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Signs of Autism in Adults: Understanding the Symptoms

Signs of Autism in Adults: Understanding the Symptoms

Miranda Otsuka, Kate Motaung2025-01-16T09:13:35+00:00January 16th, 2025|Autism spectrum disorder, Featured, Individual Counseling|

Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the way the brain processes information and influences the way you interact with others. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and manifest in different ways in different people, which is why it is referred to as a spectrum disorder. Most people are diagnosed in childhood, but some are not diagnosed until adulthood. Those who reach adulthood without a diagnosis are most likely living with high-functioning autism and may be unaware that the way they process things is different from the way other people do. Their symptoms may have been subtle enough to be missed as a child, misdiagnosed, or they may have since learned how to mask them. The greatest discomfort for autistic people can be the social one. For me, I was confused by the way people behaved. – Chris Packham, CBE and National Autistic Society Ambassador Currently, there is no standard method of diagnosing autism in adults, but to meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illness (DSM-5) official criteria, you need to exhibit a least three of the key challenges listed under the domains of social and communication difficulties, repetitive behaviors, restricted interests, and rigidity. Key Signs of Autism In Adults Social and communication difficulties Social anxiety. Difficulty empathizing with other people’s feelings or seeing things from a different point of view. Difficulty making friends. Prefer doing things alone. Difficulty describing your feelings. Invent your own descriptive words and phrases. Difficulty understanding social rules such as not talking over people. Difficulty understanding appropriate behavior such as being quiet in a library. Unable to interpret nonverbal messages such as shoulder shrugging, eye-rolling, facial expressions, or body language. Take things literally and are unable to understand metaphors or figures of speech. [...]

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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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Homeschooling a Child with ADHD

Homeschooling a Child with ADHD

Jane Zerabruk, Kate Motaung2025-01-16T13:40:26+00:00January 8th, 2025|ADHD/ADD, Christian Counseling for Children, Family Counseling, Featured|

Many hopeful young parents dream of the bright future they can build for their child through home schooling. It’s easy to picture the idyllic scene of your children learning math facts around the kitchen table. You may dream of reading books together in a cozy chair and the joy of watching your child discover new things. But sometimes that dream gets derailed when you throw ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) into the mix. While it might feel like a wild ride some days, it’s also an opportunity to create a learning environment that is uniquely tailored and built around your child’s unique needs and interests. Home schooling a child with ADHD can make more sense than putting them in a more traditional classroom model. You might feel overwhelmed by the unique challenges of ADHD. But consider this: although you may not be specially trained as an educator, you’ve had years of experience being your child’s parent. A traditional school may not be the right fit for your child. At home, you can build a schedule that includes breaks when your child needs to move around. You can also incorporate hands-on activities that keep them engaged and give them one-on-one attention that might not be practical or possible in a larger classroom. When your child starts zoning out, in a home schooling environment, you can switch gears (and no permission slip or special accommodations are needed). The possible benefits of home schooling your child with ADHD are endless, but that’s probably not what you’re here to learn. If you’re here, you’re likely worried about jumping into home schooling or perhaps already struggling with home schooling a child with ADHD. However, it can be done and your child can thrive. Here are some tips that might help make the process less frustrating [...]

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Food for Anxiety: What’s Eating You? (And What You Should Eat!)

Food for Anxiety: What’s Eating You? (And What You Should Eat!)

Meluleki Ncube, Kate Motaung2024-12-16T03:21:56+00:00December 16th, 2024|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling|

