6th Annual Conference on Issues in Christian

Counseling2016 Topic: Depression

Minister’s Banquet – Thursday, February 25 – 6 p.m.Counseling Conference – Friday, February 26

REGISTER ONLINE at www.obu.edu/iccconf 16 Ministers’ Banquet: $10 per personConference cost: by 2/19 lateMental Health Professionals, Nurses & Social Workers $100 $125Pastors $ 70 $105Spouse of paid participant $ 20 $ 20Current Full-time student $ 20 $ 45 (Cost includes up to 7 NBCC clock hours on approved sessions, Certificate of Attendance, handouts for sessions attended, morning/afternoon snacks and lunch.)

APPROVALSParticipants who turn in evaluations will receive a certificate designating the Continuing Education clock hours earned (7 if all approved sessions are attended). Credit has been approved for: Licensed Alcohol and Abuse Counselors, Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, National Certified Counselors (NBCC), Nursing Professionals, and Social Work Professionals.

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Ouachita Baptist University, and Arkansas Baptist State Convention are cosponsors of this program. This co-sponsorship has been approved by NBCC. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is a NBCC Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 4599. The ACEP solely is responsible for this program, including the awarding of NBCC credit.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE8:00 am Welcome & Opening Prayer8:15-9:15 am Morning Session (Dr. Frank Page)9:15-10:45 am Morning Breakout/Part 1 (Choose one for two sessions)10:45-11:00 am BREAK11:00-12:30 pm Morning Breakout/Part 2 12:30-1:30 pm LUNCH (Viser)1:30-3:00 pm Afternoon Breakout – Choice One3:00-3:15 pm BREAK3:15-4:45 pm Afternoon Breakout – Choice Two

THURSDAY EVENING MINISTERS’ BANQUETSpecial Guest Speaker: Dr. Frank Page, President & CEO of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist ConventionA complimentary copy of his book, Melissa: A Father’s Lessons from a Daughter’s Suicide, will be available to those attending the banquet. Dr. Page will be available to sign books after the banquet.Cost: $10/person.  Register online at www.obu.edu/iccconf16.

CONFERENCE MORNING KEYNOTE SESSIONOur special guest speaker this year is Dr. Frank Page, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention. Dr. Page is the author of several books and publications, including his family’s personal journey shared in Melissa: A Father’s Lessons from a Daughter’s Suicide. We’re certain you will be blessed by Dr. Page’s insights.

(Not available for NBCC clock hours)

CONFERENCE MORNING BREAKOUT SESSIONS (one choice for two sessions)

Ethical Considerations with Therapy-Resistant Clients (Available for 3 NBCC clock hours)J. Craig Garrett, Ph.D., LPC-S, NCCJeffrey W. Nave, Ph.D., LPC-S, LMFT-SGarrett is Assistant Professor of Psychology and Counseling, Dean of Students, and a member of the Administrative Council at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also an ordained minister and has served as a chaplain in healthcare and hospice settings. Nave is Professor of Psychology and Counseling at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and Director of the NOBTS Office of Testing and Counseling. He also serves as an Associate Pastor at Northshore Church in Slidell, LA and works with law enforcement personnel as Critical Incident Response Specialist.

Therapeutic relationships work best when clients are engaged and active partners in treatment. Therapy resistance can take many forms and find its origin in many sources. This session is an overview of the ethical considerations pertinent to working with therapy-resistant clients. Issues of volitional resistance, external sources of resistance, and complications to the therapeutic relationship will be explored, and ethical therapist responses will be considered. Objectives:

1. Participants will review and understand the concept of therapeutic resistance and consider its applicability to their practice disciplines and settings.

2. Participants will consider specific types of client resistance as related to ethical principles such as dual relationships, extra-therapeutic influences, and confidentiality.

3. Participants will engage in group evaluation of case studies to facilitate ethical clarification of practical scenarios that are applicable to their professional areas of practice.

Darkness to Light (of special interest for ministers - not available for NBCC clock hours)Brooke Osborn, Ph.D., LPC, LMFTOsborn has a Ph.D. in Psychology and Counseling from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where she serves as Associate Director of Clinical Training and as an adjunct faculty member. She is also a licensed professional counselor and a licensed marriage and family therapist in the state of Louisiana and maintains a private practice in the New Orleans area.

