We are happy to design an educational program that will fit your congregational needs. Part of the mission of the Pastoral Counseling Center is to provide for the local congregation and community resources in the areas of family life, mental health, and support groups. The following is a list of suggested topics which are available.

Adolescent and Parents - Can They Live in the Same Home
Parenting adolescents is hard work. The challenges are many. Adolescents can push parents to the limit and often do. This program examines how to better understand what is going on in the adolescent's life and effective ways to parent. This program is 1-2 hours.

Bible Studies or Special Series Study
We are available to lead small groups, classes or congregation in a study. You tell us what you would like and we will structure and teach the study. Time structure to be determined by PCC and congregation.

Blended Families - Two families - one unit
Children in blended families have a hard time because of the issues between parents and the different parenting styles. This program seeks to help the parents to join forces in caring and dealing with their children. This program is 1 hour.

Care for the Caregivers
Care giving to a loved one is exhausting work. This program examines ways for the care giver to do things for themselves to keep their emotional and spiritual lives charged. This program is 1 hour.

Children at home and school
Children are changing daily. Home and school life can offer a challenge to both the child and parents. This program looks at issues such as ADD and ADHD, bullying, homework, siblings, behaviors and other childhood issues. This program is 1-2 hours.

Conflict Resolution and Styles
This workshop involves the leadership group in a congregation in learning the different dynamics that go on in conflicts. The workshop can also be used to help a current group in conflict to understand the dynamics and begin to work in a productive way. The workshop uses personal inventory instruments to facilitate group dynamics. One day retreat of around 6 hours.

Conflict Management
If there is a conflict in the congregation, in whole or in part, that has become too heated, conflict management may be needed to calm down the conflict and help the group to focus, and solve the issues. This service is available at a per hour rate of $75.00.

Coping Strategies During the Holidays
The holidays can be stressful time for many due to memories, pressures and the over all stress we put ourselves under during holidays. This program gives suggestions on how to keep a balance during the holiday seasons. This program is 1 hour.

Days of Wine and Roses - Growing Old Together
As the population ages and people are living longer, the "golden years" can be a wonderful time. Yet there are adjustments that are needed and issues to be addressed. This program looks at some of the issues couples have as they spend their retirement years together. This program is 1 hour.

Dealing with Mild and Chronic Depression
The number one mental health issue is depression. This program helps persons identify depression and ways to deal. We will look at issues of medication, lifestyle, need for therapy. Issues of children and adolescent depression are also examined. This program is 1-2 hours.

Depression in Men
Men often mask their depression. This program looks at issues such as use of work, alcohol or drug use, anger and aggression as ways men deal with depression. This program looks at the over all issue of male depression as well. This program is 1-2 hours.

Didactic Group
This is a group for pastors and staff who want to look at their pastoral care and counseling issues with congregants. This is a biweekly group that meets for 2 hours.

Divorce Group
A group we will do at your church. It is a time limited group of 10 weeks. Issues of divorce and recovery are examined. Each group meets for 1 ½ hours. $20.00 fee for persons from a partnership congregation. Others the fee is $30.00 per session.

Faith Development
Examining the development of faith from the perspective of James Fowler. This course is 6 weeks, 1 hour per week.

Grandparents - You are Parents again
Helping grandparents deal with the issue of caring for their children's children. This program is 1-2 hours.

Grief in the Life Cycle
Grief comes into our lives all through life because of the many losses we suffer. This program looks at the many grief moments of life and ways to work through those moments. This program is 1-2 hours.

Leadership in the Congregation
With the use of Myers-Briggs inventory and leadership and management styles this retreat looks at ways pastors, staff and church leaders can better understand leadership styles and work together effectively. This program is a retreat of one day.

Parenting Skills
Where did your parenting skills come from and where have they taken you. The workshop will look at your family of origin and how your origin has shaped your current parenting skills in healthy and unhealthy ways. This workshop will focus on positive parenting skills that will help your family. This program is 1-2 hours.

Pastor's Partners Group
This is a monthly support group to help minister's partners deal with the stresses of parish life. Each session is 2 hours.

Ways of Praying, A Retreat
This is a retreat of 1 ½ days looking at different ways of praying and having time of prayer and reflection. This retreat would begin on an evening and run through mid- afternoon the next day.

Pre - Marriage
This workshop is designed for the first marriage, those who are getting married after living together and those who are getting remarried. With the use of Myers-Briggs inventory, Pre- Marriage inventory the couple look at issues such as personality, money management, sexual issues, in-laws, communication, and lifestyle differences. This workshop is 6 hours.

Substance Abuse
Examining alcohol and drug use and how to see the warning signs and seek help for those using. This program explores the emotional and spiritual aspects of substance use. This program can be 1 to 3 hours.

Surviving your Adolescence
This program is just for the adolescent to help them learn coping and management skills to get through the tough teen years. 2 hours

Systems Theory in Family and Marriage Relationships
Bowen's family system theory is employed to understand our own family system. Exploring the use of genograms in understanding family history and how that history impacts one's family. Six week course.

Temptation - A Biblical and Psychological Approach
Examining the issue of temptation and how one can better understand and deal with the temptations that come our way. This program is 1-2 hours.

The Book of James
Exploring the message of James and how that message speaks to us today. This program is 3 hours.

Thin Red Line
Exploring the behavior with adolescents and adult self-destructive behaviors, cutting, and self - mutilation of the body. This program is 1-2 hours.

Troublesome People
For ministry staff to explore different personality styles of people whom we minister to that can and do cause trouble in the parish. This course is six weeks or a day long seminar for staff.

Working with Conflict
See conflict resolution and styles

Because of the need for scheduling a minimum of 2 months advance notice is often needed to assure you of the program, retreat, workshop or course desired. The group opportunities such as pastor partners, divorce and didactic group are open to a maximum of 10 persons.

Cost: For program of 1-2 hours - $75.00
Pre-marriage workshop - $175.00 per couple
Retreats - $200.00
Courses - $300.00
Groups - $30.00 per participant

To arrange a program, workshop, retreat or course, please contact Rev. Steven W. Harris, Director of Resource Development at (540) 343-5455.

Our mission: to provide affordable professional counseling, in a competent, compassionate and hopeful environment, for those in life's crisis and transition who are in the religious community and the greater community.

Updated 4/05