Psychological Services helps students with Crisis on Faith

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<p class=”p1″><strong>LOGAN -</strong> On Monday evening, the <span>USU</span> Counseling and Psychological Services center held their first-ever workshop designed to help people who are struggling with religion and spirituality.</p>

<p class=”p2″><span class=”s1″>The workshop was the first of a five-part sequence entitled “Successfully Navigating a Crisis of Faith.” The other four parts of the series are to be held over the next four weeks.</span></p>

<p class=”p2″><span class=”s1″>Twenty-four students, faculty members and individuals from the community attended the workshop, and most actively participated in the discussion.</span></p>

<p class=”p2″><span class=”s1″>According to the event summary on the <span>USU</span> events calendar, topics to be discussed during the five-week sequence include the relationship between faith and doubt, the common stages of faith and belief, the</span> interplay between morality, religion and spirituality, coping with distress and harmonizing belief with intellect.</p>

<p class=”p2″>John <span>Dehlin</span>, a fourth-year Ph.D. student studying psychology and the <span class=”s1″>presenter of the workshop, said it was designed for people who need some support with a very sensitive aspect of their lives.</span></p>

<p class=”p2″><span class=”s1″>“Facing a crisis in faith often makes people feel stuck,” he said. “We are here mostly to support people where they are and help get them unstuck.”</span></p>

<p class=”p2″><span class=”s1″>The workshop focused primarily on identity and emphasized the journey rather than an end.</span></p>

<p class=”p2″><span class=”s1″>“I really don’t like the term ‘crisis.’ We want to help participants see their crisis as a gift,” <span>Dehlin</span> said. “It’s OK to never reach a final state.”</span></p>

<p class=”p2″><span class=”s1″>Another purpose of the workshop was to normalize the idea of having a crisis of faith.</span></p>

<p class=”p2″><span class=”s1″>During the workshop, attendees were invited to supplement the presentation with examples from their own lives. The participants were able to see other people facing similar challenges.</span></p>

<p class=”p2″><span class=”s1″>Ian <span>MacFarlane</span>, a <span>predoctoral</span> intern studying psychology, assisted in the presentation of the workshop.</span></p>

<p class=”p2″><span class=”s1″>He said in Utah, where the vast majority of the population is religious, it is often taboo to talk about religious beliefs and especially the lack thereof.</span></p>

<p class=”p2″><span class=”s1″>“A lot of people don’t have someone to talk to or don’t know how to handle it,” he said.</span></p>

<p class=”p2″><span class=”s1″>To read this article in its entirety, visit <a href=”http://www.usustatesman.com/psychological-services-helps-students-with-crisis-on-faith-1.2806874#.UQsDZvJZOSo” target=”_blank”>The Utah Statesman website</a>.</span></p>

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