The Pruet School of Christian Studies, in partnership with Henderson State University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, will host “Caring for the Caregiver,” a conference on issues in Christian counseling, on Friday, Feb. 24.
Dr. Bill Viser, associate professor of Christian ministry, has been the driving force behind the conference, which is in its second year.
“This has been on my heart for a long time,” he said. “OBU has always been a leader in education; I wanted to take that to a level beyond undergraduate. I wanted to be able to equip pastors and caregivers to better help people.”
Mental health professionals from the host institutions as well as Central Baptist College will lead sessions including “Balancing Personal and Professional Priorities,” “Crisis Responders and Christian Counseling Self Care and Spiritual Resources,” “Survival Skills for Therapists Treating Children of Trauma” and “Ministers and Coping: Issues Facing the Shepherd.”
This year, in addition to pastors and mental health professionals, social workers and nurses are invited to the conference and can receive Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for the sessions they attend.
Viser said that when he designed the conference, he was looking for a format that would bring pastors and mental health professionals together.
For pastors, the registration fee is $70 each ($90 with spouse) and includes catered lunch, snacks, written materials and a certificate of attendance. Registration for mental health professionals, nurses and social workers is $90 each. Students are invited to register and attend for free; they may also register for $15 each to receive materials and food.
