HOMEPAGE for this issue: March 30, 2011 Download PDF Version

Social Ministry Office partners with counseling center to offer mental health help

By Julie Filby

The Office of Social Ministry for the Denver Archdiocese is teaming up with St. Raphael Counseling to develop resources to help individuals and families facing mental health issues.

“We plan to bring attention to issues of mental health and mental illness—specifically regarding compassion, inclusion and the harms of the associated stigma,” explained Al Hooper, director of the office. “While at the same time, we hope to ease the sense of isolation and alienation that those experiencing mental illness may encounter on their journey though life.”

Hooper was prompted to explore such resources after he received a phone call last year from a mother whose daughter was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder (schizophrenia).

“She asked if we had any support groups for people with mental illness and their families,” Hooper said. “I knew the National Catholic Partnership on Disabilities had some available resources, however I was keenly aware that we didn’t have a local, archdiocesan response.”

As a ministry charged with advancing the social mission of the Church, the office welcomed the opportunity to expand their services.

“Catholic social teaching calls us to reach out to those in most need of mercy and justice,” he said. “It also calls us to inspire and defend the sacred dignity of the human person, while promoting the common good.”

Earlier this month at the Living the Catholic Faith Conference in Denver, Hooper connected with a Catholic counseling organization, St. Raphael Counseling.

“From that point forward, we’ve been developing a relationship,” Hooper said.

The two entities are collaborating to determine ways that parishes can serve people in their communities struggling with mental illness, or otherwise in need of counseling, such as retreats and small group sessions at the parish level.

“We see St. Raphael Counseling as a mission to the Church,” said Kenneth Cramer, M.A., N.C.C., a therapist with the group and founder of the practice.

“In all of our clinical work, we strive to reflect St. Irenaeus’ saying: ‘The glory of God is man, fully alive.’”

By applying therapeutic approaches and techniques, they strive to uncover behavior patterns or negative perceptions that may keep a person from experiencing a fulfilling and meaningful life.

“Our goal is to change today’s culture through clinical practice and education that’s founded in a fully Catholic view of our clients and their lives—and help them realize the full dignity of the human person,” Cramer said. “While we can’t change difficult situations of the past, we can work together to better understand and resolve challenges in life.”

St. Raphael Counseling serves individual adults, couples, children and adolescents—in the areas of depression, anxiety, sexual abuse, men’s and women’s issues, premarital counseling, addiction, working with parents of children suffering from ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and autism, and adolescent therapy.

“God is the one who actually does all the healing in therapy,” said Cramer. “We as therapists are merely the tool that God has chosen to shed light upon the personal darkness that people find themselves in.”

Therapists from St. Raphael—which translates to “God heals”—are currently available for presentations to parishes and other groups. Cramer and associate, Jim Langley, Psy.D., will present “Becoming Fully Alive: What Emotional Health Has to do With God” at Mother of God Parish at 10 a.m. April 9. For more information, call 720-675-7796 or visit www.straphaelcounseling.com. To contact the Office of Social Ministry, call 303-715-3171 or visit www.archden.org/socialconcerns.