Spring 2005

The INNERLIFE
A Publication of the
Pastoral Counseling Centers of Tennessee, Inc.

Partners in Caring Since 1985

CHANGES OF LIFE

by Jeff Fryer, M.Div.

"Change may occur when the person seeking change knows he or she is not alone."

Change is unavoidable in life. So why is it so difficult for most people to deal with change? Most people are more aware of the detrimental effects of stress
related to change. In the last century the impact of major stress events on humans has been well documented. Stress has to be managed in order to
function in modern society. One factor in tolerating change is learning to embrace the stress that comes when adjustments must be made in the way one lives.

How does one make change a positive life experience? William James, a late nineteenth century philosopher wrote about how to change. In Principles of Psychology (1890) he sets out four maxims of change for habits.

1. Be committed to start with as strong and decided an initiative as possible.
2. Never allow an exception to occur until the new habit is securely rooted in your life.
3. Seize the very first possible opportunity to act on every resolution you make.
4. Keep the effort alive by practicing the habit when you would rather not do it.

This is a simple but effective approach that will produce results. I first used it with a minor life-long irritating habitlike biting my nails. It worked, even
though I still have to go back to the instruction on occasion to deal with relapse. There is one important element not made clear by Dr. James. If there is no will, no decision with courage then the maxims will prove useless. I wonder if it is also true for other issues in life? Where there is no will, no strength of purpose, how can a person accomplish her goals for making life better?

This is perhaps where the use of counselors and therapists, or even true friends is helpful. Though we often try to endure things in private, there are times we need to share our struggles and dreams with another. There are numerous methods and echniques offered to help persons deal with life. It seems that in every approach there is an element that has to be present to have consistent success. The presence of another human being is essential in the therapeutic process. That is the necessary relationship of therapist and client connecting empathetically so that together they encounter and work through the difficulty. There must be that quality of relationship so that trust and truth can be discovered and assimilated into a new kind of life for both persons. In this kind of encounter power can be expressed when the participants feel powerless, hope engendered where there is hopelessness. Change may occur when the person seeking change knows he or she is not alone. It remains her decision, his will that has to be enacted, embraced by counselor and client. We can often borrow the will and strength we need from another.

This kind of relationship is possible in a variety of ways but it is most likely to happen when both persons consciously enter into the special contract or covenant we label counseling. As a pastoral
therapist, my thinking on this is guiding my decision and purpose in each session. My faith is always a part of the conversation even when it is never
discussed. Change for me is based on the foundational truth that God is love and seeks to be known in every human experience. It is part of what gives me the courage that I need to offer such a
relationship to another human being. Knowing that in my life there is still change to confront and that the Spirit of the Living God is available to show me myself is another source of hope that inspires and strengthens.

As Christians reflect on the Resurrection during this season we are dealing with another story of change.
The story of Jesus can also be interpreted as one who was not afraid of change. Suffering and death is not welcomed but is endured when there is a greater joy in the balance. Change is unavoidable and painful and joyful when we are able to understand something more about the creation and the Creator.

My prayer is that we all will be able to endure the changes in life that will lead us onward to clearer vision and enable us to become who our Creator intends us to be. Part of my joy is to possibly help someone move into that kind of change.

CLINICAL SERVICES REPORT

By Chris O'Rear, Pastoral Counselor and Interim Clinical Services Director

In Allen Klein’s book, The Healing Power of Humor (1989), he talks about the physiological and psychological effects of laughter. He reports that laughter can help reduce stress, has been indicated as a way of controlling pain, and a way of managing difficult situations. He affirms Proverbs 17:22, “A merry heart does good like medicine.” I read this just days after I had a chance to laugh a hearty, deep, and long laugh during an encounter at Church. As I wiped the tears from my eyes, I said, “I haven’t laughed like that in forever.” It felt really good to laugh. So often in counseling we encounter the
struggles and pains of a person’s life. It is necessary work to tend to the wounds and help bind the injuries. This is not a work we should ever take lightly. However, there are times when a perspective on a particular situation can allow us to laugh with our clients at the absurdity or irony of something in their life. Klein writes, “…We often focus so much on ourselves and our problems that we get lost because we forget to step back and see the larger picture. It is our sense of humor… that provides ‘a God’s-eye view’ of our situation” (Klein, p. 12). That ability to see the humor in our situation or to laugh at ourselves gives us the opportunity for humility, strength, and the possibility of change. This kind of humor and laughter is “serious” business. Make time for it. Work to cultivate it. Learn to see yourself and your situations in a new way.

