GRACE COUNSELING CENTER

 GraceCounseling Center
of the
Stayton United Methodist Church
 
"Open Hearts, Open Minds & Open Doors"
 
Serving the Santiam Canyon Area at
1450 Fern Ridge Road SE    Stayton, Oregon 97383

Church Phone 503/769-5700
GCC Director phone 503/897-4830

Church email    GCC Director email              
www.staytonumc.org
 
Grace Counseling Centeris part of the larger outreach ministry of the Stayton UMC.  As such it offers affordable pastoral psychotherapy and consultation on an ability to pay basis tied to community service for
 

• individuals
• couples
• families
• businesses
• or churches
•  

While the word "grace" is a shorthand designation for the Judeo-Christian conception of the loving action of God in history, the center is open to allindividuals without regard to religious affiliation or no affiliation.  Staff therapists are sensitive to religious and spiritual concerns, but do not impose any particular form or tradition.
 
 

All processes of healing or growth are fostered in an atmosphere of confidentiality, acceptance, and safetythat honors the many aspects of one's life in terms of individual consciousness and behavior in the context of the values and structures of multiple communal involvements.  So,
 
 

when you want to:
 

•  
• enjoy your life more
• work through barriers to more meaningful and satisfying living
• grow in grace
• live out of your larger Soul
•  

call the church at (503) 769-4108 and request an initial phone call or appointment to find out if Grace Coun-seling Centerservices are a match for what you hope to accomplish.
 
 

The Directorof Grace Counseling is
 

 
Greg Johanson, M.Div., Ph.D.
 
“Humor is a prelude to faith, and laughter is the beginning of prayer.” – Reinhold Niebuhr
 
Greg serves with the Stayton UMC congregation as Minister of Church and Community Counseling.  His background is in therapy as well as theology, and he is well-published to both fields:
 
 

Education

.WillametteUniversity; B.A.
.EmoryUniversity, M.Div.
.PacificUniversity Graduate Schoolof Professional Psychology; Clinical Psychology Program
.Drew Graduate School; M.Phil., Ph.D. in Psychology and Religion,
.Princeton University, Post-doctoral Fellowship with the Center for the Study of Religion
 
 

Affiliations

.AmericanAcademyof Religion
.American Association of Integrative Medicine Fellow, College of Pastoral Counselors Diplomat
.American Association of Pastoral Counselors Member, Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling Editorial Committee
.American Psychological Association Member, Areas 24, 32, 36
.American Psychotherapy Association Fellow, The Annals of the APA Editorial Advisory Board
.Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Clinical Member (NC)
D.Min. Dissertation Advisor, George Fox University Seminary
.Hakomi Institute, Certified Therapist & Founding Trainer, Hakomi Forum Editor
.Internal Family Systems Association Member & Trainer, Journal of Self Leadership Co-Editor (NC)
.Integral University Congregational Care, Co-Director

National Board of Certified Counselors, National Certified Counselor (NCC-260549)
.New Jersey State Licensed Professional Counselor #01205
Research Faculty, Santa Barbara Graduate Institute of the Chicago School of Professional Psychology
.Society for Pastoral Theology
.United Methodist Church Elder (Retired)

Adjunct Faculy of Education Master of Counselling Progam, Project Advisor,
University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
.United States Association for Body Psychotherapy, USABP Journal Peer Review Committee.
.(Previously adjunct professor at numerous graduate schools)
 
 

Some Reflections on How I Work

 
   Consultingwith a pastoral psychotherapist can be helpful in a number of situations:  When we find ourselves not enjoying life deeply or meaningfully; when we bump into barriers, unable to follow through with things that are good for us; when we get into repetitive, unhappy ways of relating to other people, certain situations, or difficult emotions.  These various forms of mild or severe discontent can be understood as helpful, hopeful signals that we need and want something different in life, something more.  They can be used to guide us.
   
 

Holism:  Since many aspects of life affect us, I work in a holistic, inter-disciplinary way that honors the various levels of our being (genetic, biochemical, medical-dental, intra-psychic, inter-personal, family, cultural, political-economic, spiritual), and actively network with other specialist practitioners as appropriate. 
 
