Miranda Otsuka, Green Lake Christian Counseling

About Miranda Otsuka

I strive to create a safe, healthy space for my clients to navigate through life’s challenges in the presence of the Lord as much as they feel comfortable doing so. As a counselor, my goal is to serve you well as I am representing the Lord and allowing Him to work through me. Together, we will work through whatever difficulties you are facing with goals that are best fit for you and your circumstances. You don’t have to struggle alone. Help and hope are available, and I look forward to witnessing the Lord’s transformative work in your life through Christian counseling.

The Cycle of Codependency

The Cycle of Codependency

Miranda Otsuka, Kate Motaung2024-12-20T11:24:43+00:00December 6th, 2024|Codependency, Couples Counseling, Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues|

Codependency is a dynamic where two people rely heavily on each other for mental, emotional, practical, and spiritual support in an intense and imbalanced way. There is a giver and a taker in the relationship, or a rescuer and a victim. One needs the other and takes everything they have to offer while the other gives and supports at great cost because they need to be needed. It has been described as “toxic attachment” or “dysfunctional connection” by some mental health experts. This imbalanced dynamic can feel safe and good at first, because both partakers fall so effortlessly into their role. Both receive what they have been craving on a deep level. However, over time this dynamic ends up affecting everyone involved and can cause lasting emotional trauma. The good news is that if you are caught up in a codependent dynamic, or have codependent tendencies, you are not stuck. It is possible to recognize the cycle of codependency and break free from it. Rescuers and Victims “Codependency” as a term first came into use in the context of substance addiction. In this context, a rescuer comes to the aid of an addict, or victim, and attempts to help them. The addict needs help but doesn’t want to quit their habits, and the rescuer needs to be needed but is afraid of the addict becoming independent and leaving them. By a process of manipulation and over-involvement in each other’s lives, the rescuer and addict become locked in an unhealthy dynamic where one is still abusing substances and the other has become addicted to being seen as an emotional support. We now use the term “codependency” mostly in the context of relationships, although the same dynamics are at play. There is generally a person who lowers their boundaries and denies [...]

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Coping with Grief: Scriptures About Loss to Help You Grieve

Coping with Grief: Scriptures About Loss to Help You Grieve

Miranda Otsuka, Kate Motaung2024-12-20T11:35:27+00:00November 18th, 2024|Featured, General, Grief Counseling, Individual Counseling, Spiritual Development|

The world we live in is a broken one. That brokenness manifests itself in diverse ways, from relationships mired in conflict, rifts between loved ones, having those you love taken from you by illness or some other calamity, and so on. There is much weeping and sorrow that accompanies our sojourn. Scripture reflects this reality and gives us the language to process our experiences and grieve the various losses we go through. In this article, we’ll consider some encouragement and tips for coping with grief. Grief comes to us all, and it does so in different ways. Rather than denying our grief, the healthy thing for us to do is to acknowledge that we have indeed experienced loss and to deal with that loss by grieving. For a believer, that grieving process is aided by resources such as a community of believers that mourn with and comfort them (Romans 12:15; 2 Corinthians 1:3-5), prayer, and Scripture. Grieving as a Process Grieving is how we respond to a loss. There are different types of loss, such as the death of a loved one, significant changes in your health, life changes such as achieving certain milestones or moving house, relationships coming to an end due to separation or divorce, and the loss of identity resulting from life transitions. These different forms of loss trigger an emotional and mental response known as grief. We don’t all experience grief in the same way. While grief is often associated with sadness, there aren’t any hard and fast rules about the kinds of emotions a person experiences when they are grieving or the duration of those emotions. Some people feel sadness, while others experience denial, anger, shock, regret, guilt, relief, a sense of acceptance, longing, or numbness. Grief is a complicated and highly individual process. [...]

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Symptoms of OCD and How Christian Counseling Can Help

Symptoms of OCD and How Christian Counseling Can Help

Miranda Otsuka, Kate Motaung2024-11-14T12:28:12+00:00October 15th, 2024|Featured, Individual Counseling, OCD|

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a mental health condition that involves repetitive, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that are relieved by repetitive rituals (compulsions) that appease the discomfort of the behavior. As the symptoms of OCD become more pronounced, the pattern of behavior can become further engrained and feel uncontrollable, causing much distress to the individual, as well as their loved ones who witness the struggle. At the heart of OCD lies deep-seated anxiety, which can be treated with medication and cognitive behavioral therapy. However, Christian counseling offers an additional tool. By reminding individuals that the symptoms of OCD are not beyond the sovereignty of Scripture and the power of the Holy Spirit, a person can experience the renewal of their thought patterns. Common symptoms of OCD OCD is sometimes a term used in jest to describe someone who is extremely neat and organized, or who maintains a high level of personal hygiene. While symptoms of OCD can certainly manifest in this way, there are other ways in which compulsions are displayed. Researchers have defined the behaviors as falling into six primary categories. These include: A focus on cleanliness This compulsion is rooted in a fear of contamination. It leads an individual to be intensely focused on avoiding contact with germs, dirt, viruses, or bodily fluids. They may have to wash their hands several times a day, wipe down every surface touched multiple times, and avoid social contact because of what illnesses it might lead to. Individuals who show these symptoms of OCD are completely gripped by a debilitating fear that intrudes on their ability to function normally in society. Order and sequencing Some with OCD have an overwhelming urge to order objects in a certain way to bring about exactness and symmetry. If something is misplaced, it will cause anxiety, until it [...]

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Understanding Types of Adult ADHD Therapy

Understanding Types of Adult ADHD Therapy

Miranda Otsuka, Kate Motaung2024-11-14T12:28:23+00:00September 24th, 2024|ADHD/ADD, Featured, Individual Counseling|

Most of the time ADHD is diagnosed in children, but there are instances where ADHD isn’t diagnosed until a person is an adult. As the person ages the symptoms can change and often add stress to daily life. Those diagnosed with ADHD as an adult frequently prefer to use therapy for treatment rather than medication. This treatment plan involves learning how to manage and cope with the symptoms of ADHD. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. – John 14:27, ESV Depending on the symptoms you have as an adult with ADHD various strategies can help with managing symptoms that can disrupt everyday life. Common symptoms of ADHD in adults The symptoms of adult ADHD are not much different from those of children. One of the differences is that as an adult it is easier to describe the symptoms. Predominantly inattentive presentation, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive presentation, and combined presentation are the three ADHD types. The following symptoms are found in these types of ADHD in adulthood. Difficulty staying focused on tasks. Disorganization. Losing things. Overlooking details in work or other activities. Fidgeting. Talking excessively. Interrupting conversations. Making a noise while working. Highly distracted by external stimuli. Difficulty listening. Failing to follow through on instructions. Avoiding tasks that require mental effort. Leaving their seat at inappropriate times. Moving as if they are driven by a motor. Blurting out answers. Types of ADHD therapy for adults Therapy for adults with ADHD involves counseling that will promote an understanding of the disorder and what skills are needed to create successful strategies for coping. The techniques and methods used in counseling will help with impulsive behavior, problem-solving skills, self-esteem [...]

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Miranda Otsuka

About Miranda Otsuka

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