History and Philosophy of Soul Shoptm

History and Philosophy of Soul ShopTM Soul ShopTM is a ministry of the Second DayTM Division of BestMinds. BestMinds is a limited liability corporation owned by President Fe Anam Avis. (“Fe Anam Avis” is the legal name. Fe has retained his former name “J. Russell Crabtree” in many business contexts.) The mission of BestMinds is to help people find their best minds in times of personal crisis. The Second DayTM Division is focused on suicide prevention.

Soul ShopTM was developed by Russell Crabtree. He was confronted by the issue of suicide in 1999 when he was the pastor of a church in a small, first ring suburb where three students died by suicide in a seven-month period of time. He was trained by LivingWorks Education in ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) in 2002 and has subsequently trained thousands of persons in suicide awareness. He developed Soul ShopTM with the mission of fostering transformation in faith communities by equipping them to minister to those impacted by suicidal desperation. The vision is to equip leaders from 20,000 congregations by 2020.

Philosophically, Soul ShopTM is built on seven key ideas: Key Idea #1 Suicidal desperation can begin for anyone given an accumulation of losses combined with a reduction in resources to deal with those losses. Key Idea #2 At any particular moment, a significant percentage of persons within a faith community are being impacted by suicidal desperation either in their own thinking, in the life of someone they care about, in the traumatic memory of a suicide of a friend or family member, or in their own personal history of a suicide attempt or near-attempt from which they have emerged. Key Idea #3 Faith communities have a responsibility not only for preventing suicide and suicide attempts, but also for addressing those impacted by the agony and isolation of suicidal desperation. Key Idea #4 The persons who are best positioned to address suicidal desperation are those most likely to identify it in the first place, e.g. family members, friends, congregants, ministers and office staff (rather than therapists, counselors, social workers who see folks upon referral.) Key Idea #5 Faith communities offer important resources that can address the two primary reasons people become desperate, a loss of hope, and a loss of social connection. Key Idea #6 The primary obstacles to dealing with suicidal desperation are emotional rather than informational and include stigma, fear and shame. These must be addressed through practicing a different behavior in a supportive environment rather than through lectures or presentations. Key Idea #7 As a faith community begins to adjust to the reality of suicidal desperation among its members, it must fundamentally alter the way members deal with one another. Objectives of Soul ShopTM Soul ShopTM is a one day experience for leaders of faith communities. It is particularly relevant to the work of clergy, program and office staff, parish nurses, lay ministers, worship leaders, and mental health professionals who serve faith communities.

A Soul ShopTM training has four objectives:

1. Familiarize leaders with the incidence and impact of suicidal desperation on the adults and youth in their faith communities.

2. Train leaders in a simple, conversational method for saving the life of someone considering suicide.

3. Equip leaders to address suicidal desperation as a regular aspect of their life and work.

4. Engage leaders in an ongoing, strategic effort to shift the way that faith communities deal with suicide.

The first two objectives are the focus of the 2 to 3 hour morning session; the 3rd and 4th objectives are the focus of the 2 to 3 hour afternoon session.

Soul ShopTM is highly participatory. For this reason, it is generally recommended that the audience size be large enough to generate the sense of a critical mass (25 persons) but small enough for engagement with the trainer (100 persons maximum).

Soul ShopTM is designed to be the first step in a strategic effort to shift the way that the faith communities of an entire region deal with suicidal desperation. While a commitment to host a Soul ShopTM training ends at the conclusion of the day, it is hoped that a longer term effort will be birthed under local leadership.

Soul ShopTM relies on a partnership with The Samaritan Counseling Center, Inc and other community mental health resources that can provide the intervention and clinical services for those who are at risk. Therefore, it is important to bring them into the preparation process as early as possible.

Suicide Prevention Training February 1, 2016 6:00-7:30 p.m. Community Discussion-Open to the public February 2, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (FULL) Specifically for Clergy, Church Staff, and Lay Ministers

By The Samaritan Counseling Center, Inc. 2416 West Cloverdale Park Montgomery, Alabama, 36106

Soul ShopTM Trains Church Leaders to Save Lives

In an effort to stem the rising tide of suicide in the River Region, The Samaritan Counseling Center, Inc. is bringing Soul ShopTM to our community. Soul ShopTM is a suicide prevention training and includes a daylong training session specifically designed to train church leaders, clergy, program staff, lay ministers, office staff, and faith-based therapists to detect the signs of someone contemplating suicide and possibly save their life. Additionally, Soul ShopTM trains Church leaders how to minister to surviving family members after a suicide.

Please join First United Methodist Church-Montgomery, First United Methodist Church- Prattville, Grace Pointe Church, Jackson Hospital, Beacon Care, Medical Foundation of Alabama, St. John’s Episcopal Church, The Episcopal Church of the Ascension, Frazer United Methodist Church, Faith Radio, River Region’s Journey Magazine, Montgomery Parents Magazine, Baptist Health and Crossbridge Behavioral Health in this important workshop for Clergy, Church staff, lay ministers, and other faith related institutions.

BestMinds, LLC, is a ministry engaged in helping people deal with difficult life situations, with a specific focus on suicidal desperation. Owner and President J. Russell Crabtree has trained thousands of persons in developing awareness and intervention skills. His book, A Second Day, a Hopeful Journey Out of Suicidal Thinking, chronicles his own personal struggle with suicide. He developed Soul ShopTM specifically to help leaders in faith communities address those impacted by suicidal desperation. His goal is to equip the leaders of 20,000 persons by the year 2020.

As a sponsor, you will be recognized in all media materials, articles, announcements, web site and social media promotions, event materials and programs.

