From a Clergy Health and Wellness Program To

From A Clergy Health and Wellness Program to A Holistic Coaching Paradigm Focused on Resilience

From a Clergy Health and Wellness Program to a Holistic Coaching Paradigm Focusing on Resilience Sharon Otto Trekell, Ph.D. June, 2012 2From A Clergy Health and Wellness Program to A Holistic Coaching Paradigm Focused on Resilience

Introduction

All participants in a city-wide clergy health and wellness program reported decreased stress and increased self-compassion after a 10-week program of peer coaching. Experience with this group and subsequent conversations with participants led the writer to propose the new paradigm—Core Personal Resilience Coaching—which merits study with wider populations to demonstrate reproducible, reliable and valid outcomes. It is further suggested that this paradigm be used with populations who need to strengthen their resilience by regularly utilizing specific tools to empower them to recover from acute stressors and to be able to carry on in the face of chronic and overwhelming stress. Given the stresses of modern life, we now have to admit we can no longer rely only on treatment by a medical doctor, a pastor, or a psychotherapist to equip populations who need a protective armor in order to be resilient. While there is a place for medical treatment, pastoral counseling, and psychotherapy, some populations (e.g, clergy, the military, and senior citizens) may “push back” against participating in groups with a “clinical focus.” In the writer’s experience, these same populations don’t appear to attach either stigma or shame with participating in a “peer-coaching program” where they will be equipped with a skill set to increase resilience The Problem In 2008, the writer, Sharon Otto Trekell, Ph.D., was hired by the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church to develop a program on self-care for clergy experiencing increasing health problems, such as obesity, heart attack, depression, substance abuse, high blood pressure, low self-efficacy. As a spiritual director and a clinician for over 20 years, she had personally observed the rapid declines in clergy health. When working as a consultant, the writer always starts with the old adage “One cannot go forward without a rear view mirror.” Charged with designing a new paradigm, she started with an overview of the literature to come up with a historical view on the causation of the decline in clergy health. David C. Korton1 refers to this time in human history as “The Great Turning,” suggesting “Clergy and laity need to acknowledge we are living in a time of unprecedented social, political, economic, ecclesial, and cultural shifts.” A medical doctor (also a pastor’s wife) pointed out that 40 to 50 years ago clergy worked the same hours (70 to 80 hours weekly) as do today’s clergy.2 In a climate in which church membership is declining, clergy in mainline denominations are experiencing increasing pressure to demonstrate “concrete growth” in membership. It is

1 Korton, David C. (2000). The Great Turning, from Empire to Earth Community

2 Halass, Gwen W. (2004). The Right Road: Life Choices for Clergy 3 From A Clergy Health and Wellness Program to A Holistic Coaching Paradigm Focused on Resilience apparent that post-modern pastors face unprecedented stresses with which their predecessors did not have to contend. As a consultant, the more Dr. Trekell researched, the more she wondered, “If we are living in an age of “The Great Turning” and clergy health is rapidly declining, what resources might be merged to develop a self-care program on self-care for clergy?” Not wanting to develop this program in isolation, especially as a laywoman suggesting a model of health for clergy, she convened the Miami Valley Consortium on Clergy Health and Wellness. Members included 10 ordained clergy from mainline denominations (Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Methodist); two nurses employed in health ministry (Coordinator of Health Ministries at Good Samaritan and parish nurse from Christ United Methodist Church); and a member of the laity, an ergonomist investigating body-mind methods of self-care. As a starting point, Consortium members agreed to participate in a 10-week peer-coaching program using The Circle of Life Peer Coaching. This program includes a companion handbook giving participants suggestions for assessing what changes they wish to make and a method for identifying goals and objectives as well as a form for reporting change.

