Professional Development Archives | Valencia Christian Counseling

Doing the Work: Self, Spiritual Goals, and Personal Growth

Doing the Work: Self, Spiritual Goals, and Personal Growth

Kate Motaung2024-12-06T17:58:34+00:00November 29th, 2024|Featured, Personal Development, Professional Development, Spiritual Development|

Spiritual goals and growth are not about practicing more religious habits. While those can be external reflections of a relationship with Christ, the root of it occurs in our hearts. Becoming more like Jesus originates in shared time and surrender. Sometimes, we have notions about what we think serving God is supposed to be. Yet, we haven't always inquired with our Father about what that looks like for us, considering how He formed us and fit us in various roles and responsibilities, with distinct spiritual aptitudes and natural abilities. God wants to shape our lives in ways that will not only transform us but also impact our environment. Sometimes, we are preoccupied with the reverse. We envision shifting outside conditions, believing that internal transformation pivots on shifting circumstances. This externalizes our joy, resting it on outside sources with no real guarantee that they will produce the difference we desire. A few well-placed changes may suffice temporarily, but they won't bring the abiding peace and long-term transformation that glorifies God and blesses us and others. Instead, Jesus invites us to journey with Him into our souls to dig deep concerning our spiritual goals and growth. As we yield, the Holy Spirit does the work of changing our lives from the inside out. He may rearrange circumstances, but He often begins with our character. Ultimately, He transforms us, enabling us to make environmental changes reflective of who He is and what He's doing within our souls. The following outline a few ways we can follow His lead, with spiritual integrity and practical simplicity. Self-Reflection The mirror of God's Word enables us to accurately see ourselves as God does (James 1:23-24). Often, the world's noise distracts and infiltrates our souls with toxins that blur our vision, blinding us to the influences that [...]

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Examples of Professional Boundaries and Why They Matter

Examples of Professional Boundaries and Why They Matter

Kate Motaung2024-10-30T10:43:23+00:00October 1st, 2024|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Professional Development|

Work is a good thing, even though it can be hard or feel unrewarding at times. A person’s work can provide a sense of meaning and an outlet for their creative gifts, and it allows them to provide for themselves and their family. However, work can take over one’s life and transgress professional boundaries, occupying more space than it should. This can have detrimental effects on a person’s health as well as their relationships. Having a decent work-life balance helps to minimize the negative effects of work taking over one’s life. Maintaining that balance requires reliable professional boundaries. Understanding boundaries A physical boundary is a line of some kind that tells you where one thing ends, and another begins. A boundary could be the walls of your apartment which distinguishes your space from your neighbor’s space. If you have a parking space at work, the boundary that marks your spot out is usually a set of lines and an inscription that indicates what you have exclusive access to. In our relationships, we won’t often have physical lines that work the same way, but that doesn’t mean boundaries don’t exist or that they don’t matter. When it comes to how we relate to others, boundaries are, according to the American Psychological Association, “a psychological demarcation that protects the integrity of an individual or group or that helps the person or group set realistic limits on participation in a relationship or activity.” A boundary says, in effect, “This is me, and this is you.” We are all made uniquely in God’s image, with our opinions, values, abilities, personalities, tolerances, loves, pet peeves, and everything that makes us who we are. These are what distinguish us from the next person. Your boundaries protect your integrity, and they guide others in how to interact [...]

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Do You Need a Certified Life Coach?

Do You Need a Certified Life Coach?

Melissa Plantz2024-10-03T12:37:59+00:00August 29th, 2024|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Professional Development, Spiritual Development|

In a world of constant changes and transitions, you don’t have to navigate it alone. While friends and family can be a great source of support, there are limitations. They may offer advice that isn’t always helpful or overlook issues that could hinder your progress. This is where a certified life coach can step in. A certified life coach is an expert in a particular area based on their own experiences. Unlike a counselor or therapist, a certified life coach does not diagnose or treat mental health conditions. Instead, they focus on posing questions, active listening, and suggesting steps to help you reach your goals. Why you should consider a certified life coach. A life coach can be anyone who uses their skills, past experiences, and successes to help others reach their goals in the same area of expertise. The industry for life coaches is unregulated, but a certified life coach has the added advantage of having taken the required training and learned skills to communicate effectively with various people. If you plan to make a major change in your life or see if it is possible, a certified life coach can help you get started. You can find a coach in just about any industry. For example, if you are trying to lose weight and get healthy after years of dieting, a certified life coach in the health and wellness arena could help you set goals, choose one goal to focus on, and create a plan. As you progress toward your goal, the life coach supports you by checking in and helping you reassess and adjust, as necessary. What a certified life coach could do for you You want to find a certified life coach in the specific area you need to focus on. The following are common [...]

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Tips for Preventing and Recovering from Teacher Burnout

Tips for Preventing and Recovering from Teacher Burnout

Caitlin Mallery2024-10-03T12:57:35+00:00March 29th, 2024|Featured, Individual Counseling, Professional Development|

When you decided to become a teacher you most likely had a passion, a fire if you will, for the career you wanted to embark on. It could have been passion for the topic you teach, passion for the students you could reach, or you were inspired by a teacher you had in your childhood. But today, that fire feels small, maybe even dead. You are struggling with mustering up even a little enthusiasm for the career you started. You may be struggling with teacher burnout. According to one Gallup survey, the rate of teacher burnout is 14% higher than in other industries. The ongoing challenges of larger classroom sizes, wages not meeting the cost of living, and dealing with many other stressors all lead to an increase in the reality and likelihood of teachers feeling burnt out in their jobs. Common signs of teacher burnout: Feeling emotionally exhausted. Feeling like they are not making a difference. Having negative thoughts about their job. Being cynical about their students or colleagues. Feeling isolated and alone. Having physical symptoms like headaches, nausea, or fatigue. If you recognize these signs in yourself that is a good thing, because then you can do something about it. Several things can help you recover from and prevent teacher burnout. Set boundaries It is important to set boundaries around your time and energy. This means not taking work home, limiting the number of extracurricular activities you participate in, and refusing to work with difficult students or colleagues. It is recommended that you do not give your personal phone number to students or parents. You don’t need to be available outside of your contracted hours to the school. Take time off Make sure you take time off regularly, both during the school year and during the summer. [...]

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