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You are here: Home / Archives for Britt Echtenkamp

About Britt Echtenkamp

I am a native Texan, cradle Catholic, and lover of live music and all things chocolate. I graduated with my MA in Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling from Texas State University, and am currently a Licensed Professional Counselor. I love writing, and have been in love with it since the 3rd grade when I wrote a response to 'The Polar Express'. Ever since that day I have been writing about what I see, trying to make sense of myself and the world I live in.

Depression and CBT, Part One

Published March 28, 2016 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog

Feelings, and feelings, and feelings. Let me try thinking instead. – C.S. Lewis Clinical depression is a beast. It’s like waking up with the flu and then someone makes you run a marathon with a pile of rocks strapped to your back. It’s physically and mentally exhausting. There are a number of reasons why depression… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published March 28, 2016

Feel Like You Failed Lent? I do!

Published March 21, 2016 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog

I had the best of intentions. I really did. Despite the stress from recent major life changes (getting married, moving three times, having a baby, leaving a job, starting a business and buying a house, all within 18 months), I set myself up for a Lent of awesome fasting, prayer, and spiritual reconnection with my… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published March 21, 2016

Need Some Humility in Your Life? Become a Parent!

Published February 29, 2016 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog

We had it all planned out: My husband and I would leave our little girl with my mother on Friday night. We’d drive to Houston and stay in a nice hotel for TWO. WHOLE. NIGHTS. Two whole nights of sleeping straight on through until we felt like waking up, be it 8 AM or noon…. [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published February 29, 2016

How to Stay Motivated During Lent

Published February 15, 2016 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: ACNM, Blog, Faith, Prayer, Resources, Young Adult

If you’re anything like me, you get to Day 6 of Lent and you start amending your sacrifices, making them easier and less painful. You may even have a conversation with yourself that looks like this: Scene: I’m quietly engaged in a task. My brain is wandering in thought. Suddenly, Brain taps me on the… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published February 15, 2016

What You Should Give Up for Lent, Based on Your Personality Type

Published February 1, 2016 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Resources, Young Adult

Lent is just 9 days away (eeep!), and while you may not have discerned what to add and/or delete from your life for those 40-ish days, it’s most certainly on your mind. And if it wasn’t on your mind, it is now after reading that sentence! You’re welcome. As a just-for-fun, not-to-be-taken-too-seriously way to prepare… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published February 1, 2016

Reflections of a Catholic Mom on her Daughter’s 1st Birthday

Published January 4, 2016 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Marriage and Love, Prayer

1 year ago, I was laying in a hospital room wondering what just happened. My daughter had been born just hours before, but wasn’t with me. Being 5 weeks early, she was whisked away to NICU to be hooked up to monitors, a heating pad, and oxygen. I, on the other hand, was whisked out… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published January 4, 2016

When Christmas Brings Out Your Inner Grinch

Published December 21, 2015 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, World and News, Young Adult

I went to a major retailer to pick up a couple last minute gifts, when I noticed that a big sign on their front door. It read, “OPEN 24 HOURS UNTIL CHRISTMAS EVE!” Ugh. I hated that sign – to me it represents everything that’s wrong about commercialized holidays. Yes, gift giving can be a… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published December 21, 2015

What’s Your Myers-Briggs Thanksgiving Style?

Published November 23, 2015 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog, Events, Faith, Family, Young Adult

Oh, Thanksgiving, you marvelous holiday full of gratitude and food and love, you’ve come a long way from your origins in 1621. You used to be based on the idea of celebrating a bountiful harvest with a feast among friends and neighbors. In Christian tradition, this included praising God for His countless blessings and goodness, as well… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published November 23, 2015

When Your Significant Other is Addicted to Porn: A Practical Guide

Published November 9, 2015 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Marriage and Love, Resources, Social Media and Tech, Young Adult

If you don’t know someone who is or has struggled with viewing pornography, then you are in the minority. Unfortunately – due to crazy-easy access, increased social acceptance, and the high chance of getting hooked – pornography habits or full-blown addiction, is something more and more Americans (Catholic and otherwise) are experiencing. For recent stats,… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published November 9, 2015

