09.11.08
Posted in Events, Information & Referrals at 8:43 am by Michael_Reeder
The “Super PNO” for the Washington/Baltimore region is this Friday night at Mystickal Voyage. Come have fun with other area Pagans. Also it’s a chance to check out the digs of the holistic and yoga center that a number of area alternative practitioners (and myself) work out of. Click here for information.
Also don’t forget Baltimore Pagan Pride Day this Saturday. Click here for more information. I’m not exhibiting or presenting — will likely stop by just to see what’s going on.
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Posted in Events, Got My Geek On!, Information & Referrals, Spiritual Counseling Theory at 8:28 am by Michael_Reeder
A few weeks ago I participated at a holistic health fair at Mystickal Voyage Holistic Center. I figured I’d run my usual information booth, hand out flyers, etc.
So I got there and — during my 4-hour shift anyway — every single other booth was staffed by a Tarot reader or a psychic. Meanwhile the organizers were assuming that everyone was doing 15 minute readings and had already started a sign-up sheet for me!
Those used to Tarot reading are likely reading this and saying “so what?”, and therapists reading this are cringing…
Anyway, I got a speed lesson in intense 15 minute coaching sessions. No divination. Just tell me your problem, tap into your creativity, and brainstorm next steps. It was fun and seemed to work quite well. Clients seemed happy. Of course, I made far less in tips than the Tarot readers and psychics — so that should be a clue to any students out there as to what profession to get into. (I donated tips to the Stepping Stones Nigeria orphanage for “witch” children.)
15 minute coaching sessions require a focus — something to pull the client right to the problem, tap their creativity, and immediately get them looking at the problem from a new angle instead of the stuck spot they came in occuping. This is where card decks become critical. There is ALOT we can learn from Tarot readers.
I have a whole workshop on using cards in counseling, but basically the story is that they can facilitate answers whether or not you believe divination is going on. The story used in psychotherapy anyway is that the mind is a meaning making engine and that a part of your mind will always try to make a meaning out of any information put in front of it. So if you think of a problem and pick a card, 9 out of 10 times your mind will supply a useful link between the card and the problem. In so doing your unconscious creativity surfaces.
I thought maybe I’d take this opportunity to list out some card decks that I use in therapy that I find very useful. Depending upon the need, I was pulling these decks out during the holistic fair:
Soul Coaching Oracle Cards — Have a simple picture and words such as Strength, Gratitude, Faith, Commitment, etc. Obviously usually used in divination but also great for the therapy situation described above where you ask the client to make a connection between the card message and their issue. I’ve also used these in “Resiliency” class at my psych rehabilitation program with a room full of folks with schizophrenia. The central lesson was that we all have resources to be strong with even if we have limitations or little money. By the time everyone drew a card and discussed their “love”, “freedom”, “grace”, etc. the room was much more upbeat and positive.
Dreaming in Color Deck — Emotional and spiritual states linked to artwork. Good for pulling emotions out of people stuck in their head. I’ve written about these before — click here.
Planning on Purpose Deck — A boring-looking, badly-printed deck by a career counseling center that is absolutely the best informal tool around for figuring out what your life priorities are. It’s supposedly geared towards career but the conversation can quickly become existential as the client figures out what matters in life. Using them is deceptively simple — clients sort the cards (with phrases such as “Nesting, creating a home”, “Sports, sports”, and “Leaving the World a Better Place”) into piles of low and high interest. Then they rank order the most important pile. Then you discuss how to bring their life into accordance with their top rank-ordered values. Good for helping break depression.
Healing the Mind and Spirit Cards — Advice for living with positive affirmations to change your thoughts. Good for when someone needs an “answer” and hope.
Hudes Tarot Deck — I almost never use Tarot cards. If I do, its in the context of architypal work. Along the lines of “find the cards that remind you of parts of yourself”. Useful in this way for helping people come to appreciate and be aware of all of the parts inside them. Usually the client is already familiar with Tarot or I find another way to work. This is one of my favorite decks.
Thanks,
Michael
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08.27.08
Posted in Events, Information & Referrals at 9:02 am by Michael_Reeder
A shameless plug, but hey, I like doing public workshops:
I’m told I’ll have a presentation slot at the Northern Virginia Pagan Pride Day celebration on September 7th. More information on the festival at http://www.openhearth.org/paganpride/nova.shtml
Not sure what time I’ll be speaking — I assume not opposite Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone!
I’m looking to set-up an info booth at the festival too. In addition to info on my practice, I’ll have some flyers and be available to talk about my experiences a few years ago with Cherry Hill Seminary. More info on them at http://www.cherryhillseminary.org/
Here’s my topic:
Trauma and Magic: Diagnoses, Groups, and Beyond: Often times folks drawn to the unusual and the occult are re-discovering themselves after a difficult past. That past history can lead to a variety of symptoms that friends may not realize are psychological in nature. These symptoms can effect covens, groves, and other working groups. This workshop will start by covering some of the symptoms of persons with trauma histories. We’ll briefly cover the spectrum of trauma disorders and discuss how such may effect the groups you are a part of. We’ll wrap up with a speculative discussion on the links between abuse and psychic or trance abilities. Time permitting we may range into the differences and similarities between psychosis versus psychic or magical capabilities.
