It’s tough on families living in a fast paced world.
With so many electronic devices to make life easier at home and at work you’d think we’d be living stress free happy lives.
Instead, I see men and women so busy with career and family they simply don’t have time to look after themselves. I see family relationships breaking down and my heart breaks for the kids who have to live between mum’s house and dad’s house.
Like all the men and women I know, you want the best start in life for your kids so you support them in their after school and weekend activities. You take them to the latest show in town, give them expensive gifts and send them to the best schools.
You are committed to your family to provide nutritious, earth sustaining, organic meals but there’s too much pressure to cook gourmet meals everyday.
You strive to be perfect in the workplace and keep lobbying for equality.
You stretch yourself to serve at church or community because it’s the right thing to give back.
You juggle family and work from dawn to dusk.
There is nothing wrong with these desires, but I see stress, anxiety and depression on the increase. They are becoming major problems. More and more people are absent from work on stress leave.
Does this sound like you?
- Do you feel alone and not supported?
- Do you neglect your most important relationships?
- Do you wish you could change something?
I know how you feel.
I know what it’s like to raise four children, work, keep my girlfriend connections alive, visit the parents, give time to my church and support my husband in our own business.
I know what preparation and planning is needed for birthday parties, school holidays, music practice, homework, sports, hair cuts and the next season’s uniform.
I’ve lost count of the number of house moves I’ve made. Once, we sold everything and emigrated overseas and came back broke.
My goal in life is to help you.
I write my blogs, present workshops and offer counselling with you in mind. I want to encourage you, build you up and inspire you.
I want you to grow emotionally, spiritually, and relationally. I’m motivated to help you be the best you can be.
At times we all get bogged down and lose our way. My hope is that I will be helpful in getting you out of the miry clay and placing you back on solid ground.
Read the four ways you can engage with me on the Work with me page
What others say about working with me as their counsellor
I share these stories to reassure you that you really don’t have to stay stuck.
NOTE: The people really do exist but identifying them might cause embarrassment or disadvantage so I’ve used an initial only.
‘D’ says, Leaving prison was scary and I was suicidal. We met regularly and I always felt better when she left. In my darkest hours I would close the curtains and think how I would do it. Then, I would wonder what Christine would be saying if she were sitting here with me. I would recall all the things she had said in our times together and I lived to see another day. This happened more than once. Christine literally saved my life.
‘G’ says, I hated my job. I hated my boss. I was being bullied and unfairly criticised at work. I couldn’t leave because I needed the money. I took up smoking and didn’t want to socialize. Thank you Christine for helping me think through my options. You helped me through a very difficult patch in my life. You were patient with me and forever encouraging. I don’t know if I would have taken the steps I did without your help.
‘Y’ says, I call her mum. She knew I was stuck in domestic violence but she knew I wasn’t strong enough emotionally to stand up for myself. Christine helped me gain my identity back. My confidence grew and my self-esteem grew. Then one day after he choked me, I took the kids and left. Christine held my hand all the way.
‘M’ says, Christine has the amazing ability to perform open-heart surgery and then neatly put it all back before she leaves.
‘D&L’ We were ready to call it quits after ten years of being together. Christine was our last hope. We are happily together today because she cared enough to help us.
What others have to say about my blogs and articles.
‘K’ wrote, ‘Thank you for being brave enough to be honest with us all. The article was really encouraging and it ‘spoke’ to me. The challenge you wrote in the last paragraph really made me think about my attitudes.’
‘L’ wrote, ‘Just read your article and it was spot on for me, thank you. … It is encouragement for me in a challenging situation. … Thanks for the transparency you brought to the camp.’
‘A’ wrote, ‘I was just reading your column and had to smile … Self care and rest have become big priorities in my life… Thank you for your article. I really do enjoy reading your words each month.’
‘M & S’ wrote, ‘We are writing to express our appreciation of the articles by Christine Pearce. We find her articles informative and topical as she always uses relevant life experiences and illustrations.’