Pre- and post-psychometric tests—The Perceived Stress Scale and A Self- Compassion Scale—were given to each participant with the following results reported at the conclusion of the 10 weeks:

 A decrease in perceived stress levels

 An increase in practicing self-compassion and self-care tools While it is clearly understood that outcomes from such a small population are not significant, even small outcomes may indicate that “something important” occurred. 4From A Clergy Health and Wellness Program to A Holistic Coaching Paradigm Focused on Resilience

Reflecting on the outcomes, Consortium members emphasized their new awareness of the value of being in an ecumenical group where pastors of different denominations were addressing their self-care. However, the repeated conversation on self-care began to wear on the Presbyterian pastor, who finally became exasperated and blurted out, “The root of this problem isn’t simply better self-care, it is resilience!” Shocked by his own revelation, the pastor somewhat sheepishly added, “Without resilience in an environment of constant disruption it is impossible to maintain one’s overall well-being.” This opened the group up to engage in critical thinking, which ended in their suggesting a peer-coaching paradigm built on a foundation of resilience. Suggestions believed to be “non-negotiable” were to reduce the 12 dimensions of life to 6 dimensions of health; to assess readiness for change; to provide a concrete structure for group sessions; to consistently provide a “follow- up form” to report opportunities and obstacles; and to teach body-mind resilience skills at every session. With a consensus that the writer was “spot on” with her suggestions, a new paradigm of resilience along with the following definition of resilience was developed: “Resilience is the capacity to fully recover from acute stressors, carry on in the face of chronic difficulty, and regain one’s balance quickly after losing it.” Reflecting on her new definition, the writer began to wonder if resilience was learned, acquired, or intrinsic. Her intuition told her it was all three. This was confirmed by Siebert’s3 conclusion that “resiliency comes from a discovered self, not a constructed self…from the gradual emergence of unique, inborn abilities,” which convinced her that resilience could be taught. A New Paradigm Emerges As We Collaborate with The University of Dayton Considering the clergy’s need for anonymity, the writer’s next step was to contact the Department of Continuing Education and Special Programs at the University of Dayton to inquire about using their facilities to offer area clergy a program using the new peer-coaching paradigm based on only six dimensions of well- being. The Consortium collectively agreed on Path to Siloam as the name of the program where six pastors participated. Evaluations from these six clergy include self-reports naming benefits such as:

3 Siebert, A. (2005). The Resiliency Advantage: Master Change, Thrive Under Pressure and Bounce Back from Setbacks. (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc. San Francisco) 5 From A Clergy Health and Wellness Program to A Holistic Coaching Paradigm Focused on Resilience

 A reduced sense of isolation  Improved resilience  Using body-mind and stress reduction tools when stressed  Deepening spirituality In the fall of 2010, the Consortium offered a two-day retreat, The Self-Care Covenant Workshop, based on The Core Personal Resilience (CPR) Peer- Coaching Paradigm, which the writer developed in collaboration with members of the Consortium. With this new paradigm, pre- and post-tests again revealed a reduced level of stress after the two days and an increase in self-compassion. Following the workshop, the writer facilitated monthly covenantal groups for continued education on and group experience with tools for resilience. During these monthly sessions, each person was accountable for reporting changes made in one of the six dimensions. Group members routinely reported small but significant changes from practicing the body-mind exercises regularly (i.e., refuting negative self-talk, using “soft belly breathing” for calming one’s self; incorporating “tapping” after attending stressful meetings). At the end of the day, it was “the process”—the sharing of inspirational readings, the report on change, the learning of body-mind tools for reducing stress—that was appreciated by a majority of participants. This group process uses a specific structure, opening with a meaningful reading to which group members respond followed by an assignment to a dyad where “group buddies” assess achieved change, obstacles to it, and use of body-mind resilience skills. 6From A Clergy Health and Wellness Program to A Holistic Coaching Paradigm Focused on Resilience

Joining the larger group for a summary of the buddy process, group members received instruction in various skills to help them gain, or re-gain, resilience. For example, topics included:

 The neuroscience of brain resilience, or as group members are fond of saying, “What fires together wires together.”

 The use of calming skills to equip one to think well under pressure

 Instruction in defusing strong emotions

 Experience with specific body-mind exercises to choose from and practice daily (e.g., methods to induce relaxation; Tai Chi and gentle yoga poses to increase physical and emotional balance)

 Clarification of the difference between self-esteem and self- compassion.

