Individual Counseling Archives | Grapevine Christian Counseling

3 Signs Your Loved One is a Narcissist

3 Signs Your Loved One is a Narcissist

Michelle LazurekMay 5th, 2025|Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues|

Narcissism is a word that many people throw around. A spouse or person often uses this word to degrade or belittle someone else. They will slap the label of narcissism on someone when they feel anyone is being too selfish or not considering their needs first. Narcissism is a complex disorder that goes beyond simple selfishness. A person who is a narcissist believes the world revolves around them. They’re constantly building their world around them so that people and events validate their superiority. While narcissists may feel comfortable in this situation, their loved ones may feel victimized, and this type of behavior takes a toll on their relationship as the other person never gets their needs met. Here Are Three Signs Your Loved One Is a Narcissist Lack of Empathy Because a narcissist is constantly concerned about what others think or feel about them, they may have a general lack of empathy. For example, you may come home and tell them all about your problems. Not only will you not get any supportive feedback from them, but you may also get narcissists to change the conversation, so the conversation is all about them. A person with empathy supports the communicator with loving words and actions to comfort them in their time of need, whereas a narcissist lacks the comforting skills to be able to help someone in need. A great way to help narcissists develop empathy is to ask them to serve in their community. Nothing changes a person’s attitude, like putting others first. Narcissists can see that some people have had worse problems than others and desperately need time, money, and resources. Narcissists may be able to break free of their ways and develop empathy so they can help and comfort those in need. Constant Need for Validation [...]

Comments Off

5 Warning Signs of Codependency

5 Warning Signs of Codependency

Cyndi Kay GreenApril 22nd, 2025|Codependency, Couples Counseling, Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues|

Codependency is a term that is used to describe a pattern of behavior connected to a dysfunctional relationship. Most of the time, signs of codependency include a person relying on another person to maintain emotional well-being. The idea of a couple who have the mindset that they cannot fathom life without each other is a romanticized plot in a movie, but it is also the description of a relationship riddled with signs of codependency. An imbalanced exchange of emotional and mental support typically characterizes these relationships. One person feels a sense of responsibility for the other person being happy and safe. This means that the other person is often an enabler for the one that is codependent. The most common dynamic is one in which the codependent person has a narcissistic behavior pattern. We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. - Romans 15:1, NIV 5 Common Warning Signs of Codependency in a Relationship Enabling Behaviors In a codependent relationship, the enabler will allow the codependent to engage in dysfunctional behaviors. This can be portrayed by giving money, making excuses, and tolerating being mistreated. Extreme Caretaking Habits It is common for the codependent to feel as though they need to take care of the other person by fixing all the problems. This is an unhealthy level of responsibility that often takes away from the needs of the codependent. Controlling Behaviors Behaviors that are seemingly controlling are often a warning sign that the relationship may be one of codependency. This behavior is often coupled with a lack of trust. Because of a fear of being abandoned, the codependent will desire a need for control in the relationship. This makes them feel as though they are in control of deflecting any hurt [...]

Comments Off

How to Help a Friend Through Grief: Finding Grief Therapy in Grapevine, Texas

How to Help a Friend Through Grief: Finding Grief Therapy in Grapevine, Texas

Wade Van StadenMarch 13th, 2025|Featured, Grief Counseling, Individual Counseling|

Looking for grief therapy in Grapevine, Texas? If so, we can help. Grief is a complex and awful thing to go through. Usually, there is no coaching on how to help someone through grief because our culture treats death in avoidant ways. It is only at the funerals or memorial services that people openly speak about the lost loved one directly, about mortality and the meaning of life. From then on, many try to avoid these topics as best they can. Death and grief are heavy topics, and it can be uncomfortable to navigate them. Unfortunately, we cannot avoid them, though. We should be able to support grieving friends as they deal with their loss in ways that aren’t complicated or hurtful. Helping a Friend Through Grief Grief isn’t an emotion that passes. When a person loses someone they loved, they will grieve that person for the rest of their lives. The first thing to know about grief, then, is that it never truly passes. Grief changes over time. At first, people might feel highly emotional, stressed out, and unstable. Weeks afterward, they might be withdrawn, quiet, and depressed. Months after that, they might be stuck in depression, or they might appear to have moved on, even if they are only masking their emotions. Grief is a unique process for every person. There are several things, though, that we can do for grieving friends that will hopefully help them. At least, we will have communicated that we care about our friend by trying any of these suggestions. Don’t be afraid of messing up. It’s always better to try and help a grieving friend than to avoid the topic entirely. Give space for complicated feelings and awkwardness Grief is messy and awkward. There is no training for it and no [...]

