SEMINARS  & WORKSHOPS  


FOR  FAITH  ORGANIZATIONS

 

 

 

 

RELATIONSHIPS

   

Relationship Connection

Why do opposites attract?  Why do the same conflicts keep coming up over and over again?  Discover your personality type, that of your partner, and how they interact. Both genders are a reflection of God, but often we have a difficult time understanding each other. In discovering your temperament, you learn to nurture and prize the differences between yourself and your partner.  Singles and couples welcome.

 

 

The Psychology of Attraction

Why are you attracted to the same type of person?  We all form a picture of the perfect mate, but why do we all come up with different pictures?  Come explore the world of attraction and learn what you want and need from love. Some search for significance through love, work, church activities, etc., but in this seminar, we'll explore the hidden needs behind our attractions.

 

Brain Sex (The Real Difference Between Men and Women)

Men can read maps and women can read character.  Did God create the sexes different, or is it all a figment of our imagination?  Come find out why a man often can’t think like a female, and visa versa.  For example, do you know that men have better depth perception, but women have wider peripheral vision? Translate that into a scene where he's driving -- if a car approaches from the side too quickly, she gasps, and he gets irritated because 'That car was no where near us' (he couldn't see it in his peripheral vision yet), or when he stops on a dime, she complains, unaware of the fact that he knew exactly how much room he had because of his superior depth perception. Gaining an understanding of the differences takes some of the mystery and frustration out of relating to the other half.

 

Courageous Communication

We are called as Christians to be people in relationship with God, and with those around us. Therefore, communication is a basic, but many of us live everyday with only surface relationships.  This seminar is designed to explore tools that allow you to say what you want and need to say, as well as how to be an effective listener.  Increase intimacy in your relationships through clarity, courage, and even anger expression.

 

Fair Fighting

Conflict is a natural and potentially healthy aspect to all relationships.  Problems arise when conflict is resolved in ways that create distance instead of intimacy.  A variety of tools will be presented helping to understand the dynamics of arguing and move toward healthy conflict resolution. Sometimes even the church itself can be guilty of anger-phobia. There are many Bible passages, as well as examples from Jesus' life, that give us insight into dealing with this trouble emotion. We will be role-playing, so bring your boxing gloves!  

 

 

 

Personality Typing

Since you have never been anyone else, often it becomes difficult to understand how others look at life.  When you understand the different personality types, interacting with others can be a rewarding, curious journey, instead of a frustrating mysterious task.  You’ll learn your personality type as based on the Myers-Briggs Type Inventory, and learn how your personality typically interacts, the common stuck places, and the benefits.

 

 

Walls of Intimacy

Most people think of establishing boundaries as putting up walls and not allowing others into your world.  "Come, let us reason together," the Bible tells us. Healthy boundaries actually create long-lasting intimacy, while allowing each partner to have their own identity.  Simple to understand, and difficult to put into practice, boundaries can be one of the most life-changing concepts you may ever learn.

 

   

STRESS MANAGEMENT

 

Stress Busters

Eighty five percent of Americans suffer from stress-related illnesses, and Christians are not immune.  Even common problems like boredom, forgetfulness, and sexual difficulties result from stress - which also contributes to more serious illnesses like cancer, coronary heart disease, and arthritis.  The good news: people who put their spirituality into practice regularly, report fewer stress-related illnesses. Join us in learning to identify your body’s stress signals, how to utilize your spiritual life and other tools to turn stress to your advantage.

 

Hypnosis and Stress

The Bible says, "Whatever is true, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." Philippians 4:8. Hypnosis is the process of dwelling on the truths.  Learn how to put the power of your subconscious to work as we explore various ways to de-stress with hypnotic trance.  You will learn how to write your own basic hypno-script, and the major elements of inducing your own trance. 

 

 

Wake Up Refreshed

A recent study found three-fourths of Americans wake up ready for bed.  The elusive refreshing night’s sleep is really within reach -- closer than the coffee pot.  The human body is created for good sleep, and when it is deprived, almost every system is effected.  There are many sleep aids that don’t come in a bottle -- by simply making a few shifts in your day, you could soon be waking up energized.

 

Break (or create) Any Habit in 21 Days

People are creatures of habits.  In this unique workshop, you can begin to get rid of unwanted habits and replace them with productive habits. Everyone has habits that seem to take control like overeating, tardiness, nail biting, smoking, etc.  It doesn't matter what it is, you can "kick" any habit in just 21 days. You can also instill new habits that may have been elusive such as paying bills on time or exercising.  Understand what sabotages your best efforts and why you developed those habits to begin with.

