Christi Young, LPC

Some people carry a quiet, lifelong fear that a parent will disapprove of who they are—how they feel, how they express themselves, or the choices they’ve made. It’s not loud fear. It’s subtle, shaping the way they show up in relationships. It creates an internal pressure to hide emotions, dial themselves down, or constantly check if they’re “too much.” This fear doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human. And God meets you right here. Why Parental Disapproval Cuts So Deep God

When you’re overloaded, it can feel natural to reach for a glass of wine or a cigarette for quick relief. Not because you’re weak, but because those habits once helped you survive  something hard. But deep down you know this: You were made for a steadier, gentler kind of peace. A peace that doesn’t leave you feeling disappointed, guilty, or disconnected from the strength God is forming in you. This is not about shame. This is about offering your stressed-out body and aching h

Parenting a teenager is holy and humbling work. Teens can be loving, insightful, thoughtful—and then, in a moment of overwhelm, throw out words that feel like arrows: “You don’t get me.”“You’re ruining my life.”“You don’t care about anything I feel.”“Everyone else has better parents.”“Just leave me alone.” These words come fast, hot, and sharp. Even the most grounded parent feels a sting. But beneath the intensity is a teenager who is still learning emotional regulation, iden

1. The Three-Part Check-In Draw three sections for: Protector Part Hopeful Part Spirit-Led Self Reflect in each section: What is this part afraid of? What does it want for me? How does it try to protect me? What would it say if it felt safe? Close with a simple prayer:“Lord, let my Spirit-led Self lead my decisions in peace.” 2. “What’s the Real Fear?” Journaling Map Prompts: What feels risky about letting someone see the real me? What past experiences taught me dating = chao

A Christian Perspective There’s a unique kind of tension that arises when life is finally steady—your routines are peaceful, your emotions feel grounded, and you’re not waking up with the same anxiety you once carried. Then the thought of dating enters the picture. Part of you wants connection.Another part fears disturbing the peace you’ve fought hard to build. This tension doesn’t mean you’re broken or indecisive. It means you’re human—and that your past experiences have sha

Living in Fight-or-Flight at Work: Why Your Body Feels on Edge and Your Mind Feels Overwhelmed** There are seasons when work doesn’t just feel stressful—it feels threatening.  Not because anything dangerous is happening, but because your nervous system is reacting as if you’re under attack. Your heart races over simple tasks. Your mind jumps from one thing to another. Your body stays tense long after the moment passes. You try to calm down, but the stress keeps rising. You tr

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 There are seasons when love feels like a battle. You love your husband, you love your children — and yet, there are days when love feels more like endurance than joy. The weight of keeping everyone afloat, of holding together what feels fragile, leaves you bone-tired. Your husband’s recovery brings hope, but it also brings a strange loneliness — the kind that comes when healing is stil

The Quiet Grief No One Talks About When we think about grief, we often picture funerals or the loss of a loved one through death. But there’s another kind of grief that many believers silently carry — the sorrow of family relationships that aren’t what they were meant to be. It might be a parent who never learned how to love well. A sibling who remains distant. A child who has drifted far from faith. Or a marriage that feels more like coexisting than connecting. These losses

“He restores my soul.” — Psalm 23:3 There are wounds that don’t leave visible scars — words that echo long after the shouting stops, memories that resurface when you least expect them, and a quiet belief that maybe you’re the problem. For a man who once lived in an abusive marriage, the battle is not only to move on, but to believe he’s worthy of love again.  Even after finding a godly wife and a safer home, shame can whisper that he doesn’t deserve what God has restored. But

“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10 There’s a unique torment in feeling trapped inside your own mind. For a young man battling obsessive-compulsive thoughts and the pull of addiction , the war can feel relentless — a cycle of fear, shame, and temporary escape that leaves you emptier each time. But even here, in the confusion and exhaustion, the Lord’s hand is not too short to save. The Inner War Between Control and Escape OCD often begins with the illusion of co