March 31, 2010

The Catholic Psychotherapy Association to hold first conference

By Julie Filby

Professional mental health practitioners, students, priests and scholars will gather April 22-23 for the inaugural conference presented by the Catholic Psychotherapy Association.

“This is an excellent opportunity for psychotherapists who wish to integrate their Catholic faith into their practice,” said Christina Lynch, Psy.D., staff psychologist for St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, founding member of the CPA, and secretary of the CPA board of directors. “And come together as a group for prayer, support, peer fellowship and resources.”

The conference, “Catholic Approaches to Psychotherapy: Theory and Practice,” will offer sessions on Catholic anthropology, spirituality and psychological dimensions of the person. Psychologists, social workers, counselors and therapists can receive continuing education credit for attending. Organizers plan to make the event an annual one.

“I am very pleased the Catholic Psychotherapy Association is holding their first annual conference,” said Denver Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley. “Unfortunately it seems as if the whole science of psychology has been dominated by secularists. The Catholic Church has centuries of experience, wisdom and research in the field of psychology—all the way back to St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century.”

The Catholic Psychotherapy Association (www.catholicpsychotherapy.org) was established in 2007 as a guild of the Catholic Medical Association. Its mission is to support mental health practitioners by promoting the development of psychological theory and mental health practice that encompasses a full understanding of the human person, family and society as taught by the Catholic Church. They currently have more than 60 members.

“Care for the mind and body is always tied to care of the soul—and this must always be at the forefront of any treatment we offer our brothers and sisters,” said Father Steven Voss, chaplain for the archdiocese’s CMA branch. “This annual conference shows that the group is becoming an important voice in supporting Catholic mental health professionals.”

Conference speakers include William Nordling, Ph.D., who will address Catholic approaches to psychotherapy; Sue Baars, MA, LPC, LMT, LCDC, a frequent presenter on EWTN, presenting “A Therapeutic Application of St. Thomas Aquinas;” Art Bennett, MA, LMFT, and author of “The Temperament God Gave You” will speak on the four classical temperaments and their use in therapy; Phillip Scrofani, Ph.D., will lecture on methodologies of integrating Catholic thinking into issues of midlife; and Kathryn Benes, Ph.D., will share “Psychotherapy at the Service of the Church.”

The conference will also include time for community and fellowship.

In addition to the CPA conference, the Society of Catholic Social Scientists will also present their spring conference, “Our Society, Sexuality, Psychology and Catholicism: Defining the Problem and Seeking Solutions” the same weekend (April 24), at the same location.

The Society of Catholic Social Scientists was founded in 1992 to challenge the secularized approach to the social sciences by combining objective scholarly analysis with fidelity to the magisterium of the Church.
Both conferences will be held at Southern Catholic College in Dawsonville, Ga., north of Atlanta. For more information or to register visit www.catholicpsychotherapy.org, call 404-936-1144 or e-mail mark3376@comcast.net.
Next year’s conference will be held in Denver, organizers said.

Conferences

Catholic Psychotherapy Association Conference
When: April 22-23
Society of Catholic Social Scientists spring conference
When: April 24
Where: Southern Catholic College, Dawsonville, Ga. (north of Atlanta)
Information or registration:  www.catholicpsychotherapy.org or call 404-936-1144