Pastoral Counseling Centers of Tennessee, Inc.
Presents a “Fifth-Friday” Training Event
The Use of “Mindfulness” In Traditional Psychotherapy, Pastoral Care & Counseling.
Presented by Ira Helderman, M.A.
Friday, August 29, 2008
9AM – 12Noon
Please join us at the offices of PCCT at Vine Street Christian Church, 100 Vine Court, Nashville, TN 37205.
A continental breakfast and certificate of attendance will be provided.
The cost for the day is $15. Payment may be made by check (to PCCT), cash, Visa, or MasterCard. The event is free for staff and current students of PCCT and clergy from financially supporting congregations.
This program is eligible for Clinical Pastoral Therapist continuing education credit.
F Please RSVP by noon on Friday, August 22, 2008 by contacting Caroline McBride at cmcbride@pcctinc.org or (615) 383-2115.
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This experiential workshop is designed to provide both a broad overview of mindfulness and its use in psychotherapy as well as to specifically introduce how to use mindfulness with clients who come from Western faith traditions (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam).
The use of mindfulness continues to dramatically grow in popularity with psychotherapists spurred by its prominent placement in such frameworks as Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy. This workshop will explore mindfulness as a secular tool equivalent to other commonly used interventions in therapy. However, it’s origins in Buddhism will be transparently presented and the ways in which it may or may not seem immediately consistent with Western religious thinking. Through the use of exercises as well as open discussion, participants will have an opportunity to experiment and engage with mindfulness in an active way.
Participants will gain:
- An understanding of what mindfulness is and its origins in Buddhist psychology
- A brief history of mindfulness’ introduction into Western psychotherapy
- Opportunities to practice mindfulness through exercises including meditation
- Exploration of the use of mindfulness as self-care for the clinician
- A brief comparing and contrasting of mindfulness concepts with some core Western religious ideas
- Methods for approaching religious convictions that might suggest a lack of acceptance of mindfulness concepts
- Discussion on the use of exercises such as meditation with clients with specific attention to clients holding Western religious beliefs
Our Presenter:
Ira Helderman, M.A. uses mindfulness-based psychodynamic therapy as a staff counselor at the Vanderbilt University Psychological and Counseling Center as well as in private practice. He has participated in multiple trainings in mindfulness facilitated by such practitioners as Thich Nhat Hanh. His areas of clinical specialty include suicidology, addictions, adolescents and families, as well as religious/spiritual issues and diversity. He currently coordinates Vanderbilt University’s MAPS (Mental Health Awareness and Prevention of Suicide) grant and is also participating in developing a new Vanderbilt Recovery Support Community program.
PPARx of TN Provides Free or Significantly Discounted Medication for TN Residents
Pastoral Counseling Centers of Tennessee, Inc., joined more than 40 other health care, community, business and consumer groups on June 7 to launch the Partnership for Prescription Assistance of Tennessee (PPARx of TN) to make it easier for qualifying Tennessee residents to access programs that provide free or significantly discounted prescription medications.
Through the website, www.pparxtn.org, and toll-free number, 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669), Tennesseans and their health care providers or family members can search more than 325 public and/or private programs that provide more than 2,300 prescription medications through pharmaceutical assistance programs for which they may be eligible.
"The PPARx of Tennessee website and call center will be hugely helpful in getting patients connecting to these resources that will help them obtain free or discounted medications", said Phyllis Miller, M.D. of Hixson, who is the 2005 President of the Tennessee Medical Association, speaking at the launch event. "Part of the TMA's mission is to mprove access and delivery of quality medical care across our state. We believe the PPARx program helps Tennessee physicians fufill part of that mission."
The first prescription assistance programs began more than 50 years ago. In 2004, patient assistance programs sponsored by America's pharmaceutical companies provided more than 22 million prescriptions with an estimated wholesale value of more than $4 billion.
This will be a terrific resource for our clients. Because PPARx of Tennessee includes both a website and a toll-free number, our clients can take their healthcare needs into their own hands. PCCT is happy to partner with PPARx of Tennessee.
Pastoral Counseling: Integrating Spirituality and Psychotherapy
by Amy Scholten, Beliefnet e-news
You may be...
Mourning the loss of a loved one
Trying to cope with a serious illness
Having difficulty getting along with your teenager
Exhausted from taking care of an elderly parent
Confronting some other crisis or life transition
At any time, we can face uncertainties and experiences that threaten our emotional and spiritual well-being. Caught off guard by the numerous crises and transitions that accompany life, we may not know how to cope or where to turn for help.
Some people turn to psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers for help in coping with these crises and transitions. Others look for support and the opportunity to discuss these issues within a spiritual context. But can one find spiritual help and psychotherapy at the same time? Most religious leaders have little time or training to provide in-depth and extensive therapy. And most psychotherapists have little training or desire to discuss in-depth spiritual matters during sessions with patients. The answer may be pastoral counseling.