 

Healing Faith

How do you know prayer and faith help? We'll show you some research identifying the benefits: less depression, cancer, heart disease, anxiety disorders, infectious diseases, and so on and so on. There's even an experiment that found when plants are prayed for, they grow faster! We'll learn how powerful faith can be.

 

   

TRAUMA RECOVERY

 

Abuse Defined

With so much of popular press focusing on abuse, rarely do we step back to look at what constitutes abuse. Is spanking abuse? Or what about the emotionally distant parent?  What is 'spiritual abuse'? What does abuse look like in all various parts of life? Explore the effects and types of abuse, the difference between assertiveness and abusiveness, and the line between anger and rage. Learn the three things you need to do to become a perpetrator.

 

Sexual Abuse

Priests accused.  Daycare workers indicted.  Father’s joining the False Memory Syndrome foundation.  All are frequent images on the nightly news.  What is sexual abuse, what are the effects, signs and symptoms, and what about false memory?  Conservative estimations say one out of three women and one out of seven men will be sexually abused at one time in their lives.  This issue is full of controversy, and definitely in need of exploration.  Join us as we attempt to make sense of the nonsense.

 

Stuffing It:  Eating Disorders and Trauma

Explore the relationship between unresolved trauma and food.  This powerful topic is one of the quietest and most prevalent issues of our day.  From overeating to restricting, both men and women often find consolation in food. Food was given to us for nourishment and enjoyment, but can become love, comfort, entertainment, security, etc. We’ll attempt to understand the complex, and potentially deadly dynamics of disordered eating and traumatic experiences.

   

 

SPIRITUAL ISSUES

 

Christianity and Psychology

How do the two fit together?  What do each have to say about good mental health?  How do they handle trouble areas like anger, fear and sadness?  Is the Bible outdated, or is the psychotherapeutic community renaming age-old principles? Join the discussion as we attempt to determine the truths about human nature in light of psychology and the Church.

 

Spiritual Abuse VS. Religious Abuse

The Christian scriptures have been used to endorse everything from slavery to mass killings.  Are they being used today to harm instead of heal?  Come learn the differences between spiritual and religious abuse, and how to care for the soul.

 

Healing Faith

How do you know prayer and faith help? We'll show you some research identifying the benefits: less depression, cancer, heart disease, anxiety disorders, infectious diseases, and so on and so on. There's even an experiment that found when plants are prayed for, they grow faster! We'll learn how powerful faith can be.

 

Raising Christians

Parenting is one of the most difficult, important, and yet potentially rewarding jobs you will ever have.  Take a look at what the Bible says on parenting styles and techniques.  Research indicates people who have  a strong faith live longer, are more satisfied, have fewer illnesses and diseases, recover faster from surgery, and have much lower incidences of smoking, alcoholism, suicide, and depression. Focusing on faith while parenting is tough with all the chaos, so come find out how spirituality can turn into a powerful mechanism for solid family functioning.

 

Spirit-Filled Relationships

Created for couples who want to reach a deeper spiritual level with each other, this seminar examines  the basics of your relationships - the foundations.  Every human being communicates on a variety of levels: mental, emotional, physical and spiritual.  Learn what you and your partner need in order to feel more spiritually fulfilled, and how you can encourage richer and more rewarding relationships.

 

   

THE WORKPLACE

 

Dealing with Difficult People

Every organization’s got one:  those who raise your blood pressure just by walking in the room.  Learning to handle those difficult people in your life is an art that can be mastered. There are many helpful "psychological tools" that are really re-named Christian principles. You no longer have to see your boss in your nightmares, or kick the dog because of your officemate.

 

Work Out:  Body Language and Negotiation

Research indicates up to 95% of communication is nonverbal.  Everyday negotiations and conflict-resolution requires “reading” others accurately, as well as conveying the exact message you wish to send.  This experiential workshop is designed to decipher what we’re really trying to say. Wear comfortable clothes - we'll be experimenting with you!

 

“Men at Work”:  Gender Differences on the Job

Typically men and women have different patterns of interacting, priorities, and expectations in the world of work. These differences often lead to miscommunications and frustration. Learn the differences, thereby increasing your ability to work well with the other gender.

 

Take Your Family to Work

…You do take your family to work every day, whether you like it or not.  Have you ever found yourself frustrated by or unable to work with certain people?  Most of us learn what work should be from our parents - and carry these messages into our offices as adults.  Explore what you personally struggle with, allowing you to enjoy work more.

