Events
Spotlight Sessions
The MHPCI hosts a monthly Spotlight Session, both in-person and online, where a Christian mental health professional provides information on a mental health-related matter and discusses how church communities can offer support.
The cost of each Session is $25. If you are experiencing financial hardship, and are keen to attend this seminar, we have a limited number of tickets available at the reduced price of $10. Please email us at mentalhealthinstitute@mac.edu.au and we will be happy to provide you with a code.
Social Media + Mental Health
Date: Monday 13 May 2024
Time: 7 – 8:30pm
Cost: $25
Location: In person at ADM, online and recording access
Join clinical psychologist, Leisa Aitken as she takes a look with us at social media and mental health.
Managing our use of social media well is crucial, especially in light of research demonstrating the significant part it can play in worsening mental health. Like all technology, it not only transforms the world, it transforms us as we use it, in ways we may not be aware of.
This talk explores some of the benefits and harms of social media, including from a Christian lens.
It is also an opportunity to reflect on ways it can colour our psychological experience of ourselves and the world, the data on its impact on young people, an assessment tool for social media addiction, and practical strategies to help manage excessive use in children and teenagers, as well as using it thoughtfully ourselves.
Speaker: Leisa Aitken
Dr Leisa Aitken is a Coaching and Clinical Psychologist who has been counselling and teaching for more than 25 years in private practice, workplaces, psychiatric hospitals, and churches. Her PhD explored The Psychology of Hope, observing hope through Western history in philosophy, theology and psychology, as well as delineating four attributes needed to experience hope. She is therefore also interested in everyday barriers to hope, and social media addiction is one that she sees commonly in her clinical practice. Leisa is married to Michael and they have two adult daughters and a 60kg Rhodesian ridgeback. To manage her own mental health, she paddles an ocean ski (surf ski designed to ride ocean swell) on the beautiful Northern Beaches of Sydney.
Living with the Impact of Childhood Trauma
Date: Monday 17 June 2024
Time: 7 – 8:30pm
Cost: $25
Location: In person at ADM, online and recording access
What happens when, as a child, your world is not safe and the people you rely on are unable to meet your needs?
We are understanding more of the long term impacts of childhood trauma, but the relational templates that are formed have far reaching impacts in our adult lives, our church relationships and our experience of God. This seminar aims to help both survivors and ministry workers understand some of these impacts and ways to build safe and healing relationships in a church setting.
Speaker: Ruth Holt
Ruth Holt is a Clinical Psychologist and Certified Schema Therapist (Supervisor/Trainer) in both Individual and Couples. Based in Canberra, Ruth works with clients with a focus on complex presentations, recovery from abuse and conducts workshops and training for psychologists on Schema Therapy, couples therapy, ministry resilience, women’s mental health and abuse in relationships.
2024 Spotlight Sessions
Save the dates in your diary for our 2024 Spotlight Sessions:
11 March – Living with Adult ADHD Matters with Sarah Hindle
13 May – Social Media and Mental Health with Leisa Aitken
17 June – Living with the Impact of Childhood Trauma with Ruth Holt
22 July – Social Anxiety with Lauren Errington
12 August – Burnout with Valerie Ling
9 September – Suicide Prevention with Sarah Piper
21 October – Depression with Lyn Worsley
11 November – Borderline Personality Disorder with Neil Jeyasingam
"to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,"
(Eph 4:12)
Professional Development
Seminar: Theological and Pastoral Responses to Mental Health
Speaker: Rev. Dr Keith Condie
Date: Thursday 2 May 2024
Time: 9:30am – 1pm
Cost: $75
We are never far removed from mental health challenges, whether it be the people we serve in Christ’s name, our own experience, or that of those close to us.
How do we shepherd God’s people with compassion and care without losing missional focus or being overwhelmed by complex needs? What should we do (or not do) to be faithful workers in this context?
This half-day professional development seminar is particularly for ministry workers, but also for Christians working in mental health or with a particular interest in this topic.
Attend in person at Anglican Deaconess Ministries, or online via Zoom.
Contact us
If you have any questions regarding professional development, or you want request that we run a course for your organisation, contact us!
