Barriers to Building Self-Esteem—and God’s Pathway to Freedom
General Erica Realpe General Erica Realpe

Barriers to Building Self-Esteem—and God’s Pathway to Freedom

Self-esteem is often misunderstood in both Christian and clinical spaces. Some view it as prideful or self-focused, while others chase it through performance, approval, or perfection. In counseling, we often discover that impaired self-esteem is not about a lack of effort—it is about believing things that are not true.

False beliefs shape how we see ourselves, how we relate to others, and how we experience God. These beliefs carry consequences. The good news is that Scripture offers not vague encouragement, but specific solutions—and those solutions produce measurable change.

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Is Your Child Disciplined or Just Afraid to Mess Up? How to Tell the Difference.
Children and Teens Guest User Children and Teens Guest User

Is Your Child Disciplined or Just Afraid to Mess Up? How to Tell the Difference.

Discipline that Builds Character, not Fear. Most parents are not trying to be harsh. They are trying to raise strong, respectful, and loving kids. But here is a question worth slowing down for:

Are we building character, or just controlling behavior? A child can comply because they are afraid, but they can also comply because they understand. Those two paths lead to very different outcomes.

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Is It Time for Couples Counseling? Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore.
Couples Guest User Couples Guest User

Is It Time for Couples Counseling? Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore.

When couples experience relationship difficulties, many recognize the need for counseling or professional support. However, taking the first step is often delayed, allowing problems to escalate. Timing plays a critical role in the effectiveness of couples counseling, and waiting too long can significantly reduce its impact.

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Learning to Accept: Building Tolerance for Hard Emotions
General, Anxiety and Depression Guest User General, Anxiety and Depression Guest User

Learning to Accept: Building Tolerance for Hard Emotions

Learning to Accept: Building Tolerance for Hard Emotions

There is a well-known quote attributed to Carl Jung: “What you resist persists.” 

What Jung wanted people to know was that the more you try to push away, deny, or fight a problem, feeling, or thought, the more it intensifies. 

When it comes to emotions, this is certainly true.  When we experience difficult or uncomfortable emotions like fear, dread, regret, and even grief, it’s tempting to resist feeling these emotions by pushing them away, ignoring them, or drowning them in something else, like work or alcohol.

This resistance to discomfort and pain is a natural response. Afterall, who likes to experience discomfort and pain?  

While resisting these difficulties might seem like a good idea in the moment, the route of resistance comes with a price.

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