Strong IPS Presence at Dr. William Nordling's Induction as CPA President
IPS had an impressive showing of faculty, students and alumni at the second annual Catholic Psychotherapy Association Conference (CPA) from March 25-27, 2011 in Denver, Colorado.
Spearheaded by the first IPS alumnus, Dr. Christina Lynch, Psy.D. (2005), the event was hosted at the Pope John Paul II Center, which also houses the St. John Vianney Theological Seminary.
During a solemn concelebrated Mass in honor of the Annunciation, which coincided with the first day of the conference, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput welcomed more than 200 attendees and thanked them for their important service to the Church.
On Saturday, during an elegant lunch banquet graciously catered by numerous smiling seminarians, outgoing president (2nd) and former IPS faculty member Dr. Kathy Benes handed over the presidential reins to Dr. William Nordling, IPS professor and Chairman of the Department of Psychology.
Dr. Nordling, Dr. Benes and Dr. Lynch were among the eight founding Board of Directors of the CPA whose objective was to establish an association supporting mental health practices integrated with the Catholic understanding of the person. The board agreed membership in the CPA would be open to licensed mental health professionals and students, as well as theologians, philosophers, and social scientists interested in this mission.
During the luncheon, attendees also watched a brief video presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Dr. Benes and Dr. Lynch to IPS adjunct faculty and long-time friend, Father Benedict Groeschel, CFR, Ed.D. While he could not attend the CPA conference in person, he was able to accept the award during a visit to Denver earlier this year.
Among the conference speakers was IPS faculty member, Paul Vitz, Ph.D., who kicked off the lectures with a talk on the integration of psychology and the Catholic faith. He was particularly hopeful about the recent “discovery” of the virtues by mainstream psychology and the growing respect for—and practice of—religion by psychotherapists.
IPS alumnus Andrew Sodergren, Psy.D. (2009) also spoke, elaborating on his study of attachment theory, particularly the healing of the ability to love and be loved.
Other speakers included recent IPS Newman Lecture speaker Richard Fitzgibbons, M.D., who addressed specific virtues and provided insights for therapists to help couples move forward in their marital self-giving. IPS conference participant President Fr. Charles Sikorsky said, “I’m so pleased by the overwhelming affirmation for the work of IPS. I was especially edified to hear the words of Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs who also serves on the Vatican Council for Higher Education. During his address, Bishop Sheridan spoke on the vital need for Catholic therapists in our world today." [His full comments are available here].
The conference closed on Saturday with a concelebrated vigil Mass presided over by Auxiliary Bishop of Denver, James D. Conley. During the course of the conference all three bishops were touched by the presentation of a special gift of a framed image of CPA patroness, Our Lady of Good Counsel, and a “spiritual bouquet” of many rosaries having been prayed for their intentions.
Plans for next year’s conference have not yet been announced.
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| Dr. William Nordling becomes third president of the CPA during annual conference. |
Spearheaded by the first IPS alumnus, Dr. Christina Lynch, Psy.D. (2005), the event was hosted at the Pope John Paul II Center, which also houses the St. John Vianney Theological Seminary.
During a solemn concelebrated Mass in honor of the Annunciation, which coincided with the first day of the conference, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput welcomed more than 200 attendees and thanked them for their important service to the Church.
On Saturday, during an elegant lunch banquet graciously catered by numerous smiling seminarians, outgoing president (2nd) and former IPS faculty member Dr. Kathy Benes handed over the presidential reins to Dr. William Nordling, IPS professor and Chairman of the Department of Psychology.
Dr. Nordling, Dr. Benes and Dr. Lynch were among the eight founding Board of Directors of the CPA whose objective was to establish an association supporting mental health practices integrated with the Catholic understanding of the person. The board agreed membership in the CPA would be open to licensed mental health professionals and students, as well as theologians, philosophers, and social scientists interested in this mission.
During the luncheon, attendees also watched a brief video presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Dr. Benes and Dr. Lynch to IPS adjunct faculty and long-time friend, Father Benedict Groeschel, CFR, Ed.D. While he could not attend the CPA conference in person, he was able to accept the award during a visit to Denver earlier this year.
Among the conference speakers was IPS faculty member, Paul Vitz, Ph.D., who kicked off the lectures with a talk on the integration of psychology and the Catholic faith. He was particularly hopeful about the recent “discovery” of the virtues by mainstream psychology and the growing respect for—and practice of—religion by psychotherapists.
IPS alumnus Andrew Sodergren, Psy.D. (2009) also spoke, elaborating on his study of attachment theory, particularly the healing of the ability to love and be loved.
Other speakers included recent IPS Newman Lecture speaker Richard Fitzgibbons, M.D., who addressed specific virtues and provided insights for therapists to help couples move forward in their marital self-giving. IPS conference participant President Fr. Charles Sikorsky said, “I’m so pleased by the overwhelming affirmation for the work of IPS. I was especially edified to hear the words of Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs who also serves on the Vatican Council for Higher Education. During his address, Bishop Sheridan spoke on the vital need for Catholic therapists in our world today." [His full comments are available here].
The conference closed on Saturday with a concelebrated vigil Mass presided over by Auxiliary Bishop of Denver, James D. Conley. During the course of the conference all three bishops were touched by the presentation of a special gift of a framed image of CPA patroness, Our Lady of Good Counsel, and a “spiritual bouquet” of many rosaries having been prayed for their intentions.
Plans for next year’s conference have not yet been announced.