Women’s Issues Archives | Green Lake Christian Counseling

What is OCD? Common OCD Subtypes

What is OCD? Common OCD Subtypes

Miranda Otsuka, Kate Motaung2026-06-16T06:01:24+00:00June 16th, 2026|Featured, Individual Counseling, Men’s Issues, OCD, Women’s Issues|

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by persistent, active obsessions (fears) and compulsions (repetitive safety behavior). OCD is categorized as ongoing intrusive thoughts and urges that push individuals to repeat and perform specific behaviors to relieve anxiety. OCD regularly interferes with an individual’s ability to move through daily life and responsibilities. OCD can develop as a result of a multitude of factors, including a combination of genetics, biology of brain function, and environment. Previous research has shown that people who have been diagnosed with OCD often display differences in their frontal cortex and subcortical brain structures, affecting their ability to manage behavior and emotional responses effectively. OCD involves issues in the brain’s ability to regulate and receive appropriate amounts of serotonin and dopamine. OCD has been shown to suggest that genetic factors can be involved in developing the disorder, specifically in childhood. This can be primarily genetics or environmental factors, such as stressful life events or moderate to severe trauma, which can worsen symptoms. Different Types of OCD OCD is a complex disorder that includes various aspects that contribute to a diagnosis, including the differences in subtypes. An OCD subtype is a pattern of obsessions and compulsions focused on a specific fear and or theme. According to current research from NOCD, this disorder has numerous different subtypes, making it versatile. Checking OCD Checking OCD is a series of mental rituals by an individual designed to validate safety and prevent harmful catastrophes. With Checking OCD, common obsessions pertain, but are not limited to leaving the stove on, locking the door, or the concept of making a mistake that could potentially harm someone else. Safety behaviors, known as compulsions, can look like taking photos of plugs, repeatedly checking locks, appliances, or messages/emails, and seeking reassurance to find temporary [...]

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10 Ways Ambiguous Grief Changes How You See Relationships

10 Ways Ambiguous Grief Changes How You See Relationships

Miranda Otsuka, Kate Motaung2026-06-12T06:04:28+00:00June 12th, 2026|Featured, Grief Counseling, Individual Counseling, Men’s Issues, Relationship Issues, Women’s Issues|

Grief is usually connected with death. Someone passes away, and we mourn their absence. But there’s another kind of grief that doesn’t get talked about nearly as much. It’s called ambiguous grief, and it’s a kind of loss that doesn’t have a clear ending. It’s the grief you feel when someone is still alive but no longer the same, or when a relationship continues in some form but feels broken or changed beyond recognition. You may not even realize you’re grieving. You just know something feels different. You feel sadness, frustration, or even anger, but you can’t point to a single moment that explains it. That’s the confusing part of ambiguous grief: it’s real, but it doesn’t fit the usual picture of loss. How Ambiguous Grief Manifests in Everyday Life Ambiguous grief can take many forms. It might be the pain of watching a parent fade into dementia, where they’re physically present but emotionally distant. It might be the ache of divorce, where the person is still alive, but the relationship you once had is gone. It might be the frustration of estrangement, where a sibling or child chooses distance instead of connection. Or it could be the quiet sadness of living with someone emotionally unavailable, leaving you feeling unseen even when they’re right there. In each of these situations, the person hasn’t died, but the relationship you had with them has changed in ways that feel like a loss. That’s why ambiguous grief is so painful; it’s grief without a clear goodbye. Why Ambiguous Grief Hurts Deeply Part of what makes ambiguous grief difficult is that it’s not always recognized. People around you may not understand why you’re hurting. They may even say things like, “But they’re still here,” or “At least it’s not the worst-case scenario.” Those [...]

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What Happens In a DBT Therapy Group? How It Can Help You?

What Happens In a DBT Therapy Group? How It Can Help You?

