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Leading Faith Communities in Addressing Mental Health Concerns

Faith leaders are often the first people families turn to during emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges. Many feel underprepared to respond while maintaining pastoral boundaries.

This workshop provides practical guidance for recognizing concerns, responding with compassion, supporting families, reducing stigma, and helping congregations become places where those in distress find care, connection, and pathways to appropriate help.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Identify common mental health concerns that individuals and families bring to faith leaders within congregational settings.
• Describe pastoral response strategies that promote safety, compassionate listening, and appropriate support when individuals disclose emotional or behavioral distress.
• Recognize situations that warrant referral to mental health professionals and identify ways faith leaders can support individuals in accessing appropriate care.
• Explain strategies for guiding congregations in supporting individuals experiencing mental health challenges while reducing stigma and promoting compassionate care.
• Apply practical frameworks for responding to distress and for helping congregants come alongside individuals and families experiencing emotional or behavioral struggles.

Featuring Speaker:

Andrew J. Graham, PhD, LMHC, LMFT – an Associate Professor of Counselor Education at Asbury Theological Seminary and a licensed clinician in both mental health counseling and marriage and family therapy. He has more than two decades of clinical and teaching experience at the intersection of counseling, theology, and cultural formation. Dr. Graham’s scholarship and training focus on faith integration, ethical practice, and counselor development. He regularly presents at national and international conferences on topics related to spirituality in clinical practice, crises of faith, and ethical care within faith-based contexts.

Cost for mental health CE Attendees: $89

With gratitude, Brook Lane acknowledges this program is funded in part by the William B. and Sylvia A. Hunsberger Fund. Thank you.