Trauma Informed Care Providers may not be addressing the whole person if they avoid or neglect how the client’s spirituality, faith and religious perspective are being utilized or impacted by traumatic events in their lives. For many people, the spiritual forms the root of their identity. For some, spirituality provides resources to cope with stress, to reframe their pain and suffering and to resiliently heal and recover from the devastating effects of trauma. For others, their religious and spiritual perspectives can exacerbate the negative consequences of trauma resulting in spiritual struggle, spiritual distress or even the “dark night of the soul”.

For the past 20 years, a large body of evidence-based and empirical research has examined the relationship between spiritual coping and biopsycho-social wellness This work has demonstrated robust links between both positive spiritual coping and negative spiritual coping and the different indices of overall wellness. Additionally, researchers and practitioners are also discovering that there is growing evidence that clients desire to have their spirituality and religion addressed in support services provision. Frequently, however, issues of one’s spirituality are not discussed in treatment/services nor are they included in assessment or wellness planning.

The proposed training will address the power of this emerging topic, will ease the misgivings and/or discomfort of providers in exploring with their clients the spiritual dimension of the healing and recovery process and will provide practitioners with practical tools and evidence based methods to approach and cultivate the spiritual dimension with their clients.

Register: 

Cost: $25 |  to register and pay, please visit: https://www-1553q.bookeo.com/bookeo/b_octraumainstitute_start.html?ctlsrc=1508854699010&src=02t

Trauma Institute of Orange County is recognized by New York State Education Department State Board Offices for Social Work and Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Social Workers, (#-0028); Licensed Mental Health Counselors (#MHC-0032); Psychoanalysts ( #P-0012); and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (#MFT-0023). This educational offering is acceptable for 3 continuing education contact hours. Full attendance is required to receive credit; variable credit for partial attendance may not be awarded based on State Board guidelines. Certificates will be available on-site

About the Presenter:

John is a Theologian, Clinical Pastoral Practitioner and Founding Partner of Continuum Consulting. Originally from Los Angeles, John was ordained a Maryknoll Priest in 1975 and served in the Philippines. During his ministry, he also served as an administrator for the Maryknoll Society and as adjunct faculty at Boston College and And- over Newton Theological Seminary. John resigned from the priesthood in 1987 and was hired as the Executive Director of HONOR, an Orange County, N.Y. not -for -profit social service and behavioral health care, and homeless housing provider agency. During his 28 years of leadership, and before he resigned his position in 2015, John and his ded- icated Board and staff grew the fledgling organization into a highly-respected, multi-faceted operation of fourteen major programs providing emergency shelters, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, Housing First, and Case Management Services to the community’s homeless population as well as a residential Addictions Crisis Center (detox) for those suffering from substance use disorders. He implemented a strategic planning methodology which was performance based and outcome driven. John also served as President and Collaborative Applicant of the local Continuum of Care Consortium from 1996 – 2001 and again from 2010 – 2015. John has been an active contributor to the evolution of what has become a solution -orientated and visionary Public Social Policy culminating in the HEARTH ACT and the Federal Strategic Plan: Opening Doors. As a Subject Matter Expert, he has provided extensive trainings on Homeless housing and services incorporating evidenced based best practices including Trauma Informed Care, Person Centered Approach, Harm Reduction, Eight Dimensions of Wellness, Developmental Assets and Social Risk and Protective Factors. As an undergraduate in Illinois, John earned his B.A. in Philosophy, and later was awarded his Master’s Degree in Divinity from the State University of New York. John presently resides in Port Jervis, New York.