Return to:Insights and Reflections - January 2001
NJASERVICNew Jersey Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling
(NJASERVIC is an affiliate of the New Jersey Counseling Association) www.njcounseling.org *********************************Message from the President, Michael Lazarchick
Last summer I watched caterpillars foraging through my garden. They are relatively slow. Following instincts or basic needs, they spend time “aimlessly” consuming. Fairly unaware of dangers, once a spider, hornet, or bird finds them, it’s pretty much over. But, if they survive, they grow and eventually get to a period of rest when they wrap themselves up and become a pupa. Just one year ago I wrote about NJASERVIC being in danger of losing its charter. A few people formed a temporary leadership board and began publishing this newsletter. Using the existing by-laws, an election was held. With a handful of votes we became an official board on July 1, 2000. The NJASERVIC initial goals were set pretty much to meet basic needs. We consumed anything that might help and ambled along in what seemed to be a slow process. But no big birds got us! Indeed, going through this past holiday period reflecting upon thankfulness and joy, I noted the achievement of all our first year goals: 1. Betty Levin, as a write-in candidate, became our President-elect. She is a gift to this universe. 2. We do have a Home Page on the Internet, which includes all our past newsletters, provides a white paper on spirituality, has published competency standards, gives us the ability to fight for causes using other people’s money, and is linked to a variety of really neat inspirational and informational places. 3. The by-laws are updated. 4. We dramatically increased communications: we exhibited at the NJCA Annual Conference Poster Session; we held several meetings; we have started an electronic discussion group. As I write these words, a deep freeze is upon New Jersey. With very little professional organization activity, we could say, NJASERVIC has been wrapped up much like a pupa. But visualizations are possible just about anytime. I am thinking about butterflies dancing from flower to flower in my little vegetable garden. I have watched them emerge from their cocoons. The metamorphosis is astonishing. The energy is exhilarating. The beauty is captivating. The rebirth of NJASERVIC thus far has been a wonderful journey. This coming year, I suspect, we will look much more like a butterfly. Thank you for supporting this association. E-Mail Michael
Pearls from Betty Levin, President-elect
***Omega Institute is sponsoring a conference in New York on April 27-30 on The New Global Spirituality, featuring Martin Prechtel. Call 1 800-944-1001 for a brochure!*** ### We all drink from one water We all breathe from one air We rise from one ocean And we live under one sky A new spirit comes to NJASERVIC - larger meetings, yeasty ideas, a greater sense of purpose. Come join this resurrected community.... 1. at the NJCA Annual Conference in Princeton during March: an NJASERVIC meeting on Monday, March 5, 7:30 a.m., to be conducted by President, Michael Lazarchick; 2. a membership meeting on Saturday, April 21, at 11:30 a.m., at the home of President-elect E. Betty Levin in Millburn. Complementary lunch and CEUs. Hold the date! Driving instructions in later notice. If this meeting approaches the successful November gathering at the home of Dr. Andrea Campbell in Beachwood, we will most likely achieve some new levels of meaning. Please plan to attend one or both meetings. Any questions? Call E. Betty Levin at 973-763-1033 or e-mail Michael Lazarchick. (By the way, read: Spiritual Literacy: Reaching the Sacred in Everyday Life Frederick and Mary Ann Brussart Scribners, 1996) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^NJASERVIC BOARD MEETING
Phylis Philipson Our Board meeting was held on December 3, at the home of Dr. Philipson. In attendance were Michael Lazarchick, President; E. Betty Levin, President-elect; Phylis Philipson, liaison to ASERVIC, Judy Harrow, and Peter Bacchioni. The meeting was very productive. The following items were reviewed and discussed: * By-laws were officially revised on 10/10/00. Revisions were: 1. Replace the name NJARVIC to NJASERVIC 2. Replace NJPCA with NJCA (See voting ballot below!) * Membership was reviewed and has increased * Budget was reviewed and line items were reviewed and approved. Contact President Lazarchick if particulars are needed.) * Presidential appointments to the Executive Board were approved: Judy Harrow, Board Member and Committee Chair in charge of facilitating the NJASERVIC Electronic Discussion Group, and Peter Bacchioni, Board Member in charge of Awards * Reviewed our objectives and how to use our CEU Provider # and co-sponsor events. * Discussed the “Nine Competencies of Spirituality in Counseling” which is also posted on our web page. * It was decided that we need to be more timely in submitting proposals for the NJCA State Conference Workshop or March 2002, so that we are represented statewide. * An NJASERVIC brochure will be designed to be distributed at the NJCA March 2001 Conference. * The Annual NJASERVIC Interfaith Service and Worship will be held on Monday, March 5, 2001, at 7:30 a.m. at the NJCA Conference. * The next membership meeting will be held at the home of President-elect E. Betty Levin on Saturday, April 21, 2001, 11:30 a.m. * We want to encourage all members to log on to our website which can be accessed via www.njcounseling.org and scroll down to our division. You will find this a valuable source of spiritual and enlightening information. * NJASERVIC strongly urges our expanding and dynamic membership to get involved, stay involved, and grow with us. Please submit your vote.
