The Catholic Mental Health Conference

Oct 10, 2020

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Mental health is a bit of an elephant in the room. It is hard to find anything like this were you have so many experts sharing some advice.

My key takeaway is that no man is an island. Support is of great importance. Be especially connected with God.

What an amazing set of conversations! I was particularly moved by the confidence each of our speakers had in the work God has done in their lives and with their clients to integrate Catholic Spirituality with the Contemporary sciences of human change.

 

Because it was Catholic, I felt comfortable participating as it was sharing our Faith perspective. We needed this encouragement and reminders especially during these times. Thank you.

God bless you Catholic mental health professionals. You do amazing work to help so many who often suffer in silence. 
Big huge thank you to the speakers that did their live shows today it really helped me and I just want to thank Daniel Johnson, Matthew Sciba, Adam Paterno, Christina Semmens for entertaining us and for your time to just get know you all!!  

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What is SmartCatholics?

in 60 seconds, here’s what makes this Conferences different:

The Catholic Mental Health Conference

Bringing expert Catholic therapists together to share simple tips in modern psychology – tips to help faithful Catholics live happier, more exciting lives – now!

Mental health issues don’t go away when you ignore them.

On November 21-22, 2020, the Catholic Mental Health Conference began with a range of Catholic therapists and guest speakers.

Together, we discussed and shared tools from modern psychology, and how to find mental health services as a Catholic.

Keep reading…

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Meet clinicians informed by the Catholic faith
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Join a community of Catholics dedicated to understanding the psychological sciences
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Discover the relationship between therapy, spiritual direction, and confession
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Learn practical techniques to improve your life
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Learn how to understand depression and anxiety with the mind of the Church
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Live Q&A’s with Catholic Clinicians who specialize in depression, anxiety, OCD, marriage counseling, child development
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Hear testimonies from Catholics who have overcome mental health conditions
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Find out how to access mental health resources in your area
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Meet and make friends with fellow Catholics on the same journey, with questions like yours
November 21-22, 2020
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Catholic experts & guests
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Live & recorded video

Our compassionate gaze

“The Church will have to initiate everyone – priests, religious and laity – into this “art of accompaniment”  which teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other (cf. Ex 3:5).

“The pace of this accompaniment must be steady and reassuring, reflecting our closeness and our compassionate gaze which also heals, liberates and encourages growth in the Christian life.”

Pope Francis,  Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, no.169, November 23, 2013.

Welcome Letter from Daniel Johnson

Modern psychology can help Faithful Catholics live happier, more exciting lives – immediately!

Most of us don’t know what to make of modern psychology. We feel leery about the whole thing. And yet, mental health is a massive concern.

Perhaps your family, or someone you know, struggles with a serious mental health issue. Some of us tell them to ‘offer it up’. This creates frustration and anger. A lot of Catholics feel helpless and abandoned. They have no resources to make sense of their concerns.

Psychology has come a very long way from its beginnings.

And its true beginnings start deep in the desert Fathers, saints like St. Thomas Aquinas, and religious communities of the Catholic Church.

Today, Catholic Psychology is grounded in this rich heritage of the Catholic Church’s intellectual tradition. There’s still a problem. The average Catholic doesn’t have the time to become a professional in Aquinas just to stay sane and healthy.

What’s the answer? Is it going to confession more often? Or is it pushing your questions and feelings and doubts and fears into a dark corner, and telling yourself that you’re the problem? That you’re weak?

Absolutely not.

Mental health issues don’t go away when you ignore them. Confession is not the answer to every doubt and fear. Confession is a sacrament of union and forgiveness. You need to be in a healthy mental state to truly appreciate the gift of life, and friendship with Christ and others!

  • What if more people got answers to their deep, burning questions?
  • What if we discovered the interior peace that comes from finding peace in our minds? The kind of peace that our spiritual lives must start in.
  • What if we all knew simple, practical, and Catholic-friendly tools to help you get through your day, change your attitude, and grow in joy?
  • What if we took a moment to accept Christ’s love for us, and show love to ourselves, so that we can share love with others?

We believe it’s all possible. It’s all easy to access. And it’s something everything Catholic should know – your catechism, how to ride a bike, and how to nurture a healthy mental state. (Bikes are optional.)

Who are we? A community of Catholic therapists hosting the Catholic Mental Health Conference.

You’re invited! Join us, along with a community of excited, faithful Catholics looking for sanity and joy in our scrambled, modern world.

We can find it together.

Topics we will cover:

  • Overcoming sexual abuse
  • Using the imagination to overcome shame based trauma
  • The relationship between the soul and the body
  • The power of journaling
  • How controlling your thoughts can influence your feelings and behavior

 

Meet the speakers

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[WPSM_TEAMPRO id=214699]

The SmartCatholics Directory

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Meet your hosts

Meet the Sponsors

Would you like to sponsor this event? Learn more →

"one of the most important messages needed"

Two things that many young people and leaders don’t speak about in the same sentence. However, I believe one of the most important messages needed to be shared with today’s Catholics.