Coping with Grief on All Souls Day

Published October 26, 2015 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Marriage and Love, Resources, Young Adult

One week from today, on November 2, 2015, we, the Church, will celebrate All Souls Day. All Souls Day is a time to remember those who have gone before us, a time to pray for them, and to ask them to pray for us. In doing so, we recognize that we are still connected, that… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published October 26, 2015

Get to Work: Reflections on Turning 30

Published October 12, 2015 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Young Adult

Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his work. – Luke 3:23 I spent the eve of my 30th birthday sitting in the car eating Oreos, and wearing old workout clothes, pigtails and Converse. Had I not included “30th birthday” in that sentence, I could have been describing a 7 year old. I… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published October 12, 2015

Mind Blown: Top Quotes from Pope Francis’ Visit to America

Published September 28, 2015 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: World and News

Unless you’re living under a rock that doesn’t get Wifi, you’ve heard about Pope Francis’ visit to the United States of America. His visit was historic. It was inspiring. It was filled with surprises and joy and humility. Everything he said could be turned into a semester-long study on theology or ecology or human rights. If… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published September 28, 2015

When Everything Falls Apart: A Reflection on the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Published September 17, 2015 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog

Sometimes things just fall apart. No matter how much you prepare yourself, how much planning you do, how much you know or how much you try, everything just falls to pieces before you. Then you are left standing in the rubble, mouth agape, and brain spinning with so many thoughts that none of them come… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published September 17, 2015

Need a Break? Top 3 Sites for Relaxation

Published August 31, 2015 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Social Media and Tech

Are you overwhelmed by work? Exhausted from life’s demands? Maybe you feel frenzied by your list of to-do’s, or super-anxious about an upcoming event. Maybe you’ve just watched/read the news and now you’re in a funk. Sometimes (a lot of times) you need a break. I’d venture to guess that you need more breaks than… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published August 31, 2015

Why Kids Are Pro-Life

Published August 17, 2015 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Faith, Family, Young Adult

Yesterday afternoon, while walking through HEB with my family, a hurried mom with her two little girls rushed by us in the coffee aisle. The mom didn’t look at us or say anything as she moved past us, but one of her little girls (probably 4 or 5), stopped and said, “I like your baby!”… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published August 17, 2015

7 Signs It Could Be Depression

Published August 3, 2015 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Faith, Resources, Young Adult

Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more hard to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: it is easier to say “My tooth is aching” than to say “My heart is broken. – C.S. Lewis We’ve all felt “down” before. Perhaps we’ve… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published August 3, 2015

God always wins.

Published July 6, 2015 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Marriage and Love, Social Media and Tech

“If you are what you should be, you would set the whole world on fire.” – St. Catherine of Siena By now we are all quite aware of the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage. I think this is the first time in my life that I’ve been nervous about being Catholic (I am so blessed because… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published July 6, 2015

3 Annoying Traits of a Catholic Husband That Point You to Heaven

Published June 22, 2015 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Family, Marriage and Love

Last night something rare happened: My husband and I found ourselves at the MOVIES. Shocking, I know. I’ll pause to let you collect yourself. (Seriously, we don’t go to the movies. We usually watch Netflix with the volume so low that we only catch about half of the dialogue and have to ad-lib the rest… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published June 22, 2015

Miscarriage Loss, Revisted

Published June 8, 2015 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Marriage and Love, Young Adult

June is a beautiful month. Sure, it’s ridiculously hot, tornadoes and hurricanes abound, and you get so many mosquito bites it looks like you have chicken-pox, but it is still beautiful. People seem more carefree and plan vacations, the sunshine is lovely to behold (from inside an air-conditioned facility), and snow cones! Good stuff. Yet, June… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published June 8, 2015

Central Texas Storms: How to Get Help and How to Give Help

Published May 25, 2015 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: World and News

For many in central Texas, this Memorial Day did not go as planned. Many of us looking forward to spending time with friends and family, instead found ourselves texting and calling friends and family to see if they were unharmed. Severe weather – complete with deadly flash flooding and tornado activity –  hit Travis and… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published May 25, 2015

