Workshops
We are pleased to offer to our communities a variety of workshops and presentations. Led by our staff counselors, the Counseling Center’s educational programs focus on individual and interpersonal growth, marriage, family, parenting and spiritual growth.
SPIRITUALITY
Enhancing Your Prayer Life
Sooner or later, we all profess the desire to pray better or more often. But how? This program not only considers the spiritual, physical and emotional benefits of prayer, it examines some of the obstacles to maintaining a prayer life. Some styles of prayer are explored as well. Philben
Replenishing the Spirit
Tired? Dissatisfied with work? Bored with significant relationships? Given the busyness of our daily lives, it’s little wonder. We all need to replenish our spirits. But we tend not to take the time. This program focuses on spirituality as an antidote for busyness, its impact on the physical and emotional wellness and the role it can play in balancing an out-of-balance lifestyle. Philben
Spiritual Disciplines
This 4-8 week series promotes spiritual disciplines as essential and joyful tasks of the faith journey. Presented with small group participation. Hester
Just What Does it Mean to Meditate?
We hear often that meditation helps reduce stress and is useful for physical and psychological well-being. But just what does this mean? During this practical, experimental workshop you will learn several simple meditation techniques. Philben
COUPLES
Marriage Enrichment Seminar/Retreat
Enjoy reconnecting with your spouse with this seminar focusing on re-energizing your relationship. Seven principles for a lasting love relationship are explored and practiced in a fun supportive atmosphere. Hester
Engagement Exploration
A group opportunity for premarital counseling is available either as a one-day seminar, or as a series of four to six sessions. The program(s) will include communication coaching, predicting and thus preparing for the inevitable stresses of the first years of marriage, and an opportunity for couples to take the premarital inventory, PREPARE. Johnson
How to Fight Fair
This workshop helps focus on what the real problem is. This will help you to know the rules for fair fighting by setting boundaries, creating a safe place to talk and really listening to what the other is saying. Clear communication with compassion and mutual respect often remove the sting of verbal fighting. Lucas
How Do I Talk About Sex with My Partner?
This workshop will deal with honesty and the individuals needs to express sincere concerns about making love with their partner. It will explore the emotions and feeling of both sexes. Lucas
GRIEF and LOSS
Suicide and its Aftermath
The death of someone through suicide has a tremendous impact on family, friends and congregations. This workshop examines aspects of depression and suicide to give groups a better understanding of these topics. We will also look at the religious response to suicide and explore where God’s grace is in this tragedy. Philben
Surviving Loss: Psychological and Spiritual Considerations
Sooner or later, every person is affected by separation and loss, whether it’s the death of a parent or loss of a job. This program considers loss from psychological and spiritual viewpoints, demonstrating how important it is to deal constructively with loss. The benefit? Healthier, fuller living. Philben
CARING and SELF-CARE
Lifetime of Care
A frequently asked question from lay care givers is, "How do I know when and how to help?" This program identifies the points in an individual or family life cycle when care is most needed by individuals or families. The presentation will help congregational care givers be aware of times when referral to the pastoral staff or other professional resources is most appropriate and how to meet the needs of those in the midst of predictable and unpredictable life transitions. Johnson
Care of Soul, Care of Self
Think of this as a mini-retreat to nourish and ground oneself. We will discuss the sacred art of renewal and explore the experience together. While “doing nothing” is easy to dismiss as unnecessary in an already overbooked schedule, it is actually crucial to our health and enjoyment in life. Morris
Combating Compassion Fatigue
If you work in a caring profession, you probably know the signs all too well: low energy, sleeplessness, lack of initiative and feelings of powerlessness. This workshop is designed for clergy, lay ministers, nurses, other helping professionals and volunteers. Learn to recognize the sometimes subtle symptoms of "burnout," effective and essential remedies and powerful ways to enhance care giving and healing skills. Griffin
PARENTING
Child Sexual Abuse
Being a parent or working with children can often be very scary. It is difficult to know who to trust your children with. More and more information about child sexual abuse is portrayed through all aspects of life. This workshop will look at ways to keep your children safe and aware. In addition this workshop will discuss what sexual trauma is and how symptoms may present to parents, school personnel, or other people in children’s lives. Lindh-Payne
Teenage Date Rape
Adolescence is a scary time for parents and for teenagers. This workshop can be presented to teenagers or to parents. We will discuss precautions and ideas to help prepare teens to be more aware of the people they choose to be friends with and how to make wiser decisions. Lindh-Payne
Perfect Parents