Anxiety is real and it’s no respecter of persons. It’s that gnawing little pest that sneaks up on you when you least expect it, like a toddler with a permanent marker near your freshly painted walls. Anxiety may be real and frustrating and even life-altering, but it doesn’t get the final say over your life! There are many strategies you can implement to help attack the anxiety that plagues you, but one that is often overlooked is also one of the simplest to put into action: your dinner plate. In this article, we’ll look at healthy food for anxiety and how it can help. What is anxiety, anyway? Anxiety can make your thoughts race, your heart pound, and try to convince you that the worst-case scenario about why your boss called a meeting is true. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) can make this a daily reality, affecting everything from your sleep to your relationships. The world tells us to medicate or meditate – both of which can help – but did you know that there’s a divine design to what we eat and how it affects how we feel? Let’s dive in! (And don’t worry, there’s dark chocolate ahead!) Food for Anxiety Before you roll your eyes and think, “Great! More Stuff I can’t eat,” let me assure you – this isn’t a conversation about diet restrictions. This is about freedom! Yes, freedom! Galatians 5:1 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” Freedom from the worry that stalks your brain at 3 AM. Freedom from anxiety that makes you want to wear your blanket like a cape all day. And believe it or not, part of that freedom might just come from your grocery cart. So, what food for anxiety should you eat when it feels [...]

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Left Behind: 8 Signs of Abandonment Issues in Relationships

Left Behind: 8 Signs of Abandonment Issues in Relationships

Noah Cordrey, Kate Motaung2024-12-11T05:53:27+00:00December 11th, 2024|Abandonment and Neglect, Christian Counseling For Teens, Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues, Trauma|

“Because separation is a clearcut and undeniable event, its effects on the child and the parent-child relationship were easier to document than more subtle influences of parental and familial interaction.” – Inge Bretherton reporting on John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth’s work with Attachment Theory As the quote above suggests, to experience abandonment implies a separation, specifically in the parent-child relationship, that is clear-cut and undeniable. To be abandoned leaves a specific kind of mark on the soul which points to a particular, distinguishable moment. More simply, if you have experienced abandonment, you will know it. To discuss the reality of being or feeling abandoned is to also talk about one’s attachment style – or style of relating – which has been first and foremost influenced by our relationships with our parents. Abandonment issues have everything to do with how we attach or don’t attach, relationally to others. In this article, we will look at eight signs or symptoms that point to underlying abandonment issues in relationships. 1. An Internal Struggle with Fear Insecurity Regarding Relationships In the realm of attachment, a child is looking to their parents to be seen, safe, soothed, and secure. At a fundamental level, the child is unable to provide these things for him/herself and must rely on their mother or father for such care. However, if the child’s parent or caregiver is unable to provide these things, this creates a state of internal panic for the child. The child learns that their caregiver is ultimately unreliable, and he/she must make a decision: “I will separate myself from my caregiver and get my needs met elsewhere”, or “I will adjust myself to mom or dad and care for their needs, in the hopes that once they’re ok I can then get my needs met.” From [...]

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Rewriting History: Overcoming Depression’s Legacy in a Family

Rewriting History: Overcoming Depression’s Legacy in a Family

Meluleki Ncube, Kate Motaung2024-12-07T04:38:50+00:00December 9th, 2024|Depression, Featured, Individual Counseling|

We can see the fingerprints of our Father’s grace in the pages of scripture. God’s family story begins in Genesis when He formed Adam from earth’s dust and continues to the end of Revelations. God continues to extend righteousness and truth in our world today, just as He did with the families noted in Scripture. The enemy also seeks to work through the generations (Psalm 100:5) through cycles of sin and dysfunction. He causes us to repeat the patterns of those who preceded us to destroy the destiny of those who come after. Deconstructing Devastation When we consider his evil intentions, we must recognize that some of the trauma imposed in our lives was designed to destroy us and the families we love. Each family’s trauma history will vary, but the unresolved pain that results in depression and other mental health challenges universally disrupts our lives. We can plug in our own family’s unique variables and still find a common element; every family in humanity encounters suffering at some point. The odds we thought we’d beaten appear again, and hopelessness hits close to home. Despite the war waged against our bloodlines, our faith cuts its teeth in darkness and despair. It locks its jaw, sinking a bite into the promises of God. When grounded in the Word, faith refuses to cut our families off from God’s goodness, despite every ominous threat. We may feel like abandoning ship, but God has anchored a hope within that keeps us and those connected to us from detaching from His purpose (Hebrews 6:19). Inevitably, storms will rage and impact us differently, but God remains steady, enabling us to weather impassible waters with Him. It’s bewildering how quickly trouble can spiral in our lives. It’s often in hindsight that we see God’s plan working together. [...]

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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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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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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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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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