Michael Reeder, MS, LGPC operates a counseling practice in both Baltimore and Washington, DC. His primary interests are Tarot, developing Neo-Pagan “pastoral” counseling methods, and the overlaps between magic and psychology. He holds a Masters degree in Clinical Community Counseling and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Spiritual and Existential Counseling from Johns Hopkins University. Michael has presented workshops for the Mid-Atlantic Pagan Alliance Beltaine Festival, Free Spirit Gathering, and the Pagan Leadership Skills Conference. His blog can be found at http://www.pagantherapy.com
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04.18.08
Posted in Business of psychotherapy, Information & Referrals at 2:11 pm by Michael_Reeder
What does this have to do with Pagan therapy you may ask? Other than me now having Saturday office hours there? Well, Mystickal Voyage is Pagan-owned – making it one of rather few holistic centers to have that distinction.
It’s really nice office space and I always run into interesting people there. They have amazing classroom space, yoga space, a large store, and a coffee shop too. Check them out if you are in the White Marsh, MD area.
More info at: http://www.mystickalvoyage.com
They recently bought some of my wife’s artwork for resale too! More on her wonderful digital colleague and altar box construction at http://www.nineravens.com/art-gallery
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01.03.08
Posted in Information & Referrals at 10:30 am by Michael_Reeder
From time to time I look (usually in vain) for financial counseling services to refer my clients to. Some of them are very expensive, others require ALL credit cards to be cut up, and others you wonder how much they are working for the credit industry versus the consumer. All in all, not an inspiring situation.
I have a friend who used to do excellent quality financial counseling as a senior manager with a financial counseling firm in Frederick, MD for many years before he moved to London. Before that he was an investigator and collections expert for a law firm, so he knows what’s he’s doing. He now works for Myvesta — a financial service company that helps people get back on their feet and otherwise manage difficult financial situations.
I just found out that he still does financial counseling in the United States via Myvesta’s service at http://myvesta.org/debt_experts/ There is a requested donation for the service, but it is voluntary and you can donate whatever you can afford.
He says “Once I am notified they have signed up, I will email them for details of how and when to phone them and their circumstance, we schedule a time to speak and the counseling is done via the phone, in most instances in 1 call with some email follow-up.”
This makes it sound like he’s the one counselor, but if you try this I’d specifically ask for Jon Emge to make sure you get him.
If you try Myvesta’s financial counseling service, please write me back and let me know what you think of their service.
I know this sounds like a paid commerical endorsement — it’s not. I’m just happy to have what looks to be a good referral option for clients in financial difficulty.
Thanks,
Michael
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12.12.07
Posted in Information & Referrals at 12:52 am by Michael_Reeder
Below is a snippet from a clergy ethics lecture I did for the WABAPLC (Washington-Baltimore Area Pagan Leadership Conference) February 2007 conference. The topic concerns when Pagan clergy can handle counseling matters themselves and when they should refer out. Two primary points are made:
- Clergy should refer out to professional counselors when beyond their training expertise, and
- clergy are on safer legal ground if they stick to spiritual counseling. (consult your own attorney — not legal advice)
What are your thoughts on the guidelines below? What other considerations are needed?
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Licenses & Counseling Limits
Psychological counseling is licensed (in Maryland and most of USA). Usually breaking law without a license to practice.
However, you CAN do spiritual counseling. In general, spiritual and religious counseling seems to be an assumed right of clergy, but rarely ever spelled out in law. [This document is written from a Maryland point of view. However I believe this to be generally true.]
Then again, are you legally clergy?
The borderline between spiritual and psychological counseling is unclear.
Refer client to a professional counselor for psychological counseling when:
- **YOU ARE NOT TRAINED TO DO IT**
- Emotional abnormalities
- In-depth childhood trauma background
- Psychological problems, hallucinations, delusions, etc.
- Consider the “3 times then refer” rule. (Not legal advice) [This rule-of-thumb is that if you find yourself counseling the same person three times about the same non-spiritual counseling issue, it’s safest to refer out to a licensed counselor at that point to not run afoul of licensing laws.]
When Doing Spiritual Counseling:
- Ask yourself “does the person need spiritual counseling?”
- Always tie your counseling to spiritual matters
- Have a spiritual counseling framework
- Make it a point to study spiritual needs and what you Tradition says about this
- Highfield & Cason’s four spiritual needs model
- Need for Meaning & Purpose
- Need to Give Love
- Need to Receive Love
- Need for Hope and Creative Expression
Highfield & Cason’s model — while it can be used in a more in-depth way – is a good “back of the napkin” checklist. That is, you can easily listen to the content and emotion of the person talking to you to detect strengths and deficits in the above four areas. These then provide a rough roadmap to spiritual counseling. Clergy will want to read-up on this and other spiritual counseling models.
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12.10.07
Posted in Information & Referrals at 1:08 am by admin
I’m pulling this entry directly off Angela’s www.nineravens.com blog. The kids need counseling and they are considered Pagan… so it’s vaguely on topic I guess, but more importantly it would just be a good thing to help out with:
I keep reading the stories about children in the Congo and Nigeria who are abandoned, beaten, and killed after being accused of being witches. It breaks my heart every time — to the point where I am shaking. I finally found an organization that is specifically working to help these kids. I am going to donate, and I hope you will too. — Angela
Stepping Stones Nigeria
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12.08.07
Posted in Information & Referrals at 9:48 am by admin
Ranking America’s Mental Health: An Analysis of Depression Across the States
Believe it or not, the District of Columbia recently ranked as having the lowest suidide rate. It was #23 in terms of rate of depression (#1 being best). Maryland had the 5th lowest rate of depression and 8th lowest suicide rate.
Something is going right around here. The ACA (American Counseling Association) credits access to mental health professionals and health benefits.
See:
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/state-ranking
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