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Newsnotes
Table of ContentsBack to ArchiveHonk If You Love TPC
Well, now it's my turn to move to the front. I accept the job of leading our formation because, for the past 10 years, I have been privileged to ride on the currents of the finest pastoral counselors I could ever hope to know. The people I work with, and particularly those who have been leading long before I got here, have taught me, challenged me, and beckoned me to be better and to travel farther than I thought was possible. Now I can say "Thank You" to my mentors by moving forward, taking the lead, and creating a current on which they can rest. But wait! As they rest, they also have the new and critical task of HONKING. Just as the lead goose needs the encouragement of hearing that his friends are still behind him, so will I need the frequent reminders that my colleagues are with me and for me. Truly, this illustrates the beauty of Triangle Pastoral Counseling. First, we are all flying in the same direction, meaning that we have a shared mission. Our staff wants to provide the highest quality therapy to people in pain, respecting both the science of psychology and the mystery of faith. Second, our staff is deeply committed to collegiality. We work as a team, and every person plays a vital role in our organization. In this, our 26th year of ministry, it is my hope that Triangle Pastoral Counseling will continue to fly in fine formation, all of us leaders and encouragers, workers and resters, each of us helping the others so that we can travel farther than any one of us alone. I also hope that you will use us. Get to know us. Be bold with those persons in your life, and in your congregation who are in pain, by telling them there is a place where they can receive hope and help. We would love to send you more information about pastoral counseling. If you would like to call, I will be glad to tell you more about our organization. Often we have area pastors as our guests for staff meetings, so that you can get to know us personally. If this is appealing to you, please call me, and we will schedule a visit. And, if you find yourself driving west on Millbrook just past Six Forks, be sure to HONK! --Suzanne Luper Our new Center Director, Suzanne W. Luper, has been a pastoral counselor for the past ten years at Triangle Pastoral Counseling. She received a Master of Divinity from Duke in 1990 and did her post-graduate training at TPC. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and a member of the North Carolina Association of Death Educators and Counselors. She lives in Wake Forest with her husband and two children. Back to TopPTSD and the Holi-dazeIn
many ways our
nation seems to be returning to "normal" following the Anxiety can wear many masks, including panic attacks, phobias (extreme and irrational fears), obsessions (preoccupations that interfere with life), extreme nervousness, or PTSD. There are four essential aspects of PTSD: a) exposure to a horrible trauma accompanied with intense feelings of fear, terror, or helplessness; b) re-experiencing symptoms; c) avoidance symptoms; d) increased arousal.
Parents, ministers, Stephen ministers, teachers, and other care-providers should remain alert for signs of distress in people of all ages, and stand ready to take appropriate and helpful action. Children are often unable to talk about their concerns, so I have listed common symptoms for them. Children often show depression or anxiety through increased activity or lethargy, poor concentration or attention, irritability, aggression, or withdrawal. They may show increased fears, worry, or anxiety about safety. They may be more clingy, whiney irritable, or moody. They might have more physical complaints (headaches, stomachaches, pains, nausea), and might be more reactive to loud noises. Nightmares are common. Some children regress somewhat following a trauma, such as reverting to baby talk or bedwetting, although these symptoms are usually transitory given increased reassurance of security, comfort, and love. Youth might be more withdrawn and sullen or over-active and aggressive than usual. The elderly might tend toward depression while experiencing more anxiety and sleep problems. Post-trauma reactions can be immediate or secondary, mild or intense, short- or long-term. Onset might be delayed by weeks, months, or even years. However, stress reactions might also show up in a multitude of symptoms, which people might not relate to the events of September 11. For example: increased medical problems, unemployment and financial pressures, increased mistakes or accident, increased alcohol and substance abuse, or marital and family strain. In may cases problems that were manageable before the attacks might become exaggerated or unmanageable in the face of the stressors. So what are some suggestions for coping with the holidays in this year of increased stress?
Dr. Fogleman served as a pastor of United Methodist churches for 10 years before specializing in psychology. He is especially interested in working with persons with depressive and traumatic stress disorders as well as issues related to sexual orientation and dysfunction. He worked on Hurricane Fran disaster teams with the Red Cross and is currently preparing for work with survivors of the September eleventh attack. Back to TopWhat Is Spiritual Direction?
Based on a regular schedule of
meetings, Spiritual Direction is an ongoing relationship in which the primary
focus of the session is on the directee's relationship with God as it is
reflected and challenged by all aspects of that person's life. During the
meeting (of about one hour) the director and directee seek to enter a prayerful
atmosphere where together they can be attentive to God's Spirit, who is in fact
the Real Director. The director may question, challenge, suggest, support, as
seems called for by the Spirit, but ultimately the directee must own whatever
insights are uncovered or course of action that is to be taken. The director is
a facilitator in the process. The directee must claim the journey. How do Spiritual Direction and Pastoral Counseling differ? Pastoral Counseling is more oriented toward solving conflict, either within oneself or in one's relationships. The objective is to move toward a healthier place in one's life. While one's faith may be explored as a part of the conflict or its resolution, the life situation is the primary focus of Pastoral Counseling. Triangle Pastoral Counseling is now offering Spiritual Direction to individuals or groups. We would be pleased to speak to your church or group to further explain this ministry. We are also available for retreats for church staffs, boards, or other groups--either in or out of the Triangle area. There are times in the life of a group that are crucial decision-making moments. We can facilitate a spiritual discernment process of such times. We invite you who are pastors and staff ministers to discover a place where God's Spirit can minister to you. --Larry Glover-Wetherington Larry Glover-Wetherington has been affiliated with Triangle Pastoral Counseling for eight years. He received the Master of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1987 and 1992 respectively. He has served as pastor and staff minister for 26 years, the past nine in the role of intentional interim minister and church consultant. He has recently completed two years training in spiritual direction in the Christian contemplative tradition. Back to TopBack to Archive |
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Y
terrorist
attacks of September 11. But we are also facing war, widespread job cuts,
financial uncertainty, and scares about anthrax. These factors add up to a LOT
of stress! And the factors will continue to exert a profound effect on the
people of the US for many years to come. The holiday season is often stressful
in the best of times, so it might be particularly difficult for people this
year. Many people might experience more sadness, depression, or anxiety than
usual this year. Who can forget the repeated images of the jet exploding into
the World Trade Center and the collapse of the massive towers, or the wreckage
of the symbol of our military strength? It is such horrible images, in the media
and in our memories, that can produce post-traumatic stress reactions. Such
reactions can affect all of us, and can produce depression, anxiety, or
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (see box below for symptoms), and make the
holidays more difficult than usual.
T