NJASERVIC News is published on the internet by Sanctuary Publications for the members of the New Jersey Association for Spiritual, Ethical & Religious Values in Counseling. It is best viewed using the Internet because active links lead to more in depth coverage of information.
The Purpose of NJASERVIC:
All members are encouraged to submit article for publication. Send your contibutions to mlazarchick@yahoo.com with NJASERVIC in the title of the message.
Katrina dislocated a huge number of people. Our society has been humbled once again by the forces of natural disaster, suggesting once again we still have many lessons to learn. We went from a situation of saving lives, implementing emergency rescue and providing triage, to sheltering people and attending to needs of food and clothing. Our mental health professionals were and are still being tested to the limit. The loss of lives, the loss of property and the very demands of so significant life changes, challenge even the strongest among us. Theories tell us about possible reactions to trauma. People may experience shock, disbelief, fear, guilt, grief, confusion, shame, anger or any number of combined emotions. Counselors are helping professionals who facilitate a healing process. We help people through the grief to acceptance and elicit hope.
James Lovelock wrote GAIA ( named after the Greek Goddess of Earth) in 1979, postulating that "...the biosphere is a self-regulating entity with the capacity to keep our planet healthy by controlling the chemical and physical environment." Indeed, the Gaia Hypothesis to some is the view that mother earth is a single living entity. There have been numerous theological responses. Lovelock did suggest that humanity may be fairly insignificant and if the species manages to make earth uninhabitable for humankind, earth will continue to evolve with other forms of life. I wonder if our planet is experiencing humanity as a virus and natural “disasters” for humanity are merely earth’s attempt at cleansing. If mother earth is a living entity, a web of interrelated life forces, is human consciousness part of the planetary consciousness?
It is easy to say that the flooding of New Orleans was not a big surprise. Other hurricanes have threatened . The reporters told us that New Orleans is six feet below sea level. Perhaps it is just more comfortable for humans to believe “it is not going to happen to me”.
Being in denial or philosophizing about whether or not mother earth is a conscious entity, are responses to the natural disaster. However, actions are needed. The American Counseling Association has been active in response. www.counseling.org/hurricane/index.htm. The government has an official web site: http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicSafety/Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery.shtml There is also an official Katrina Job Site. http://www.jobsearch.org/hurricanejobs
We can contribute to creating a positive environment. There will be plenty of people pointing fingers, spreading stories about what should have been done or perhaps spinning tales of gloom and doom. Whatever has happened we can do an assessment and use the information to as best as possible determine what exists and help develop a plan that solves problems we perceive. For those relocating to your area, contact the closest One Stop Career Center. Use America’s Service Locator: www.servicelocator.org The local One Stop are connected to all the needed social services and can help with jobs when the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter are met.
A Conflict Resolution workshop is being coordinated by E. Betty Levin of Sagamore Road and offered to the community on Saturday, November 5th from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm At the Ethical Cultural Society, 516 Prospect Street, Maplewood. The workshop supports the Department of Peace Cabinet level bill introduced by Congresssman Dennis Kucinich in the House of Representatives on August 14th. This non partisan bill emphasizes peace education, arbitration and non-violence. The bill was introduced in the Senate this past week on the anniversary of President Kennedy’s signing the bill that established the Peace Corps.
The conflict Resolution workshop will be conducted by Naomi Drew, the visionary founder of partners in Peacemaking, educator and author. Her most recent book, “Kids Guide to Working Out Conflicts” has won four major national awards including Gold Award from National Parenting Publications. The workshop fee is $20. To register send a check payable to the Ethical Cultural Society to 516 Prospect Street, Maplewood, NJ 07040, marking Conflict Resolution on the envelop. Enrollment is limited so early registration is recommended. For further information about the workshop and Department of Peace Bill, call coordinator, Betty Levin at 973-763-1033.
