2023 Professional Counsellors Network
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The European Professional Counsellors Network is for professional counsellors and professional counsellors in training. This Network is a unique gathering of people with a Kingdom calling to soul care—specifically the mental, emotional, and spiritual health of others. Our theoretical training may include cognitive, behavioral, attachment, relational, or family systems. It may be within Christian, non-Christian, or even anti-Christian contexts, whether in academic, clinical, residential, or social systems settings.
The programme will feature lectures, small group discussions, and case studies. Each lecture will be followed by a time of questions and answers. Case studies will also offer break-out groups to provide a more participatory style of learning.
Prior preparation will be set for all applicants.
Network members should be working in the field of psychology for a minimum of 10 hours a week or a minimum of 7 clients. Students and interns may apply if they are full time students. This Network will examine the biblical framework for Christian counselling and will involve daily lectures as well as case study discussions.
Network Leadership
Network Speakers
Eric L. Johnson is professor of Christian Psychology at Houston Baptist University, serving in the Gideon Institute of Christian Psychology & Counseling. He taught psychology for 10 years at University of Northwestern and counseling for 17 years at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In… Read more
V. Ellsworth Lewis, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist who is currently writing, teaching, and consulting. He began his career as Chief of Psychology Service at a U.S. Army Hospital. He then worked with severely emotionally disturbed children for Monterey County (California) Children's… Read more
Jay Mosser has served in pastoral roles for 43 years – about 20 years in various assistant pastor capacities and the rest as senior pastor. Through those years he has served in three churches ranging from smaller (less than 50) to larger (about 1,000). Along the way he has worked with children,… Read more
Jelena Sivulka hails from Serbia, where she was born and raised. She obtained her master's degrees in psychology and theology from her homeland. Thirty years ago, she embraced Christianity, igniting a passion for ministry alongside her husband Greg. Together, they have been instrumental in… Read more
Network Programme
Sunday, 21 May
Paul speaks of the body as a living sacrifice that is “holy” (Romans 12:1). Yet, the Imago Dei has often been conceptualized in terms that marginalize the body, potentially limiting our earthly experience of union with Christ. In this session, we will discuss some historical and philosophical issues that may prevent us from taking Paul’s logic to heart. How does understanding this shape how we love and counsel others?
The greatest gift God has given his children is the indwelling Spirit of God. Christian therapists can guide Christian counselees into a number of therapeutically relevant exercises, that will be explored and practiced in this session.
Monday, 22 May
God personally formed each one of us. With intricate details, He “breathed” us into existence. We are His one-of-a-kind masterpiece. As we live in the world at the pace we set for ourselves, we not only don’t see our bodies as temples, we ignore them altogether sometimes. Very often this powerful picture is lost by our self-centred desires, by unmet needs, compelled by illusions about who we are and what makes us acceptable or important. In this session, we will be reminded of what is the path to healing and restoration that we desperately need. How can we help others to be “searched and known” by a gracious God, and moved toward holiness that gives God honor and fills their hearts with worship?
Interoception (roughly, internal awareness of the body) is introduced as a field of human experience that is potentially pivotal to psychotherapeutic processes. Though accessible by “common grace,” it can be used and enhanced by the indwelling Spirit. C. S. Lewis warned of the cultivation of people whose organs of perception are underdeveloped—of “men without chests.” More than metaphor, this means that we are viscerally designed for relationship. How does understanding this shape how we love and counsel others?
Tuesday, 23 May
Christ’s Incarnation justifies reviewing the ways church life involves our bodies – for example, in prayer, singing, confession, and eating and drinking – assessing why they benefit us, and practicing a little to explore their benefits.
What we call “gut experience” includes bodily awareness of what Paul calls “the bowels of Christ”. But interpretation of such experiences can be difficult, especially when there is a history of trauma or early childhood injury. Bessel Van der Kolk wrote that, in trauma, “the body keeps the score.” But how does the body conceal, and potentially reveal, the score? And how can the Spirit help navigate and heal these deeper wounds? How does understanding this shape how we love and counsel others?
Wednesday, 24 May
Ministry roles are often viewed as "silos" -- areas that are loosely related but rarely connected. This is especially unfortunate when it comes to Pastoral Counseling and our Discipleship ministries. Biblically understood, these two ministry categories have far more in common than they have differences. How would "Counseling" be different if we viewed it through a "Discipleship lens" and how would "Discipleship" benefit if we included a "Counseling" framework? This session will help us think biblically about how these two often-separated ministries should become friends!
Christian therapy is especially interested in the heart, given its importance in the Bible. In this session we will explore the therapeutic value of working with the heart and demonstrate what such therapy looks like.