Miranda Otsuka, Kate Motaung2026-04-30T14:33:56+00:00April 30th, 2026|Featured, Group Counseling, Men’s Issues, Personal Development, Women’s Issues|

Do you tend to blow up easily toward the people closest to you? Do your emotions feel out of control and get in the way of you achieving your goals? Do you feel misunderstood and have trouble connecting with people? If so, this article may be for you. What Is DBT? DBT (dialectical behavior therapy) is a comprehensive, evidence-based treatment plan based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), that has been especially adapted for people who feel emotions intensely, see things as black or white, and struggle with mood swings, emotional instability, relationship issues, and impulsive behaviors. It is conducted through a combination of one-on-one therapy sessions and participation in group therapy sessions. Both are vital to the program's success, but the therapy group is where you learn the skills and practice them with your peers. The dialectical part of DBT focuses on balancing opposing forces and helping you detach from either-or thinking. It teaches you to acknowledge that two things that seem opposite or contradictory can both be true at the same time. You can, for instance, both accept your challenges and work toward changing them simultaneously. The ultimate goal of DBT is to help you understand and accept your difficult feelings while equipping you with effective coping skills to manage them and make the positive changes you desire in your life. The DBT Therapy Group A DBT therapy group generally consists of six to ten people who meet for one to two hours a week for six months to a year. The group is conducted like a class with a structured curriculum that you attend to learn specific skills such as mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness that serve as tools to help you manage difficult emotions, cope with stress, reduce self-destructive behaviors, and improve your [...]

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The Silent Grief of Pregnancy Loss

The Silent Grief of Pregnancy Loss

Miranda Otsuka, Kate Motaung2025-06-18T07:14:11+00:00June 18th, 2025|Featured, Grief Counseling, Individual Counseling, Women’s Issues|

Pregnancy loss is the most common reason for losing a baby during pregnancy. It occurs in up to one in every four pregnancies. If it happens before 20 weeks of gestation, it is typically referred to as a miscarriage, or spontaneous abortion, whereas babies who die 20 weeks or more into the pregnancy are considered stillbirths. There is a unique pain that comes from preparing a place in your heart for a child that never comes – David Platt. A Grief Often Minimized and Misunderstood Most pregnancy losses happen during the first trimester. Because of this risk, many couples choose not to announce their pregnancy until after the first trimester, and as a result, if they do lose their baby during this time, they wind up mourning their loss in private without anyone else being aware of it, and their grief remains silent and unspoken. Even loved ones who may know about it don’t usually recognize the depth of their pain. Pregnancy loss tends to be minimized, misunderstood, and considered less significant than the death of a live person by our culture. Because it is a loss that is not visible to others or does not fit the norm, it is often not openly acknowledged, publicly mourned, or supported. Whereas losing a child, for instance, is commonly acknowledged as one of the most heart-wrenching experiences imaginable, pregnancy loss is more likely to be reacted to with an indifferent shrug, leading you to feel shame and inadequacy along with your anguish. There are no established rituals for mourning pregnancy loss, no traditional observances or other supports that typically accompany loss, no funeral, memorial service, or grave to visit, all of which make it especially hard to process and work through your grief. What Makes Pregnancy Loss Unique One of the [...]

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Signs of Social Anxiety and How to Navigate It

Signs of Social Anxiety and How to Navigate It

Miranda Otsuka, Kate Motaung2025-02-24T03:38:48+00:00February 24th, 2025|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling, Men’s Issues, Women’s Issues|

Some individuals are the life of the party, at ease in a social setting. They seem to relish telling stories that are engaging and keep the crowd enthralled. From the outside, it seems as though they interact with others effortlessly. However, for many people, it’s normal to feel a little nervous or awkward in social settings. It’s expected to feel at least some nervousness in social settings, such as if you’re about to get interviewed for a job or when you’re going on a date, at a party with people you don’t know, or when you’re giving an important speech or presentation. Each person’s comfort level in social situations will vary. It depends on factors such as their life experiences and personality traits. Some people are naturally reserved wallflowers, while others – the social butterflies – are more outgoing. While nervousness in social situations is normal and tends to pass quickly, some forms of social anxiety go beyond this. When a person has social anxiety disorder, which is also called social phobia, they experience more than feelings of shyness or discomfort. Rather, everyday interactions make them feel extremely self-conscious, causing significant anxiety and embarrassment. They are fearful of scrutiny or being judged negatively by others. The fear and anxiety that flows from social phobia leads to avoiding social situations. It can disrupt a person’s life and affect their relationships, daily routines, work, school, sports, or other social activities. What is social anxiety? Social anxiety is more than just feeling shy around people. It names a long-term and overwhelming fear of social situations that doesn’t go away. It affects a person’s everyday activities, self-confidence, relationships, and work or school life. While many people will have some nervousness about social situations, a person with social anxiety will feel overly worried before, [...]