Theo Vecera | dbylc.com

"an incredible lineup"

This is an incredible lineup of Catholic mental health professionals. Any Catholic looking to improve their mental health and to flourish in their humanity should check out this conference!

Stuart Cook | Vitus Counseling

"provide healing in mental health"

Our Catholic faith can serve as a protective factor and provide healing in mental health. For this reason, it is so important to talk about the two together.

Marines Novoa | The Catholic Psychologist

"Encouraging all listeners to attend to good self-care"

“I am so happy to sponsor Dr. Kate Walsh Soucheray in her efforts to encourage all listeners to attend to good self-care, particularly in this stressful time.  Please feel free to reach out to her, or any of our other excellent counselors who work for Christian Heart Counseling, who are all dedicated to serving you in Christ’s Holy Name.”

William Rush | Christian Heart Counseling

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I watch the videos?

The videos will be sent to the email you registered with. You’ll be able to watch 10 of them for free during the 7 days before the live event.

I can’t attend the event. Will there be replays?

Yes, all the recordings will be stored in a beautiful, on-demand library that you can watch any time. Access the replays is $25. 

Is there a community?

Yes, this event is launching an ongoing group within the SmartCatholics community. Get formation, feedback, answers, and new friends!

Questions? Leave a comment! →

Be a Magnetic Catholic!

Lonely Catholics risk becoming bystanders.

We need  to regroup, make friends, and turn into first-responders! The SmartCatholics community helps us be magnetic Catholics in the modern world. 

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We need more than just information. We need insights we can trust. We need friendship to help us live lives of hope and meaning.

 

Who this community is not for:

For any community to mean something and take action, there must be focus. And our community exists for a clear goal: unity, friendship, and formation.

Pope Francis is a source of unity for us. Please don’t enter if you reject Pope Francis and the 2nd Vatican Council, thrive on impending apocalyptic prophecies, polarized politics, and constant argument. 

There are plenty of other groups out there for you! Discussion on all topics is welcome, but bad manners aren’t. Ever. Offenders are warned or removed. God love you!

 

10 Comments

  1. Avatar

    How do I know the difference between needing a spiritual director and needing a counselor? Is there overlap between spiritual direction and psychological counseling, or are they really separate fields?

    Reply
    • Dominic

      This is a really good question. I look forward to having it answered too!

      Reply
  2. Avatar

    How am I able to regain love and faith and hope and rid myself of anxiety and mistrust?

    Reply
    • Dominic

      Solid question Ron. We look forward to having this answered during our Q&As.

      Reply
  3. Avatar

    Are Catholic Church’s able to provide assistance to parishioners struggling with mental health issues? Do
    they have the resources or the contacts to help guide and comfort people? How much of a focus is mental health given in pastoral care generally?

    Are there any known movements and organizations within the global Church helping to advance awareness, to educate and offer resources?

    Reply
    • Avatar

      I working on Trauma-Informed Parishes.

      Reply
  4. Avatar

    How can my husband and I best support our 19 year old son who is struggling with social anxiety disorder and a substance use disorder?

    Reply
  5. Avatar

    How can greater familiarity with the life and teachings of Jesus, and spiritually drawing close to Him help those that deal with anxiety? What insights does the bible give us?

    Reply
    • Dominic

      Good question, Ed.

      Reply
    • Avatar

      Truly our Lord is with us to guide I believe even when there is no path visible like with these issues .
      I never heard of brain health issues — the illness’ of ones mind until say 5 years ago .
      These days the word anxiety is everywhere it appears ! So is Gds Word !!
      Well
      Certainly this topic is so vast in range —of ease to severity of illness —
      and symptoms affecting ones ability to function— with Gds help and with or without medication and or Ortho molecular advice .

      I believe there is science and study done by smart people who have worked with individuals suffering from brain health issues and taught them specific tools to use based on their individual lab work results.
      I just have gotten to where I understand so much in this area
      I hope more of us can find trustworthy knowledgeable people to talk to about this topic .
      Thank you 🙏

      Reply

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Dominic

A cradle-Catholic passionate about how Faith, history, and science meet in today’s world. Born in New Zealand, studied in Fiji and France, raised in Australia, and now living in the USA. Dominic is riveted by the Catholic frontier between faith, science, and history. He converted from radical traditionalism by a strange route – archaeology, quantum physics, psychoanalysis, mythology, evolution, angeology, and our Holy Father Pope Francis. See Dominic's Posts
My Personal Website | LegendFiction

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Abuse and cover up at Franciscan University with Liz Hansen

Abuse and cover up at Franciscan University with Liz Hansen

This week, Paul and Dominic talk with Liz Hansen. A couple of years ago she wrote an article titled, “Franciscan University and Its Friars Face a Reckoning” about Fr. Dave Morrier, a former campus minister at Franciscan University of Steubenville who pled guilty to rape and sexual battery. Liz was a student at Franciscan while Morrier was director of household life. This story felt like a microcosm of the abuse and cover up that plagues the Catholic Church as a whole, so we talked about what it’s like being Catholic without denying the real good or the terrible evil in our Church.

