Workshops

I lead workshops on a variety of topics, but the workshops below are some of the more common and popular workshops that I get asked to lead. If you don’t see a workshop that interests you, please let me know what topic you are interested in addressing and I can develop a workshop for you.

This information is continually changing so please contact me if you have any questions.

5 Days to a New Marriage
Many couples have been living in marriages where for too long they have been feeling stuck in a rut. What many couples fail to realize though is that they have created a cycle of “pain” that has more of its roots in their early experiences (family of origin; previous relationships, mentors, etc.) around the issues of love and trust than it has in their current marriage with their spouse.

In this workshop you will become more aware of and take responsibility for 8 key areas:

  • Session 1: Getting to Know Each Other
  • Session 2: Understanding How the Pain Cycle Works
  • Session 3: Identifying Our Own Pain Cycle
  • Session 4: Identifying Our Own Peace Cycle
  • Session 5: Making the Peace Cycle Permanent
  • Session 6: Reaching Solutions to Problems Together
  • Session 7: Honoring Each Partner’s Strengths
  • Session 8: Celebrating the vision for a New Marriage

This workshop is based on the groundbreaking book (Terry Hargrave, Ph.D and Shawn Stoever, Ph.D) and workbook (Sharon Hargrave, MAMFC) 5 Days to a New Marriage. The particular methods described in this book are the ones used by The Hideaway Experience outside of Amarillo, TX. The Hideaway is a 4 day marriage intensive in a sequestered environment with 4 couples and two therapists. This is also the place where I was trained on the therapeutic intensive marriage model and where I am on staff as a therapist.

This workshop can be done over an 8 week period or in a weekend intensive. I can also adapt it to meet the needs of your group.

Navigating the Transitional Teen Years (Parenting Class)
The teen years are tough for both parents and the teens themselves. It’s a time of continuous change and transition, but I want to help you navigate this transition more successfully. In this workshop you will become aware of a variety of issues that your teenagers are facing and how you can help guide them during this time.

This workshop will cover the following topics:

  • Recognizing family as an emotional system
  • Understanding the cycle of conflict
  • Fostering healthy communication
  • Establishing relational boundaries
  • Encouraging a sense of self/identity in your teen

Using Anxiety as an Opportunity for Growth in the Young Adult Years
The stage of life most often referred to as young adults (late teens to mid 30′s; emerging adulthood; extended adolescence) is one of the most exciting and anxiety filled transitions in life. Lots of questions concerning relationships, career, spirituality, and identity often arise during this time, and depending on how one works through these questions can often set forth a trajectory for how one continues to navigate through the various stages of life.

Details coming soon.

Pastoring From an Emotionally Healthy Place (special customization for youth pastors)
Pastoring is a very difficult vocation, filled with many blessings, but also fraught with all kinds of problems. One of those problems is that many pastors feel that they are unable to find the same type of help they so often provide for their congregants. My desire is to come alongside of pastors and help them find help for the various issues they may be experiencing in their lives. I was raised in a pastor’s home, and have served in the vocational pastoring role since 1998. I believe that my personal experience in the family of a pastor, my experience in the role of a pastor, and my training as a pastor and therapist provide me with the unique opportunity to help.

The workshop will cover the following topics:

  • Understanding the influence of your family history in your work
  • Becoming aware of your emotional triggers
  • Creating new patterns of healthy interaction
  • Managing pastoral anxiety
  • Setting healthy boundaries
  • Practicing self-care
  • Avoiding burnout
  • Navigating the people pleasing trap

Maintaining Relational Presence in a Technological World
One of my interests is the effect of technology upon our lives, and more specifically how it shapes our identity and relationships. It’s a topic that has interested me ever since I started blogging (2004), updating my status on Facebook (2004), and sending out Tweets (2007). Our use of technology shapes our identity and transforms our relationships, and my hope is that I can better educate those who go into using technology blindly without thinking about how it may change them.

The workshop will cover the following topics:

  • How technology shapes us.
  • How technology transforms our identity.
  • How we can protect our relationships with healthy boundaries.

 

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