As leaders in ministry, the responsibility to shepherd and nurture the spiritual and emotional growth of your community is paramount. Understanding the dynamics of human behavior and relationships can significantly enhance the effectiveness of your ministry, particularly in the context of small groups. This is where Josh Spurlock, founder of MyCounselor.Online, steps in to offer invaluable training on “Therapeutic Principles for Small Group Leaders”.

Josh Spurlock brings a wealth of experience from his extensive background in Neuroscience Informed Christian Counseling® (NICC), a model that beautifully marries the timeless truths of the Bible with cutting-edge psychological science and neurobiological insights. This training is designed to equip pastors and ministry leaders with essential therapeutic principles that foster meaningful group dynamics and potentiate the small group experience within ministry settings.

Training Highlights

• Active Listening: Being fully present and attentive, listening not only to the words being spoken but also to the emotions and subtexts to understand members deeply.
• Empathetic Understanding: Demonstrating empathy and understanding towards group members’ feelings and experiences to build trust and create a safe, supportive environment.
• Non-judgmental Stance: Maintaining a non-judgmental attitude that encourages openness and honesty among group members, helping them feel accepted and valued.
• Reflecting and Clarifying: Helping members clarify their thoughts and feelings by reflecting them back in a way that makes them easier to understand and process.
• Facilitating Group Dynamics: Managing and influencing group dynamics to promote a balanced participation and to address conflicts or dominance issues within the group.
• Encouraging Expression: Motivating members to express their thoughts and feelings, which can lead to breakthroughs and deeper personal insights.
• Questioning Techniques: Using open-ended questions to explore members’ thoughts and feelings more deeply and to stimulate discussion and reflection.
• Managing Resistance: Recognizing and sensitively addressing resistance within the group, whether it’s reluctance to participate or opposition to group norms.
• Creating Cohesion: Using exercises and discussions that foster a sense of unity and belonging among group members, enhancing mutual support.
• Use of Metaphors and Analogies: Employing metaphors and analogies to help members conceptualize problems in new ways and see connections they might not have recognized before.
• Setting and Maintaining Boundaries: Clearly establishing rules and boundaries for the group to ensure a respectful and safe environment for all members.
• Conflict Resolution: Facilitating the resolution of interpersonal conflicts within the group in a way that is constructive and educative.
• Role-Playing and Psychodrama: Incorporating role-playing or psychodrama techniques to allow members to act out emotions and experiences, which can lead to powerful insights and emotional release.
• Linking: Helping members see common themes and shared feelings across different personal stories, which can enhance the sense of universality and community.
• Mindfulness and Presence: Using mindfulness to help group members stay present with their feelings and reactions, reducing reactivity and promoting deeper understanding.
• Feedback: Providing balanced feedback that acknowledges strengths while also gently challenging members to grow and consider different perspectives.

Biblical and Psychological Foundation

The training integrates spiritual growth with psychological health, leveraging the mechanisms designed by God to facilitate profound healing and personal growth. This approach is rooted in scriptural truths, aligning with the spiritual journey of sanctification — “crucifying the flesh, renewing the mind, and living by the Spirit” as taught in the Scriptures (Galatians 5:16; Romans 12:2).

Why Engage with Josh Spurlock?

• Expertise: Josh Spurlock brings over 13,000 hours of clinical experience, blending therapeutic efficacy with profound spiritual insights.
• Customized Training: Sessions are tailored to address the specific needs of your ministry setting, whether in person or online, ensuring practical and applicable skills for your leadership and lay leaders.
• Support for Church Ministry: This training is not just about enhancing group dynamics; it’s about transforming how leaders interact with their congregants, fostering deeper community and spiritual growth.

Join Us!

By integrating therapeutic principles into your small group leadership, you not only enhance the group’s effectiveness but also deepen your ministry’s impact. Training with Josh Spurlock offers you the tools to transform your ministry approach, aligning deeper human understanding with spiritual truths. Engage with this training to bring a new depth to your ministry, fostering an environment where both psychological health and spiritual maturity flourish.

To learn more and to schedule training, visit JoshSpurlock.com. Equip your ministry leaders with the skills necessary to guide your community towards thriving relationships and deeper spiritual growth.

REFERENCES

1. Empower Your Ministry with Training from Josh Spurlock