Relationship Issues Archives | Richardson Christian Counseling

Breaking Up is Hard to Do: Navigating Romantic Relationships and Issues of the Heart

Breaking Up is Hard to Do: Navigating Romantic Relationships and Issues of the Heart

Lori Askew, Kate Motaung2025-04-25T04:38:52+00:00April 24th, 2025|Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues|

Billions of people populate planet Earth. Naturally, it feels like we’ve discovered hidden treasure when meeting “the one” of a million potential romantic interests. It’s exciting to start a new romantic relationship and to learn about that person, while also discovering and developing ourselves. As the relationship progresses, we discover the beauty of connection, learning to give and receive love. Yet, as time evolves, the match we have made may look and feel different than we remember at the start. Often, what seemed magical in the beginning feels weighty in time. King Solomon, who penned many proverbs, echoed that God coordinates our purpose with the times and seasons of our lives. When relationships fray, we may question why an individual came into our lives. Growing a healthy relationship takes two people with God at the core, but everyone who comes together won’t necessarily remain together. Whether joining with a potential partner or separating from them, our hearts require tender care as we pray, seek counsel, and follow the Holy Spirit’s lead. Not only do we need to discern God’s heart before we enter a dating partnership, but we also need to search His heart before terminating a relationship. Richardson Christian Counseling provides Christ-centered support and guidance through every season of relationships, helping individuals navigate both beginnings and endings with wisdom and grace. This article outfits us with spiritual insight and practical considerations for relationships when plagued with issues of the heart. Suitability and Breaking Up While some people may not have all of what we are looking for, that may not mean they are an unsuitable fit or a poor choice. Likewise, some people may possess desirable qualities, and not be suitable or well-matched for us. According to the Bible, God wants us to have partners that are a [...]

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Taking Active Steps Toward Bullying Prevention

Taking Active Steps Toward Bullying Prevention

Sarah Gibson, Kate Motaung2025-04-25T05:20:44+00:00April 4th, 2025|Christian Counseling for Children, Christian Counseling For Teens, Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues|

Whether in person or online, our society has become increasingly intertwined. Even though we now have more ways to connect with people through social media, texts, calls, or video chats, these same means of connection can also cause us to feel distant from one another. One area where this is keenly seen is with regard to bullying. Bullying is one such way in which people ignore the basic needs, dignity, and humanity of others. Bullying affects both adults and children, leading to feelings of isolation, anxiety, low self-esteem, and even depression. Richardson Christian Counseling supports individuals who are struggling with the emotional effects of bullying, offering compassionate care grounded in faith and healing. When it comes to children, bullying most often happens at school, but it also can take place online as well. Those who are more at risk of being bullied are: People who are considered weak or unable to defend themselves Those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, and two-spirit People who are perceived as being different based on their weight, what they wear, or their social status Those who have a physical, mental, or intellectual disability Bullying Prevention by Understanding Bullying To develop effective strategies to prevent bullying, we must understand the nature of bullying. According to the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), bullying is characterized by the following: Intentional It is unwanted, aggressive behavior that is intended to cause emotional or physical harm. Repeated Unwanted behavior is repeated multiple times or has the likelihood of being repeated many times. Power imbalance Bullying involves an imbalance of power between the target and perpetrator(s) based on a person’s weight, real or perceived race, color, national origin, religion or religious practices, disability ethnic group, sexual orientation, gender, physical appearance, sex, or other distinguishing characteristics. [...]