Comments Off

Step-Family Challenges and How to Manage Them

Step-Family Challenges and How to Manage Them

Cyndi Kay GreenMarch 7th, 2025|Family Counseling, Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues|

In recent years society has moved away from the term step-family and has started using blended family to describe the dynamics of a family created by spouses who have children from a previous relationship/marriage. Step-family challenges come from creating a family from two pre-existing families. The kids involved can be overwhelmed with conflicting emotions while parents try to navigate the new dynamics in the home. This blending of a stepfamily takes patience and effort. It can be painful to build new relationships because there are so many new interactions that must be navigated. But it can also be a beautiful thing when the parents choose to keep God in the midst. Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. – Psalm 127:3, NIV Step-family Challenges and Managing Them Well Building a healthy family is challenging without the dynamic of being a step-family. When the addition of other family members gets thrown into the mix, there are complex situations that must be navigated to create a healthy family with healthy bonds. Creating a healthy and well-balanced home is attainable when the family, especially the parents, is intentional with untangling the fine threads of emotions, expectations, and experiences. New family roles As a couple with children comes together there will be new roles that will be established. Children and parents will each be subjected to a different dynamic when it comes to what their role in this new family becomes. Managing the challenge: The boundaries of these roles are important and should be respected. Parents must remember to be gentle in developing new relationships with their stepchildren. Different cultures Each family comes with its own culture and traditions. These differences can create tension if it seems as though only one set of cultures is being incorporated into [...]

Comments Off

The Dangerous Hamster Wheel of a Materialistic Lifestyle

The Dangerous Hamster Wheel of a Materialistic Lifestyle

Kate MotaungFebruary 26th, 2025|Featured, Individual Counseling, Spiritual Development|

An actress once said, “The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat.” We can sometimes get so caught up in doing something that we forget to ask whether we should be doing it at all, or how it could be shaping and changing us for the worse. The American dream far too often turns into a nightmare of epic proportions. By the time we realize it, we’re already hip-deep into it. The Lord made us as ensouled bodies, or embodied souls; whichever way you put it, we are spiritual and physical beings, made from the dust of the ground, but with the breath of God inside us (Genesis 2:7). Our bodies and spirits need sustenance, though we often find ourselves looking after one over the other. Our material needs can seem more pressing than other needs, leading us to value the things that meet those needs. If a person becomes materialistic, it can introduce an imbalance in their life that’s detrimental to their wellbeing. Why Materialism Is a Hamster Wheel Of the many things that Jesus spoke about, money was a frequent topic. He understood how anxious we get about what we will eat, drink, or wear, and a lot of His teaching was to help His disciples become free of the anxieties about these things (Matthew 6:19-34; Luke 12:13:34). When we don’t know what tomorrow brings, it seems our first instinct is to worry about it and try to future-proof our lives. Most of us wouldn’t call ourselves materialistic. Materialism can be understood as valuing physical or tangible things more than we value spiritual things. A materialist person could even be described as living as though the only reality, or the only one that matters, is what we can see, [...]

Comments Off

Signs of Employee Burnout to Look Out for

Signs of Employee Burnout to Look Out for

Kate MotaungNovember 21st, 2024|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Professional Development|

One of the many tasks that a manager or an employer undertakes is to look out for the well-being of his or her employees and help them avoid employee burnout. One could be transactional and cynical about this, and frame it as protecting one’s investment and bottom line, but it’s really about caring for others. Loving others as you love yourself means doing, where it’s up to you, what you can you help them flourish and be the best they can be. Whatever else they may be, the people who work for you or are under your authority are human beings made in God’s image. This implies many things, including their inherent dignity and worth. Being in authority over others carries the burden of responsibility and care for them. Just as you’re in charge of others and they are accountable to you, you are ultimately accountable to God for how you discharge your responsibilities (Colossians 4:1). As an employer or manager, one of the things to look out for among the people who work for you is work burnout. Some signs of employee burnout Burnout is the state of mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion that can overtake a person when they are overworked or placed under difficult conditions. When someone is stressed for an extended period and they don’t effectively relieve that stress, burnout may result. Some of the consequences of burnout will include people making avoidable mistakes, a lack of enthusiasm, and a decline in creativity. Some common signs of employee burnout to look out for include the following: Cynicism and detachment from work. Chronic fatigue and exhaustion. Increased absenteeism or tardiness. Presenteeism, which is when one is present but not being fully productive. Reduced productivity and performance; this may include procrastination. Lack of motivation, interest, and enthusiasm for [...]

Comments Off

OCD Help: Understanding Rituals

OCD Help: Understanding Rituals

Stephanie KramerOctober 23rd, 2024|Featured, Individual Counseling, OCD|

Dealing with time-consuming rituals can be one of the most challenging aspects of living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). While many with this disorder think conducting rituals will bring them peace, they often get the opposite result. When a ritual becomes too long or complicated, it can become a burden, leading to exhaustion. Read this article to find OCD help. These rituals, whether they involve constant checking, cleaning, or mental routines, often feel necessary at the time but can take over your day and leave little time for anything else. The good news? There are ways to manage and reduce the hold these rituals have on your life. When Rituals Are Helpful vs. Harmful Not all rituals are destructive. Sometimes they can be beneficial. For example, routines like checking that the stove is turned off or washing your hands before eating serve practical purposes. However, when they -become irrational or excessive, they can take over your life and cause significant distress. Understand your rituals The first step in managing your impractical rituals is to understand the reason they bring you comfort. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help you properly identify your rituals and better understand them. What specific actions do I feel compelled to repeat? Start by identifying the exact behaviors that you feel you must perform. Is it locking the door multiple times, washing your hands excessively, or mentally repeating a phrase? What triggers these actions? Consider what situations, thoughts, or emotions make you feel the need to perform these actions. Is it stress, or a fear of something going wrong? What do I hope to achieve by performing these rituals? Think about what you believe will happen if you don’t perform the ritual. Are you trying to prevent something bad from happening or is [...]