As recognition of her peace efforts, Ms. Levin has been selected by the American Counseling Association to participate in the People to People Ambassador Program in the Soviet Union, to contribute “valued expertise to the mission, while gaining immeasurably from the experience.” The program was established 50 years ago by President Eisenhower to promote international learning, peace and global awareness.
“Visual arts and the Mind” is the second project of a multi-year “ARTS and WELL-BEING” initiative, which declares that the arts are essential, indeed fundamental, for healthy development throughout the lifespan of each individual. The ARTS Initiative is a celebration of the Mental Health Association of Union County and began in 2004 as MHAUC announced its 60th Anniversary as one of the pre-eminent service organizations in Union County.
As Executive Director of MHAUC I participated as a first responder at the World Trade Center in NYC following the events of September 11, 2001. It soon became clear to me that whether victim, survivor, or one of the “worried well”, the mental health practitioner was overburdened by the needs of the community at large. We need to legitimatize alternatives to the medical model. We recognized the need to use music, art therapy, participation in visual art and the making of art for healing. Music is a language in its own right; in fact it is a universal language of the human race. Music is an important resource for every person who wishes to be in touch with himself, not only for the therapist who wants to heal. In 2004, leaders from Artsgenesis, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Music for All Seasons and The Intergenerational Orchestra joined with ASERVIC to present a Conference demonstrating ways to use music as a wellness tool.
This year the Conference will take place on Friday, October 21, 2005 at the Hilton Hotel in Elizabeth. It will be my task to set the theme of the day. Kathleen Gaffney, whose keynote at last year’s conference was very highly rated, will return to describe the interconnectedness of art disciplines to the theory of multiple intelligences, providing the framework for the entire initiative. Julis Kristeller, a Board Member of The Society for Arts in Healthcare (SAH) will give the keynote address, energizing the group with an explanation of the current research that quantifies improved health when making art and also when there is art in the environment. Concurrent workshops will follow matching professional counselors with practicing artists. Many visual art forms will be explored, from culturally specific to traditional, and their applications to aging, trauma, children, counseling and education will be demonstrated in six separate workshops. The workshops will be offered twice as per last year’s evaluations.
Every time the arts are experienced in a new way, it serves to open the participants to an “aha” moment. I hope many of you will come and spend a full day immersed in the arts, hearing success stories from peers and being inspired by the passion of the artists. ASERVIC counselors will then be the “turn Key agents”, taking the message back to your facilities, and insisting that the individuals they serve have an opportunity to benefit from an ongoing involvement in the artistic process. Because of ASERVIC support CEU’s will be available.
ASERVIC member Nancymarie Bride is Executive Director of the Mental Health Association of Union County.
Animals and people have always shared a special relationship with each other. With the increase of information concerning animals and their ability to heal people psychologically, spiritually and physically, we are becoming more aware of our relationship with all animals in our society.
To understand our culture and how it affects our thinking and values, we need to look at our original relationship with animals. The Creator of all living beings were created with nefesh chayah - living soul (I believe all animals will live eternally). They were to be our companions, and our responsibility was (and is) to be their caregiver. God gave us 'dominion or rule over them', yorade (the Hebrew word for 'to come down to; to have communion with and compassion for') (see Genesis 1:26); In other words, we were made (in God's image) to be the servant species - not the master species and all sentient life (human and animal) were given a plant-based diet (see Genesis 1:29-31a). We all lived together peaceably.
But, after sin entered the world, the animal/human relationship suffered greatly and has sped on a downward spiral to where we are today. We became desensitized and have failed to restore the harmonious relationship we once had. After the flood, God caused animals to fear man (Genesis 9:2) and Old Testament laws were made to teach compassion for animals.
Today, we are taught that animals are here for our sport (hunters in the Bible are considered to be rebels against God), our entertainment, our food, and for our supposed benefit in research laboratories. Billions of animals suffer daily in the USA alone for mankind's desires and the economy. Since our spiritual lives are linked with our relationship with animals, we need to learn about the many issues in the world today to restore the human/animal relationship.