Levels:  There are also a number of levels of inter-vention that we need at any point in our ongoing pilgrimages.  Sometimes simple care is called for in relation to basic life issues such as grief, or transitions.  Other times counseling in terms of psycho-educational techniques, teachings, problem solving, and resource development are appropriate.  Many times these levels can be addressed within the pastoral/spiritual work of a faith community.
 
Pastoral psychotherapyis helpful when we realize that there are deep parts of us affecting our lives that are below the level of our best understanding, inten-tion, and willpower.  Sometimes we realize that the stories we live and tell become variations on the same habitual themes we have a tough time transcending.  Or, perhaps we notice that the part of us that wants to quit sugar, nicotine, being angry, or procrastinating is not the part of us that reaches for the muffin or cig-arette, yells at our spouse, or stays up late to get the report in. 
In the Christian scriptures Paul talks in his letter to the Roman church (chapter 7) of having an inmost self that loves God and wants to do the right thing, but notices a war going on in his members that keeps him from doing what he wants and/or disposes him to doing things he does not want.
 
Hope:  Over many years of practicing, learning, teaching, training, and searching for optimally effec-tive methods for growth and healing, I have been for-tunate to discover some graceful and powerful ways of working with these predicaments we all encounter that I am happy to offer. 
 
States of consciousness:  Since we all try to con-sciously figure out what we are experiencing, and only get so far in changing ourselves, it is necessary to do something a little different.  To get to the deeper levels we need to change our state of consciousness.  While this shift is somewhat rare, it is not mysterious.  It means we simply need to loosen our ideas about what we think we already know, have some humility, and become more open, receptive, and curious--more con-templative or mindful--as we gracefully turn our awareness toward how we are precisely experiencing our lives in the immediacy of the moment.
 
Self study and organization:  When we slow down, and become receptive to studying ourselves in this way, we often discover how we organize ourselves to react and relate to situations in highly automatic and predictable ways.  We become aware of various parts of ourselves that always jump in to be scared, to con-trol, to run or fight, or do any number of things. 
 
Many roads lead home:  We also discover that how we organize ourselves to creatively experience and express ourselves in life is reflected in the totality of our lives; in our sensations, muscle tensions, and pos-ture, as well as our thoughts, feelings, dreams, and ways of relating.  The good news is that any of these aspects can serve as pathways for discovering the deeper levels of organization that make sense of what we experience in ordinary everyday consciousness.  When the path leads home to the core organizing be-liefs forming our central stories, the specific grace needed for healing becomes more obvious and avail-able.  Transformation in terms of deeply held, long-term patterns loosening and changing becomes poss-ible.
 
Safety:  This kind of in-depth exploration using our reflective awareness or the witnessing aspect of our consciousness is only possible when we feel safe.  In addition to the physical space and the person of the therapist being safe, the process requires exquisite acceptance of and attention to whatever fears, anx-ieties, or hesitations are present.  The work proceeds gracefully, honoring, respecting, and non-violently supporting the wisdom of the multiplicity of parts that make up our inner ecology, assuming they all have a benevolent intent, regardless of how harsh or des-tructive they might at first appear. 
 
Collaboration:  The work also proceeds collabor-atively where nothing is ever done without your full awareness, participation, and assent.  When loving presence toward truth is maintained collaboratively by client and therapist alike, the process often assumes a spontaneous, live quality that unfolds effortlessly.
 
Being experimental:  The above words are simply a matter of introduction.  It is not necessary to know anything about counseling or psychotherapy, or to have any prior belief in it to begin consulting.  A good way to proceed is to be curious and experimental.  It is possible to simply meet and find out if the work is helpful or not as we continue to evaluate that at every stage.  I look forward to the possibility of such a graceful exploration with you. 
 
Call the number above if would like to arrange an initial consultation or ask any question. 
Please also see the Informed Consent form for additional information.GJJ
 
 
 

Grace
Counseling
Center
 
of the
Stayton United Methodist Church
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

"Open Hearts, Open Minds & Open Doors"
 
Serving the Santiam Canyon Area at
1450 Fern Ridge Road SE    Stayton, Oregon 97383

Church Phone 503/769-5700
GCC Director Phone 503/897-4830

Church email [email protected]   GCC Director email            

www.staytonumc.org