Tag Archives: counseling

Season 4 Episode 11: Sabbatical with Jeff Simons

Posted on by under Cross Cultural, Mental Health, podcast, Podcast, Shop Talk, Uncategorized

Join Brandi and James as they interview Jeff Simons on Sabbaticals. Jeff is a missiologist at core. He works out this passion as a trained leadership coach, and a cross-cultural companion to global leaders in major transition to, within, and from the field. His unique wiring plays out as a Resourcing Developer—of people, tools for global workers, and literature; Imaginative Innovator—of forward-thinking missiological structures and ministry strategy; and as a Restorative Artist—by empowering the journeys of workers forward through redemptive new expression, and in literal ways as an artist. Jeff and Sara Simons run The Way Between, where they equip global leaders to thrive in major life transitions.

Check out these resources from Thewaybetween.org

Your Sabbatical Transformation

Engage the eCourse, get access to the Cohort coaching community (monthly with a trained Sabbatical coach) for free! Wherever you are in considering or preparing for a sabbatical season, this course will lead you through a clear structure and process to make the most of your sabbatical! We suggest at engaging the eCourse at least 2 months BEFORE Sabbatical, and for at least 1 month AFTER, for the process to be most effective!

Essentials for People Care and Development: A Collection of Best Practices, Research, Reflections, and Strategies

Great new multi-author member care work in the Missio Nexus Improve Series, by Geoff Whiteman (Author) and Heather Pubols (Editor). Sara and Jeff contributed 2 chapters addressing the urgency and vital practice of effective Sabbatical: Reframing Sabbatical Posture in the Post-pandemic Landscape; and Reframing Sabbatical Posture: Embodied and Developmental. This is a must-have work for those in member care, and those leading and caring for people well…

You can purchase directly ON SALE from The Way Between here or on Amazon or digitally from MissioNexus

Season 4 Episode 9: Book Club! Emotionally Healthy Spirituality for Cross-Cultural Workers

Posted on by under Cross Cultural, Mental Health, podcast, Podcast, Shop Talk, Uncategorized

Join Brandi and James as they share thoughts from Pete Scazzaro’s book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. They discuss the book’s principles and practices and how they apply to cross-cultural workers.

Family Retreat Activities: Here are some activities for families to do together, including a family genogram.

Here is a resource for anyone who would like to do a supervision genogram.

Supervision Genogram and Cultural Genogram ArticleDownload

A deeper dive into making your own genogram

Genogram_SLE+editDownload

Peter Scazzero learned the hard way: you can’t be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature. Even though he was the pastor of a growing church, he did what most people do–avoid conflict in the name of Christianity; ignore his anger, sadness, and fear; use God to run from God; and live without boundaries.

Eventually God awakened him to a biblical integration of emotional health and the spiritual practice of slowing down and quieting your life for to experience a firsthand relationship with Jesus. It created nothing short of a spiritual revolution in Scazzero, in his church, and now in thousands of other churches.

In his updated edition, Scazzero shares new stories and principles as he outlines his journey and the signs of emotionally unhealthy spirituality. Then, he provides seven biblical, reality-tested steps to become emotionally mature:

Season 4 Episode 6: Attachment Styles and Our relationship to God with Dr. Ted Wueste

Posted on by under Cross Cultural, Mental Health, podcast, Podcast, Shop Talk, Uncategorized

Join Brandi and James as they interview Dr. Ted Wueste on Attachment Theory and how it impacts our relationship with God. You can find more about Ted at https://desertdirection.com.

“attachment theory, in developmental psychology, the theory that humans are born with a need to form a close emotional bond with a caregiver and that such a bond will develop during the first six months of a child’s life if the caregiver is appropriately responsive.”- John Bowlby

When discussing attachment, we are talking about something that is part of God’s design in how he made us. Jesus, in scripture, has all of the commands summed up into loving God and loving each other. This is attachment and a bond between people. Being made in the image of God, the Trinity, is to have the ability to bond and connect in the same way. Attachment theory can give people a better handle on what God is talking about with the word love. This word is Hesed (חָסַד )in Hebrew and is often translated as Loving Kindness. Attachment theory is incredibly helpful for those seeking to walk with God to understand how. – Ted Wueste

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” –  Jesus, Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

Krispin Mayfield, in Attached to God, suggests that ambivalent, avoidant, and disorganized attachments can be understand as relating to God … 

  • Anxious attachment/spirituality
  • Shut-down attachment/spirituality
  • Shame-Filled attachment/spirituality

The movement toward secure attachment to God (grace, safety, freedom) (Mayfield):

  • From anxiety to rest
  • From shut-down to engagement
  • From shame to delight

Season 4 Episode 5: Addictions with Verne Salter

Posted on by under Cross Cultural, Mental Health, podcast, Podcast, Shop Talk

Brandi and James welcome Verne Salter to discuss addiction and its impact on cross-cultural workers. One of the bigger factors is that whatever is dealt with in our home context gets intensified when moving cross-culturally. This also may be complicated by the loss of healthy anchors. The result is issues that might only be minor or are well handled in the home context but can be systemically problematic cross-culturally.

Get in touch with Verne https://www.smithandsalter.com/about or check out MTI at https://www.mti.org

Vern Salter – MA, LPCC

Vern has spent over 25 years as a vocational christian worker, both stateside and overseas.

