Parakaleo Christian Counselling

By Mercy Manyema NB:Trigger alert - this blog will mention suicide.  Although women are more proportionally likely to attempt suicide,  men account for nearly 80% of all recorded suicides. This is partly because men usually use more violent methods. Suicide is not the only measure of one's state of mental health but it is a window into what many are now calling the silent pandemic.   It has been said over and over again that men are less likely to seek help for mental health, that they are less likely to talk about their struggles and that this often leads to aggression, violence and substance abuse.  The question on everybody's lips is: why? Why do men skip therapy? Why are they less likely to seek for help? What barriers stand in their way to getting the support they need from family, friends and mental health practitioners? At the top of the list are the expectations that society and culture often place on men to be strong and shoulder it all. Fr...

By Nokukhanya Ncube One of my favorite phrases is from a poem for those expressing their affectionate love to each other: "Roses are red, violets are blue..." You would agree with me that this has been one of the best pick-up lines for ages. I'm sure that if we were to put up a poll to vote on how popular it is, the line might be at the top. Imagine if each and every time the phrase was used, someone had to give a rose. I'm sure by now we would have run out of beautiful roses. Let's speak reality now. Most roses are probably expensive. I know they are beautiful, they smell nice, and they have a lasting scent. I am not a fan of flowers, but I know they make a home feel comfortable and smell good. Moreover, they have a way of putting a smile on someone's face. For today, let's look at the line in this way: it's okay to be different - it's not a sin nor a crime. Like roses, you might be loved by most people, but not everyone is meant for y...

By Mercy Manyema When I had my first child  I was privileged to witness her reaching her growth milestones. I saw her sit up for the first time, her first attempts at crawling, and also her first walking steps. There's no greater joy than to see your baby grow.  I also learned very quickly that growing includes pain, and falling. I watched my daughter scrape her knees or fall over as she tried to walk. All this was part of the growing process.  The law of growth in any area of life is that there will be some strain, some pain and even falling. Moving from one state of being to a new and better one involves some effort, and often involves pain.  Many of us give up at the first sign of trouble. There's sometimes a belief that good things should not be so hard. We forget that for a seed to germinate and grow into a tree it must push through the ground first. It must withstand the wind and the elements to grow to maturity, and bear fruit.  Prov 24v16 say...