Cost:  Free!
To Register: Email cconley@turningpointva.com

About the Course: Workshop Summary/Synopsis:  Spirituality can be a foundational piece of an individual's worldview, shaping their understanding of life's meaning, their connection to the world beyond themselves, and their relationship with a higher power. Often, spirituality is expressed through religion, a structured system of beliefs, rituals, and practices that align with their spiritual perspective. A healthy spirituality and religion can profoundly impact one’s life, improving mental health, enhancing social connection, and serving as a coping mechanism during times of challenge. However, many people fall victim to religious and spiritual abuse, where individuals with religious authority exploit their power to harm and manipulate others. This can impact a person’s day-to-day functioning while also damaging their ability to cope with life’s trials and bring confusion to their worldview, resulting in existential stress. This 1.5 hour course will will help Behavior Health Professionals learn to identify the signs of religious trauma and abuse and look at tools to help assess and help move clients toward healing.

Target Audience: Behavior Health Professionals

Content Level: Intermediate

About the Instructor: Chris is a Licensed Professional Counselor from Virginia Beach with a career spanning two deeply connected fields: pastoral care and mental health counseling. His initial work serving as a pastor drew him to a passion for caring for his community at large through the lens of mental health work. This led him to pursue his training in professional counseling and begin working in the field. He currently serves as the Clinical Director at Turning Point Counseling and Consulting, is a co-creator of Clinician Connection, and is pursuing his doctorate in Counseling Supervision and Education, focusing on equipping counselors for work with Religious and Spiritual Trauma. Outside of the office, Chris regularly provides training, consultation, and education on mental health topics at local churches, colleges, and other organizations in the community. He's driven by a commitment to bridge the gap between people who desire good mental health and meaningful faith.

Location: Turning Point Counseling and Consultation: 111 Mill Creek Parkway; Suite 300, Chesapeake, VA 23323

Learning Objectives:
1) Participants will define religious and spiritual abuse.

2) Participants will use multiple tools to assess religious and spiritual trauma and abuse for use in practice.

3) Participants will differentiate between religious and spiritual abuse in comparison to other types of abuse.

4) Participants will identify appropriate interventions to use with clients who have experienced religious and spiritual abuse.

Course Outline:  

1:00pm - 1:15pm:  

• Introduction to RSA reviewing polling data. 

1:15pm – 1:35pm:

• Defining Abuse an Trauma

• Defining and Differentiating RSA from other types of Abuse

1:35pm – 1:55pm: 

• Review Koch and Edstrom’s Spiritual Harm and Abuse Scale and Screener

• Practice Administering Koch and Edstrom’s Spiritual Harm and Abuse Scale and Screener

1:55pm – 2:20pm

• Review Psychotherapy Treatment Options for RSA 

• Review Medication Treatment Options for RSA

• Review Holistic Treatment Options for RSA  

2:20pm – 2:30pm 

• Conclusion and Q&A

Course interaction: This live workshop is fully interactive.  Attendees may ask and answer questions throughout the presentation in the instructor lead discussions. Workshop takes place at Turning Point Counseling and Consulting 111 Mill Creek Parkway; Suite 300, Chesapeake, VA 23323.

Fee and Registration: This course is FREE and includes 1.5 CE credit.  Register by June 30, 2024.  Cancellations must be received 24 hours prior to the start of the class.  EMAIL cconley@turningpointva.com TO REGISTER.

Questions and Accommodation Requests: For more any questions, requests for more information, or requests for accommodations, email cconley@turningpointva.com.

Course Completion and CE Information: To earn CE credit, attendees must log in at the scheduled time, attend the entire course and complete an online course evaluation. Certificates of Completion will be emailed within 10 business days of course completion.  

Turning Point Counseling and Consulting, provider number #1234, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 07/01/2024-07/01/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 1.5 clinical continuing education credits.

For any questions, needs, or special accommodations please contact hello@turningpointva.com with your request.

Turning Point Counseling and Consulting’s Continuing Education Grievance Policy can be accessed HERE.