Caring Connections Conference gives students, counseling professionals chance to build skills

Originally written for on Lipscomb’s website. Lipscomb students, professors and licensed professionals had the chance to build skills and network with other professionals and colleagues for a day at the third annual Caring Connections Conference at Lipscomb University on Friday, May 16. “This conference is an annual collaboration between AGAPE counseling and related services and Lipscomb University’s graduate program in clinical mental health counseling,” said Terry Casey, licensed psychologist and health service provider, and Lipscomb University adjunct. “It seeks to attract attendees who work in the professional counseling field as well as those who provide pastoral care to individuals and families. “This can expand professional relationships, referral sources, consultation resources and collegiality across the two groups,” Casey said.” The conference was divided up into sessions throughout the day, with several Lipscomb faculty members including Frank Scott, Walter Surdacki, Melanie Morris, Jake Morris, Terry Casey, John York, Joy Samuels and Stan Clark presenting a range of topics from psychological explanations of suffering to couples and relationships as well as even technology and children. Licensed psychologist and Trevecca Nazarene University adjunct professor Alan Godwin spoke during this year’s plenary session on difficult people and how to understand and relate to them. “All humans are very much like tigers and turtles,” Godwin said. “All humans have buttons, or places of emotional sensitivity,” Godwin said. “When those buttons get pushed, we automatically instinctively react.” Godwin also presented alternate methods on relating to these people. “Difficult people lack what reasonable people possess – reasoning skills, and yet, they are driven towards relationships the same as all of us,” Godwin said. “An alternative is needed...

HumanDocs begins spring slate with ‘Homegoings’

HumanDocs returns Wednesday night to begin their spring slate with the PBS Point-of-View film Homegoings.  The screening will take place in 8:30 p.m. in Ward Hall. As Black History Month is just around the corner, Homegoings focuses on Isaiah Owens, a funeral director in Harlem, and his experiences through his work in the community. Ted Parks, a Spanish professor and curator of the HumanDocs program, speaks on behalf of the challenging questions that will be covered on Wednesday night. “How do we integrate the end of life into life itself in a culture that prefers not to talk about death?” Parks said would be something to consider. “Can a person’s passing really be a time of celebration as well as mourning?” Following the film, there will be a panel for a brief discussion including people such as Joy Samuels, Jackie Conwell, Greg Rumburg and Donnetta Hawkins. “Our panel includes social workers and psychologists who have not only worked professionally with grieving people, but have experienced loss themselves,” Parks said. “I think Wednesday night will not only be a chance to see an engaging documentary, but to think about who we are, the hope we have and the preciousness of life.” HumanDocs will host another film in February, tentatively selecting Inequality for All, a close look at the growing income gap in the United States. It is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 8:30 p.m., in Shamblin Theatre. Both screening are free and open to the public. Photo courtesy of...