The Samaritan Counseling Center, Inc. 2911 Zelda Road Montgomery, AL 36106 334-262-7787 #202 [email protected]

Soul ShopTM Endorsements "The Soul Shop training can save lives, maybe the life of someone chose to you. Russ helps us understand suicidal thinking, provides straightforward ways of talking about suicide and suggests ways for faith communities to address the desperation many people feel. It is, without doubt, one of the best trainings we have offered to our churches and community.” Jim Hanna, D. Min. Therapist Samaritan Counseling Center, Lancaster, PA

“Have you ever taught I am my brother's keeper? Soul ShopTM creates a safe space to honestly look at your perceptions of suicide. Russ teaches us how to truly be present with someone in the depths of despair, how to convey hope and how to save lives. It is time to remove the walls the stigma of mental illness has created and to truly be our brother's keeper. Don't miss the opportunity!” Tamara Widdows, LISW-S

“I found the Soul ShopTM training to be a meaningful opportunity for introspection about how I feel about those who ideate suicide or actually suicide. It also provided simple, practical methods to assist those who are at risk. In my professional capacity as a registered nurse working with the low income population, the training was relevant and a source of hope that I can make a difference. I would recommend this one day of training to anyone who cares for others and wants to do it more effectively.” Dorcas A. Cyster, RN Nursing/Program Supervisor Lancaster General Health

“ Soul Shop accomplishes two things. First, it provides an opportunity and the process for participants to develop the level of comfort needed to talk with a person, in a respectful and life affirming manor, who may be feeling desperate and considering suicide. Second, participants in Soul Shop will create specific and practical ways for a faith community to confront the deadening silence we tend to maintain around suicide.” David Miron Instruction Facilitator in Comparative Religion, Elizabethtown College Speaker Endorsements

“Even with 30 years in social work, I didn’t fully comprehend suicidal thinking until the author of A Second Day, Russ Crabtree, came to speak to my class. He shared more than facts; he shared that part of himself which allowed survivors of the dark night of suicidal thinking to end their silence. At the same time he taught how to come along side someone contemplating suicide and help them to enter the second day when the “black fire of suicidal thoughts has been extinguished”. He doesn’t present a lecture; he provides an experience.” Peg Earhart LISW, ACSW Associate Professor Zane State University

“Russ Crabtree has presented several SuicdeTALK sessions in our three county Board area. Mr. Crabtree’s compassionate style and delivery encourages trainees to speak openly and share their experiences. He has the unique ability to reach out to all segments of our community with overwhelming success. He has presented to college students, senior citizens and mental health professionals alike leaving them with the basic skills to reach out and speak about suicide with those in pain. He has always received high marks by all who have attended his trainings in our area. We look forward to having him come back in the future.” Bill Dunlap, Deputy Director/Privacy Officer Athens-Hocking-Vinton 317 Board “ Russ Crabtree/Holy Cow Consulting was instrumental in assisting our two-county suicide prevention coalition to both organize and then adopt a very workable plan with measurable outcomes within a condensed timeframe. Our Coalition is still active and undertaking meaningful new projects largely through our initial collaboration with Holy Cow Consulting and the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation.” David L Schaffer, Executive Director ADAMHS Board of Tuscarawas and Carroll Counties

“ I was privileged to meet Russ Crabtree when I taught a Grief Management class at our local community college and we were discussing suicide. Russ brings a passion and dedication to his work that permits him to engage his audience and openly discuss a topic that otherwise is uncomfortable and viewed as taboo in many circles. His sincere and compassionate voice touches his audience in a way that encourages participants to reflect on their own biases and insecurities about the topic of not only suicide, but also in how to engage in life.” Teresa Ullman-Headley, Therapist

“Russ Crabtree has a ‘sensitive, engaging and non-judgmental way’ of presenting SuicideTALK in community settings. SuicideTALK, presented at a local community forum, was attended by over 200 people and very well received! Attendees made comments such as “’it was highly educational and something everyone should know about and should be able to talk about openly and publicly without shame, worry ‘……’the statistics presented were appropriate, but not overwhelming…I would like to attend more programs such as this one’.” Sandra Harstine, RN Former Managed Care Coordinator Mental Health & Recovery Services Board

“This training instills both the commitment and the confidence to have a conversation with anyone who may be contemplating suicide. It is valuable training for all people of faith, but it is critically important for leaders of faith communities.”

Gerald Ressler, LCSW, MHA Executive Director Samaritan Counseling Center Lancaster, PA

February 1, 2016 Community Discussion Open to the public…………………………………………….6:00-7:30 p.m. (No registration is required) February 2, 2016 (FULL)

Schedule, Meals, and Refreshments Soul ShopTM consists of a morning session and an afternoon session, both three hours in length with a 15 minute break in each. The morning session, SuicideTALK, is a suicide awareness training developed by LivingWorks Education.

The afternoon session, LifeTALK, equips church leaders to address suicidal desperation in the various aspects of the community’s ministry.

Schedule is found below:

Registration...... 8:30 – 9:00 am

Welcome and introduction...... 9:00 – 9:05 am

*SuicideTALK: Part 1 ...... 9:05 – 10:30 am

Break...... 10:30 – 10:45 am

*SuicideTALK: Part 2...... 10:45 – 12:00 pm

Lunch...... 12:00 – 1:00 pm

LifeTALK: Part 1 ...... 1:00 – 2:30 pm

Break...... 2:30 – 2:45 pm

LifeTALK: Part 2 ...... 2:45 – 3:50 pm

Evaluation...... 3:50 – 4:00 pm

All events will be held at First United Methodist Church Montgomery Wesley Hall

Pastoral Education Units for Clergy and NBCC CEUs available for $10.00