 

Working on Yourself:  Self-Esteem and Assertiveness in the Office

Americans often tie work closely with self-image.  So when we fail at a task or don’t get the promotion, our very selves may be shaken.  Come explore your patterns of interaction at work, learning concrete steps to assertively get what you want.  And when you don’t obtain your wants, learn how to keep your self-esteem intact, by implementing your faith into every working moment.

 

   

RECOVERY

 

The Disease

Addiction with any face - food, drugs, sex, alcohol, work, gambling, relationships - cheat us out of major portions of the human experience.  The disease can progress so far as to take our very lives.  This discussion focuses on the most current research, the most effective techniques, and the greatest “stuck places” in addiction recovery.  The "12-Step" approach has had great success, mostly due to its spiritual nature. We'll look at the benefits and blunders in using spirituality to conquer addictions.

 

Stuffing It:  Eating Disorders in the 90’s

Explore the relationship between unresolved trauma and food, the newest research on brain chemistry and eating disorders, and how God makes it all logical. This powerful topic is one of the quietest and most prevalent issues of our day.  From overeating to restricting, both men and women often find consolation, reward, punishment, and even love, in food. We’ll attempt to understand the complex, and potentially deadly dynamics of disordered eating.

   

 

GENDER

 

Furious Femmes: Women and Anger in the 90’s

Women receive many unhealthy messages about anger, such as ‘nice girls don’t get mad,’ or ‘showing anger is unattractive.’  However, anger represents our systems’ natural signal that we’re being hurt or that a need is not being met.  When we ignore this signal, we learn to not take care of ourselves, which produces more anger, and so on and so on. Sometimes even the church itself can be guilty of anger-phobia. There are many Bible passages, as well as examples from Jesus' life, that give us insight into dealing with this trouble emotion.  Come learn to reclaim healthy anger, instead of cutting out a vital part of your self.

 

The Unique Value of a Woman

Did you know that women have better peripheral vision than men?  They are also a much better judge of character.  Women today are realizing more and more the uniqueness of being female, and how that fits into God's plan.  The special features that women possess have been more recently studied, and females are beginning to realize that they don’t have to be men to succeed.  Come find out all of the unique and fascinating aspects of womanhood.

 

 

 

Brain Sex (The Real Difference Between Men and Women

Men can read maps and women can read character.  Did God create the sexes different, or is it all a figment of our imagination?  Come find out why a man often can’t think like a female, and visa versa.  For example, do you know that men have better depth perception, but women have wider peripheral vision? Translate that into a scene where he's driving -- if a car approaches from the side too quickly, she gasps, and he gets irritated because 'That car was no where near us' (he couldn't see it in his peripheral vision yet), or when he stops on a dime, she complains, unaware of the fact that he knew exactly how much room he had because of his superior depth perception. Gaining an understanding of the differences takes some of the mystery and frustration out of relating to the other half.

 

 

 

Puppy Dog Tails:  What is a Man Today?

What is healthy masculinity?  Models such as Rambo, Woody Allen and Colin Powell present very differing images of manhood.  Explore how the images of Warrior, Healer, Visionary and Teacher help encompass the essence of what it means to be a man, and how all of these can be found in the stories of Jesus' life on earth.

 

Steel Magnolias: Powerfilled Women

Is it possible for women to get their needs met, their wants fulfilled, and their voices heard? What are the typical blocking elements of the media, society in general, and women themselves?  Oddly, in the information age, women remain relatively uninformed on themselves and the impact of family and societal messages on their mental health. In this discussion we’ll take a look at the messages that enhance life, or hinder growth. As Christian women, we are called to be of a certain temperament, have certain qualities, and teach the younger generations how to live Godly lives. Are we spending enough energy on those goals, or the goals that society tells us are worthwhile.

   

 

GRIEF / LOSS

 

Good Grief?

God wants to draw us near when we feel grief, but often we don't recognize losses until they are stifling our creativity, spiritual lives, and enjoyment of life. The dog dies, the favorite TV show goes off the air, the divorce finalizes.  The daily losses range from the simple unspoken uncomfortable feelings, to the weak-kneed devastation following a death or divorce.  We deal with loss every day regardless of how smooth our lives are. Learning healthy grieving tools, lessens the toll on your system, family, and walk with God.

 

After (Moving) Shock

The dishes are put away, and the dog is exploring uncharted territory in the back yard. Everything’s done, right? Not quite. The stress involved with a move can take its toll on the whole family. Come learn some of the stress warning signs for child, teen, husband and wife. Explore tools to make the transition smoother and turn a potentially splintering situation into a time for family unity.

