We approached the development of the PCW and subsequent content from a pragmatic point of view. That is, we were cognizant that those serving as E.G.C. clergy and as O.T.O. body masters are already in the position of being viewed by local members as sources of guidance and aid. Anyone in such a position of leadership will eventually be approached for such aid—as a trusted senior in the Order, as a visible symbol of spiritual authority, or simply as someone who seems to know a little bit more about what’s going on in the group! Accordingly, it is in the interests of the Order and the E.G.C. to fortify our local leaders with the basic information and training necessary to serve in these roles.
These are the guidelines for individuals engaging in providing assistance in the area of mental health support in the context of OTO and give a sense of the purpose of our trainings and materials:
- We DO listen attentively, and give feedback, comfort and support
- We DO provide spiritual guidance within a Thelemic context, while being respectful of our members’ autonomy and self-determination.
- We DO provide resources for referrals beyond the scope of our pastoral counseling duties
- We do NOT provide psychological assessment and diagnosis
- We do NOT provide professional emergency services
One of the most common concerns about the Pastoral Counseling workshops and other trainings has been that it is impossible to train someone to be a fully-fledged pastoral counselor in a weekend. This is a completely valid concern. These workshops emphatically do not qualify attendees to function as professional counselors of any sort. Professional pastoral counseling accrediting agencies require graduate degrees in Divinity, or similar fields, with prior licensing/credentialing for independent therapy practice. These qualifications are obviously far beyond our present training.
Topics of the Pastoral Counseling Workshop and other trainings include:
- Basic counseling skills and techniques of intervention
- The basics of Family/Group Dynamics and related social/psychological theories, as applied to Thelemic communities
- Ethical and legal issues in Thelemic pastoral counseling
- Psychiatric diagnosic categories, and basic approaches to assistance for mental illness and chemical dependency issues
- Tools for working with Crisis Intervention, Grief Counseling, Conflict Resolution, and other issues
- Training in the use of appropriate referrals to outside sources of assistance
Our individual trainings and workshops as well as distributable modules have different criteria for eligibility for attendance and distribution. Please inquire at our contact below with specific questions.
***NOTE: Offerings of the in person Pastoral Counseling Workshop have been delayed indefinitely. It is the opinion of the Guild that these workshops are best delivered in person, and they may be resumed at such a time as we have the human resources to do so. In the mean time the Guild is offering briefer occasional online trainings and materials. For information on other offerings from the guild such as other online workshops during this time, please use the below email contact***
NOTE: Many of the past volumes of Neshamah consists of articles drawn from the Pastoral Counseling Workshop, and addressing many of the key content areas presented in a live context. While the materials presented in Neshamah certainly do not replace the experience of attending a live workshop, it is hoped that they will serve as a valuable resource for those who have not yet had a chance to attend. Additionally, for those who have already attended, the articles may be useful to have on hand as a summary of much of the material.