You’re Not a Bad Mom If You Spend Time with People Who Are Not Your Baby

Published May 11, 2015 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Marriage and Love, Young Adult

This segment of “Bad Mom” brings us to Part Two of this three part series. (See Part One here.) Mother’s Day was yesterday, and if your guilt about not being Super Mom 24/7 kept you from enjoying your well-earned day, then please, read this post. Preferably with a coffee or piece of chocolate. You’ve earned a… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published May 11, 2015

You’re Not a “Bad Mom” If You Don’t Breastfeed

Published May 1, 2015 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Marriage and Love

I’ve only been a mom for about 4 months now, and I recognize that I’m definitely still in the newb phase of parenting. But these 4 months have felt like a crash course, full of guilty, stressed and confused feelings over what I should or shouldn’t be doing. In an effort to normalize these guilty… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published May 1, 2015

4 Irrational Fears of a Girl During Mass

Published April 13, 2015 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Young Adult

Mass is a time of community, prayer, and a whole lotta holy. But sometimes my brain will not focus for the life of me. These are just a few of the things that can distract me during mass (this was pre-baby… kids add a whole new level of distraction to the list). Enjoy, and feel free… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published April 13, 2015

What My Husband Taught Me About Lent

Published March 30, 2015 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Marriage and Love, Young Adult

This Lenten season is the first one Danger and I have experienced as husband and wife. We began the season as brand new parents, and didn’t spend much time discerning what our Lenten sacrifices would be, either individually and as a couple. At first, I declared I would give up Sonic for Lent. Those of you… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published March 30, 2015

Addendum: “An Open Letter to Angry Christians Against Gay Persons”

Published March 23, 2015 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog

I owe my readers an apology and some clarification. My last post is in need of expounding – I would blame the whole working-mom-no-sleep thing, but that’s just an excuse. The truth is I’ve got a lot to learn as both a writer and Catholic, and I am blessed to have people in my life to… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published March 23, 2015

An Open Letter to Angry Christians Against Gay Persons

Published March 16, 2015 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Marriage and Love, Young Adult

Dear Reader, Before I begin, let me start off by explaining what this letter is NOT: It is not meant to be a theology lesson. (For info on the Catholic church’s teaching on gay “marriage”, look here and here.) It is not about the politics around being gay in the US. This letter is simply a reminder that we are… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published March 16, 2015

Holiday Stress During the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year”

Published December 22, 2014 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog

This is what happens: you’re strolling along in September, enjoying football season and pretending that Texas actually has a season called “fall”, and you begin to anticipate the joy of the holidays. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas… so much fun to be had! Then you step into Halloween and somehow, also into a time warp that hurls… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published December 22, 2014

Tips for Handling Grief During Christmas

Published December 12, 2014 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Marriage and Love, Resources, Young Adult

Grieving during the holidays is like riding a giant, wooden roller coaster that you never even wanted to get in line for in the first place. You go up and down, you get queasy, your body feels banged up and you never know what turn is coming next. (Fellow ACNM blogger, Rita Suva, posted an… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published December 12, 2014

5 Ways to Survive Awkward Thanksgiving Moments

Published November 24, 2014 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Faith, Family, Marriage and Love, Young Adult

Let’s face it: not all of us have the 60’s-TV-sitcom-family experience during the holidays. Some of us may have small families, large families that never see each other, families that see each other too much, or maybe families that consist of friends and no actual blood relations. And while we may love our families however they… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published November 24, 2014

Getting Yelled At For Being Pro-Life: How to Deal

Published November 10, 2014 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Social Justice, Young Adult

You’d think working in the world of therapists – full of feelings, acceptance, warm regard and the fluffiest Kleenex money can buy – that we would be loving and accepting of all people, no matter their beliefs or religious affiliations. But you’d be wrong. In my limited experience in this profession (6 years and counting)… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published November 10, 2014

Jabba the Hutt, “Sexy” Costumes and Other Things That Distract from All Souls Day

Published October 27, 2014 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Young Adult

