In-Person Training (Knoxville)

3 CE Hours

“Caring for Clients Going through Religious Transition, Faith Deconstruction & Everything in Between: A Clinical Framework”

Doug Messer, LPC/MHSP, NCC

This workshop will focus on recognition of the need to understand the clinical effects clients experience when transitioning away from previously important faith perspectives; deconstructing long-held religious beliefs; or beginning to process hurt and/or trauma experienced from within what had previously been experienced as secure religious beliefs or faith communities. Whatever the primary initiating motivations are (examples: theological, social, political, gender and/or sexuality), the affects on individuals are often complex and far-reaching. We will explore the reasons for such changing perspectives and feelings, as well as the significant challenges, losses, and painful experiences of disorientation related to identity, purpose, and primary friend/family relationships. We will discuss the need for an empathetic witness to clients in this regard, regardless of what a clinicians own religious\non-religious outlooks might be. Finally, we will offer an approach to discuss and process these experiences within both group settings and with individual clients.

Objectives:

• Increase understanding and emphasize the reality, impact, and complexity of change and/or loss of core religious beliefs and communities on individuals and couples
• Recognition of the psychological, emotional, and relational impacts
• Provision of a model processing group for those wrestling with, alienated from, or hurt by religious beliefs and communities they grew up in and/or were significantly shaped by.
• Approach for working with individual clients in processing grief, anger, loss, and trauma related to religious deconstruction, hurt, or abuse

About the Speaker(s)

Doug Messer, LPC/MHSP, NCC

I have almost 30 years of experience in working with a wide range of people from various backgrounds and stages of life in both pastoral care and clinical counseling settings.

After working as a pastor for a little over 20 years, in both campus ministry and church settings, I transitioned to the clinical counseling field. Having long felt that counseling in a non-church setting was the direction I wanted to head, I also felt the need to transition for my own health, particularly as I had, for many years, been experiencing my own religious deconstruction/broadening of perspective on faith and spirituality as well.

I was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, but have lived in Knoxville for 25 years, having moved here from Boston in 2001. My wife and I are the parents of four children, ages 26, 25, 23, and 14.

TLPCA Contact

If you any questions, please contact Megan McCarter Cates.