What is Pastoral Counseling?
According to the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC), pastoral counseling is a form of psychotherapy that uses spiritual resources as well as psychological understanding for healing and growth. The central theme in pastoral counseling is an awareness of the spiritual dimension in human wholeness. Crises and transitions are addressed in terms such as faith, meaning, purpose, and direction, as well as in psychotherapeutic terms.
The foundation of pastoral counseling goes back to the 1930s, when minister Norman Vincent Peale and psychiatrist Smiley Blanton, MD, integrated religion and psychotherapy for psychotherapeutic purposes. Other influential social scientists, such as Carl Jung, Abraham Maslow, William James, and Karl Menninger, also shared this awareness of spirituality and psychotherapy. Over the years, pastoral counseling evolved from religious or spiritual counseling to pastoral psychotherapy, a practice that integrates theology and the behavioral sciences. The AAPC was founded in 1963.
Who are Pastoral Counselors?
Pastoral counselors are certified mental health professionals who have had extensive religious and/or theologic training. An AAPC certified pastoral counselor typically has:
A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
A three-year professional degree from a seminary
A specialized masters or doctoral degree in the mental health field
Pastoral counselors also have a significant amount of clinical training. This includes at least 1,375 hours of supervised clinical experience (in individual, group, marital, and family therapy) and 250 hours of direct approved supervision in crisis and long-term situations. "As a result of this extensive study, pastoral counselors are among the most educated of mental health professionals," says Roy Woodruff, PhD, executive director of the AAPC.
Like other mental health professionals, pastoral counselors work with a variety of issues, depending on their training and background. They may specialize in marriage and family therapy, addiction, grief, and other issues, including serious mental illnesses. In addition to short and long-term counseling, they may provide educational programs on marriage preparation, adjusting to divorce, and coping with loss and grief.
Pastoral counselors may work as clinicians in:
Health clinics
State hospitals
Private and group practices
Congregation-based centers
Church or synagogue offices
Free-standing pastoral counseling centers
Increased Demand for Pastoral Care
Today, the demand for spiritually based counseling is on the rise. Mounting scientific evidence is demonstrating a connection between faith and enhanced recovery from trauma and illness. Times are complex and confusing, and increasing numbers of Americans are searching for spiritual growth and deeper meaning.
"In my experience, when people have spiritual resources, they handle trauma more easily," says Reverend John Pearson, DMin, Chaplain and Director of Pastoral Care at Beverly Hospital in Beverly, Massachusetts. "Without spirituality, many people feel adrift and lost during points of crisis."
Finding a Pastoral Counselor
Pastoral counselors represent more than 80 different faith groups, but people of any religious faith—or no religious faith—can see a pastoral counselor. "Some people want to see a counselor who reflects their particular spiritual background, but many people see a counselor of a different faith. And for those who are uncertain of their beliefs, pastoral counseling may be part of the searching process," says Reverend Pearson.
So how does one go about finding a pastoral counselor? Reverend Pearson recommends getting a recommendation from someone you trust, such as a friend, religious leader, physical therapist, physician, or other professional. It's important to "shop around" and interview counselors, too. Find a counselor with whom you feel compatible and comfortable.
Fees and Insurance Coverage
In many states, pastoral counselors are covered by insurance, according to state licensing. Others may offer sliding scale fees or have a certain number of reduced fee hours per week. In some cases, pastoral counseling can be more affordable than other types of counseling, especially if counselors work out of churches and congregations. Sometimes church members even contribute to costs, or they have an assistance fund.
A Well-Kept Secret
Despite the added benefits of a spiritually based mental health approach, many people do not take advantage of pastoral counseling. One reason is that some people fear that they would be pressed in a certain spiritual direction, particularly if the counselor were of a different faith. According to Reverend Pearson, most pastoral counselors don't give advice or force their religious views, but instead help people to explore and make their own decisions. Those few who do operate from a certain viewpoint are usually upfront about it. It's best to inquire about the counselor's views during the initial interview, and if there is a poor match, ask for a referral.
"Another reason some people stay away from pastoral counseling is because they have a negative image of God," says Reverend Pearson. "God may be a projection of an abusive parent. Or they think that God is distant or hasn't answered their prayers. Therefore, it's hard for them to find a spiritual connection."
Lastly, many people don't know about pastoral counseling. Unlike other mental health professions such as psychology and social work, pastoral counseling doesn't get a lot of press. In addition, there is often misunderstanding about what pastoral counselors do. "We don't just work with clergy, but more with everyday folk," says Reverend Pearson.
Resource:
American Association of Pastoral Counselors
http://www.aapc.org