The Center for Courageous Living Blog

By Katie Kroening, LCSW; CADC     I’ve worked with many clients who’ve come to counseling wondering if they’re crazy; clients have difficulty trusting in their own experience, express confusion around understanding the chaotic cycle in which they find themselves. Many clients aren’t aware that they are being mistreated, disrespected, stonewalled and controlled. Themes found in many stories are identified throughout their early childhood experiences; many of these emotionally

Written by Kaitlin Armon, LPC Change: The only thing that is ever constant! If that is the case, why are change and transitions so difficult for so many of us? We feel like a fish out of water. Change is uncomfortable. I nsights about why change and transitions are so hard for us : Many people thrive from routine and consistency. These things provide structure and order to our days and our lives. However, what happens when we cling too tightly to them? We don’t have the an

Written by Paige Bandel, bachelor's in social work from Western Michigan University Understanding narcissistic behaviors is the first step in breaking free from abuse. There is so much power in knowledge. Taking the time to understand and put a name to the abuse occurring is incredibly courageous. I hope this blog can provide you with an educational and informative perspective. What is a “Narcissist?” The word “narcissist,” is a far over-used word. We see people using the ter

I've learned many lessons this year, one of the most important lessons has been the importance of slowing down, taking care of myself, being centered in the moments I'm in and not being distracted every minute by the endless to-do's and responsibilities. My husband's accident and our recovery together over the past 1 plus years has been a life changing experience. Sometimes traumatic events produce so many important nuggets of wisdom, it's important to take time to consider t

FAITH STEPS: Step into your fear area, be brave and take steps! Carpe Diem, Seize the day that is upon us! What is holding you back? Courageous movement toward a life of self-respect, freedom, love, a deep sense of fulfillment and purpose is literally steps away. If you need help taking first steps and finding your courage, we can help. We have been afraid, too. We are with and for you! Don't settle for a life of disrespect, mediocrity, emptiness, loneliness, sadness, abuse,

PROBLEM: Sometimes we are mistreated by others: our kids, our spouse's, our bosses, coworkers, random strangers, businesses, parents, siblings, you name it, mistreatment is a human experience. The problem is that we often act similarly with our own bad behavior because we are hurt and feel mistreated. "Hurt people Hurt people." Then, things can really explode: WE HAND OVER THE KEYS TO OUR REACTIONS. When we have bad behavior, we end up hurting our pride, our relationships, lo

PROBLEM: Have you ever made a decision and then proceeded to "Should" all over it? Example : You and spouse make a decision to go on vacation or to purchase a car. Then, right after vacation or purchase, the conversation goes something like this: "we shouldn't have____, you should have thought about____, we should not have______." · "SHOULD'S" ARE JOY ZAPPERS AND FIGHT STARTERS!! · "SHOULD'S" INCREASE DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY!! · "SHOULD'S" ARE REGRET BUILDERS!!" "Should" s

Tip-of-the-Day for New Year 2020 The Problem: Lack of Balance There are many parts to each of us: physical, spiritual, interpersonal and psychological. Often we may do well in one part, but other parts are neglected. This throws off every part of us... Our busy culture keeps us either over-worked and/or overstimulated with technology, yet we often feel a lack of connection and contentment. The Solution: Care for Every Part of Yourself!! Be intentional with your time, no one

Have you ever jumped into a cold pool in 95-degree weather? It almost hurts, right? It's so uncomfortable!! Can you remember riding a roller coaster for the first time? How did it feel? Was your heart pounding out of your chest? How about the second and third time around? Your heart rate went down, right? That's right, the feeling of discomfort often totally disappears and it becomes enjoyable!! WE HABITUATE TO THINGS WE EXPOSE OURSELVES TO OVER TIME. The more we face discomf