Individual Counseling Archives | Mansfield Christian Counseling

Anxiety: How Christian Counseling Can Help

Anxiety: How Christian Counseling Can Help

Julie Winchester, Kate Motaung2026-05-26T05:40:27+00:00May 26th, 2026|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling|

In a fallen world with its demands and uncertainties, tension abounds. Sickness, job loss, life transitions, relationship issues, financial and political pressures, a crisis of faith, the list goes on. Life can feel overwhelming and heavy, or out of control, which can create a sense of anxiousness. According to Merriam-Webster, anxiety is defined as “an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physical signs (such as tension, sweating, and increased pulse rate), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one’s capacity to cope with it.” “Life will have its struggles, as told in John 16:33 (NLT), “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” It does not say if you have many trials and sorrows, but “you will” have many trials and sorrows; it is unavoidable, but you do not have to navigate alone. Christian counseling helps reduce stress, bring greater peace, and gain clarity. Providing Biblical truth, along with encouragement and guidance, allows for symptom relief and spiritual growth. Drawing on the healing power of Jesus for spiritual guidance, coupled with practical tools, can help you navigate the challenges when you feel overwhelmed or apprehensive. God created all emotions; Jesus experienced each emotion. He got angry, he wept with sadness, and experienced tremendous joy. Fully human, He also experienced intense anxiety while processing his future crucifixion in the Garden of Gethsemane. Anxiety is not sinful as it keeps us safe, alerting us to dangerous situations – the dark alley we should not go down or the person who feels threatening. But if you find yourself in a constant state of worry, have [...]

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Do I Have Anxiety? Use This Symptoms Checklist to Find Out

Do I Have Anxiety? Use This Symptoms Checklist to Find Out

Julie Winchester, Kate Motaung2026-05-21T05:57:54+00:00May 21st, 2026|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling|

Caroline lay awake in bed, after hitting her snooze for the 3rd time, thinking through the day ahead. The “what ifs” begin to cascade through her mind. What if her boss is disappointed with the presentation she prepared? What if her car breaks down? What if the kids get sick? What if the headaches she had recently were something serious? All her thoughts caused tension in her shoulders and worry to cloud her mind. This was not an isolated occurrence but something she struggled with daily. At times, she could be rational and not let the worry win. But too often she asked herself, “Why can’t I let go of these thoughts and just relax?” Do you relate to Caroline? Is your mind crowded with “what ifs”? While anxiety feels overwhelming, it is common and normal. In the U.S., 40 million adults face anxiety. Women are twice as likely to have anxiety. It affects all ages and backgrounds. Anxiety is not a sinful condition; it is a natural response to a fallen, broken world. Rather than reflecting a lack of trust in God, anxiety can draw us closer to Him. As Proverbs 3:5-7 (CSB) reminds us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.” Jesus wants us to bring our concerns to Him, and as we journey through life, we will encounter troubles that may spark many emotions. Everyone will struggle with worry at some point. Occasional concern is human and, at times, wise. Many things contribute to feelings of anxiousness: busyness, over-commitment, life changes, losses, and world events. The list goes on. Excessive worry that interferes with daily life – such as interruptions in relationships and responsibilities [...]

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Types of Goals You May Not Know You Should Be Setting

Types of Goals You May Not Know You Should Be Setting

Grace Mavindidze2026-05-15T09:29:16+00:00March 26th, 2026|Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Professional Development, Spiritual Development|

If we were to ask anyone what their goals are in life, we’re most probably going to get answers like “advancing my career,” “saving my money,” or “getting more fit.” But there are other types of goals you probably have never even thought of, goals that can change your life mentally and spiritually. Setting goals that care for your mind and spirit is just as important as those that focus on work or fitness. It opens up new ways to grow and explore yourself. They will help you feel more connected to the world around you, encourage your creativity, and bring you closer to others. What’s more, they can help you to get those other parts of your life back in order in a balanced way. Why Goal Setting Makes a Difference Setting goals gives us something to work toward, something that makes each day feel a bit more purposeful. Life sometimes gets so busy that we find ourselves just going through the motions, but having goals helps us focus on what matters most. Even if it’s a small task or a bigger dream, they help break down the overwhelming stuff into manageable steps and stay on track even when life feels a bit chaotic. When you set goals, especially those that focus on your wellness, you will start to notice changes in how you feel. You’ll feel more in control, less stressed, and more motivated to take on whatever comes your way. Achieving any goal, no matter how small, will bring such a great sense of accomplishment, and that will build up your confidence. And it’s not just about crossing things off a list, but more of creating a life that feels more balanced, meaningful, and aligned with what you truly care about. Unique Types of Goals That [...]