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How to Identify Codependent Behavior in a Relationship

How to Identify Codependent Behavior in a Relationship

Kate Motaung2025-04-25T05:57:51+00:00March 6th, 2025|Codependency, Couples Counseling, Featured, Infidelity and Affairs, Marriage Counseling, Relationship Issues|

When it comes to relationships, there are many different ways and reasons it can be unhealthy and struggling to flourish. One of those ways is through codependent behavior. Codependency Briefly Explained The term codependency describes a relationship in which the people involved are over-reliant on one another. This over-reliance may be mental, emotional, spiritual, or physical, and it often leads to a person entering and remaining in destructive, one-sided, or abusive relationships. Codependent relationships can be found in all kinds of relationships, such as the parent-child relationship, between siblings, coworkers, or lovers. Often, codependent behavior is learned as a person watches and then goes on to imitate the behavior they see displayed in unhealthy relationships. That’s one reason there can be patterns of codependent behavior in families. A codependent person will often feel, for one reason or another, that it is their role to ‘save’ another person and to meet their needs, even if it is at the expense of their own needs and well-being. Richardson Christian Counseling offers support for individuals struggling with codependency, helping them break unhealthy patterns and develop balanced, healthy relationships. In a codependent relationship dynamic, there is a severe imbalance in meeting one another’s needs. The person who gives of themselves to meet the needs of another can lose their sense of who they are by defining themselves by the needs of the other person. Codependency often results from taking on too much responsibility for another person’s needs, and it goes beyond a healthy mutual dependence. Some Signs of Codependent Behavior in Relationships A codependent relationship is unhealthy at the root because it wraps one’s sense of self in meeting someone else’s needs. It also enables the other person to not resolve issues for themselves. It’s natural to want to move toward your loved [...]

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7 Pieces of Relationship Advice for Women

7 Pieces of Relationship Advice for Women

Melissa Plantz2025-04-25T06:40:30+00:00February 28th, 2025|Featured, Relationship Issues, Women’s Issues|

Entering a relationship is exciting and a little scary. Are you moving too fast? Is it too early to share with him certain private matters? Is he treating you right? We can rush in if we feel lonely or have recently divorced. A list of relationship advice for women exists to assist us in making the right choices while keeping our priorities and values front and center. Think of it as a checklist detailing what you want in a healthy relationship and from a man who will add to your life. Relationship Advice for Women You can take these suggestions as standard relationship advice for women who want a partner who will make them better without losing their sense of self. Often, we connect with a man on a surface level, worrying about what he thinks about us or if we are rushing the relationship’s growth. If you have past failed relationships, this may scare you even more. Am I pushing him away if I am myself? Should I pretend to be the person he would want to date and marry? Being anyone other than yourself is futile – no one can hide who they are for long. And why would you? God created you with the personality and appearance unique to you. This does not mean that you should not try to be a better version of yourself by learning new skills and taking care of your health and body. Instead, it means being vulnerable and allowing your true self to shine. If someone cannot accept you for the person God created you to be, that man is probably not the one for you. Move on, Richardson Christian Counseling helps individuals embrace their authentic selves, offering support in building self-acceptance and navigating healthy relationships. Know Your Worth As [...]

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Premarital Counseling: Practical Support Before Getting Married

Premarital Counseling: Practical Support Before Getting Married

Jennifer Kooshian2025-01-25T05:35:22+00:00January 22nd, 2025|Couples Counseling, Featured, Premarital Counseling, Relationship Issues|

Our culture has undergone massive shifts in how we conduct our relationships and the mindset that informs our plays at love. Though many are choosing to cohabit or have other non-traditional couplings, others are still taking steps to celebrate their relationship through marriage. Getting married is an exciting journey that only begins when you say your vows and hopefully lasts a lifetime, making premarital counseling an important step. One of the ways you can strengthen your marriage by gaining tools to prepare you for marital bliss is through premarital counseling. The last thing on your mind during cake tastings or looking through color swatches and table settings is probably wondering who will take the trash out once you’re married. Premarital counseling may seem like it goes against the flow of the wedding rush, but it’s exactly what you need to set yourselves up for life. How Premarital Counseling Works Premarital counseling is a form of talk therapy for couples who have decided to get married. The couple speaks to a couples counselor who helps them to think about different aspects of what married life is like. The couple can meet with their counselor, or they can participate in group counseling with other couples on a similar journey toward marriage. The counseling sessions are typically held in person, but an online option is often available. Premarital counseling can be conducted from a Christian standpoint, highlighting, for instance, how Christian marriage works, questions about divorce and infidelity, as well as how the couple can nurture their faith, serve and support each other. Where premarital counseling is informed by Christian faith, that doesn’t mean that only Christians can benefit from it. Serving one another is a key aspect of any marriage, Christian or not. Premarital counseling sessions will typically be about [...]

