Haley Jansen, Green Lake Christian Counseling

Dealing with Anxiety and Anger: The Unbearable Weight of Fear and Loathing

Dealing with Anxiety and Anger: The Unbearable Weight of Fear and Loathing

Haley Jansen, Kate Motaung2025-06-25T05:06:37+00:00June 25th, 2025|Anger Issues, Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling|

If there are any two emotions that we’ve all felt at some point in our lives, it’s probably anxiety and anger. Whether it’s about your family, school, work, or related to the things you believe in or care deeply about, we’ve all felt one or both of these emotions in a given moment. While at face value it might seem as though they have little to do with each other, there are a lot of connections between these two emotions. Being angry, anxious, or both can be a heavy burden. The things that typically lead us to experience these emotions generally aren’t things we would choose for ourselves. Additionally, being angry or anxious takes a toll on our mental, emotional, relational, and physical well-being. Chronic anger or anxiety can impair your ability to function well day-to-day, making it all the more important to know how to deal with them effectively. What Anger and Anxiety Do to Your Body One thing that you’ll notice almost immediately about both anger and anxiety is that they seem to affect your body in the same way. When something angers you or makes you feel anxious, it can trigger your body’s fight-or-flight response. The physical symptoms that result from releasing stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol prepare your body to deal with the situation, whether by fleeing from it or standing your ground to fight it. When these powerful hormones are released into your bloodstream, you may experience an increased heart rate, higher blood pressure, a tight chest, muscle tension, a rush of heat, headaches, or gastrointestinal issues. Even though anger and anxiety are distinct emotions, they tend to trigger a similar physiological response. These emotions are also often triggered by the same things, and they both have an impact on one’s well-being, especially [...]

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Fun Date Night Ideas in Seattle (With Affordable Options)

Fun Date Night Ideas in Seattle (With Affordable Options)

Haley Jansen, Kate Motaung2025-05-28T07:17:16+00:00May 28th, 2025|Couples Counseling, Featured, Marriage Counseling, Premarital Counseling, Relationship Issues|

Do you remember when you first fell in love with your spouse? Maybe the two of you talked until late hours into the night, planned dinner dates, or took quiet walks. Unfortunately, at some point after marriage, we can begin to stop dating our spouse. Work, home, family, aging parents, and other responsibilities quickly crowd in, and dating becomes something that you used to do in the past. Yet, when we don’t prioritize our relationships, distance can grow, eventually opening the door to grow apart. If you are looking to strengthen your marriage, here are a few fun date night ideas in Seattle, Washington you can try. Why It’s Important to Date Your Spouse God created marriage as a mirror to reflect His relationship with us. Take your spiritual connection to God as an example. Do you obey and follow His commands because you love Him and know that He loves you? You read His Word to keep what He has to say in the forefront of your mind. The relationship we have with our spouse works similarly. Date nights are a chance to prioritize the relationship between husband and wife. You strengthen the bond and get to know each other better. Even couples who have been married for fifty years may not know everything about each other as people’s interests and goals change with time. Fun Date Night Ideas in Seattle, Washington Date night doesn’t have to be boring or a source of stress. If you are picturing two people eating at a fancy restaurant once a year, trying to figure out what to say to one another, then you may not be dating your spouse often enough. Once a year is perfectly fine to celebrate an anniversary, but you need more quality time with your spouse to [...]

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Boundaries with Employers: How to Avoid Burnout

Boundaries with Employers: How to Avoid Burnout

Haley Jansen, Kate Motaung2025-04-19T10:00:46+00:00April 21st, 2025|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Professional Development, Relationship Issues|