All Saints Day and All Souls Day are coming up this week, and instead of basking in the rich history and awesomeness of these days, I find myself looking at what constitutes for a female Halloween costume these days and fending off negative self-talk. So, yeah, I’m pregnant. I’m 25 weeks and while I understand… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published October 27, 2014

How Adoption Saved My Life

Published October 13, 2014 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Marriage and Love, Social Justice, Young Adult

On September 22, 1966 a little boy was born in Minnesota. His mother, for reasons unknown, was unable to keep him and left him in the hands of a group of nuns who devoted their work to the care of children without parents. Unbeknownst to the boy and his mother, there was a young couple… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published October 13, 2014

5 Relationship Myths Debunked

Published September 29, 2014 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Marriage and Love, Young Adult

Cinderella. Belle. Jasmine. Disney’s version of Rapunzel. Disney’s version of Ariel. All of these love stories have their struggles – what with missing glass slippers, evil sorcerers, solitary confinement and being half-fish – but they all end the same way: happily and without problems. Hundreds of other movies and songs tell us the problems in… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published September 29, 2014

The Psychology of Terrorism and What We Can Do About It

Published September 15, 2014 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog

Unless you’ve been living under a rock without cable or wifi your entire life, you have most likely heard about and been horrified by the plethora of terrorist attack stories lately (and since the dawn of mankind, really). Barbarism – acts that include severe cruelty, not the male hair-cutting profession – have daunted us from… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published September 15, 2014

Don’t Read This Blog: Enjoy Labor Day Unplugged

Published September 1, 2014 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog, Family, Social Media and Tech, Young Adult, Youth

We live in an overstimulated society. Between TV screens, phone screens, computer screens, tablet screens, phablet screens, laptop screens, and movie screens, are brains are just plain ol’ overloaded. Just for fun, think back to your last work day. How many hours were spent looking at a screen? What about when you got home? If… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published September 1, 2014

Back-to-School Jitters: How to Help Kids Cope with Anxiety

Published August 11, 2014 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Faith, Family, Young Adult

It’s that time of year again, where parents breathe a sigh of relief as they prepare to free their children from the seemingly endless days of summer. Off they go to school again (sometimes begrudgingly, sometimes excitedly), to make friends, to learn new things and to bust out those shiny new school supplies. While some… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published August 11, 2014

Breaking the Girl, Part Two: The Hype of “Fifty Shades of Grey” and Why Slavery Isn’t Love

Published July 28, 2014 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog, Events, Family, Social Media and Tech, Young Adult

Let me start off by admitting that when I was in college I was addicted to romance novels. I would binge-read stacks of them in bed while eating my way through a roll of cookie dough. Healthy, right? It started out as a means of escape from my seemingly soul-crushing breakup with my boyfriend of… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published July 28, 2014

Breaking the Girl, Part One

Published June 23, 2014 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog, Family, Marriage and Love, Social Justice, Young Adult, Youth

This is the first of a mini-series of posts focused on socially acceptable things that make me fear for the future of girls everywhere. I recognize some of these topics are not the most popular to bring up, and in fact, many friends or readers may not agree with what I have to share. But… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published June 23, 2014

Honeymoon & Newlywed Myths, Realized

Published June 9, 2014 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Marriage and Love, Young Adult

As a girl, and probably right up until I actually said “I do”, I assumed my honeymoon would be glamorous: all smiles and laughter, as my groom and I danced on the euphoric high of our perfectly magical nuptials, to the rhythm of tropical waves in the glow of a soft sunset. I mean, there… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published June 9, 2014

Memorial Day the St. Michael Way

Published May 26, 2014 • Written by Britt Echtenkamp Filed Under: Family, World and News, Young Adult

Hello dear readers. It has been awhile since my last post, but that’s because I just got married (AUGH!!!) and have subsequently been dealing with this:   My house has become a whirlwind of leftover wedding decor, moving boxes, gifts, empty gift boxes, and other random wedding paraphernalia that I will wade through once I… [Read More]

Written by Britt Echtenkamp • Published May 26, 2014

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