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Needs Vs. Wants: How to be Open to God’s Plan for Your Life

Needs Vs. Wants: How to be Open to God’s Plan for Your Life

Julie Winchester, Kate Motaung2026-05-15T09:22:33+00:00March 23rd, 2026|Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Spiritual Development|

Being open to God’s plan means recognizing the difference between needs and wants. Wants are desires we believe are critical but are not actually essential, like a new car, a bigger house, or a new job. Needs, however, are essential for living, such as food, water, and shelter. Clarifying these helps us follow God’s direction. At times, it is difficult to distinguish between needs and wants. We shift our wants into the need category, believing that we deserve them or that they are necessary to make our lives better and more fulfilled. If you put too many things in your need category, you will end up frustrated with life, hurt by others, and doubting God’s goodness. – Paul David Tripp, New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional Believing in God’s goodness and provision leads to contentment. When we are content, we trust Christ, accept our circumstances, and are less driven by a desire for more. Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. – 1 John 2:15-17, NLT John’s words provide an example of what we should strive for in life. Depending on and looking to God for fulfillment and direction in differentiating needs and wants is challenging. But doing so will lead to contentment, and to achieve contentment, there are three areas to consider: making comparisons, trusting God, and gratitude. Making Comparisons In this digital [...]

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Spiritual Development: Living Your Created Purpose

Spiritual Development: Living Your Created Purpose

Julie Winchester, Kate Motaung2026-05-15T09:39:47+00:00March 20th, 2026|Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Spiritual Development, Women’s Issues|

Are you feeling disconnected or distant from God? Unmotivated to pursue Him? Unworthy to receive Him? Feeling stuck in life circumstances? Do you ask, “Who am I? What is my role in this world?” To discover the answer to these questions, you must understand your purpose. As a Christian, your purpose aligns with God’s Word. Pursuing to become Christlike and aligning with God’s will for your life. Galatians 5:22-23 describes the qualities we should strive for: “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” (NLT). These are the qualities our Lord and Savior modeled for us. Jesus was fully human and demonstrated all these characteristics. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we, too, can develop these qualities and become more like Him. How do we use these qualities to become the person God created us to be? By being mindful and responsible for our actions, for how we live, and for how we treat others. Take your eyes off yourself and focus on others’ needs. Consider other perspectives by practicing humility and empathy. You learn your purpose through growth and spiritual development by remaining mindful of the fruit of the Spirit. This happens through a process called sanctification, a lifelong commitment to obeying God, acknowledging sin, and being willing to change. Through sanctification, you are transformed as you put off your old self and put on the new, being filled with the Holy Spirit. Spiritual development brings you closer to God through prayer, fellowship, learning God’s Word, and applying faith to daily life. This leads you to a deeper understanding of God and His ways, resulting in spiritual maturity and clarity of purpose. Prayer Prayer is communing [...]

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How to Stop Stress Eating: 5 Practical Tips

How to Stop Stress Eating: 5 Practical Tips

Melissa Plantz2026-02-17T07:47:45+00:00February 17th, 2026|Eating Disorders, Featured, Individual Counseling|

Many people indulge in stress-eating occasionally. They may have hit a bad patch in their marriage, run up against a deadline at work, or missed the train. To soothe their anxiety, they may reach for food as a temporary relief. The problem lies when stress eating becomes an ongoing habit. You find yourself eating ice cream every night after the kids go to bed to feel better about your horrible day at work with the new boss. Or you swing into the drive-thru at the local fast-food place four evenings a week before coming home to make dinner because you desperately want ten minutes to decompress. Stress eating has become a habit, a compulsion. Unfortunately, eating this way can lead to chronic inflammation, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, depression, and anxiety, and increase your risk for other physical and mental conditions. Now is the time to take control. Tips for Overcoming Stress Eating Stress eating is a habit that becomes a compulsion because our brains recognize it as giving us temporary pleasure or relief. When our brains recognize that we are in a stressful situation, they take the path of least resistance and urge us to continue the behavior. Changing this behavior takes practice, but first, we need to recognize the thoughts and emotions behind it. Acknowledge the behavior You need to recognize that you are engaging in stress eating behaviors and want to change this eating pattern to benefit your physical and mental well-being. Identify your thoughts and emotions Before every action is a thought and emotion that drives the behavior. For example, you may think that your new boss dislikes you, making you feel sad and frustrated. As a result, you turn to a pint of ice cream to feel better. Reframe your thoughts Challenge [...]

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Are You a Perfectionist? Understanding the Effects of Perfectionism and How to Change It

Are You a Perfectionist? Understanding the Effects of Perfectionism and How to Change It

Jana Tatum, Kate Motaung2026-01-29T07:08:00+00:00January 29th, 2026|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development|