Few things are more awkward and uncomfortable than setting boundaries at work. You want to be a team player, reliable, easy-going, and maybe even make a few friends along the way. You may long to hear your boss refer to you as “invaluable” or “irreplaceable” and to be a trusted colleague for your peers. The goal of having a good work ethic and generous attitude is admirable and biblical, but without boundaries, you can end up exhausted, overworked, and frankly, resentful of your job and boss. So, how do you find the balance between being a productive member of the team and being taken advantage of? Boundaries! Setting healthy boundaries, and just as importantly, insisting on strict adherence to them, will help you find the sweet spot. Of course, you have to be reasonable in establishing your boundaries. You are being paid to perform a job and have entered into an agreement with your employer, so you have a certain degree of responsibility to them and the position. But the unfortunate news is that most employers will boldly and unapologetically take as much as you will give, even beyond your expected responsibilities. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re evil or trying to exploit you, but because businesses are built on the backs of the workers. This means that it is up to you, the employee, to decide what your limits are. If you don’t, someone else will decide for you and unfortunately, it may not be in your favor. Know your responsibilities & non-negotiables Start by figuring out what aspects of your job are essential, logical, and reasonable requirements for your given position and job description. If you aren’t comfortable with these aspects of your job, it might be time to find something more suited to your talents and [...]

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Existential Anxiety: Causes, Signs, and Treatment Options

Existential Anxiety: Causes, Signs, and Treatment Options

Haley Jansen, Kate Motaung2025-04-01T07:24:59+00:00April 1st, 2025|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling|

Have you ever wondered about your purpose and place in the universe? Many of us have had an experience like that at one point or another. Maybe it came upon you as you pondered the vastness of nature and what it means to exist. Perhaps the thought captured your attention briefly, but it quickly passed, swallowed up by daily demands like chores, work, paying bills, school runs, and the habits and rhythms of life. For some people, thoughts about purpose, meaning, and the nature of our existence are more than just passing or intrusive thoughts. They can become distressing realities that they live with, and they can be quite damaging to one’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. These ongoing thoughts and feelings can grow into existential anxiety. Existential Thoughts and Existential Anxiety Some people naturally gravitate toward thinking about things beyond the humdrum of daily life. However, even if you don’t carve time out of your day to ponder the deep questions of life, meaning, and the universe, that doesn’t mean you can’t feel unease about your life. That unease may come in the form of restlessness, struggling to sleep or make decisions, or just feeling like there’s no point in your life or the things you’ve been doing. You may start having existential thoughts when encountering an event or situation that makes you confront your or a loved one’s mortality. Let’s say you’re involved in an accident, and you escape uninjured. That could leave you pondering on things like the meaning of life. If a loved one gets quite ill, or you lose them, it can lead you to start thinking about meaning and purpose. Existential anxiety, on the other hand, is more intense, and it can be described as a sense of fear or uneasiness about the meaning [...]

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10 Facts About Trauma

10 Facts About Trauma

Haley Jansen, Kate Motaung2025-02-26T05:11:24+00:00February 26th, 2025|Featured, Individual Counseling, Trauma|

In recent years, society and culture in the US have changed to the point that talking about mental health is seen as acceptable and important rather than taboo or embarrassing. For many, however, there remains some confusion surrounding trauma and how it affects people. The best way to avoid becoming dismissive or confused about trauma is to learn about it. The goal is to be sensitive and informed when we encounter trauma, either in ourselves, in professional spaces, or in intimate connections with friends and loved ones. Trauma Facts Trauma doesn’t affect everyone in the same way Two people can go through the same event and come away with completely different experiences. For example, a divorce might affect one child deeply while their sibling takes it in their stride and adapts to the change with relative ease. We tend to compare our experiences with others, especially those closest to us, so that we can frame or understand our perception of what happened. When it feels like we are the only ones to have experienced trauma from a certain event, we might feel confused. Sometimes we trivialize or dismiss our own experience. This is often how people become dismissive of trauma in general; they misunderstand their response to something that deeply affects them. It can take time for us to realize an event has caused trauma We sometimes come out on the other end of a struggle and continue with our lives only to find that months, years, and sometimes decades later, we can’t stop thinking about what happened. Even in sleep, we find ourselves reliving past events. PTSD and CPTSD happen after an event and affect us until we begin addressing it. Just because something didn’t directly impact us when it happened does not mean it wasn’t traumatic. Trauma [...]