Darkness to Light is an international non-profit organization striving to reduce the incidence of child sexual abuse by empowering people to prevent it.  Our training program, Stewards of Children, is a revolutionary sexual abuse prevention program that educates adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to the issue.  The program incorporates the “5 Steps to Protecting our Children,” Darkness to Light’s core education tool for sexual abuse prevention.  To

date, Stewards of Children is the only nationally distributed adult-focused evidence-based and third party evaluated program. Objectives:

1. Understand the “5 Steps to Protecting our Children.”2. Learn the facts about child sexual abuse.3. Become aware of the significant threat that children face from child sexual abuse.4. Be able to make decisions for children based on the facts of child sexual abuse.

CONFERENCE LUNCH SESSIONWhen Helping You Is Killing Me: Recognizing the Pitfalls of Caregivers and What the Caregiver Can Do About Them (Available for 1 NBCC clock hour)William C. Viser, Ph.D., LPC, LMFT, LADC Viser is a professor of Christian ministry at Ouachita Baptist University and has a private practice in Arkadelphia.

Burnout has been called the single most common personal consequence of practicing therapy (Kottler, 2009) which can lead to compromised immune systems, headaches, stomach problems and other stress-related problems if the therapist does not practice self-care. Compassion Fatigue, heart issues, depression and suicidal ideation are also among possible health issues. Five percent of people in the helping professions suffer from burnout and ten percent suffer from compassion fatigue (Morkides, 2009). Objectives:

1. Caregivers will recognize the common signs of burnout in the helping professions.2. Caregivers will learn how personality contributes to burnout in the helping profession.3. Caregivers will understand strategies and interventions to prevent burnout.4. Caregivers will identify strategies to recover from burnout.

CONFERENCE AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS (choose two for one session each)

Title: Depression and Counseling for People of Faith (Available for 1.5 NBCC clock hours)Ian F. Jones, Ph.D., Ph.D., LPC-S, LMFT-S, BCPCCJones serves as a professor of psychology and counseling and chair of the Division of Church and Community Ministries at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and holds the Baptist Community Ministries’ Chair of Pastoral Counseling.

The Christian church has shown ambivalence toward issues of depression and mental health over the past century. This workshop will identify the characteristics of depression, examine the responses of the church and Christian leaders to depression and mental illness, and explore counseling approaches and the value of including spiritual resources when addressing depression. Objectives:

1. Identify characteristics of depression.2. Review research on views of depression and mental illness in the church.3. Examine the value of spiritual resources in counseling.4. Explore ways to counsel and assist Christians who are dealing with issues of depression

and mental illness, in ways least likely to create resistance or undermine their faith.

Depression: Illness or Choice (Available for 1.5 NBCC clock hours)Kathryn A. Steele, Ph.D., LPC-S, LMFT-SSteele serves as a professor of psychology and counseling, and Director of Clinical Training at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and holds the James H. & Susan E. Brown Christian Counseling Chair.

In Christian counseling and among Christians in general there seems to be a great amount of variation in defining where depression comes from and what causes it.  This workshop will

explore the current research about the causes of depression, and the importance of distinguishing the difference between depression driven by biological issues and depression driven by circumstances, as well as specific treatment modalities for depression. Objectives:

1. Participants will increase understanding regarding the available research about the various causes of depression.

2. Participants will learn strategies to distinguish between depression caused by biological issues and depression caused by circumstances, and personal perspectives that put individuals at risk for experiencing depression related to circumstances.

3. Participants will increase knowledge regarding utilizing spiritual resources and evidence-based interventions for treating both types of depression.

Cultural and Social Construct Influences on Depression and Individual Responses (Available for 1.5 NBCC clock hours)Elizabeth Kelly, Ph.D.Kelly serves as chair of the Department of Sociology and applied research associate in the Elrod Center at Ouachita Baptist University.

Depression is perceived differently between cultures according to social norms. Race, ethnicity and Gender can also influence attitudes. Objectives:

1. Culture and how it intertwines with depression.2. Sociological reactions to depression.3. Gendered reactions/attitudes towards depression.

