Ouachita to host ninth annual Conference on Issues in Christian Counseling
February 21, 2019
- OBU News BureauOuachita Baptist University’s Pruet School of Christian Studies will host the ninth
annual Conference on Issues in Christian Counseling on Friday, Feb. 22, in Walker
Conference Center on Ouachita’s campus. The conference, which will focus on “Family
Issues,” is open to mental health professionals, social workers, pastors, spouses
of participants and current full-time students.
“Just a casual glance at statistics shows that families are encountering growing problems
today,” said Dr. Bill Viser, professor of Christian ministries at Ouachita and conference
organizer. “We feel this conference on family issues will definitely help the professionals
address these issues in a significant way for the families they see.”
In years’ past, the conference has given attention to issues in marriage, adolescent
issues, alcohol and drug abuse, depression and anxiety, to name a few, with the purpose
of equipping mental health professionals and ministers as they encounter those issues.
“With our guest speakers as outstanding experts in their fields, the topics they present
are always cutting edge, extremely relevant and significant for mental health therapists
and pastors alike,” Viser said.
Two tracks are available for participants – a counseling track and pastoral track.
The 2019 conference is co-sponsored by Ouachita and New Orleans Baptist Theological
Seminary, with the pastoral track sponsored by the Arkansas Baptist State Convention.
Breakout sessions specific to the counseling track include: “The Impact of Society
on the Family,” “Ethical Decision-Making and Emotions,” “Stronger Together: Trauma
Recover in Family Context,” “Truth, Honesty and Openness: The Psychology of Will Shuts
Applied to Family Therapy,” “Building Healthy Christian Marriages and Families,” “Blending
Families: Obstacles and Opportunities,” “Suffer the Children: Helping Children and
Families Navigate Crisis and Trauma,” “Working with Families of Individuals Diagnosed
with Serious Mental Illness: A Systems Approach” and “Turning ‘The Talk’ Into a Conversation.”
Breakout sessions specific to the pastoral track include: “The Family and Technology,”
“Counseling Children and Families in Crisis,” “Helping Families Build Trust,” “The
Healthy Family” and “Q&A on Topics and Issues Related to Pastoral Counseling.”
Dr. Viser will lead a session on “So You’ve Been Subpoenaed to Court: What to Know
About Being an Expert Witness” during the lunch hour. Speakers for the counseling
track include Craig Garrett, Larry Henderson, Ian Jones, Elizabeth Kelly, Michael
Kelly, Jeff Nave, Aaron New, Gerald Nissley and Kathy Steele. Speakers for the pastoral
track include James Barham, Hunter Bramlitt, Derek Brown, Garrick Conner, Aamie Mason,
Aaron New and Ryan Ropp.
Participants who turn in evaluations will receive a certificate designating the Continuing
Education clock hours earned (eight hours if all approved sessions are attended).
Credit has been approved for: Licensed Alcohol and Abuse Counselors, Licensed Professional
Counselors, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, National Career Counselors (NBCC),
Nursing Professionals and Social Work Professionals. The Approved Continuing Education
Provider solely is responsible for this program, including the awarding of the NBCC
credit.
More information and registration can be found online at www.obu.edu/christianstudies/counselingconference/. Cost includes up to eight NBCC clock hours (if approved by “Counseling Track” sessions
attended), Certificate of Attendance, handouts for sessions attended, lunch and morning
and afternoon snacks.
For more information, contact Mary Farley, administrative assistant in the Pruet School,
at (870) 245-5599 or [email protected].
February 21, 2019
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