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Symptoms of Caregiver Burnout and How to Prevent It

Symptoms of Caregiver Burnout and How to Prevent It

Haley Jansen, Kate Motaung2025-02-19T11:58:56+00:00January 30th, 2025|Featured, Individual Counseling|

How can you give your best if you aren’t at your best? As a primary caregiver, you are expected to monitor and provide for the essential needs and comfort of another person. While caring for a loved one can be a rewarding experience, it sometimes comes at a cost. The mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual cost of caring for another individual can leave you feeling overwhelmed and alone and bring on caregiver burnout. What is caregiver burnout? Caregiver burnout can happen when someone who is responsible for the care of another person falls into a state of mental, physical, emotional, or spiritual exhaustion. This can even occur when someone is caring for themselves while dealing with a long-term illness, disability, or age-related issues. It is often a result of prolonged stress, overwhelming levels of responsibility, or a lack of support. Caregiver burnout can have serious consequences for both the caregiver and the person who is receiving the care. Symptoms of Caregiver Burnout The symptoms of caregiver burnout manifest differently in everyone. Here are some common symptoms that might indicate that someone is experiencing burnout: Physical Symptoms Caretaking puts a physical toll on the body. Many caretakers are required to perform very physical activities to assist the person in need of care. This could include lifting or assisting the person in physical activities, running errands, standing for extended periods of time, and bending or reaching in various positions. This can lead to muscle aches and tension along with physical fatigue. Likewise, the caregiver may feel exhausted or fatigued all the time. There could be changes in weight or appetite as well. Frequent headaches and body aches might also be present and serve as warning signs of burnout. Emotional Symptoms Feelings of sadness, grief (sometimes referred to as pre-grief), irritability, hopelessness, [...]

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Ways to Reduce Anxiety in Teenagers

Ways to Reduce Anxiety in Teenagers

Haley Jansen, Kate Motaung2025-01-16T13:40:59+00:00January 8th, 2025|Anxiety, Christian Counseling For Teens, Featured, Individual Counseling|

If you’re older, do you remember what it was like when you were young? There were things you were still learning and trying to figure out, and the world may have felt like a large, daunting place. Depending on your temperament and personality, this newness of the world and unexplored horizons may have been exciting to you, or it may have felt frightening and anxiety-inducing. Anxiety in Teenagers It comes as no surprise to us that teenagers experience anxiety. It’s important to note that some teenagers may experience mild anxiety, while others may experience severe anxiety that’s debilitating. This anxiety may be different from what they experienced when they were younger. It is sometimes a new development as they enter adolescence. People’s vulnerabilities and worries differ at each stage of their development. That’s why teenage anxiety often looks different from childhood anxiety, even though an anxious teenager may have struggled with anxiety for years by the time they reach adolescence. Younger children’s anxieties tend to focus on external things, while a teenager’s anxiety will focus more on themselves as the object. For example, a younger child may be afraid of the dark or of monsters under the bed. They may develop a fear of bees or spiders or get anxious at the idea of something happening to their parents. However, a teenager’s anxiety will often focus on the changes happening in their body, how others perceive them, and how they perform in school and extracurricular activities. Whether a child has struggled with anxiety before or not, as more is expected of them in middle and high school, anxiety can surface. As they develop an awareness and focus on their peers, anxiety can then become more severe such as social anxiety and panic attacks. While a certain amount of anxiety [...]

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4 Therapy Strategies for Adults with ADHD

4 Therapy Strategies for Adults with ADHD

Haley Jansen, Kate Motaung2024-12-20T11:27:35+00:00December 6th, 2024|ADHD/ADD, Featured, Individual Counseling|