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Postpartum Depression: What It Is and How to Treat It

Postpartum Depression: What It Is and How to Treat It

Kate Motaung2024-11-27T12:47:53+00:00February 22nd, 2024|Depression, Featured, Individual Counseling, Women’s Issues|

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a disorder that women develop after giving birth. The symptoms can include feeling sad, anxious, and exhausted, making it difficult for the mother to take care of herself and her child. PPD can emerge right after birth but commonly emerges one to three weeks after delivery. Often, women who experience PPD have never experienced another form of depression. A lack of understanding and experience with PPD can be a barrier to seeking help. Because of this, many new moms feel that these symptoms are their fault, or they are weak or inadequate moms. This is not true. While various factors influence the prevalence of post-partum depression, on average, 10-15% of women develop PPD. It is important for the mother, child, and the existing family that PPD be diagnosed and addressed. Caring for a newborn is difficult enough, and the symptoms of PPD cause the mother to struggle mentally and emotionally. This makes it difficult for her to care for herself and her child(ren). When a mother struggles this way, it affects the bonding process between mother and infant. Less-than-ideal bonding can then affect the overall development of the infant. Women often struggle with feelings of guilt and shame when struggling with post-partum depression due to an inability to be the mom they want to be. All of this can also impact the family unit. Women who suspect they might have post-partum depression should seek medical attention. Many women need medication to help them with the symptoms of PPD. Antidepressants can help alleviate the symptoms of depression. For people in faith communities, taking medication for depression can be “controversial.” It is essential to realize that treating mental health issues with medication is not much different than treating physical ailments with medication. It might be necessary to [...]

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What Depression Feels Like and How to Cope

What Depression Feels Like and How to Cope

Kate Motaung2024-11-27T12:48:22+00:00October 30th, 2023|Depression, Featured, Individual Counseling, Men’s Issues, Women’s Issues|

Depression comes in many forms. It can be caused by brain circuitry, an imbalance of brain chemicals, trauma, uncontrollable life events, genetics, or family history. What depression feels like is a persistent sadness that envelops you and alters your thoughts and emotions. It leaves you fatigued and often isolated. Depression is diagnosed by professionals using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), 5th Edition from the American Psychiatric Association. A licensed mental health care provider reviews assessments, symptoms, length, and quantity of depressive episodes to make a diagnosis and suggest treatment. Below is a list of several common depression disorders. If you suspect you or a loved one suffers from depression, reach out for help today. Severe depression can lead to thoughts of suicide. Atypical depression. Atypical depression begins at a younger age than other depressive disorders. You are at a higher risk of developing atypical depression if your family history includes people with depression or bipolar disorder. People who abuse alcohol or drugs may also develop this type of depression. Atypical depression is marked by depressive states that lift with a positive event or good news. However, this lift is only temporary. It may seem as if your thoughts and emotions default to depression, and the only relief you have is when something good noticeably happens. Since this depression tries to override other emotions, you must be aware of your thoughts and behaviors. Suicidal thoughts can intrude. Fatigue and a heaviness in your arms and legs can weigh you down and make you sleepy. Your sleep patterns can change, making you sleep more. As hormones shift, your appetite may increase, leading to weight gain, which can lower your self-esteem and make you self-conscious in front of others. People struggling with atypical depression cannot handle criticism effectively [...]

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