As we start the year, we do want to keep a healthy perspective on our service in the community. We have started the year just slightly under our budget projections, however; overall, we are well above the total number of sessions that we provided last year in January and expect to continue to grow. Our enter in Franklin and the Business Resource Center remain ahead of budget projections. We continue on our mission of offering affordable professional psychotherapy that integrates psychological and theological thought to all who come to us. We continually seek to identify our mission as an extension of the local congregation. We have a number of wonderful Life Enrichment seminar offerings this year and have already scheduled
a record number. Please let us know how we can help enrich your congregations through preaching, teaching, or counseling. Let us be a resource for training and pastoral care in your congregations during 2005.

NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ACCEPTS THE CALL!

By Ed Cole, Board President

Thank you for your patience as we searched for a new Executive Director for the Pastoral Counseling Centers of Tennessee. We had outstanding candidates for the positionand are pleased to announce that Tom Knowles-Bagwell, D.Min., will join us July 1, 2005.

Tom is currently serving as Director of the Carolina Institute for Clinical Pastoral Training in Charlotte, North Carolina. Some of you may remember him as the Franklin Center Coordinator with PCCT from April of 1989 through July of 2000. Tom received his M.Div. (1983) and D.Min. (1990) from Vanderbilt Divinity School. He has Standing as an Ordained Minister through the Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ) and is endorsed as Chaplain and Pastoral Counselor. Tom is a Diplomate with the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and is a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapist in the State of Tennessee. He served as President of the Tennessee Association of Pastoral Therapists from 1995-1999. Tom and his wife, Elizabeth, have one son and one daughter. He will be relocating to the area this summer and the family will join him in 2006.

We are grateful, excited and blessed to receive Tom as the new Executive Director for the Pastoral Counseling Centers of Tennessee!

FIFTH FRIDAY STUDY GROUP

April 29, 2005, 9 a.m. to Noon.

Alcohol and drug dependency are America’s most costly health problem, affecting millions of individuals and their families. Faith communities provide a unique opportunity to help those affected by addiction and to support recovery for the whole family. According to SAMHSA, an estimated 7.7 million persons aged 12 or older need treatment for an illegal drug problem; 18.6 million for an alcohol problem. Of the 7.7 million only 1.4 million individuals receive treatment at specific substance abuse facilities. An estimated 362,000 who were aware they needed treatment, did not receive it. Of these, 88,000 sought, but were unable to obtain, the necessary care.

The capacity of pastoral counselors/caregivers/pastors to enhance the health and well being of communities is significant. Out of this initial faith-based project, 12 core competencies were designed to provide necessary knowledge and skills for religious leaders in the areas of assessment, referral, pastoral care and community education that will assist those in need to access appropriate levels of care and treatment.

The Fifth Friday Study Group will address the core competencies in ways that we can give leadership with AAPC in this faith-based initiative to enable faith communities to obtain the skills needed to reduce alcoholism and drug dependency and
to mitigate the impact on families and children. We cordially invite you to attend the study at the Vine Street Center, 100 Vine Court, Nashville, TN. Please register by calling Caroline McBride, (615) 383-2115. (Host, Partner, Member and Supporting Congregations may attend at no cost. Others
for $15.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO PCCT!

By Chrissa Jennings Walsh, Development Director

Our year-long celebration will come to a peak, September 15, 2005. Mark your calendars now as we prepare the invitation to our birthday party! Music, comedy, founding board honorees, silent auction, great food and fellowship are the order of an outstanding evening! You won’t want to miss it! We’ll introduce our new Executive Director and set the stage for the next 20 years. Look for your invitation in July!

Many times in the course of fundraising, In-Kind donors do not receive the recognition they deserve. NovaCopy, Allegra Printing, Prince Market Research, Sound Creations, and The Print Authority, have awarded us with copy machines, computers, and color printing, as well as, music for our new and growing marketing video. These organizations have made our jobs a lot easier. They ask for little fanfare in return.

We have a need for gently used furniture, curtains, paint and carpet in many of our centers. We stay in constant need of office supplies, especially paper, ink cartridges for desktop printers, and file folders. We would love to advertise your business with a donation to our silent auction in September. All these things play a very important role in helping us provide our mission of faith based counseling to those in need.

For information about any of these needs, contact me. I’d love to hear from you!