Attention deficit disorder hyperactivity (ADHD) is a disorder that affects the person’s brain, affecting their ability to concentrate and keep focused for long periods. This lack of focus can intrude on every area of a person’s life and is not only difficult for children but also for adults. Because it’s not as widely known in adults as it is in children, there can be a stigma attached to adults who believe they have the disorder but have not been officially diagnosed. For an adult who has trouble getting a diagnosis, there may still be strategies available to help them cope. If you are someone or know someone with ADHD, it can also be frustrating for the people impacted by the disorder as those who have it. Adults with ADHD need to have supportive people around who will help assist and encourage them with strategies to help them get through life’s demands. ADHD Therapy Strategies for Adults Because the disorder is more widely recognized, strategies are available to bring hope to those who struggle to get through and manage everyday tasks. Here are four therapy strategies for adults with ADHD: Divide Tasks Into Small Chunks People with ADHD have difficulty juggling more than a few tasks at a time. However, in the business of life, it’s common for a significant other, coworker, or boss to assign five or six important tasks for a person with ADHD to complete. This can be an area of frustration and could make them feel anxious or overwhelmed. To help combat these feelings, divide tasks into segments. Give them the most important tasks first and limit the number of tasks to no more than three. Encourage the person with ADHD to complete the three tasks. If they still have mental focus and attention, move on [...]

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10 Symptoms of Depression in Teens

10 Symptoms of Depression in Teens

Haley Jansen, Kate Motaung2024-12-20T11:31:01+00:00November 26th, 2024|Christian Counseling For Teens, Depression, Featured, Individual Counseling|

You would do anything for your children. Walk over hot coals? Check. Drive an hour one way to a ball game? Check. Stay by their side through the flu? Check. However, the symptoms of depression in teens can be subtle. Depression is not something that you can take from your child and shoulder the burden, as much as you may want to. Instead, it will be helpful if you are aware of the symptoms of depression in teens so you can seek help at the appropriate time. Depression in Families Depression can run in families. If you struggle with depression, your child has a higher likelihood of developing depression. Parents and siblings with a history of depression can “pass on” the mental condition to another child. Whether due to genetic or environmental factors, children or siblings of people with depression may develop stronger depressive episodes than their peers. Depression goes beyond simply feeling sad after a disappointment. Feeling and processing emotions like sadness, disappointment, and anger is normal. However, depression can last several weeks, months, or years. Symptoms of Depression in Teens Teenagers go through hormonal changes that can lead to moodiness, irritability, and social withdrawal. But when should you become concerned as a parent that your child’s behavior is more than just temperamental teenage behavior? Could it be symptoms of depression in teens instead? The following is a list of the most common symptoms of depression in teens. If your child displays these signs for more than two weeks, they may develop depression. Reach out to a counselor. If your teen engages in self-harm or makes comments about suicide or death, seek help immediately. Feelings of Sadness and Hopelessness Persistent sadness is a hallmark symptom of depression. Feelings of hopelessness, dread, and emptiness can accompany this sadness. These [...]

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What Does it Mean to Receive Trauma-Informed Care?

What Does it Mean to Receive Trauma-Informed Care?

Haley Jansen, Kate Motaung2024-11-14T12:27:48+00:00October 19th, 2024|Featured, Individual Counseling, Trauma|

A person who experiences trauma has a hard time getting the help needed due to the alteration of their ability to recover from the event. Trauma is not the same for all people, so there is no one way to approach the healing process. Receiving safe healthcare for trauma starts with the ability of the caregiver to understand that trauma can impact a person’s ability to engage in treatment. This is the basis of trauma-informed care. What is trauma-informed care? Trauma-informed care is the practice of universal precautions for trauma. Just like the universal precautions for pathogens, trauma-informed care is a way to implement policies that will prevent the possibility of re-traumatization for some individuals. This type of care will promote an awareness of having a safe environment for those who struggle with trauma-induced health issues. Trauma-informed care focuses on reducing further harm and opens the door to healing. A trauma-informed approach adopts the thought process of having a complete picture of the person’s life to provide comprehensive and effective treatment. This practice will lead to an improvement in individual engagement. When the individual engages in treatment there is a higher likelihood of a positive outcome. This can also help reduce the cost of gaining effective health care. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wing you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. – Psalm 91:4-6, NIV Why is trauma-informed care important? When it comes to understanding the effect of trauma, many people cannot fathom why some individuals have reacted in specific ways to a traumatic event. The common thought is [...]

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