Comments Off

Strategies for Managing Anxiety and Anger During Daily Commutes

Strategies for Managing Anxiety and Anger During Daily Commutes

Stephanie KramerAugust 28th, 2024|Anger Issues, Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling|

According to the United States Census Bureau, the average commute in America has increased over the last few years to a new high of about an hour per day roundtrip. This means that the average adult spends nearly twenty hours a month traveling to and from their daily responsibilities. If you struggle with anxiety and anger, this has all the ingredients for an outburst. Knowing that you are facing potential triggers is the first step in learning to avoid them. Tips to manage anxiety and anger Here are some other tips to help you manage your anxiety and anger during your daily commute. Eat a balanced breakfast Being “hangry” (being simultaneously hungry and angry) is a real thing. Often our emotions are highest when we are hungry. Allowing enough time in your morning routine to have a healthy breakfast will help regulate your emotions. Include protein and healthy fats to stabilize blood sugar levels. Limit stimulants Avoid sugar and caffeine which can exacerbate anxiety symptoms. Before and during your commute drink water or herbal tea instead of coffee or sugary drinks. Get plenty of sleep As tempting as it is to stay up all night and flip through social media, getting a good night’s rest the night before can help you stay emotionally balanced throughout the day. Be prepared Being prepared is key to reducing anxiety. Before your commute, take a few minutes to ensure that everything you need is ready. This might include planning your route and checking for possible delays, packing your bag the night before, and setting out your clothes ahead of time to minimize morning decisions. Avoid triggers If you know that you get emotionally charged from listening to sports broadcasts or heated political debates, don’t. If driving past your ex-fiancée’s house will put you [...]

Comments Off

Making Sense of Christian Divorce and Finding Support

Making Sense of Christian Divorce and Finding Support

Jennifer KooshianAugust 14th, 2024|Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues|

Relationships can run the gamut from beautiful and fulfilling to traumatic and life-altering. It’s not always easy to know when to walk away from a relationship; perhaps this is just a bad season and good times are just around the corner. Or, given time and some elbow grease, things could turn around. These and many other thoughts could accompany the conviction to hang in there for another day or another year and put off the contemplation of divorce. The life and the story of any marriage is a unique one, and it can be difficult to walk others through the intricacies of each decision and action that has led you to the point of seeking a divorce. Ending a relationship, much less a marriage, is a step that ought to be undertaken thoughtfully; at least with as much thought as what you applied to enter the relationship to begin with. This article will attempt to highlight some considerations to make before stepping toward divorce. Implications and reasons for divorce There are many reasons why a person could decide to get divorced. Some of the main reasons why people get divorced include issues as diverse as infidelity, conflict over money, a lack of commitment, domestic violence and other forms of abuse, differences over roles and division of labor in the family, incompatible or conflicting parenting styles, lack of family support, emotional neglect, and religious and cultural differences, to name a few. These reasons may just be words on a page for some, but for the person who has lived through those conflicts, the emotional abandonment, or financial strain, they may be reminders of a dark and painful time that’s probably best forgotten. Whatever else it might be, the thought of getting a divorce might feel like getting a reprieve from [...]

Comments Off

Tips for Men Facing Depression

Tips for Men Facing Depression

Kate MotaungJune 26th, 2024|Depression, Featured, Individual Counseling, Men’s Issues|

Men often have particular ways of dealing with depression that are different from how women, teens, and children deal with depression. Men tend to bottle up their feelings, withdraw from friends and family, and seek out escapist coping behaviors, like playing video games, binge drinking, or watching excessive amounts of sports. These coping methods may feel helpful in the short term, but they might be damaging to a man’s relationships, profession, and long-term mental health. There are different types of depression and varied reasons for experiencing it, but all types are treatable through a combination of therapy and medication. Here are some tips for men to identify depression, and then to know how to cope with it. Keep in mind that all the personal effort you put into coping with depression could be supplemented with professional help from a counselor or therapist. Stop and self-evaluate Research shows that most men become depressed through over-extending themselves. Most of us want to just keep going, but you can’t run on fumes forever. No matter the pressure that is on you at this current moment, it is always a good idea to take some time to check in with yourself, even if it is only a few hours at the end of the day. You might be depressed if you are experiencing uncharacteristic emotional outbursts, have trouble sleeping, have constant thoughts of wishing you were away from your current situation, or are experiencing constant physical exhaustion. When the things that used to bring you joy or a sense of fulfillment no longer have the same effect, that’s often a clear sign that you are dealing with depression. You might not even know it until you stop and consider how you are doing below the surface. Get balance Men tend to use escapism [...]

Comments Off

12 Next

Individual Counseling

CONTACT INFO

Grapevine Christian Counseling

ABOUT US