I'm guessing that you've heard of a counselor. Have you heard of a "life coach"? This is a newer side of the mental health profession, and it is one that iHope is excited to be expanding into during 2021. There are certainly overlaps between counseling and coaching, but there are some important differences. What's similar? … Continue reading How are coaching and counseling different?
Perhaps it’s a friend. Perhaps it’s someone at your school, your church, your workplace. Perhaps it’s a family member. Many people deal with suicidal thoughts, and if we are worried about someone, we need to try to help. And you can help. No training needed. No special counseling degree required. You can help someone who … Continue reading How to help someone who is thinking about suicide
I really enjoy the feeling of nostalgia. It has a sweet sadness to it, bringing up wonderful memories from the past that I would love to revisit if I could. But when a sight, a smell, or a situation suddenly transports us back to a difficult or traumatic time in our past, the feeling is … Continue reading Handling traumatic memories
It’s the classic symptom of “craziness.” We’ve all stood in line behind the guy muttering to himself for 10 minutes. We cross the street to avoid the lady having a conversation with no one nearby. Am I one of these crazy people? I don't think so - but I do talk out loud to myself. … Continue reading Why I talk out loud to myself
iHope is a distinctly Christian counseling center. We say this often, and it’s even printed on our business cards. But what does it even mean? Christian counseling is a typical mental health counseling process, involving a client who sits down with a trained counselor to work together toward a goal - with the distinction that … Continue reading What is Christian counseling?
Each spring that iHope has been opened, we’ve had several high school seniors seek our Care & Counseling services to address anxiety, fear, and stress related to their transition to college. This is totally normal! The transition from high school to college is a big life change. Just like moving to a new state, getting … Continue reading Are you ready for college?
Is there any title that would be more easily agreed upon? We are all called to protect children from abuse. Of course, we are each called to protect all peoplefrom abuse – women, men, children, adults. But children are in a uniquely vulnerable position. They rely upon adults to care for them, and their knowledge and awareness … Continue reading Protecting children from abuse
It sounds so… counterproductive. Schedule your worry time? How on earth would this help with excessive anxiety? It does sound counterproductive, but this is actually a common counseling intervention for folks who are struggling with obsessive thoughts, anxiety, and worry. Here’s how it works: Prep work: Schedule a specific time to worry on a regular basis. Set … Continue reading Scheduling your worry time
I’m a big believer that everyone could benefit from counseling at some point in their lives. Probably, at multiple points in their lives! Why do I believe this? Because I know how hard life is - and I know that at some point, we all experience hardship. We live in a broken world. Sin hurts us, … Continue reading Did you know most people feel good about counseling?
Today is the last day of May 2018, which closes out Mental Health Month here in the USA. We have taken time during this month to post regularly about mental health, and I encourage you to take a look back through this month’s blog series. Today, we’ll close the month with some “things to look … Continue reading Responding to Mental Health Needs