Christian Counselors of Mooresville

08/25/2025

Fall semester is in full swing at colleges. For many, this is a fresh start. It can be challenging for students and parents alike as this new chapter unfolds. We have created a new resource for those wanting to learn more about adjusting to college. In "24 Ways to Improve A College Student's Mental Health" we address how to prepare for and improve aspects of college life.

This is a list of actionable steps that a college student can make to improve their mental health. In fact, these same strategies helped me to thrive in college and has helped my clients as well. So if you want to make friends, be healthy, and thrive in college, you'll love this list of tips,

07/23/2025

07/23/2025

Some kids really know how to do this well, of course! AND, it's important to remember that it's not a race, and it's HEALTHY to need other humans - especially when we're struggling. Children should not be able to "just deal with it" yet. Co-regulation is such an important gift we can give them: it creates so much safety with their own feelings.

07/23/2025

his applies to a therapist with a client or a friend with a friend. It's like has said: what makes something better is not so much your verbal response to another person as it is your connection with them. And connection is about nonverbal communication. Connection is about presence far more than words. Podcast episode 70 dives into all this in more depth.

07/23/2025

07/16/2025

🧠 “That’s just how they are” isn’t always harmless.

Sometimes it’s how dysfunction hides in plain sight.
Especially when someone’s never been held accountable to change.

The brain loves patterns… even toxic ones.
If a behavior worked once to avoid discomfort, gain control, or protect ego… the mind wires it in as “normal.”

But unchecked behavior isn’t the same as unchangeable behavior.

Growth takes effort. Regulation. Self-reflection.
And not everyone is willing to do that work, especially if the people around them make excuses instead of setting boundaries.

You’re allowed to expect growth.
Even from the people who’ve “always been that way.”

✨ A mind can change at any age. But it has to be willing.

👇 Comment RESET if you’ve seen this in your life, and I’ll DM you the link to pre-order my new book Help in a Hurry + claim $900 in bonuses.

07/15/2025

I believe a good trauma therapist is like a healthy parent. ⠀⁠
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A good parent:⠀⁠
*seeks to know⁠
*remembers ⠀⁠
*guides⁠
*cares for ⠀⁠
*bonds⁠
*enjoys the relationship⁠
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For childhood trauma survivors - the idea of being parented got wrecked. We raised ourselves and when a toxic parent tries to parent, it feels like a betrayal or a manipulation or hypocrisy. ⠀⁠
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So when we find a healer, we can experience deep shame since having a caring person in front of us is so foreign and necessary - our inner child feels like we are bad for needing it or getting that attention. Being seen can be uncomfortable in the beginning.⠀⁠
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We can also experience defiance, freak out, or feeling like we are being controlled. ⠀⁠
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Staying and tolerating being parented is part of the work when the therapist/healer is safe. ⠀⁠
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Have thoughts on this one?

07/15/2025

Maybe this is a great thing for you! I truly hope it is.
If it's not, though, just know that your brain is just doing it's job...playing forward the script/pattern it learned (that's also how we remember to walk, for example).
If we want to do ANYTHING a new way, it takes intentional focus. Fortunately, it's possible, especially with evidence-based and compassionate support, whether that's from someone like me, or from someone in your personal circle. ❤️

07/15/2025

✨

07/15/2025

I cover more ideas of what to do instead in the book, but one option is to realize that children really do have a sincere and legitimate need for our presence and engagement. Can we do this all the time? Of course not. When we can, though, we can realize they're not exhibiting "bad behavior" - they're asking for us to show up for them. ❤️