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4 Causes of an Insecure Attachment Style

4 Causes of an Insecure Attachment Style

Kate Motaung2024-11-05T06:57:02+00:00November 5th, 2024|Abandonment and Neglect, Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues|

If you’ve been in a relationship, you probably know the feeling. Perhaps your loved one isn’t texting or calling as often, and so you assume they aren’t interested in you anymore. To preempt the inevitable, you decide to break up with them before they break up with you. But to your surprise, you find that you made massive assumptions and blew the relationship up without cause. You may be struggling with an insecure attachment style. The way we respond to others in relationships is shaped considerably by past experiences. You carry fears and expectations into new situations based on what you’ve been through before. Sometimes, these fears and expectations, which comprise your attachment style, can stem from a traumatic experience, and lead you astray and into unhealthy behaviors that undermine a healthy relationship. Attachment Styles and Their Effects Your attachment style is about how you behave and relate to others in your relationships. Some attachment styles are secure, while others are insecure. A secure attachment refers to healthy behaviors you exhibit in your relationships, flowing from the quality of the bonding experiences you had with your parents or caregivers as a child. When a child feels understood and safe, and their needs are met, they develop a secure and successful attachment. Their needs were rightly interpreted and met, which helps the child develop an expectation that it can express needs, and those needs will be met. A secure attachment in childhood will often translate into an adult who trusts others, is self-confident, can express their needs, and manages conflict well. The importance of these formative relationships becomes clear when evaluating instances where one’s needs are met inconsistently or not at all, or where they experience confusing and frightening things. If needs aren’t met or are misinterpreted, it leads to [...]

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3 Kinds of True Friends You May Not Know You Need

3 Kinds of True Friends You May Not Know You Need

Grace Mavindidze2024-09-27T10:25:10+00:00August 5th, 2024|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues|

Every day we hear people talk about their best friend or their closest friend, but have you ever considered that everyone might need several kinds of true friends? Think about what criteria you use to measure the value of a friend. If you are honest with yourself, perhaps you don’t even know why or how to identify who should be closest to you. Thankfully, the Bible has many stories of true friends you can use to gain some insight into what you might have or what you’re missing in your circle of friends. Some of these stories are well known, but there may also be some not-so-popular friendship stories from which you can learn a thing or two about the different kinds of soul connections one can have. Types of true friends you need The interceding true friend: Moses and Aaron In the book of Exodus, there is an inspiring story about Moses, who had a crippling fear of failure, and about speaking to Pharaoh and pleading with God to send him a helper to stand in the gap for him. God not only gave him an assistant, but He also gave him a true friend. Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people, and he will be as a mouth for you, and you will be as God to him. – Exodus 4:14, ESV Years later, when Moses had to lead the Israelites in battle against the Amalekites, yet another impossible task was required of him. As long as Moses kept his hands raised, the Israelites kept winning, but each time he lowered his hands, the Amalekites would gain the upper hand. Aaron helped him keep his hands propped up until the battle was won. Do you have an Aaron in your life? Someone who can speak [...]

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4 Fun Date Ideas for Married Couples

4 Fun Date Ideas for Married Couples

Emmah Machokoto2024-09-27T10:22:53+00:00July 4th, 2024|Couples Counseling, Featured, Marriage Counseling, Relationship Issues|

