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Group Dynamics and Dynamic Groups
November 9, 2018 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
A Day for Professional and Spiritual Enrichment!
and Programming for behavioral health groups
Presented by Rev. Traci Houts, MDiv, MSW, BCC; Rev. Bob Turner, MDiv, BS, BCC;
Ven. Dr. Chris Ozodi, Ph.D., BCC, CCC; Rev. Joby Brown, BCC
Sponsored by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains
A Warm Welcome to All Serving in Spiritual Care Ministries!
Friday, November 9, 2018, 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Wisconsin Athletic Club, Conference Room 3
8700 W. Watertown Plank Road
Wauwatosa, WI 53226
Program Information:
While chaplains have often provided grief support groups and spirituality groups, very few learned group facilitation skills from their seminary/theological education or CPE programs. As healthcare continues to grow in ambulatory and community settings, there is a knowledge and experience gap for chaplains to successfully partner with key stakeholders and facilitate groups. Whether it is grief groups and behavioral health groups or caregiver groups and chronic pain groups, once a chaplain has foundational skills, they can be adapted across populations and settings.
We also know, however, that there continue to be great needs for Spiritual Care within behavioral health and addictions settings. Our country is struggling to address overwhelming mental health needs and an opioid crisis that continues to grow every year. Unlike years ago when patients would have a 28 day stay in the behavioral health/addictions unit, they are often in and out of the hospital in a matter of hours or days. How does a chaplain provide a meaningful spirituality group that addresses the needs of a very diverse patient population? In one session, there can be people with psychosis or those who are suicidal; people who are high-functioning and those who need assistance with daily cares; people who find comfort in their religion/spirituality and those who feel abandoned by God. In this environment, chaplains can use a curriculum framework based on Spiritual Practices to help patients identify coping strategies and develop their own Spiritual Plan of Care.
Program Objectives:
In this workshop, participants will develop basic group facilitation skills and learn programming content specific to Behavioral Health settings:
- Discuss opportunities for Spiritual Care in groups: inpatient, outpatient, community
- Explore group types and their corresponding strengths/weaknesses i.e. open vs. closed; non- structured peer support vs. curriculum based
- Review best practices: co-facilitation, screening and referral, keeping boundaries
- Teach strategies for achieving balance and managing a variety of personality types
- Discuss Behavioral Health Spirituality Groups for adult and adolescent populations
- Share Spiritual Practices curriculum and spiritual resources for use with Behavioral Health patients
About the Presenters:

Rev Traci Houts, MDiv, MSW, BCC

Rev. Bob Turner

Ven. Dr. Chris Ozodi, PhD, BCC, CCC

Rev. Joby Brown, BCC
Program of Events:
9:00 a.m. Registration; welcome, introductions and reflection
9:30 a.m. Group Dynamics and Dynamic Groups
12:30 p.m. Lunch (bring your own, or shop at onsite City Market cafe)
1:00 p.m. NACC updates and Closing Reflections
1:30 p.m. Ending
A $20 participant fee will cover refreshments and the program. 3.5 CEH’s are offered.
Please click here to download the registration form and send it, along with your $20 check made out to NACC to: National Association of Catholic Chaplains, 4915 S. Howell Avenue, Suite 501, Milwaukee, WI 53207. Alternatively, you may register and pay by credit card online: REGISTER.
If you have any questions please contact Andris Kursietis at the national office: 414-483-4898.