Pharmacotherapeutic Management of Depression (Available for 1.5 NBCC clock hours)Mari J. Wirfs, MN, PhD, BCANP, BCFNP, CNEWirfs is a Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner. Objectives:

1. Review the DSM-5 classifications of depression and other disorders with co-morbid depression.

2. Identify the drug classes and drug choices useful in the management of depressive symptoms.

3. Identify desired effects, potential adverse effects, and other prescribing considerations (e.g., age, co-morbid disorders, off-label uses, drug-drug and drug-food interactions) associated with drug classes and drug choices in the treatment of depression.

Dark Nights and Depression: Exploring Salutary Depression for Believers (Available for 1.5 NBCC clock hours)Aaron A. New, Ph.D.New is Associate Professor of Psychology and Counseling at Central Baptist College and serves as the Chair of the Behavioral Sciences Department.

Many believers throughout history have experienced seasons of spiritual dryness, darkness, and/or desertion.  Though these experiences look much like our contemporary construct of depression, they are different.  These seasons are painful, to be sure, but they are not pathological.  They are salutary – helpful and beneficial.  This workshop will examine salutary depression and how it relates to other forms of depression. Objectives:

1. Explore a biblical understanding of salutary depression2. Review significant historical contributions from John of the Cross and Joseph Symonds. 3. Compare and contrast salutary depression with pathological depression.4. Explore suggestions for helping those who are struggling with salutary depression.

Pastoral Care of the Depressed PersonLarry P Henderson, MDiv,M A.  DMin, LPC-S, LMFT-S, CCDP-D  (Available for 1.5 NBCC clock hours)Henderson serves as Chaplain/Therapist at Central Baptist College, Conway, AR, and teaches in the PACE program.  He also supervises LAC and LAMFT therapists working on licensure with the State Board of Examiners In Counseling.

All care givers work with persons experiencing depression.  This presentation is designed to identify some of the indicators of depression and raise awareness among care givers to resources available to counsel/minister to the needs of those they serve.  Suggestions will be made on how ministry trained and clinical mental health trained care givers can work together to serve the depressed person through clinical and faith based approaches.  Objectives:

1. Review signs of depression in Children, Adolescents, and Adults.2. Review clinical resources for mental health and ministry care givers to use in work with

depressed persons.3. Review faith based resources in work with depressed persons.4. Review healthy steps care givers can use to avoid depression in their own lives.

Test Everything and Hold Onto What Is Good: Using Christian Cognitive Therapy for Treating Depression in Teens (Available for 1.5 NBCC clock hours)Gerald E. Nissley, Jr., Psy.D.Nissley is Associate Professor of Psychology at East Texas Baptist University and a Licensed Clinical Psychologist.

Research has shown that conventional cognitive-behavioral therapies serve as well-supported evidence-based practices for treating children, teens, and adults experiencing clinical depression.  However, research on the use of faith-integrated formats has been less robust.  During this workshop, a model for faith-integrated application of first, second, and third wave cognitive-behavioral approaches will be shared for promoting reduction of depressive symptomology and promotion of wellness.   Objectives:

1. Participants will increase understanding regarding the available research on the application of faith-integrated formats of cognitive-behavioral therapy for treatment of depression.

2. Participants will learn strategies for applying faith-integrated aspects to conventional behavioral, cognitive, and acceptance-based formats of cognitive-behavioral therapy for addressing depression.

3. Participants will increase knowledge regarding benefits and contraindications for integrating faith-informed dynamics into conventional approaches for assessment and intervention for teens experiencing depression.

Ministry Skills for Youth Ministers (Two-part session – not available for NBCC clock hours)William C. Viser, Ph.D., LPC, LMFT, LADC Viser is a professor of Christian ministry at Ouachita Baptist and has a private practice in Arkadelphia.

Part One - Skills Addressed: Confidentiality limits, boundary issues, and the youth minister's significant other or spouse; Problems Addressed: Sexual IssuesPart Two - Skills Addressed: Transference, limitations and referrals; Problems Addressed:  Self-harm, depression and student stress