When you are married, it is easy for the relationship to get stagnant and it can be difficult to come up with date ideas. After a while, you can feel like you are just going through the motions. Adult life can get you carried away in the busyness of day-to-day life. Stress and pressures of work, chores, homework with the kids, and other family responsibilities can sap energy and motivation. With these realities in mind, it becomes important for a married couple to be intentional about spending uninterrupted quality time together away from these distractions. By spending time together, you are both reminded why you fell in love with your spouse in the first place. Coming up with date ideas and spending time together also allows you to rekindle your romance and revive intimacy in your relationship. As a married couple, you need to prioritize going on regular dates to strengthen your marital bond, as well as the emotional connection. By prioritizing dates, you intentionally disrupt the seemingly routine nature of marriage. This allows you and your spouse to create time to pursue other interests together. It is not uncommon to hear people describing their marriage as monotonous or routine. Marriage doesn’t need to be boring, neither should it start to feel like a chore. 4 Date Ideas for Married Couples If you don’t intentionally and consistently spend quality time with your spouse, they might start feeling neglected or disconnected from you. Dates for married people are an important investment that can have positive and lasting benefits for a couple. Explore these four date ideas for married couples. See if there is something you are interested in trying out with your spouse. Outdoor adventure There is something liberating and rejuvenating about the outdoors. It provides a much-needed break from [...]

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How To Deal With People That Are Overstepping Boundaries In Your Relationships

How To Deal With People That Are Overstepping Boundaries In Your Relationships

Kate Motaung2024-10-30T09:12:11+00:00June 29th, 2024|Depression, Family Counseling, Featured, Group Counseling, Individual Counseling, Marriage Counseling, Relationship Issues|

You’ve just gotten home after a long day at work, and you’re sitting on your couch nursing a glass of wine while deciding if there’s anything worth getting into on Netflix. Your phone pings beside you, and you see a few messages that have just come in. One is from a sibling asking to borrow your car for the weekend. Another is from your boss, who’s just sent you an email that they need you to respond to in time for an early morning meeting the next day. The last one is an inappropriate text from a person you went out with once and things didn’t work out, but every so often they still send messages expressing their feelings even after you told them not to. In each of these scenarios, there’s a boundary that is likely getting violated. Your sibling may be asking for the car even though they know you tend to use it then and you’ve hesitated to loan the car to them since they had a fender bender. Your employer should know better than to send work emails outside of work hours and expect a response before the following morning. And if you’ve requested someone to stop sending you messages, they are likewise violating your boundaries and likely your sense of safety. In each of these cases, people are overstepping their boundaries in the relationship. What Are Boundaries? A helpful way to think of boundaries in relationships is to look at a physical real-world example. If you’re blessed enough to own your home, you’ll know that there’s a boundary that marks your property and also delineates what your neighbor’s property is. When you’re cutting your grass or doing some landscaping, you’re responsible for your patch while your neighbor is responsible for theirs. The boundary indicates [...]

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How to Communicate Boundaries in Friendships

How to Communicate Boundaries in Friendships

Stephanie Kramer2024-09-27T10:24:55+00:00May 22nd, 2024|Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Relationship Issues|

The boundaries in friendships you set will likely differ for every relationship in your life. Take time to consider what boundaries are important and healthy in each friendship. Think about the behaviors and actions that make you feel uncomfortable or stressed and use this information to help guide you as you draw your boundaries. How to communicate the boundaries to others After determining where to set healthy boundaries, it’s time to communicate them to the other person in the relationship. Reinforce their value A good way to start a conversation about relationship boundaries is to reiterate your positive feelings about your friend. Help them to feel valued and respected. Be specific and sincere in your compliments and your feelings about the relationship. Communicate clearly Be honest and direct in your communication. It might be helpful to write your boundaries down before you express them. This will help you organize your thoughts and allow you to communicate clearly. Be specific Try to be specific when communicating your boundaries. Don’t use vague language that might be unclear. Instead, give specific statements about what you need. State what you need Focus your statements on what you request of your friend, rather than what you don’t like in the relationship. Avoid directly blaming them or pointing out their faults. Instead, focus on what you need. Remain calm Your message will be better received if you stay calm. Find a time and place when you can talk calmly with your friend about your boundaries. Do not raise your voice. Keep your body language and facial expression pleasant and friendly. Don’t apologize or make excuses Avoid the temptation to make excuses or to apologize for your boundaries. Realize that you have the right to draw healthy and reasonable limits and that doing so will ultimately [...]

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