There is an age-old phrase that says, “Practice makes perfect.” This refers to the idea that the more you practice and work at something, the better you get at it. But will we ever be “perfect” at it? Even experts in any field are never perfect at something. They will never know all the answers or perform flawlessly, even when they excel and are at the top of the class. There is a more recent phrase that states, “Practice makes progress.” This implies that as we do something more frequently and work at it, we will get better, but it does not have an emphasis on perfection. Has anyone ever told you that you are a perfectionist? Or “Don’t be a perfectionist?” Maybe you don’t leave the office until the project or task is “perfect.” Perhaps you spend hours perfecting a presentation, only to feel it’s still not good enough. Maybe your son or daughter gets upset with anything lower than a 100 on a test or assignment. Perhaps you stay up late, not because you are a night owl, but because you want everything to be “just right” before you go to bed. Meriam-Webster defines “perfectionism” as “a disposition to regard anything short of perfection as unacceptable.” Wanting to do things well and being a perfectionist are two different things. The tricky thing about the term “perfect” is that people have different standards for what is “perfect.” I can look at a drawing and say, “Wow, that’s great!” While the artist might say, “Well, I need to work on it some more.” Someone may compliment your hair, but after spending an hour fighting with it this morning to get it “right,” you still don’t feel it’s as good as it could be. According to Verywell.com The three types of [...]

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Aging in America – Part 3: Growing Old Gracefully

Aging in America – Part 3: Growing Old Gracefully

Julie Winchester, Kate Motaung2026-01-27T06:52:58+00:00January 27th, 2026|Aging and Geriatric Issues, Family Counseling, Featured, Individual Counseling|

Getting older is a natural progression of life. As your body changes, you may find yourself slowing down or unable to do things you used to do. Instead of focusing on what you cannot do, focus on what you can do and explore new ways to do tasks. Eleanor Roosevelt stated that “...beautiful old people are works of art.” Works of art require skill, time, and creative effort. To age gracefully, you must be intentional in the way you think, believing you still have life to live and want to live it to the full. “But the godly will flourish like palm trees…Even in old age, they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.” Psalm 92:12, 14 (NLT) To be graceful means to be agile, mirroring God’s character, an outward expression of divine grace which is pleasing to God and beneficial to others, allowing God to work through you by displaying forgiveness, kindness, and wisdom. God will give us strength and direction to achieve this if we look to Him. Although you may be in a different season: retired, empty nester, still working but burned out, divorced, widowed, whatever your story, you have purpose, but it may look different now. “My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.” Psalm 73:26 (NLT) Even though we change and grow, God is unchanging and faithful. I will be your God throughout your lifetime – until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you. – Is. 46:4 (NLT) My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. – Psalm [...]

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Making and Keeping Adult Friendships

Making and Keeping Adult Friendships

Jana Tatum, Kate Motaung2026-01-17T06:36:06+00:00January 19th, 2026|Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues|

Life is full and chaotic, and often adult friendships seem to be what is left behind. Adult friendships are rewarding and beneficial for our mental, emotional, and spiritual health, but can be tricky to navigate. Adult friendships look and feel different than friendships when we were younger. We have separate responsibilities and don’t want to bother others with our “problems.” We can also struggle to connect and trust beyond the surface level of work, kids’ sports, and hobbies. According to a 2024 poll by the American Psychiatric Association, “one-third of adults feel lonely at least once a week.” Relationships are a crucial part of our lives. God made us for relationships and connections. The most important relationship is our relationship with Him. The Old and New Testaments are clear that God desires to “walk with us.” Leviticus 26:12 says, “I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.” 2 Corinthians 6:16 says, “What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said, “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” How much closer can He be than in us? God is always with us and will “never leave us nor forsake us.” (Hebrews 13:5) When it comes to friendships, we put up walls to protect ourselves from hurt. Walls can help us “feel” more protected, but they can also keep us from having a genuine connection with people and God. Your circle doesn’t have to be large, but you need a circle of support and friendship. This is true not just for what others can do for you in support, but also for what you have [...]

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Making God-Honoring Decisions

Making God-Honoring Decisions

Jana Tatum, Kate Motaung2026-03-27T11:16:33+00:00October 24th, 2025|Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Spiritual Development|

We make decisions every day, even every minute, without realizing it. We make decisions about what to wear, what route to take to work, what to cook for supper, when to do household chores, and how to do them, to name a few. These types of decisions are viewed as trivial, and the fear of making the wrong one is typically low. These decisions can easily be changed, and there are several right ways to do them. Some decisions in life are more permanent and less likely to be easily or frequently changed. Fear and Anxiety and God-Honoring Decisions Fear and anxiety in decision-making can be debilitating. Some will date the same person for years for fear that if they get married, it will be to the wrong person, or for fear of it ending in divorce. Some will struggle in a job and not apply for a new job for fear of it being the wrong job, the wrong company, or not enough pay or stability. Anxiety is the fear of the unknown. We will continue in something that is not best for the sole reason of it being the known. Remind yourself that the unknown becomes the known relatively quickly. When you start a new job, it is the unknown, and after you have been there for a few days or months, it becomes more and more known. We want to make the right decision and want it to be so clear that we can’t make a mistake. A billboard or writing in the sky would be nice and clear, but where would our faith be if that were how God communicated to us about His will and direction in our lives? Decision-making takes multiple parts of the brain. The brain is a meticulously designed machine that [...]

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