Pastoral Counseling Alumni
Pastoral Couseling Alumni are a religiously and culturally diverse community whose goals are the integration of spirituality and counseling in settings both social and religious. This rapidly expanding contingent of Loyola alumni reside all over the country and the world. The goal is to provide this unique group with resources and opportunities for career networking, continued learning, and lifelong connection with each other and Loyola.
Trauma and Spirituality Certificate Update
The Department of Pastoral Counseling successfully completed its first semester with its rollout of the new post-master's Certificate in Trauma and Spirituality. This first semester resulted in a far richer experience than we had even imagined. The feedback that I received in my course, "Positive Psychology, Trauma, and Spirituality", indicated that students found two parts most enriching. One was the emphasis on practical spiritual practices related to positive psychology, trauma, and spirituality -- particularly those that fostered student reflection on gratitude and forgiveness. Students were generous, indeed lavish, in praising how these reflections resulted in significant transformation of their perspectives.
The second area students emphasized was the sense of community and bonding that resulted from the trusting atmosphere and willingness to share on these sensitive topics. With our maiden voyage behind us it is time to focus on what the future will bring. We call your attention to two courses in the fall that will highlight the complex ways that spirituality and trauma can influence healing both at the communal and personal levels. The first course, taught by Dr. Mary Marguerite Kohn, is entitled "Trauma and Religious Institutions". Unfortunately we all know only too well the devastating impact clergy and ministry misbehavior has had on religious organizations and personal faith as discussed so intensely in the media this past decade. Many organizations are still reeling from that impact, and attempts to provide healing and reconciliation are proceeding quite slowly. Dr. Kohn is most suited for this dialog through her background and experience. She is an ordained Episcopalian priest and clinical social worker, who recently completed empirical research on the impact of clergy sex abuse on survivors health and well-being.
The chair of the Pastoral Counseling Department, Reverend Kevin Gillespie, SJ, will teach "Trauma, Spirituality, and Suffering", in which he brings together the many theological and spiritual points of view from thousands of years of reflection that have attempted to answer, "Why does God allow us to suffer?" Those of us whose brains
tend to value rational logic find we can focus on this question for about eight minutes -- at which point the question is overwhelming. Father Gillespie has a gift for looking at this problem as if it were a diamond chandelier suspended in space, with an ability to view the refractions in a calm and clear manner. In addition we will offer a variety of courses over the next two years that should complete even an experienced professional helper's repertoire of skills in developing the sensitivity, presence, and knowledge so necessary in working with victims of trauma, grief, and violence.
Joseph Ciarrocchi, PhD.
Professor & Co-Director
Certificate in Trauma & Spirituality
Loyola University Maryland, Department of Pastoral Counseling
For more information , contact Brenda Helsing, 410.617.7614 orbhelsing@loyola.edu.