BALLOT I approve of the revisions made to the NJASERVIC By-laws ____ I do not approve of the revisions made to the NJASERVIC By-laws _____ Print Name______________________________________________ Sign____________________________________________________ (Kindly submit no later than February 15, 2001, to: Michael Lazarchick, President; 7414 Driftwood Lane; Weymouth, NJ 08830 or e-mail your vote to Michael Lazarchick
Also from Phylis Philipson: Affirmations are positive self-statements that encourage us to increase our sense of well-being and guide us toward greater serenity which in turn flows out to others. The following are available through the courtesy of Louise Hay: I am patient and kind with everyone I meet each day. I have very clear, honorable principles, and I live by them. It is wonderful how great I feel as I get older. I am at peace with my body. This is a period of discovery. More of the mysteries of Life reveal themselves to me now. My true independence is in my mind. I have the freedom to think any combination of thoughts. I choose to think thoughts that keep me free. I am free of any influences from the past and any blocks to perfect health and loving relationships. Every problem is an opportunity to create healing, and I do so now. Today I restore and rejuvenate myself. I am at peace. I freely share my talents and abilities, and the Universe lavishes its abundance on me. My circumstances at home improve every day. I affirm love, respect, and harmony with every member of my household. ^^^^^ Timely Thoughts on Giving and Receiving (the following is an excerpt from Wally Amos’s “Be Positive” series) A couple of months ago, during a two-day period, I had the opportunity to be the recipient of two gifts, one exceptionally large. My immediate response to both gifts was to think of all the reasons I could not accept them. Naturally, I had more reasons I could not accept the larger gift. As I examined my response, it occurred to me that I did not feel worthy of such a large gift, especially since I could not identify a reason for the giver to be so kind to me. I even shared my reluctance with him and he told me that the gift was given from his heart and he simply wanted to extend a kindness to me and my family for the kindness we had shown him earlier during a trying period in his life. I thanked my friend for his very generous gift, realizing that if I refused I would short-circuit his giving and interfere with the flow of life. I also remembered the many times I’d helped someone unconditionally and how good it had made me feel. Perhaps I was now receiving for that giving. We don’t always receive where we give. The experience confirmed another universal law. Giving is receiving. Practice being a good receiver. You owe it to yourself, and you really deserve it. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Competencies: Spirituality and Counseling
Judy Harrow has arranged that the soon-to-be-adopted competency standards for counselors who will be helping clients explore their spiritual concerns be placed on our website. She is hopeful that they might be used as a springboard for some interesting discussions, either on-line or at workshops) In order to be competent to help clients address the spiritual dimension of their lives, a counselor should be able to: 1. explain the relationship between religion and spirituality, including similarities and differences, 2. describe religious and spiritual beliefs and practices in a cultural context, 3. engage in self-exploration of his/her religious and spiritual beliefs in order to increase sensitivity, understanding and acceptance of his/her belief system, 4. describe one’s religious and/or spiritual belief system and explain various models of religious/spiritual development across the lifespan, 5. demonstrate sensitivity to and acceptance of a variety of religious and/or spiritual statements in the client’s communication, 6. identify the limits of one’s understanding of a client’s spiritual statement, and demonstrate appropriate referral skills and general possible referral sources, 7. assess the relevance of the spiritual domains in the client’s therapeutic issues, 8. be sensitive to and respectful of the spiritual themes in the counseling process as befits each client’s expressed preference, and 9. use a client’s spiritual beliefs in the pursuit of the client’s therapeutic goals as befits the client’s expressed preference. (from: Miller, Geri; “The Development of the Spiritual Focus in Counseling and Counselor Education”; Journal of Counseling and Development; Vol. 77, No.4. (Fall, 1999) - p. 500)
Pondering Item #1 “Spirituality” has a nicer ring to it evoking a lilting response but not quite a levitation “Religion” on the other hand brings with it the connotations left over from battles and wars raged over the centuries harboring the niceties of crossed t’s and dotted i’s. Moored to earth by our bodies we want so much to feel spiritual But to be religious today is passe To be religious (true to its roots) “binds” us (unfortunately) not to GOD but to the vagaries of institutions. The good that comes out of “religion” (maybe) is the binding with each other in the institution (and then, perhaps, to GOD) And so if I were to begin to ponder the differences I would start with spirituality within And religion out there (The existential necessary relationship of course Is that within not being enough needs the connection (relationship?) with others that religion offers.) A very meaningful “binding”! ---Vince Poisella, Editor