Divorce can be a devastating experience for the parent as well as the children. In this workshop we will discuss ways to help children whose family is going through a divorce. Parents will talk about various conflicts that may come up such as feelings of abandonment for children, children’s feelings that it is their fault, children’s ideas of healthy relationships, and introducing new partners into the home. Lindh-Payne
Secrets of Super Nanny Explained: Setting Limits with Love
Parenting defiant children can be a huge challenge. This program addresses the concern that many parents have over how to balance love with limits. We will discuss how love can be expressed through limit-setting with children, as well as the importance of consistency in parenting. We will also take a practical look at limit-setting, particularly the use of positive reinforcement (rewards) and negative reinforcement (punishment, or as Super Nanny calls it, “the naughty chair”). Participants are encouraged to come with stories of struggles with their own children. The group as a whole will then work to develop a plan for setting limits within this family. Fruhauff
FAMILY
Drawing Your Family Map
This two-part program teaches participants to diagram their families—both current family and family of origin—in order to understand current and past family dynamics. The most frequently experienced family dynamics are described using examples from history and contemporary culture. Johnson
Living The Sandwich
As life expectancy has increased, more and more adults are experiencing the challenges of caring for two or three generations—younger and older than themselves. This introductory class or series of three classes presents information on family developmental dynamics, ways to cope with the stress of being "caught in the middle," and spiritual nourishment for the sandwich generation. Johnson
Adult Children of Alcoholics
Being raised in a home where one or both parents are alcoholics has a lasting, significant impact. What are some of the psychological consequences for the child of the alcoholic? This program explores what it means to grow up with alcoholism and offers suggestions for healing and growth. Philben
Quality Time for You and Your Family
This workshop will help you understand the steps that are necessary to work out the time and the energy to have quality time for the entire family. Learn how easy it is to be in control of your life. Lucas
Inside the World of Autism Spectrum Disorders
This program explains the symptoms associated with ASD and examines the possible causes. Using the work of Autistic authors Temple Grandin and Donna Williams, we will discuss how those diagnosed with an ASD might experience the world and relationships differently from the rest of us. We will explore some of the treatments as well as the impact of caring for those with an ASD. This program can be tailored for the general public who may be looking to learn more about ASD or for those who know and work with people with ASD who may be interested in treatments and the experiences of those with ASD. Fruhauff
SELF-GROWTH
Managing Holiday Stress
Holiday seasons often begin and end with anxiety and/or depression. This workshop will help participants identify the causes of stress, for them as individuals as well as how our culture has created expectations that contribute to negative emotional experiences. Also included are ways to cope with the stress and reclaim holidays as an opportunity for celebration and spiritual growth. This can be presented in one or two sessions, depending on time available. Johnson
Healing Violence Against Women
From domestic abuse to sexual harassment in the workplace, violence against women is one of the most pressing issues of our time. This program explores the dynamics of domestic abuse and workplace harassment and offers practical suggestions for fostering peace-filled environments at home and at work. Participants also discuss the role the church can play in preventing and healing such violence. Philben
De-Stressing with Mandalas
Stress has been named as a culprit in many life-threatening illnesses, as well as emotional difficulties and a decreased sense of well-being. Come learn more about this unseen force and ways to manage it. We will work creatively with mandalas during our talk, in order to promote calm and centeredness. No artistic skills required! Morris
Shhhh: Your Heart is Speaking
Are you feeling dissatisfied with life? Do you want to make changes but don’t know where to begin? Do you remember what makes your heart sing? Using a life wheel, we will delve deeper into ourselves in order to identify areas of life ripe for change and next steps in reaching our desires. Morris
Managing the Fear Factor
Often we are stymied by fear and negative thoughts. What we want most sometimes equates to an impossible dream due to our “stuff” that gets in the way. This inner turmoil can seem like an unending battle between our minds and hearts. Get to know your voices of fear and learn various ways to quiet them so that you can move forward with your life. Morris
Coming Up for Air: Self-care for Moms
Becoming a mother is an all-encompassing role adjustment. Even experienced mothers can feel exhausted, unsure, and out of sync with themselves and their families. This seminar, series or retreat is for moms who want to catch their breath, relocate their sense of self and move forward with purpose. Hester
Beauty: Going Beyond the External and Getting to the Heart
This seminar, workshop or retreat focuses on creating a healthy self-image and countering cultural stereotypes of women. Hester
Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
This workshop will help you and those you love to communicate better. It will help you to understand what people are really saying at work and even at church. Simple solutions to a complicated problem. Lucas