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How Bird and Birdsong Encounters Improve Mental Health

How Bird and Birdsong Encounters Improve Mental Health

By Kate Motaung|November 17th, 2022|Featured, Individual Counseling|

According to research, trips to areas rich in avian life could be recommended by psychiatrists to patients looking to improve their mental health. According to the findings of some researchers, the simple act of observing birds or enjoying birdsong encounters can have a positive impact on one’s mental health. Why is hearing birds sing so soothing? The idea was that when there are dangerous predators nearby, birds will stop singing, indicating safety for our subconscious. People have felt at ease and peace when they hear birds sing for thousands of years due to this association with safety. The researchers hypothesized that exposure to nature and birdsong might be an excellent treatment for a variety of mental illnesses. But it comes as no surprise. There are many excellent examples of how nature has a positive impact on health in the medical literature. Dr. Eleanor Ratcliffe, an environmental psychologist at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom, is an expert on the psychological effects of birdsong. People she polled for earlier research believed that birdsong helped them concentrate and unwind. However, their perception of these advantages was influenced by previous outdoor experiences involving a specific birdsong. They responded more favorably to a birdsong if they had previously heard it while enjoying time outside. For instance, some bird songs brought back memories of childhood nature hikes. Harder bird calls, like those of corvids like magpies, were perceived as distracting as opposed to calming and concentrating. The benefits of birdsong were more frequently cited by people who said they felt a stronger connection to nature. More recent studies by Dr. Ratcliffe have shown that more people are calmed by birdsong that is softer, more complex, and melodic or harmonic. This effect was stronger the more frequently birds sang in a recording that [...]

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Three Components of Effective Communication in Your Marriage

Three Components of Effective Communication in Your Marriage

By Kate Motaung|September 28th, 2022|Couples Counseling, Featured, Marriage Counseling, Relationship Issues|

Effective communication is an important part of any relationship. It helps ensure people are connected and understood. This is even more important in a marriage. But just because it’s important doesn’t mean it’s always easy. There are times in a marriage when communication feels hard. Maybe it’s because you don’t agree on something. Maybe it’s because you need something different from what your spouse is offering. Other times you may not even know why the communication feels off; you just know that you feel disconnected. The good news is that communication is a skill that can be learned and built upon over time. Instead of feeling like you just can’t seem to communicate, you and your spouse can work together to build effective communication that serves both of you and draws you closer to one another. Why effective communication matters On some level, it is clear that communication is important. It’s often one of the most discussed elements of relationships. But knowing it is important won’t help you understand why it’s important. And the why is what helps you work for better communication even when it feels challenging. The way you relate to your spouse affects your relationship and more. Some examples of why communication is important are to: prevent misunderstandings work through misunderstandings build respect increase trust remove the need to guess or assume save time increase self-understanding and respect build satisfaction foster growth learn about your partner and yourself reduce stress and anxiety These benefits of communication help you build a stronger, more loving marriage that is less stressful and more beneficial for you and your partner. Elements of effective communication Communication within your marriage involves more than what you talk about. While talking is a key component, you also need to think beyond the verbal to [...]

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Staying Healthy During the Grieving Process

Staying Healthy During the Grieving Process

By Cyndi Kay Green|August 8th, 2022|Featured, Grief Counseling, Individual Counseling|

God designed our bodies with beauty and intricacy. A delicate balance between flesh and spirit that is held together with His spirit and love. There are times when this balance becomes off kilter. One of them is during the grieving process after the loss of a loved one. Grief affects every part of our being. Our delicate bodies become ravaged with heartache. It is in this heartache that we lose touch with taking care of ourselves. Staying healthy during the grieving process requires us to focus on something other than the pain in our being. The onset of anxiety during the grieving process One of the first things we will experience during the loss of a loved one is anxiety. Even people who do not battle anxiety will face some form of it during this difficult time. The battle with anxiety comes from fear. During the emotional stress of losing a loved one, fear comes in the thoughts of “what will my life be like without this person?” Our flesh has a hard time understanding any reason for someone dying. Death is an event that most people fear. To overcome this fear we have to remember what God’s word tells us about fear, death, and His goodness. I sought the LORD, and He answered me And rescued me from all my fears. – Psalm 34:4, NASB When we turn our focus on Christ and His grace, we can overcome the engulfing manifestation that anxiety brings during heartache. Even though grief is hard we can choose to process it positively. It may not seem like it when we are in the middle of the devastation, but it is doable. It is a matter of renewing our minds just as Paul instructed in Romans 12:2. Unhealthy food choices It’s so easy [...]

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3 Resources for How to Deal with Anger

3 Resources for How to Deal with Anger

By Brooke Turbyfill|July 28th, 2022|Anger Issues, Featured, Individual Counseling|

Anger pops up in a variety of situations. It may be something external – sitting in a traffic jam or hearing that your favorite team lost the game in overtime. But often, anger is rooted in something deeper. Getting to the root of that emotion and figuring out how to deal with anger should be done with trusted tools and trained counselors. How to Deal with Anger: 3 Tips The first step is awareness. If someone has ever pointed out that you tend to respond to negative situations in anger, it’s certainly worth paying attention to. Asking yourself some questions may help. Do I frequently regret something I have done or said in a time of anger? Are those closest to me fearful of saying or doing the wrong thing because of how I might react? Do I typically give the “cold shoulder” to someone that has hurt me in the past? Have I refrained from bonding or held back love to show – in a not-so-obvious way – that I am angry with someone? Have I lashed out on more than one occasion with words or physical aggression toward someone because of angry feelings? If you’ve answered yes to any of these, it could be a worthwhile time to examine the depth of your anger. The anger issues may stem from several roots. One way your anger may come out is by punishing yourself. If you get upset with yourself when your very high standards have been broken – by you – then this may be why. It is hard to let go of anger toward yourself, hard to not talk negatively to yourself in your mind, and hard to not berate your choices even if you know that perfection isn’t the ideal. Other exhibits of anger include [...]

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Faith Over Fear: Putting Faith into Practice to Overcome Worry

Faith Over Fear: Putting Faith into Practice to Overcome Worry

By Kate Motaung|July 13th, 2022|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling, Spiritual Development|

Hebrews 11 is known as the “Heroes of Faith” chapter of the Bible. Throughout history, men have done the impossible by faith. “The just shall live by faith” states Hebrews 10:38 (NKJV), and this chapter proves that faith over fear can conquer any circumstance and overcome worry. What have you found your circumstance to be? Is it the uncertainty of a diagnosis? Is it the lack of a steady income? Is it an unfaithful spouse? Is it an estranged father or mother? Did a child take a path that you did not approve of? Whatever you’re facing, this chapter reminds us that through faith, we can face the impossible. With God’s help and through prayer, we can reach what feels unattainable. True biblical faith is not an emotional “hope so;” it is a real conviction based on the Word of God. Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Other versions of this verse use words like “confidence” (NIV), “certainty” (NASB), “reality” (CSB), and “substance” (NKJV) instead of “assurance.” So, when the Holy Spirit gives a man faith through the Word, the very presence of that faith in his heart is all the assurance and evidence he needs to overcome worry. It has been said that faith enables the believing soul to treat the future as present and the invisible as seen. Through faith, men see what others cannot see. When there is true faith in the heart, God bears witness to that heart by His Spirit. By faith, Noah saw coming judgment, Abraham saw a future city, Joseph saw the exodus from Egypt, Moses saw God. By faith they saw the invisible, chose the imperishable, and did the impossible. Faith over fear accomplishes things because there’s power [...]

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