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This workshop will take about three hours total, and is designed to be done in three phases:

                Personal Exploration                      Done by yourself on your own time.

                Sharing and Connecting                Done with a Covina Community Church group or clergy.

                Personal Reflection                        Done by yourself on your own time.

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Phase 1:        Personal Exploration

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Topics Covered:  Mental Health, Mental Illness, and the Intersectionality with Neurodivergence

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Pray – Center yourself in prayer, and ask God to help you learn and grow, regardless of your comfort level with the topics you are engaging. Here are some words if you need them:

 

God of grace and love, be with me in this time of reflection and connection. Help me bring together my questions and my feelings. Help me wrestle with my expectations and my potential. Help my explore my experience, growth, and resilience with the same compassion I would offer to others. Help me find my balance so that my experience in this study might help me grow in grace and love. Amen.

 

Reflect  - What do the following words mean to you? Consider writing out your answers in a journal or on a piece of paper. You might even want to draw what comes to mind if your brain processes in more creative ways.

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                Feelings – Normal – Boundaries – Happiness – Diagnosis – Health – Neurodiversity - Disorder - Stigma

 

Watch – Follow this link to view an overview video created by the Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC).

Follow this link to hear about the relationship between neurodiversity and mental health.

Reflect – Look back over the list of words in the first reflection section. How has your understanding of these words changed or shifted? What new insights have emerged for you? What questions are you left with? If you are keeping a journal for this process, take some time to record your thoughts.

 

Read -   Turn to Psalm 137 in your Bible and then take time for the reflection questions.

 

Reflect – Time to journal, doodle or just spend some time letting your head and heart have a conversation:

  • What different emotions do you hear expressed in Psalm 137 and how comfortable are you with those feelings in your own life?

  • How do you feel about anger and desire for revenge being expressed to God in such explicit ways? 

  • When is it healthy to express powerful emotions and when do they become problematic?

  • How comfortable are you talking about mental health and how does your faith impact these feelings? 

Phase 2:        Sharing and Connecting

 

Pray – Center yourself in prayer, and ask God to help you learn and grow, regardless of your comfort level with the topics. Here are some words if you need them:

               

Loving God, who weaves us all together, help us see each other and listen to each other. As we do, may our hearts make space for all your people.  Amen.

 

Share  - Use these prompts to guide your conversations:

 

Revisit the word list from the Phase 1 reflection and share what wisdom you have received around them.


               Feelings – Normal – Boundaries – Happiness – Diagnosis – Health – Neurodiversity - Disorder - Stigma

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  • How comfortable are you with not being, "ok"? 

  • How can we be most authentic to our own feelings and help others feel safe enough to be themselves? 

  • What is the difference between mental health and mental illness and how should communities of care respond to each? 

  • How do you understand neurodiversity and how can faith communities be welcoming and supportive to all types of brains?

  • Why is it important to have boundaries that are clearly expressed and consistently upheld when dealing with mental health?

  • What questions or concerns are most prominent for you around these issues?

Phase 3:        Personal Reflection

 

Pray – Center yourself in prayer and ask God to help you find the words for your thoughts and feelings. Here are some words if you need them:

 

Builder of our brains and tender of our hearts, help us have grace for each other and ourselves as we navigate issues that are complex and personal. Help us remember how how much we still have to learn about the brain, behaviors, and the impact of life events on each other's health. May my head and heart be in conversation as I seek your presence and guidance in my life. Amen. 

 

Reflect  - On paper or in a digital document, answer the following questions.

You can use the form below to share your work with the Church office.  

 

  • How does your faith impact your mental health?

  • How is the Church called and equipped to respond to or be present with those dealing with mental health issues? 

  • What gifts do we possess as a Church to fully include those facing mental health challenges?

  • How can we better include and empower those whose brains do not function according to social norms? 

  • What issues do you, personally, want to learn more about as you better understand mental health and neurodiversity issues?

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