Effective Referrals/Brief Therapy/Pastoral Diagnosis

1
Effective Referrals/Brief Therapy/Pastoral
Diagnosis

• Broadening our Repertoire of Caring Resources in
  Parish Ministry
• Fr. Stephen Hrycyniak

2
Effective Referral?

• Extending your existing relationship to help find
  another resource
• For a referral to take requires the person to
  believe that you value the resource
• Allowing oneself to be referred involves trust
• Known resources are better than unknown
• Be careful of dual-role relationships

3
Change and Complexity

• In the past, one psychiatrist could serve as
  consultant, counselor, and write scripts
• Seldom possible in current managed care
  environment
• Need to create as wide a wellness network as
  possible
• Need to be sensitive to funding issues
• Medication brief therapy preferred

4
Brief Solution-Focused Therapy

• is a type of talking therapy that focuses on what
  clients want to achieve through therapy rather
  than on the problem(s) that made them seek help.
  The approach does not focus on the past, but
  instead, focuses on the present and future. The
  therapist/counselor uses respectful curiosity to
  invite the client to envision their preferred
  future and then therapist and client start
  attending to any moves towards it whether these
  are small increments or large changes. To support
  this, questions are asked about the clients
  story, strengths and resources, and about
  exceptions to the problem. Some clergy are
  trained in this method of therapy/pastoral care

5
Understanding Pastoral Diagnosis

• Existential Dilemmas
• Developmental Dilemmas
• Personality Formation Issues
• Wounded SelfPsychosis
• Conflicted SelfNeuroses
• Disorders of Mood and AffectBi-Polar
• Crises of Meaning

6
Obvious Reason to Refer

• When we feel over our head
• Tranference issuesplaced on pedestal, romantic
  entanglements, hostility
• Issues arising from within the priestromantic
  feelings, unfinished business
• Double-noticingthe importance of awareness
  regarding the dynamics of the pastoral exchange
  interiorly

7
When other healing modalities are required

• Genetic, biological, chemical, or neurological
  needs are in the forefront
• Inpatient hospital care to detox due to severe
  addiction
• Psychosis or serious suicidal potential
• When persons are a danger to themselves or others
• Need to understand mandated reporting

8
Concurrent Treatment and Pastoral Support

• Movement toward interdisciplinary team modalities
  of comprehensive care
• For example, a psychiatrist may help manage a
  parishioner medically, a therapist may help with
  intensive talk therapy, and the priest provides
  sacramental and spiritual support or even brief
  talk therapy, if properly trained
• Need for continuing education of clergy in human
  development, sexuality, and supportive counseling
  modalities

9
Guidelines for Effective Referrals

• Plant the seed early
• Gather information
• Discern the appropriate resource
• Create a wellness network
• Collaborate with parish nurses
• Investigate community-based resources
• Access the AAPC referral directory
• www.aapc.org/directoryindex.cfm