Confession & Lament in Christian Soul Care
The Psalms invite us to put our most difficult experiences into words and share them with God. Research on therapy has found psychological benefits from journaling and talking with others who are safe and empathic. The Gideon Institute sponsored a two-track conference where we heard from therapists, pastors, theologians, and sufferers speak about addressing sin and suffering by talking with God and others. It was held on October 29-30, 2021 in partnership with the Julianna Poor Memorial Counseling Center of Houston’s First Baptist Church. Held live at the Downtown campus of Houston’s First Baptist Church, speakers and attendees will be able to attend in-person or online. Access to the video recordings will be sent to registrants or can be purchased below.
Conference tracks:
- Therapist Track: Four sessions on Fri afternoon, Oct 29, starting at 12:30pm, & Friday evening at 7pm with singer/songwriter Andy Gullahorn and Christian mental health advocate, Kay Warren.听 听 $100 includes 3 CEUs
- Laypersons/Ministers Track: Friday evening at 7pm,听Oct 29, with Andy Gullahorn and Kay Warren, & four sessions Sat morning, Oct 30, starting at 8:30am.听 听 $25
Students can attend the entire conference for $25.
The Friday evening concert and talk only, with Andy Gullahorn and Kay Warren, is just $10.
Therapist Track
Confession and Lament in Christian Therapy
Friday, October 29
10:45-11:30am
Rev. Greg Brown, Spiritual Director, Impact 360 Institute Time of听Spiritual Preparation, Meditation, and Prayer
11:30am-12:45pm: Lunch on our own
12:30 pm Worship & Welcome
1pm Opening session
Welcome: 听Michael Cook, Director of the听Gideon听Institute of Christian Psychology &听 Counseling听
Opening Session:听 听Eric Johnson & Adam Mason Is It Well with My Soul? Why Confession & Lament are Therapeutic
2pm Workshops听for Mental Health Professionals, Session听1
Rick Marrs, Ph.D., LPC, Professor of Pastoral Care, Concordia Theological Seminary, St. Louis Lament, the Theology of the Cross, and Christian Soul Care in the 21st Century
Natalie K. Pickering, Ph.D., BCC, MISCP, High Places Coaching and Consulting Therapeutic Confession: A Consideration of Barriers, Bridges, Do鈥檚 and Don鈥檛s听
Diane C. Lamberson, LCSW-S, Gideon Counseling Center, HCU Hidden Crosses – The听Impact听of Bearing听Burdens听Alone on the Body of Christ听
3:00-3:20pm Break
3:30pm Workshops听for Mental Health Professionals, Session 2
Paul Loosemore, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Counseling, Covenant Theological Seminary Living with Dandelions: Working with Grief to听Facilitate Joy听
William Orme, Ph.D., LP, Methodist Hospital Using Lament in Times of Spiritual Dryness and Desolation
Michael Cook, Ph.D., Director, Gideon Institute of Christian Psychology & Counseling, HCU Confession as a Therapeutic Strategy听
4:30pm Final Session
Chad Bird, Old Testament scholar and truck driver听Wounded Prayers: Relearning the Language of Lament听
5:30-7pm听Dinner on our own
7pm An evening with musical artist, Andy Gullahorn, & mental health advocate, Kay Warren
Laypersons/Ministers Track
October 29-30
Friday 7pm An evening with musical artist, Andy Gullahorn, & mental health advocate, Kay Warren
Saturday: Confession and Lament in the Christian Life
8:00-8:30am Liturgy of Confession and Lament
Rev. Greg Brown, Spiritual Director,听Impact听360 Institute听
8:00-8:45am Donuts and coffee听
8:45-9am A Time of Worship
9-9:50am Opening听Session
Welcome: Michael Cook, Director of Gideon听
Chad Bird, Old Testament scholar and truck driver听Praying through Hell and Hallelujah
10am Workshops, Session 1: The Bible鈥檚 Approach to Sin, Suffering, and Trauma
Ann Ahrens, Ph.D., Professor of Music and Worship Worship’s Unsung Melody: The Place of Lament in the Life of the Church
Mark Talbot, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy, Wheaton University Breathing Lessons
Gunner Gundersen, Ph.D.,听Pastor, Bridgepoint Bible Church, Houston, TX; and听OT theologian Walking in the Light: Learning to Practice Biblical Confession with God听and听Others听
11am Workshop 2: Different Kinds of Suffering
Nicolene Joubert, Ph.D.,听Professor of Christian Psychology,听Gideon Institute,听The听Paradox of a听 Christian听Suicide听and the听Impact on听Those听Left听Behind
Kay Warren, Co-Founder, Saddleback Church 鈥� Mental Health & Suicide Prevention听 Advocate听We Were in Marital Hell
Nancy MacDonald,听LMFT,听Lament in the Midst of Post-Adoption Trauma
Gene Burrus, Ph.D., Pastoral Counselor, Bridgehaven Counseling Associates, Durham, NC Same-Sex Attraction: Pain, Endurance, & Hope
12-12:30pm Lunch provided
12:30-1pmClosing Worship
1:00-2:00pm Final Session 听 听
Wrapping up the conference:听Michael Cook听
Adam Mason &听Eric Johnson听Tears and听Resurrections听