Institute for Creative Mindfulness

Online Recognizing and Healing the Wounds of Spiritual Abuse: A Course for Human Services Professionals

July 29, 2022 

9:00am - 4:30pm ET

(One Hour Lunch Break 12:30-1:30pm ET)

About This Special Edition of the Training

Throughout her career Dr. Jamie Marich has taught that spiritual abuse is a legitimate form of trauma that needs to be addressed in our larger efforts to be more trauma-informed and trauma-focused. In the aftermath of Roe v. Wade being overturned in the United States, Dr. Marich is organizing this special edition of the training for all human services professionals who want to learn about the fundamentals of spiritual abuse and how to address it in clinical and services settings. Special space will be offered to discuss how the recent Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) decision to overturn Roe v. Wade meets the definition of state-sanctioned spiritual abuse. 

Because of the pressing need for this training in our current climate, the Institute for Creative Mindfulness is offering this on a sliding scale for all human services professionals. If you work directly with a reproductive rights organization, we will allow you to take the training free of charge. If you are eligible for the free training, please email us directly at [email protected] to tell us about your work and we will get you and any members of your team who are wanting to take the training registered. 

General sliding scale guidelines, which you will be able to self-select on an honors system at registration and checkout. If for any reason you want to attend this training but these prices are still a barrier, please reach out to us and let us know about your work and desire to take the training.

$95.00- thriving organizations or private practices

$65.00- private practice clinicians or professionals in need of assistance at this time

$45.00- public agency or organization professionals in need of extra assistance at this time

$25.00- students (at any level)

A portion (20%) of all real-time training proceeds will be donated to the abortion access fund Indigenous Women Rising. 

A homestudy version of this training will be made available at the same price points within 1-2 weeks after the real time presentation of the course for those who are not able to attend in real-time.

Description

Generally defined as the use of God or religion as tools to gain power and control by the abuser, spiritual abuse is one of the most overlooked forms of abuse in clinical settings. However, the willingness to address it will give clinicians added insight into many of their clients and how to more effectively and holistically address treatment. Spiritual abuse is not just relevant for those who have been members of cults---it is a very real condition that often occurs in individuals who have been abused, or who struggle with addiction issues. The aim of this presentation is not to single out any one group; rather, to examine common themes of power, control, and shaming/manipulation that exists across religions and spiritual practices.

In this course, theories of spiritual abuse and approaches to understanding it are explored through pastoral, developmental, and clinical lenses. Special consideration will be paid to how spiritual abuse can be described as a trauma framed by the adaptive information processing model. Challenges for personal reflection and other critical thinking activities will help participants understand how the construct of spiritual abuse is relevant to clinical practice and apply this knowledge to any aspect of your work as a human services professional. Finally, writing on the theory and practice of helping clients develop healthy spirituality is presented and discussed. Specific connections are made to implementing spiritual resourcing as part of overall treatment and care.

Objectives

After this workshop, participants will be able to: 

1. Define spiritual abuse from a pastoral, developmental, and clinical perspective; explain within the context of the AIP model
2. Explain the concept of state-sanctioned spiritual abuse and discuss how the current political climate in the United States and other countries globally meets this definition
3. Describe how spiritual abuse affects identity development in clients, especially when oppressive cognitions imparted by state or societal factors are at play
4. Identify the common themes amongst religious denominations and spiritual practices that have led to abuse experiences in individuals
5. Assess for commonly encountered negative cognitions acquired by those who have been spiritually abused in the context of clinical symptomology 
6. Develop a trauma-informed treatment or service plan that is sensitive to the needs of clients who have experienced spiritual abuse
7. Identify components of healthy spirituality that can assist in the recovery process within any clinical or human services approach

By Registering for this Training, You Acknowledge and Agree to the Following:

• Attendance: Your presence at the entire training is required at all sessions if you wish to receive CE credit hours. No partial credit can be awarded. . 

• Technological Requirements: Attendance at all live sessions on the indicated dates is mandatory for completion of this course. Please plan on joining a few minutes early for troubleshooting if you are not already familiar with the platform. For more information on how to join a Zoom meeting, please read through the following article: https://www.howtogeek.com/662339/how-to-join-a-zoom-meeting/. By registering for these trainings, you acknowledge that you meet the technological requirements needed to participate. If you require technical assistance, you are required to reach out to your instructor at least one week prior to the start of training.

• Refund/Cancellation Policy:  You have read and agree to ICM's Organizational Policies, which stipulate the terms for refunds, cancellations, and resolving grievances and disputes.

• Correspondence from Training Organization: The Institute for Creative Mindfulness regularly sends correspondence about the training, including an email confirmation at registration and several emails leading up to each training. The emails presently come from [email protected]. Additionally, The Institute for Creative Mindfulness may send out emails from [email protected] . If you are not receiving these emails, you are required to check your spam folder as correspondence from new organizations often ends up there. Once you receive your first correspondence, please save the email to your address book. If you have not received a confirmation email or other correspondence from the organization within seven days of the event, it is your responsibility to reach out to us by email or phone.

• Professionalism: You will show up on time and be fully present for each session, acting in a professional manner. You will reach out to your faculty member or any assistant if any unexpected problems arise. Staying present for online learning can come with its unique set of challenges, and you agree to take full responsibility for addressing your needs in the area of grounding and self-care during the training. You agree to refrain from all alcohol and illicit drug use during the training and agree to speak with your faculty member or an assistant if you anticipate that your impairment due to prescribed medications might pose a problem during the training. The faculty and staff reserve the right to remove trainees at any time if the trainee creates an unsafe or unprofessional environment for you or for other trainees, or for any other reason, at their sole discretion.

• Accommodations: The Institute for Creative Mindfulness follows the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We ask that if you are in need of any special accommodations that will allow you to take your training with us online, please email us with any special requests thirty days before the scheduled training. If, during the training, a need for an accommodation arises, you are expected to contact your instructor and/or practicum assistant immediately and we will discuss the best possible solution.
• Preparedness for Doing Your Own Work: If you have received a major mental health diagnosis (past or present), you acknowledge that you are taking this training at your own risk, and agree to alert faculty or training staff before or during the training if any complications arise. If any problems arise, you agree to address them with faculty or staff members.

Email [email protected]  with any questions or concerns. After registering for this course you will receive an email from Thinkific, which will ask you to complete your registration and give you access to the course portal.