Elizabeth Hansen graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2008 with majors in English and Theology. She and her husband Luke met in the university’s Honors Great Books program; they raise their four children in Michigan. Elizabeth’s writing has appeared in Magnificat, Columbia Magazine, Plough, CruxNow.com, and FemCatholic.com.

*A heads up that this episode will include discussion about sexual assault and spiritual abuse.

Articles:

Franciscan University and Its Friars Face a Reckoning https://www.crisismagazine.com/opinion/franciscan-university-and-its-friars-face-a-reckoning

New allegations charge Franciscan University abuse cover up
https://www.pillarcatholic.com/new-allegations-charge-franciscan-university-abuse-cover-up/

read more
St. Joseph Novena – Day 9

St. Joseph Novena – Day 9

At the beginning of the Year of St. Joseph, Pope Francis wrote an Apostolic Letter about Joseph titled, Patris Corde (“With a Father’s Heart”).

A couple of years ago I formatted the letter into a novena. This year, for the nine days leading up to Joseph’s feast day, I’m going to publish a short podcast that will include one section of the pope’s letter about St. Joseph, Patris Corde, a short personal reflection, and a closing prayer.

Patris Corde:
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/papa-francesco-lettera-ap_20201208_patris-corde.html

SUBSCRIBE: https://www.popefrancisgeneration.com

JOIN FATHERS HEART ACADEMY
Discover the truth and hope of Church teachings through a study of magisterial documents, access to Paul Fahey’s podcasts and articles, and a supportive community of learners.
https://fathersheartacademy.com

SUPPORT THIS SHOW: PFG MEMBERS
Got a question you’d like us to respond to in the next episode? Have some feedback? Visit us at popefrancisgeneration.com to send a message. Paid subscribers get to watch each episode before everyone else, join private Q&As, and pitch ideas for the topic of our final show this season!
https://popefrancisgeneration.com

ABOUT PAUL FAHEY
Paul lives in Michigan with his wife, Kristina, and five kids. A catechist, retreat leader, counseling student, as well as a contributor and co-founder of Where Peter Is. Paul writes and speaks about what he loves: the Kerygma, the Sacraments, Catholic Social Teaching, and Pope Francis. https://pfahey.com/

ABOUT SMARTCATHOLICS
The free online community for Catholic millennials, creators, and learners who want faithful conversations that are unafraid of doubts and questions, plus we’re free of trolls and ads and toxicity.
Join: https://smartcatholics.com

read more
St. Joseph Novena – Day 8

St. Joseph Novena – Day 8

At the beginning of the Year of St. Joseph, Pope Francis wrote an Apostolic Letter about Joseph titled, Patris Corde (“With a Father’s Heart”).

A couple of years ago I formatted the letter into a novena. This year, for the nine days leading up to Joseph’s feast day, I’m going to publish a short podcast that will include one section of the pope’s letter about St. Joseph, Patris Corde, a short personal reflection, and a closing prayer.

Patris Corde:
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/papa-francesco-lettera-ap_20201208_patris-corde.html

SUBSCRIBE: https://www.popefrancisgeneration.com

JOIN FATHERS HEART ACADEMY
Discover the truth and hope of Church teachings through a study of magisterial documents, access to Paul Fahey’s podcasts and articles, and a supportive community of learners.
https://fathersheartacademy.com

SUPPORT THIS SHOW: PFG MEMBERS
Got a question you’d like us to respond to in the next episode? Have some feedback? Visit us at popefrancisgeneration.com to send a message. Paid subscribers get to watch each episode before everyone else, join private Q&As, and pitch ideas for the topic of our final show this season!
https://popefrancisgeneration.com

ABOUT PAUL FAHEY
Paul lives in Michigan with his wife, Kristina, and five kids. A catechist, retreat leader, counseling student, as well as a contributor and co-founder of Where Peter Is. Paul writes and speaks about what he loves: the Kerygma, the Sacraments, Catholic Social Teaching, and Pope Francis. https://pfahey.com/

ABOUT SMARTCATHOLICS
The free online community for Catholic millennials, creators, and learners who want faithful conversations that are unafraid of doubts and questions, plus we’re free of trolls and ads and toxicity.
Join: https://smartcatholics.com

read more

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