Having received help and care in times of crises, he values the “below the waterline” work of counseling, as well as the “at the waterline” work of adopting soul care practices, relational reconciliation, and healthy rhythms in life.

With an MA in Clinical Counseling from Colorado Christian University, Vern blends professional and soul care in his perspective on providing care.

Trained in EMDR, Gottman Marriage Therapy, and Soul Care, he brings a broad scope to member care work.

He is married to Janell, and they have 3 adult children. Living in Colorado Springs, CO, they marvel at the beauty of God’s creation around them daily.

Season 4 Episode 3: TCK Educational Needs with Bethany Walker

Posted on by under Cross Cultural, Mental Health, podcast, Podcast, Shop Talk, Uncategorized

Bethany Walker is currently the curriculum director of an online Christian school called Norhtline Academy, which has been serving global workers for over 25 years. She has extensive experience teaching, developing curriculum, and living cross-culturally. You can read more about her here.

Families are going to have unique needs, and those pieces of resourcing are so important. Organizations need to anticipate those needs to the best of their ability. – Bethany Walker

Resource

Visit SHARE.. “We help English-speaking families serving in Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East with their children’s educational needs.”

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Season 4 Episode 1: The Transition of Retirement with Shonna Ingram

Posted on by under Cross Cultural, Mental Health, podcast, Podcast, Shop Talk, Uncategorized

Join Brandi and James as they interview Shonna Ingram about transitions and retirement. It can often be a taboo subject but can be an opportunity to celebrate a different life stage and is worth planning for.

“Retirement is a hard transition for people. It may not be only the re-entry or retirement issue; it could be some of the other layers connected to the process, too.”

Shonna Ingram is an experienced practitioner and trainer, working with cross-cultural workers. She found herself becoming an expert in life transitions over the past 15 years. Recently, she has been asked outside the cross-cultural worker’s circle for resources she has been providing for years. This led her to create the Renewed Hope Approach. 

Amid the complexities of life, trauma can cast its shadow in various forms. At Shonna Ingram Consulting, we recognize the vital importance of integrating Christian faith with trauma-informed care. Our approach acknowledges that healing and renewal extend beyond addressing the mind alone. By combining mental health principles with the transformative power of Biblical teachings, we bridge the gap between understanding and healing. In a world that’s no stranger to pain and uncertainties, our commitment is to offer a safe haven where faith and practical solutions converge, leading to holistic recovery. Explore the need for Christian trauma-informed care and discover the path to renewed hope.

Visit her website to learn more! https://shonnaingram.com/

Season 3 Episode 12: 2023 Wrap up

Posted on by under Cross Cultural, Mental Health, podcast, Podcast, Shop Talk, Uncategorized

Join Brandi and James as they wrap up 2023 with some highlights, trends, and what they look forward to next year. One way to incorporate this same idea yourself or with your family would be through the practice of an Examen. Pausing to notice the highs and lows of the year and to write down things that are worth holding on to.

Resources

The Ignatian Examen

St. Ignatius invites us to find God in all things. That means we have to pay careful attention to how the Spirit is moving in each moment of our daily lives. We have to take a magnifying glass to the seemingly ordinary, seeking to encounter the Divine. 

That’s why the Examen is such a powerful prayer. In it, we’re invited to encounter God, express gratitude for the gift and gifts of each day, and to commit to make up for any mistakes we may have made. 

The Examen is a flexible prayer, too, responding to the signs of the times. Below, you’ll find several variations to meet your need in this moment

Ignatian Exercises

practicing-the-examen-with-childrenDownload
daily-prayer-of-examenDownload

Essentials for People Care and Development

Practical insights and activities to help your organization build a thriving culture.

Finding, sending, and caring for missionaries has grown increasingly complex for mission leaders and staff. The mission world is more multicultural and global crises seem to be more frequent. And we can no longer make the same assumptions about shared values which can open the door for legal difficulties. We all want to see ministry staff thriving and serving the kingdom to their full potential, but how can we support that? In this book, you will be able to dig deeper into these fundamental issues and more.

Member care workers collaborated with us to bring practical insights that will help you and your agencies. No matter where you fit on the spectrum of care – a concerned pastor, missionary colleague, or ministry leader all the way to a professional services provider – this book and its contents will help you implement improvements in caring for ministry staff.

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Season 2 Episode 8: Trauma with Dr. Phil Monroe

Posted on by under Cross Cultural, Mental Health, podcast, Podcast, Shop Talk

Join Brandi and James as they interview Dr. Phil Monroe with Langberg, Monroe and Associates about trauma. Dr. Philip Monroe leads Langberg, Monroe & Associates and is a psychologist with three decades of clinical experience. His personal, professional, and spiritual musings may be found at http://www.philipmonroe.com.

“Trauma is a wound of the heart that affects every part of our being; our bodies, minds and hearts. It takes a long time to heal. Trauma is not an event so much as it is an experience. Trauma is the experience people have when they are overwhelmed and cannot cope. The effect someone has from that experience best defines long term trauma.”

“When we talk about trauma we are talking about an ongoing, long lasting effect. It may be soon after an event or experience or it maybe a years and decades later that it starts to show up.”

Resources

Dr. Diane Langberg

  • Diane Langberg’s Youtube Channel
  • Suffering and the Heart of God (Book)
  • In our Lives First (Devotional)

Jenena Fisher

Trauma Healing Institute https://traumahealinginstitute.org