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E-Connect Newsletter / 10.12.16
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Welcome James E. Hayes, the Center's incoming executive director
Following a thoughtful and rigorous search process, the
board of directors of the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center is pleased to announce our next executive director, chosen by unanimous consensus:
James E. Hayes.
Jim presently serves as Associate Dean/Director of Retention & Student Success at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa.
His education includes studies in History, French, Philosophy and Theology. Jim has an S.T.L. in systematic theology and a Doctorate from the Aquinas Institute at St. Louis University.
Current executive director, Ellery Duke, will retire on December 22, 2016, after serving the Center for almost 40 years. For more information on Ellery's tenure, please visit
www.dmpcc.org/Ellery.
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Thank you!
On Friday, October 7, 2016, some 150 people gathered for a Sara Thomsen concert to honor PrairieFire co-founders Kathy Reardon and Kay Riley, and to support the
PrairieFire Scholarship Fund. Thank you to everyone who made this night so magical! Please watch our Facebook page for photos to be posted soon. For more information about PrairieFire:
http://www.dmpcc.org/PrairieFire
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Health Tip - How couples can manage conflict
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Julie McClatchy, M.S.W. |
By Julie McClatchey, M.S.W., Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center
Conflict is a normal and expected part of marriage or other intimate partnership. Our goal isn't to avoid conflict but to resolve it in ways that lead to a better understanding of each other and, ultimately, to strengthen our relationships. Tips for effective conflict resolution include:
- Set your goal as problem resolution that is a "win-win." If you seek to prove you are right or to win an argument, the relationship loses.
- Stop what you are doing and put your focus on your partner when there is an issue to discuss. Through eye contact, setting down your laptop and giving your full attention, you show respect and interest in your partner and set the stage for greater success at resolution.
- Talk to each other with respect. Shouting, name-calling, criticizing, accusing, and other adversarial behavior will intensify the conflict, lead to hurt and anger, and, over time, damage your relationship.
- Discuss one issue at a time, avoiding bombarding each other with multiple issues. Success in resolving one issue will help you to make progress in others.
- If tensions or tempers are rising, take a "time out." Agree to end the discussion and commit to a time to come back to the discussion when both of you feel calmer and ready to try again.
- Focus on addressing behaviors vs. attacking the person. For example, replace statements like "You are always so selfish" with "I feel hurt when you don't spend more time with me."
- Reflect back what you hear your partner say such as "I hear you saying you want more time together. Is that right?" This helps you to reach mutual understanding.
- Listen, listen, listen! Feeling heard by your partner helps with resolving conflict and also goes a long way toward strengthening trust, respect, and intimacy.
This health tip originally published in the Urbandale Chamber Newsletter.
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Rorschach experts in the house, a family story
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Father - Daughter Rorschach experts, Dr. Olav Garderbring and Eva Christiansen, Ph.D., circa 1999
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Eva Christiansen, Ph.D. (photo left), serves as a licensed psychologist and in-house Rorschach expert at the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center. Eva also helps develop the Rorschach on a national level through her work with the Society for Personality Assessment.
Eva's strong interest in the Rorschach is inherited from her father, Dr. Olov Gardebring (photo right), a psychologist who presented at the very first meeting of the International Rorschach Society (IRS) in 1949 in Switzerland. Fifty years later, in 1999, IRS leaders invited Dr. Gardebring to return to their annual meeting (in Amsterdam) for another presentation. This time Eva joined him and was given the honor to introduce her father onto the stage.
Recently, Eva helped her father celebrate his 98th birthday and she recalled the two times he presented at IRS meetings, and their shared interest in the Rorschach.
The Rorschach is a
psychological test
in which subjects' perceptions of
inkblots
are recorded and then analyzed using psychological interpretation, complex algorithms, or both. "The process involves a lot of interaction between the counselor and client," said Eva.
The Center couldn't be more proud to have Eva -- and her rich trove of knowledge -- on our clinical roster, helping us to provide quality counseling services to the community.
Last year, the Center's testing team provided 860 hours of psychological testing for our clients, utilizing a variety of assessment tools.
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Last call!
Wisdom Stories: A Class for Elders-in-Training
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Christine Dietz, Ph.D. ,
L.I.S.W.
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Have you ever thought about writing your personal story? Perhaps as a process of gaining greater clarity, leaving a legacy for family members or making connections with friends and peers?This six-week class will explore the process of personal autobiography. Through writing prompts, creativity exercises and personal sharing, we will discover together the wisdom that may be found in our own life experience. This class is part of the Redefining Aging initiative of the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center.
DATES: Mondays, October 31 - December 5, 2016
TIME: 10:30 a.m. - Noon
COST: $150 for the six week series
LOCATION: Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center, 8553 Urbandale Ave/Urbandale, IA 50322
FACILITATOR: Christine Dietz, Ph.D., L.I.S.W., D.Min. candidate is the Director of Clinical Training, as well as a therapist, teacher and spiritual director at Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center. She is particularly interested in how we define ourselves and grow through our stories.
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Healing Trauma
Watch this public service announcement about an innovative counseling method called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy.
EMDR was originally developed as a technique useful in in relieving the after-effects of military combat, sexual and physical violence, car accidents and natural disasters. Over the past 25 years, EMDR has continued to evolve as it is used by practitioners around the world. EMDR Therapy is being found to be effective with additional issues including phobias, addictions, depression and phantom limb pain.
EMDR services are offered at the Center. To explore if EMDR is right for you, consult your counselor or call 515-274-4006. For more information:
http://dmpcc.org/emdr
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Spanish-speaking counseling services available
The Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center is pleased to offer Spanish-speaking counseling services with thanks to Alicia Krpan, one of our three graduate practicum students for 2016-2017. (See segment above.) Alicia specializes in providing counseling services to children and families, and also serves adults. To schedule an appointment with Alicia, please call the Center's intake specialist, Carol, at 515-274-4006.
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Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center earns accreditation renewal
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| Click image for more information |
"I am so proud of our clinicians and staff for their excellence that makes it possible for us to earn this accreditation, and to serve the community through quality counseling and education," said Ellery Duke, executive director of the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling. "I am also grateful to our capable board of directors, generous base of support and clients who entrust us with their concerns. This is a team effort."
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Our mission is to bring understanding, hope and healing to people of all ages through counseling and education.
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Our key services:
Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center is a nonprofit, nonsectarian organization
serving more than 4,000 individuals annually including children, adolescents, adults, couples and families.
Although best known for its 44 years of quality, professional mental health therapy, the Center is a multi-faceted organization providing a range of services:
- Counseling, including specialized services for children and adolescents
- Psychological testing and assessment
- Psychiatric consultation and care
- Training for clinical professionals
- Leadership and spiritual life programming
- Career Coaching
- Conflict transformation and strategic planning services for congregations, nonprofits and businesses
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In gratitude,
Terri Mork Speirs
Director of Marketing and Communications
Interim Director of Development
Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center
515-251-6670
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