Services
Individual Counseling & Psychotherapy
Pre-Marital
Counseling and Couples Therapy
Pastoral Care Specialist Training
Individual Counseling & Psychotherapy
We provide pastoral care, counseling, and psychotherapy to individuals. This may take the form of
very brief pastoral care to a person who has experienced a loss, illness, or who is facing a big decision. Sometimes people just need to share their thoughts, experiences, etc. with someone who cares. Counseling is a more focused experience in which a person has a particular issue which she or he wants to address. Counseling is often brief but can take place over an extended period of time. Psychotherapy comes out of a person's wanting or needing to look more deeply into the self and to work at changing who one is. This is very in-depth and can take quite sometime.
Pre-Marital
Counseling and Couples Therapy
We offer a variety of services to couples. Couples come
to the center for pre-marital counseling. Sometimes they
come on their own and sometimes they are referred by
their clergy person. Pre-marital work is usually four or
5 sessions in length and aims to help the couple prepare
for the change in their relationship. Couples also seek
counseling when they have difficulties. These
difficulties may include problems with communication,
issues with parenting, issues with in-laws, health,
finances, sex, etc. Difficulties in a relationship can
provide very good opportunities for the growth of the
relationship. Other couples come to the center when they
have decided to call it quits, and want some help with
working amicably with each other and/or working with the
children. The length of the couple's counseling largely
depends on the couple and what they want and need.
Family work is when the whole family, or parts of it,
come in together. The issues may include family stress,
transition, loss, separation, etc. The issue may be that
one family member is having difficulties and the
resources of the whole family are brought to the aid of
that person. Sometimes family members come in to deal
with a conflict that has arisen. One of the advantages
of family counseling is that all the members can use the
experience for their own growth and healing. In other
words, rather than just one person getting help, several
do. I'm often asked if I work with children. The answer
to this is "yes", but I usually work with children under
10 or so in the context of the family.
The Center offers these and other programs for congregations and other organizations. If you would like one
of these programs or if you have another idea please contact Joe Luther and discuss the details. Most
programs can be customized to fit a number of time
frames and settings, i.e., Sunday School Class,
Wednesday Night Service, Vacation Bible School, Women's
or Men's Group, etc. We welcome opportunities
to present
programs. To see a list of
currently available programs click here.
Pastoral Care Specialist Training
The Pastoral Care Specialist Training is a wonderful program for parish clergy and others involved in pastoral care ministries. Past participants have given very positive evaluations of this program. It offers a chance to learn, to get feedback from one’s peers, and to experience rich fellowship. Our hope is that this program will enrich your ministry and your faith-journey.
The training program consists of nineteen three-hour classes and will meet approximately every other week. The program is designed to meet the 50 hours of consultation requirement for the designation of the membership category of Pastoral Care Specialist as offered by The American Association of Pastoral Counselors. Other requirements apply.
The class format is divided into two parts. The first
half of each session is a didactic presentation and
discussion of pastoral care literature. The second half
is a case presentation of a pastoral care experience,
typically from the parish. The didactic and case
presentations are rotated among the class participants.
Our goal is that each participant will grow in his or
her capacity to experience and give pastoral care.
We hope to offer this program in the near future. If you
have an interest and/or questions please
email Joe
Luther or call (704)
795-5559.
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