Institute for Creative Mindfulness

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. 

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.

A special interview with perinatal mental health specialist Dr. Mara Tesler Stein also appears as part of the course. Mara reflects on course content through both the Jewish lens and the perinatal lens. 

Sliding Scale Pricing Options

Please choose pricing based on the following guidelines. We appreciate your careful consideration of which option best fits you or your organization's situation.