The links between domestic violence and animal abuse have been substantiated. The Humane Society of the United States, www.hsus.org, has the First Strike campaign which promotes and supports the development of local efforts to reduce violence against all lives. Cross reporting is encouraged when animals are in violent homes. Society and Animals Forum (formerly Psychologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), are making great strides to heal those directly and indirectly involved with animal abuse with education and counseling programs. (Visit www.psyeta.org for more information about possibly having a seminar in your community for professionals, and/or visit their great resource list of organizations that promote the healing through the animal/human relationship.)
The Delta Society, www.deltasociety.org also provides programs on pet loss, pet assistance for the disabled, and pet therapy for nursing homes, schools hospitals, etc. There are many local organizations and individuals that provide such education and therapy.
To expand beyond the domestic animal domain, we need to look at how children are desensitized to animals in general. Are we teaching kindness and compassion by instruction and example for turtles, snakes, lizards, bugs, etc. by allowing them to live stress free in their natural habitat? Are we teaching respect for all life (even fish) to live as they were created to live?
Physicians for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, www.pcrm.org, also uncovers many of the myths we have been fed concerning animals used for food and research. The animal products we eat and drink causes us to be a physically (and spiritually) unhealthy society.
Programs and educational materials are available for us to help restore the intended relationship we were created to have with animals. We would all be much more healthier physically and spiritually.
Jan is Founder of God's Creatures Ministry www.Godscreaturesministry.org, Chairman of Catholic Concern for Animals-USA www.Catholic-animals.org, a Licensed Counselor and Christian Educator.
For a long time, most professional counselors were reluctant to explore their clients' spiritual backgrounds. And yet, many clients perceive that their apparently secular life issues have spiritual or values aspects along with more practical considerations. Accordingly, in 1999, the American Counseling Association adopted a list of nine "competencies," intended to enable counselors to help clients explore the relationship between their spirituality and values and the various life challenges they face. Now Craig Cashwell and J. Scott Young, both recent former national presidents of ASERVIC, have edited a textbook intended to help counselors and counseling students develop these important competencies.
Each chapter is built around a specific competency. Each includes some explanation, some examples, and -- very important -- exercises and resources for further study. Although worthwhile for individuals, the case studies and exercises would be even more useful for classes or groups exploring these competencies together.
The book is an anthology. Each chapter is written by a different author. As with all anthologies, the quality of the writing is uneven. Also, perhaps because the competencies are so closely interrelated, there is a great deal of overlap in the information given in the various chapters. In my opinion, a single author or much tighter editing would have produced a better book.
Nevertheless, Cashwell and Young have given us an innovative and valuable professional resource.
---------------
Hodge, David R.
Spiritual Assessment: A Handbook for Helping Professionals
Botsford, CT: North American Association of Christians in Social Work, 2003
ISBN: 0-9715318-0-3
What Cashwell and Young are advocating in their book, David Hodge simply takes as working assumptions: spirituality is a potential source of guidance and power in people's lives, and helping people explore the spiritual aspects of their issues is a legitimate part of a helping professional's role. Accordingly, this book is about methodology, not philosophy. Hodge presents a series of techniques that can be used to facilitate spiritual exploration, among them the structured interview, the ecomap and the genogram. He assumes readers already know why you want to do this work, and concentrates instead on telling us how.
Hodge is a Pentecostal Christian. All of his major examples and illustrations are drawn from his own faith tradition, and that is to his credit. Any writing teacher exhorts students to write what they know, and this is precisely what Hodge has done. Any open-minded reader can easily enough see how the techniques presented in this book can be used with people on any spiritual path. In fact, the only real clunkers in the book are a few needless knee-jerk attempts at inclusivity.
Again, there are many resources for further reading and study. Since Hodge is a Social Worker, these references are doubly valuable to professional counselors, since they will introduce us to a whole new realm of research and writing coming from a sister helping profession, and therefore substantially relevant to what we do.
by Judy Harrow
My Favorite Web sites
NJCA Home
NJASERVIC Home
NJSERVIC News Home
Red Cross
