Posted on February 27, 2021 by otcc_admin
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by Linda Parker, LMFT
“I can see goodness again.” I loved hearing this from a woman who had gone through several losses at once and come out on the other side with this perspective in her heart and life. Perspective….hmmm, a healing force when it comes to dealing with difficult circumstances. Often, as was the case here, it comes after we’ve passed through the difficult circumstance, but come, it must, for healing to take place.
Posted on July 22, 2020 by otcc_admin
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by Lisa Green, LPC-MHSP
The Corona Virus pandemic has created an unprecedented season in the lives of almost everyone around the world, and all of us are now trying to get our bearings and figure out what life looks like moving forward. And while this has been referred to as adjusting to the “new normal,” it’s important to notice that it doesn’t and won’t feel normal… perhaps for a long time. This has been a season marked by change and uncertainty, and like any other major life transition, there are ways we can foster our resilience and take care of ourselves well.
Posted on May 22, 2020 by otcc_admin
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by Corinne Gnepf, LCMHCA, NCC
Undoubtedly, these recent months have not gone by without leaving marks on you. It is likely that at one point or another you have felt anxious, distressed, upset or depressed because of how Covid-19 has impacted you.
Posted on March 26, 2020 by otcc_admin
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by Amber Goodloe, LPC
I have been working with adolescents for around 15 years now as a counselor, volleyball coach, youth pastor, and various other roles, and one of the most common challenges I run into is difficulties in communication between parents and their teenage children.
Posted on March 23, 2020 by otcc_admin
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by John Leverington, LMFT, LPC, LCSW
Life has become much more complicated and stressful in the last few months or weeks, depending on what country you are living in, as the Corona Virus spreads around the globe. It has brought physical, emotional and spiritual challenges as we cope with the changes to daily life, relationships, personal space, church and team meetings. I have felt the effects on my own life, my family our counseling team and our counseling practice. All of them are changing on a daily basis. We are all feeling uncertain about what could happen next, as we listen to the news about the spread of this pandemic. Stress can affect the immune system, but short-term stress that is managed well is less likely to have this affect. Taking steps to manage and reduce your stress in a healthy way will make a difference.
Posted on January 10, 2020 by otcc_admin
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Porn’s Unconscious Pursuit by Carl Sands, LPC, Olive Tree Counseling
There is a quote which I have seen attributed to many sources from G.K. Chesterton to Francis of Assai. Nevertheless after some research I discovered it most likely originally came from a novel by Bruce Marshal entitled, The World, The Flesh and Father Smith. In the novel Father Smith has a dialogue with a young antagonistic woman who states she believes religion is a substitute for sex. Father Smith’s response is: “I still prefer to believe that sex is a substitute for religion and that the young man who rings the bell at the brothel is unconsciously looking for God.”
Posted on October 20, 2019 by otcc_admin
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By Corinne Gnepf, LPCA
As the masses of tourists in our city are slowly decreasing it signals that the summer is over. For many cross-cultural workers summers offer a break from regular schedules, duties, programs, school, etc. They are looking for rest, renewal, relaxation, and vacation. For others the summer experience is quite the opposite, it is busy, hectic, and intense. They are receiving short-termers and teams, running summer programs, or are the ones who are holding down the fort while the majority of their teammates are participating in the annual exodus. Although it is nice and refreshing to get out of one’s host country and reconnect with loved ones, visiting family, partners, supporters and churches can easily lead to a busy and exhausting summer experience.
Posted on January 8, 2019 by otcc_admin
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by Linda Parker, LMFT
It was just a deeper-than-normal step off the sidewalk curb, and I went down in a flash, hearing the “crack” that made my spirits plunge. A trip to the emergency room confirmed the unhappy results of a broken ankle with a cast and crutches my fate for perhaps the next 6 weeks. I was not a happy camper. It was Christmas and I had places to go and people to see!
Posted on November 8, 2018 by otcc_admin
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by Amber Goodloe, LPC
Many of us know or have heard that “pornography is a problem” and “people today struggle in sexual areas,” but I wonder how often these statements are applied to “them:” the non-believer, the younger generation, men, adults, weak people, those who were abused as children, gross people – and I’m sure the list could go on. The fact is, everyone is susceptible to struggling in the area of sexuality – including men, women, children, and workers!
Posted on September 10, 2018 by otcc_admin
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by John Leverington LMFT, LPC, LMSW
Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time. One type of anxiety is a feeling of apprehension, fear, agitation, or uncertainty in response to a specific known or anticipated threat or danger.
