2021 Conference

2021 Conference on Christian Counseling
October 14 – 15, 2021

We are excited to welcome Dr. Heather Davediuk Gingrich from Denver Seminary. She is a renowned author, professor, and lecturer. Her new book is called Restoring the Shattered Self: A Christian Counselor’s Guide to Complex Trauma.  It is sure to be an edifying time to learn from Dr. Gingrich and our other faculty. Register below.

Presenters

Gray Sutanto

Bill Richardson, Ph.D.

Dr. Bill Richardson, Ph.D. Professor of Counseling, received his Ph.D. from the Department of Counseling and Psychological Services at Georgia State University. He is a Professor and The Clinical Director of the RTS Counseling Program. He is an AAMFT clinical fellow and approved supervisor and has been a practicing counselor for over 30 years. Dr. Richardson’s research and writing has focused on the Psychoeducation Interventions, Parenting and the Christian integration of Internal Family Systems Therapy developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz, a systemic, self-psychology intervention model.

Jim Hurley

James Hurley, Ph.D.

Dr. James Hurley is Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy and director of the department of Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling at the RTS, Jackson campus. He is the only member of the faculty with doctoral level qualifications in three fields: New Testament, Theology, and Counseling. He holds PhDs from Cambridge University and Florida State University. He is a clinical member and approved clinical supervisor of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and a practicing professional therapist. He has served as President and as a board member of the Mississippi Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Heather Davediuk Gingrich, PhD

Dr. Heather Davediuk Gingrich is a professor of counseling at Denver Seminary. She is a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, as well as a member of the Colorado Counseling Association, the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation, the Rocky Mountain Trauma and Dissociation Society, and a professional affiliate of Division 56 (Trauma Psychology) of the American Psychological Association. She is an advisor for the Philippine Association of Christian Counselors and the Philippine Society for the Study for Trauma and Dissociation.

Dr. Gingrich earned a PhD from the University of the Philippines, an MA from Wheaton College Graduate School, and a BA from Carleton University in Canada. During her 30 plus years in the counseling field, Dr. Gingrich has divided her time between clinical work and teaching. Dr. Gingrich specializes in the treatment of complex trauma, including adult survivors of abuse, and has done research, writing, and clinical work in the area of dissociative disorders and trauma. She has lived in Canada, Pakistan, the Philippines, and the United States. Her new book is called Restoring the Shattered Self: A Christian Counselor’s Guide to Complex Trauma (2013, IVP).

About the Conference

The Counseling program at RTS has hosted the Conference on Christian Counseling for over 10 years. The RTS Conference on Christian Counseling engages with and explores frontiers in counseling from a Christian perspective in a format that allows counselors in the field to receive Continuing Education credits. Our conference is designed to expose current counseling students to these frontiers, to invite graduates to visit RTS again while receiving CE credits, and to offer CE credits to other counseling professionals throughout the state.

Conference speakers are leaders in the field speaking in areas of their expertise. This has become known around the state as one of the best professional conferences for counselors in our region. In addition to this biennial conference, we occasionally hold shorter workshops on special topics of interest.

Past Speakers

Some of the keynote speakers we have hosted over the years include:

Dr. Curt Thompson, MD: A Beautiful Mind: The Gospel in the Language of Neuroscience

Dr. Daniel Sweeney, PhD, LMFT, LPC, RPT-S: The Neurobiology of Childhood Trauma and Expressive Therapies

Dr. Diane Langberg, PhD: Counseling Adult Survivors of Childhood Trauma

Dr. Mark Laaser, PhD: Treatment of Sexual Addiction

Sharon Hersh, MA, LPC: Beyond Addiction – Why Self-Help is Not Enough

Dr. Mark Yarhouse, PsyD: Sexual Identity Therapy Framework