 Explanation of learned helplessness theory, which emphasizes the “Three P’s”—Personal, Pervasive and Permanent, and how one may reframe situations that provoke one of these

 Description of how one’s EQ (emotional intelligence) may sometimes be more important than one’s IQ

 An introduction to “energy management,” including how to create more energy and life satisfaction for one’s self. Revision in The Core Personal Resilience (CPR) Paradigm The Core Personal Resilience (CPR) Peer-Coaching Paradigm evolved from the writer’s experience with The Miami Valley Consortium on Clergy Health and Wellness as well as her years of consulting/coaching experience with groups and individuals. The paradigm, as she continues to use it in her work, is guided by her personal conviction about resilience. In her words,

“ The foundation of resilience is self-efficacy—the belief one can master his or her environment and effectively solve problems as they arise. However, mastering one’s environment and solving problems may lack meaning unless one also learns the value of self- compassion and contemplation. Both are essential qualities of true resilience and serve to empower one to be more proactive in dealing with life’s challenges.” In order to serve other populations to acquire resilience skills, the writer made a change in one of the dimensions of health represented in her paradigm. While “Ecological Well-being” was relevant to clergy due to their emphasis on 7 From A Clergy Health and Wellness Program to A Holistic Coaching Paradigm Focused on Resilience stewardship, an Occupational/Vocational dimension is better suited to most other

populations. A revised graphic and assessment tool follows.

The CPR Paradigm draws from the epistemologies listed under the graphic:

 Positive psychology

 Cognitive behavioral therapy

 Trans-theoretical theory

 Appreciative inquiry

 Resonant leadership

 Emotional intelligence

 Self-Compassion Research

 Confluence of Neuroscience and Eastern meditation4

 Mindfulness meditation

 Body-mind self-care practices to increase resilience Conclusions

4 Kabat-Zinn, J. and Davidson, R.J. (editors) (2011) The Mind’s Own Physician, New Harbinger Publications, Oakland, CA 8From A Clergy Health and Wellness Program to A Holistic Coaching Paradigm Focused on Resilience

Prior to the 21st century, there were few programs addressing the subject of resilience or recognizing the value of preventative education in a group format. The writer’s experience validated the value of group participation for which she found agreement in Schiraldi’s5 comment “If you can, I recommend joining with others in a small group…because something synergistic happens when people come together to learn and support each other in the learning process.” Clergy in the postmodern church often find they are among the last “general practitioners” in existence. They continue to make house calls and answer phone calls in the middle of the night. They are present with members of their congregation undergoing surgery, and are often the only ones available to comfort the family when a loved one is pronounced dead in the hospital. The ecumenical groups who received Core Personal Resilience Coaching were offered a “sacred space” in which to share these and other challenges to their well-being. CPR Coaching provides a place in which one’s holism is honored and respected, not just compartmentalized. Through the group sharing, pastors found both support as well as encouragement to change. Yet, of most significance, was the considerable healing they experienced--a need of which they may not have been aware until it was recognized through the group process. Indeed, many organizations such as The Center for Mind-Body Medicine in Washington, D.C. and Resilience Training International in Ashburn, VA, are recognizing the value of instruction in skills for prevention and recovery. In The Core Personal Resilience Paradigm, each person is equipped with a “tool kit” of mind-body skills with the goal being to prevent recurring Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, promote recovery, and optimize stress reduction through education, peer-coaching while working with a facilitator/coach in a group setting.

SHARON OTTO TREKELL, PH.D. In 2000, Dr. Trekell left the world of traditional psychology in search of a non- pathological model to address resilience and self-efficacy. To this end, she offers a kaleidoscope of services in an effort to leave a trail for others to develop or increase resilience, self-efficacy, and self-compassion. Her motivation springs from an unconditional commitment to “being present” for and genuinely caring about the whole-person of each client she is privileged to serve.

5 Schiraldi, G.R. (2011) The Complete Guide to Resilience: Why It Matters, How to Build and Maintain It. Resilience Training International, Ashburn, VA