home is when it is filled with gratefulness. And whether it’s called gratefulness of thankfulness, its presence in the home and in our individual hearts is a choice – even during lockdown! The reality is that despite our challenging circumstances, we have so much to be grateful for. When…
Relationships Under Pressure
Whether you’re single, married, in a relationship, young, or not-so-young, chances are your relational world is under pressure as a result of the pandemic and the various levels of social distancing measures. So how do we navigate the next few months in ways that normalise the relationship struggles and equip us to redeem this time in the best way possible?
Reaching up, down, in and around
Franekel and Cho’s four-part framework can help couples and families cope in isolation and lockdown, and help mitigate the negative effects on our relationships.
Finances Under Pressure
Due to COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions, many of us may have experienced a reduction in our household income over the last 18 months. Like a lot of other parts of life, our finances are under pressure, with counsellors telling us they are fielding callers to financial support and related mental health services - many for the first time. The following tips can help us cope and provide important perspective.
Faith Under Pressure: Where Are You Looking?
Where can we turn to? Where can we look during times when we are being bombarded relentlessly, it seems. I'd like to suggest three places to look, if you will, all drawn from God’s Word that will hopefully enable us to move forward even when our faith is under pressure.
The Story of Tim
These are stressful times, and different brains respond in different ways. What exactly is happening here when social anxiety kicks in?
5 tips to manage your Anxiety
Those of us who have a tendency to worry know what it’s like to feel constantly in fight or flight battle mode. It can leave us feeling exhausted. Here are 5 tips to help keep a check on your anxiety and manage it in ways that have been found to work.
The shortest Psalm and the greatest wisdom
Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible: just two verses, approximately thirty words. The message is powerful, especially for those who struggle with worry and anxiety. Here’s four take-away points from it.
Investing in Self-Care: Nurturing Wellbeing in Crisis Situations
In times of crisis and uncertainty, it is crucial to prioritise our wellbeing and practise self-care. Faith and spirituality offer a sense of stability and security in God’s love and plan, empowering us to make wise choices that contribute to our overall wellbeing. Understanding faith can ground us as we navigate the challenges of managing…
How Christian Counselling Skills Can Benefit You in Your Vocation
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Cor 10:31, NIV) Adding a counselling qualification to your current skills opens up many career opportunities and specialisations, enriching your professional prospects in numerous ways. Here’s an in-depth exploration of the benefits and possibilities this enhancement…
Nurturing Mental and Emotional Wellbeing
In the tapestry of life, mental health forms an integral thread, weaving through our thoughts, emotions, and actions. It’s a journey that many navigate, sometimes encountering rocky terrains and stormy weather. In these moments of struggle, the guidance of a compassionate professional Christian Counsellor can illuminate the path towards healing and emotional balance. This blog…
Building Resilience: Strategies for Coping with Life’s Challenges
Life is full of ups and downs, twists and turns, and adversity. We all face challenges, but the key to overcoming them lies in our resilience and capacity to bounce back from tough times. It’s not about having some inborn gift; resilience is a skill we can nurture and build. Proverbs 24:16, For though the…
Exploring the link between Diet and Mental Health
Maintaining a healthy diet is beneficial for both your body and mind. Stress and depression are often the first things that come to mind when we think about mental health, but diet also plays a role. For optimal function, our brain need the correct nutrition. These nutrients aid in the synthesis of neurotransmitters, which are…
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…
Hurting Yet Hungry: A Generation Awakening to Hope and Meaning
We live in a world aching under the weight of uncertainty. Finances are tight, relationships are strained, and the future feels more fragile than ever. From the rising cost of living to the growing mental health crisis, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Many are quietly struggling—hurting behind closed doors. And yet, amidst the ache, something…
Australia’s Spiritual Shift and the Rising Demand for Christian Counsellors
Australia is undergoing a profound transformation in its spiritual and mental health landscape. Recent studies by McCrindle Research and Mission Australia highlight a nation grappling with increasing mental health challenges amidst a shifting spiritual identity. This evolving context underscores the growing need for Christian counsellors who can integrate faith-based perspectives into mental health support. The…
Do You Want to Get Well?
As we continue our exploration of John 5 and Jesus’ miraculous interaction with a man at the pool of Bethesda, we encounter a profound question: “Do you want to get well?” This seemingly simple question posed by Jesus holds deep significance, not just for the man who had been invalid for 38 years, but for…
You are the Solution to the Connection Crisis
You are the Solution to the Connection Crisis A good question can reframe a conversation, cause us to think differently, and even change the course of a life. Jesus asked many questions. One such life-changing question was asked of the man at the Bethesda pool. We read in John 5:6 that Jesus asked, “Do you…
Why Vocational Education Matters—Especially for Counsellors
As demand for mental health support continues to rise, how we train counsellors has never been more critical. At aifc, we believe the most powerful learning happens when theory meets practice, when students don’t just learn about counselling, but become counsellors through doing. That’s the heart of vocational education and training (VET). Counselling is not…