 

Handling the Holidays

This seminar is designed for those who have experienced the death of a loved one for which the holidays can hold many unexpected feelings and burdens.  Whether it be the death of a parent or a miscarriage, we’ll talk about how to handle the merriment when you don’t feel merry, how to handle insensitive comments, how to deal with not having that loved one around on these traditionally family-oriented days, and how to draw strength and comfort from the Source.

 

   

PARENTING AND FAMILY

 

Guilt:  The Parental Hormone

This experiential workshop explores the guilt, stress and fears of raising healthy kids in the 90’s.  This seminar is designed to enhance your creativity in finding quality time activities to do with your children, while attending to your needs.  Ideal for working moms and dads, and families with multiple children.

 

Family Ties – What Works?

Building a strong, emotionally and psychologically healthy family is one of life’s greatest challenges.  We’ll gain an understanding of healthy family dynamics, and how to strengthen the areas in which your family may be struggling.  Healthy family ties can change the lives of generations to come—learning about them is the first step.

 

Telling the Kids: Separation or Divorce

Children process the world differently than adults, and with separation or divorce, usually children will think they are to blame.  It is extremely important to understand how a child thinks before talking to your child about this topic.  This seminar focuses on specific steps to take in addressing divorce.  Role play demonstrations will be utilized in order to practice the techniques taught.  Discussions concerning the impact of divorce on children will also serve to give parents a well-rounded view of this sensitive issue.

 

Birth Order

Why are the majority of US Presidents first born, and most social revolutions started by later-born children?  Does your order of birth impact your current life?  Find out how you can use an understanding of birth order to improve your parenting skills, relationships and life.

 

Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP)

Choose from either a short introduction to the training, or a complete 4-8 week course of training.  This is one of the most widely used and effective parenting programs in the country.  Created by Dinkmeyer and McKay, STEP is for parents of children and adolescents. STEP has a built-in, Bible-based component, relating scriptural truths to the problems of child-rearing.

 

Parenting 101

There are so many creative and healthy tools for parenting young children.  Join us as we take a look at some of the most effective.  You can pick and choose, mix and match.  One of the greatest gifts you can ever give your child is to be the best possible parent on all five levels of being human: physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual. Sound like a tall order? It is. This seminar is designed to distill it down to very simple, everyday tools.

 

Child Safety

Often parents struggle with how much “Stranger Danger” information to give their children, without sacrificing the child’s peace of mind. Explore how to keep your child safe in an unsafe world without creating paranoia and panic. Do you know God says “Fear not” 365 times in the Bible – one for each day of our year. Let’s take a look at keeping our kids free from danger, and free from fear at the same time.

 

Role Reversal:  Caring for Aging Parents

Whether foreseeable or unexpected, caring for your elderly parent(s) can produce extreme physical, emotional, and mental stress.  Issues of daily needs, emotional support, relocation, parent-child role reversal can end in irreconcilable differences.  Explore this phenomenon and learn new skills for growing together instead of apart.

 

Effective Parenting Through Life Transitions

As if parenting isn’t hard enough -- the major transitions seem to hit from nowhere.  The move, the death, the teenage rites of passage.  These transitions often put a strain on the entire family, and have lasting negative effects.  Prepare now for transitions you know are going to be coming. We’ll look at the healthiest ways to get through them.

 

The Psychology of Pregnancy

The ambivalence.  The excitement.  The intense fear.  The relationships changes.  When a couple becomes a threesome, the family begins and the world evolves.  The loss of the previous relationship alone can be a devastating blow. And with no time to talk anymore, the couple can slowly (or rapidly) grow apart. The ideas and tools presented may help you successfully re-negotiate your relationship, and manage the new stress of parenthood.

 

Blending Families

A large segment of the population struggles with putting two families together, often taking several years before equilibrium is reached.  As new partners attempt to find out what their marriage is going to be like, the children are often going through some of the toughest issues of their young lives.  The Brady Bunch it is not.  Come learn the best management skills for this family transition, creating a special, new family.

 

   

ADOLESCENTS

 

Power, Manipulation and Independence

We, as social beings, manipulate constantly.  Manipulation skills are learned very early in life, but become rather troublesome during adolescence. Take a fresh look at the teenage years and learn to improve relationships through specific, concrete tools based on understanding teen manipulation tactics.