615-383-2115
ChrissaWalsh@PastoralCounselingCtrs.org

WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE GIFTS FROM THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS

PATRONS' FELLOWSHIP

The HCA Foundation

FOUNDERS FELLOWSHIP

Mr. and Mrs. James N. Stansell, Jr.

ADVOCATES’ FELLOWSHIP
Dr. and Mrs. James Alexander
Dr. and Mrs. John Tarpley
Dr. and Mrs. David Tuleen
Ingram Industries
Mrs. Liston O. Mills
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Shampain
Mr. Ken Williams

SUSTAINERS’ FELLOWSHIP
Bobby Allen-State Farm Insurance
Cumberland Bank of Franklin
Ellie Weiss Rosenbloom
Linda Freemon
Marshall, Donnelly-Combs Funeral Home
Nancy and Victor S. Johnson Foundation
Reverend Ann VanDervoort

FRANKLIN "COMMUNITY OF FAITH EVENT"

The Pastoral Counseling Center of Franklin will hold its semi-annual "Community of Faith Event", Thursday, April 21, 2005, at Noon.  Please join us for lunch at Bethlehem United Methodist Church, 2419 Bethlehem Loop Road, Franklin, Tennessee, 37069.  We will gather in the Fellowship Hall.

THE PASTORAL CARE SPECIALIST PROGRAM OCTOBER 2005

Chris O'Rear

The Pastoral Care Specialist (PCS) training program has undergone some significant changes. First, the didactics and supervision will be in the evening this year to accommodate those who cannot come during the day. Didactics and supervision will be 5:00 – 9:00 PM each Wednesday from October 5, 2005 through February 22, 2006 (excluding holidays).

Second is the availability of financial aid. Aid is available in varying amounts based on income. The maximum award is $600; one half of the total tuition. Applications for financial aid must accompany your application for enrollment.
Program brochures, applications, and applications for financial aid are currently available for download from our website, www.pastoralcounselingctrs.org. You may also receive the materials by mail by calling or emailing the center at (615) 383-2115 or chrisorear@pastoralcounselingctrs.org. All application materials must be received no later than July 29, 2005.

The Pastoral Care Specialist program is a program for clergy and lay ministers to enhance their skills in Pastoral Care and to meet the requirements for membership in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors at the level of PCS. The didactics and case consultations are held at the Vine Street office of the Pastoral Counseling Centers of Tennessee, 100 Vine Court, Nashville, Tennessee. Participants will participate in an area of Pastoral Care that can be used for consultation with the group. Please call the center if you have questions about any of our training programs.

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

April

21  Board of Directors meeting -5:00 pm

21  Franklin “Community of Faith” Event
Noon-1:00 p.m., Bethlehem United Methodist Church
2419 Bethlehem Loop Road, Franklin, TN 37069
For reservations/information, call Tim Moss, 615-591-0580, Or Chrissa Walsh, 615-383-2115 x 27.

29  Fifth Friday Study Group-”Alcohol and Drug Dependency” Facilitator-Dr. Gilbert Roth, 9:00 a.m.-Noon, Vine Street Education and Counseling Center
100 Vine Court, Nashville, TN 37205
Reservations, Caroline McBride, (615) 383-2115

May

12  Nashville CPE Partnership Workshop
Facilitator-Ms. Naomi Tutu, daughter of Bishop Desmond Tutu 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Lunch provided
Immanuel Baptist Church222 Belle Meade Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37205 $25 in advance, $30 at the door, CE credits available Reservations required-Call Caroline McBride, 615-383-2115

24  Nashville CPE Partnership Board of Directors meeting

June
16  Board of Directors meeting -5:00 pm

August
16  Board of Directors meeting -5:00 pm

September

15  2005 Founders Banquet and Silent Auction
“Twentieth Anniversary Celebration”
6:00 p.m. Silent Auction

7:30 p.m. Dinner
Program announcement in the mail soon!
William J. Fleming Center, Cathedral of the Incarnation 2015 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203 Tickets-$75, Call Chrissa Walsh, 615-383-2115 for information.

Archived Issues:

Winter 2005: Changing of the Guard

Fall 2004: Saying Goodbye
Summer 2004
Winter 2003: Nurturing the Institution
Fall 2002
Summer 2002
Spring 2002
Winter 2002: Ethics In The Workplace
Fall 2001: Room for Laughter
Spring 2001: Suicide - A Loss of Hope
Winter 2001: Helping a Child Through Loss
Fall 2000: Adolescence and Substance Abuse
Summer 2000: Hospitality, A Context for Care and Healing
Spring 2000: The Cry of Anguish