by Mitzi Brown, M.A., LMHC, LPC It's cringeworthy for many people, that word: Vulnerability. What images, beliefs, and meanings are stirred up when you hear that word? For some, vulnerability evokes unbearable emotions and takes them back to a time and place when...

We're finally in the middle of the holiday season. Many of us, myself included, look forward to this time of year with great anticipation. That's because I–and probably you–love holidays centered around faith and family. The time between Thanksgiving and New Year's is...

At the heart of many counseling issues is a decision to be made. Decision-making can be easy and passive or difficult and painstaking. The will of God in our decisions is the same way: we know that it’s not God’s will for us to lie or steal, but discerning the will of...

Anger—it’s a powerful, often misunderstood emotion. While anger itself isn’t always a sin, it’s easy for it to take root and cause damage, both inwardly and in our relationships with others. Scripture calls us to handle anger wisely. In James 1:19, we’re reminded,...

In our social-media-driven culture, which is supposedly more connected than at any point in history, it's ironic that people actually feel more disconnected than ever. The pressure to keep up and present a flawless life online is immense. We see the best moments of...

Learn How Life in the Church Helps Mental Health As a counselor or pastor, you've likely seen it time and time again: someone comes to you overwhelmed by life's struggles—drowning in loneliness, anxiety, or deep emotional pain. They might have tried to cope...

3 Questions for the Exhausted Christian Counselor If you’re a counselor, odds are you became a counselor because you wanted to help people. Your caring heart and concern for others are noble, and your gifting is why you’re good at what you do. But even the best of us...

Bitterness is a cancer. Bitterness can seem like a harmless, proper response to pain or betrayal. But make no mistake: every ounce of hurt one holds onto is toxic. Bitterness is a slow but deadly destroyer of relationships, a mental-health kryptonite, and a surefire...

Lately, I have been thinking about what it means to forgive someone. As Christians, we hear about forgiveness regularly, and it's become such a familiar concept that we don't always think too deeply about it. Personal experience has taught me just how hard forgiveness...