 

 

(Mis)communicating with the Kids

Confused by the amount of miscommunication with your teen?  As adolescents search for autonomy, adults may perceive them as speaking a foreign language.  Since we are called to be people in relationship, and the best stabilizing relationship in a teen's life is usually with a healthy parent, communication is critical. Come learn effective methods for talking to your teen.  This seminar is designed to prevent the “we didn’t talk for several years” syndrome.

 

 

The Psychology of Attraction (for Dating Teens)

Why are you attracted to certain types of people?  As we grow up, we formulate our own pictures of the perfect mate.  But why do we all come out with different pictures?  What do you want emotionally, physically, spiritually, and intellectually? Come investigate the world of attraction and learn what you want and need from love.

 

 

The Date From Hades:  Boundaries in Dating

Dating can help you learn about who you are and what you expect out of life. This workshop focuses on keeping yourself safe emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically.  Your rights and duties, healthy boundaries, and self-exploration will all be addressed.  Hopefully you’ll be able to prevent too many “dates from Hell”, and ward off serious issues like date rape, peer-pressure, and rumor-spreading.

 

 

The First Love; The First Broken Heart

Teens experience the same intensity of emotion during a break-up as some adults do during a divorce.  But adults usually discount the experience as insignificant in the “real world.”  This seminar is designed for both teens and parents of teens.  We will explore the grief, pain, anger and abandonment involved, as well as coping skills for handling them.  Warning signs of suicide, depression, and anxiety disorders will be addressed.

 

 

Peers

Friends are some of the most important influences during the adolescent years.  The messages from teen to teen can be powerful mechanisms for positive self-image and growth.  Most people who come to be Christian were saved in their teen years. This workshop focuses on teaching adolescents how to utilize their skills for the support of others and their own personal connection.

 

 

Life 101

There are basics of doing life well.  This straightforward talk is designed to stimulate, educate and encourage.  Discussions of family, religious, and societal influences will lead to a better understanding of how you want to “do life.” We’ll look at everything from love to loss, from stress to school.  Everyone should have an instruction manual on life -- get yours!

 

Assertive Living Even When You Feel Like Crawling in a Hole

Getting your needs met without being aggressive, passive or passive-aggressive is a challenge. Learn the art of being assertive, helping to improve relationships, and building self-esteem.

 

   

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Battling the Blues

When is it depression and when is it just feeling down?  Every person goes through periods of feeling blue, and those who know the best skills bounce back rather unharmed.  Pick from a wide variety of coping strategies presented to make your own personalized smorgasbord of blues busters.

 

Dealing with Anxiety

God says, “Fear not” 365 times in the Bible – one for each day of our year. But that’s difficult when the stress comes. From panic attacks to headaches, our bodies vary in their expression of anxiety.  Anxiety is equivalent to the common cold: everyone will experience varying doses of it many times.  The wonderful thing about anxiety is that there is so much you can do about it. The tools are simple and with practice, can change your life.

 

Mirror, Mirror -- Gaining a Positive Self-Image

Your self-description impacts everything you do.  Relationships, job, even your length of stay on this planet.  Take a moment and look at who you think you are, how you feel about yourself, and how God sees you. Your self-image probably doesn’t reflect reality 100%.  We’ll attempt to get to know who we are, and then learn how to encourage the positives and learn from the negatives. We'll also try to learn why we rarely see ourselves as God sees us.

 

Holiday Madness

Does November trigger instant stress?  Approaching the Holiday season, pressures from family and friends often collide, producing many casualties.  During this time of Christ's birth, we often concentrate more on the sale at Macy's. Gather some fresh approaches to handling the holiday hurricane.  Come prepared to experience innovative relaxation techniques and ideas for managing the merriment. God has to be somewhere hidden under all that tinsel.

 

Was That Assertive, Aggressive, or Passive-Aggressive?

Getting your needs met without being aggressive, passive or passive-aggressive is a challenge. Most people will classify themselves incorrectly, and will also be way off in rating the actions of others. You may be alienating people at work and home, without being aware of the reasons. The good news: these are teachable skills. So come learn the art of being assertive, helping to improve relationships, and building self-esteem.

 

Body Language

Learn what we really say to each other in this fun and informative seminar.  Studies indicate that sometimes as much as 95% of communication is nonverbal.  So learn what others may have been “screaming” at you for years. 

 

 

 

 

Contact Johntz Presentations today and

put PsychTools to work for your organization's success.

 

1765 East California Blvd., Suite 707, Pasadena, California 91106

(Office ) 314.378.3384, (Fax) 425.871.0671

Megan@PsychToolBox.com