Weaving Our Roots: Deepening Connection with Self, Colleagues, and Clients
September 26-28, 2025 : Decatur, Georgia
Conference Description Page: https://bit.ly/4eExChH
14.0 hours of continuing education credit possible
“Where knowing ends, the important questions begin.”
- Jacob Needleman
This gathering of ACPE’s Psychotherapy Community offers space for therapists, pastoral counselors, and spiritually curious clinicians of all backgrounds to explore the sacred terrain where knowing gives way to mystery and the hunger for meaning becomes central in the healing journey.
Our community brings together two dynamic streams of care: the time-honored tradition of pastoral counseling and the emerging field of spiritually integrated psychotherapy. These traditions, while distinct, share deep commitments to presence, depth, and reverence for the spiritual dimension. Over the decades, they have influenced and enriched each other—and continue to do so through the clinicians who live at their intersection.
This weekend retreat is focused on helping persons from these two streams (and others) make meaningful connection and learn from each other. Participants will engage practices and conversations that:
Strengthen connections with colleagues committed to integrating psychotherapy and spirituality in authentic and life-giving ways
Support and nourish those who support and nourish others in trying times
Explore the common ground and rich distinctions between the pastoral counseling and spiritually integrated psychotherapy traditions
Invite reflection on the formative experiences, spiritual values, and inner and outer resources that sustain us in this work
Deepen our capacity to attend to the spirituality of our clients—with sensitivity, humility, and courage
While focused on the work of psychotherapy, we welcome practitioners from other disciplines (chaplains, clergy, spiritual directors, educators, and others) who are interested. We also welcome persons from diverse spiritual orientations—those rooted in particular faith traditions, those drawing from multiple paths, and those still discovering their spiritual language. Whether you come from a place of conviction, questioning, or quiet curiosity, you are welcome here.
Our shared learning will unfold through:
Large group experiences
Small group conversations
Embodied practices
Personal reflection
Community meals
Learning Objectives
After attending this retreat, participants will be able to:
Describe methods for cultivating professional peer support to reduce isolation and enhance clinical effectiveness
Describe at least three key similarities and differences between pastoral counseling and spiritually integrated psychotherapy as clinical approaches
Identify and apply at least two strategies for helping clients access and use their own spiritual resources
Demonstrate knowledge of at least two approaches for addressing spiritual or existential struggles
List at least three practices clinicians can use to support their own spiritual resilience and professional sustainability
Location and Schedule
We will be meeting at First Baptist Church, Decatur, Georgia (308 Clairmont Avenue). We have a block of hotel rooms at the Hampton Inn in Decatur (see below for more information) . The Hampton Inn is 0.1 miles from the church and 0.2 miles from the Decatur MARTA station. We know that “church space” brings different associations for different people, and we’ll be working with that as part of exploring and weaving our roots (and preparing ourselves to be with a diverse population of clients).
Friday September 26
4:00 – 5:30 pm Session 1
5:45 – 6:45 pm Dinner
7:00 - 9:00 pm Session 2
9:00 – 10:00 pm Social hour
Saturday September 27
Breakfast at hotel
9:00 am - 12 noon Session 3
12:00 – 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 - 2:30 pm Free Time
2:30 – 5:30 pm Session 4
5:45 – 6:45 pm Dinner
7:00 – 9:00 pm Session 5
9:00 – 10:00 pm Social hour
Sunday September 28
Breakfast at hotel
9:00 – 10:00 am Community ritual
10:15 – 11:45 am Session 6
12:00 – 1:00 pm Lunch
14.0 hours of continuing education credit possible
Event Leadership
Our leaders for this experiential, interactive gathering are Tamara L. Hanna, M.S., and Dwight A. Hughes, M.A., M.Div., D.Min.
Tamara is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Asheville, North Carolina, with additional certifications in clinical psychology (2003), grief recovery (2011), Spiritually integrated Psychotherapy (2023), and The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (2024). She works with individuals, couples, and small groups in her private practice (Love & Loss Counseling) and also leads rituals and workshops that incorporate music, imagery, and meaningful embodiment. She moves naturally in deep waters of loss, change, and uncertainty, and has learned the vital practices of joy, play, and rest—as nourishment for herself and as subversive resistance to the overculture. Although culturally Christian, Tamara considers herself a life-long student of the wisdom traditions and an apprentice to The Mystery.
Dwight is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Dallas, Texas, specializing in Emotionally Focused Therapy and certified in Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy (2022). Through his private practice, Deep Essentials Counseling Service, he supports individuals and couples across Tennessee and Texas, while also guiding diverse groups through transformative experiences. Psychotherapy is his third career, following leadership roles at Georgia Pacific Corporation and ministry, where he served diverse congregations within the United Methodist Church. Dwight infuses his work with warmth, creativity, musicality, compassion, and wisdom. He is known for his joyful greeting: “Beautiful day!
Program Cost
ACPE Members $ 99
Non-members $200
Program cost includes all sessions, materials, continuing education certificates, and meals (Friday dinner, Saturday lunch and dinner, Sunday lunch).
Limited scholarships may be available; email Kathryn Summers (k1summers@yahoo.com) for more information.
Participants are responsible for costs of lodging and travel.
Registration
Use this link
https://profile.acpe.edu/nc__event?id=a0lPh0000010DZNIA2
Conference Description Page: https://bit.ly/4eExChH
Lodging
Single and double rooms are available for an ACPE-discount rate ($174/night) at the Hampton Inn, Decatur, Georgia. Reserve your room using this link
https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/atldehx-acp-c95dfc97-2147-4b79-82db-5bf5b910fa18/
If the website gives you trouble, call 800-445-8667 and ask for the ACPE rate.
We have reserved a limited number of rooms, so book now if you’re planning to attend!
Continuing Education Credit
Participants who attend all sessions can earn 14.0 hours of continuing education credit.
ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care & Education has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7004. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care & Education is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
ACPE Provider 2045, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. ACPE maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/01/2024-11/01/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 14.0 Social Work Clinical continuing education credits.
Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0301.
This program is offered in person. If you need special accommodations or have questions, please contact Latasha Matthews (latasha.matthews@acpe.edu).
Other Questions?
Contact any member of the conference planning team if you have thoughts or questions:
Lacrecia Dangerfield, Tamara Hanna, Dwight Hughes, Russell Siler Jones, Latasha Matthews, Carol McGinnis, Wiley Smith, Kathryn Summers.
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@religion #mentalhealth #psychiatry #faith
