Pathways to Promise A National Mental Health Ministry Resource Developing the capacity of congregations to support recovery and wellness Companionship Defined Companionship is a relationship responsive to suffering ID: 606228
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Slide1
Companionship
Pathways to Promise
A National Mental Health Ministry Resource
Developing the capacity of congregations to support recovery and wellnessSlide2
Companionship Defined
Companionship is a relationship responsive to suffering
Companionship is a relationship supportive of recovery and wellness
Companionship is a
public
relationshipSlide3
The Model of the SamaritanSlide4
Five Areas of Concern
Children’s mental health
Trauma
Serious mental illness
Substance use
Issues of agingSlide5
Companionship Begins with Sensitivity, Compassion and Concern
Sensitivity – we pick up signals of another’s suffering through our senses
Feelings of sympathy, empathy and compassion are triggered in us
Concerns arise
This is natural – we are made to be sensitive, compassionate and concernedSlide6
Companion a Person or Pass By?
Pay attention to your alert system
Be aware of feelings of discomfort and uneasiness in yourself
Honor concerns about your limits, knowledge and ability
These caution signals are also naturalSlide7
Five Practices of Companionship
Hospitality
Neighboring
Sharing the journey side by side
Listening
AccompanimentSlide8
Hospitality
Creating safe space with another person
Treating another person with dignity and respect; seeing the other person as a worthy and valuable human being
Offering refreshment, nourishment, a time and place to restSlide9
Neighboring
Sharing common time and space
Beginning as human beings
Saying a simple “hello”
“I’m Craig. How do you like to be called?”
Starting with what we have in common
A “frameless” relationship Slide10
Sharing the Journey Side by Side
There are basically three ways we can be with another person:
we can stand
behind
someone pushing and telling them where to go.
we can be
face to face
we can share the journey
side by sideSlide11
The Practice of Listening
Listen for the story – whatever a person is able to tell, however they are able to tell it.
present
past futureSlide12
Tips on Listening
It is a gift simply to listen
Listen for the human themes and feelings
Listen to yourself
Take care with responses
Listen over time and in community
Listen for the words of faith, hope and love
Listen for a person’s spiritual storySlide13
The Practice of Accompaniment
Naming needs
“The need for charity is an opportunity for community”
Consult, confirm and refer
Encourage partnerships and a circle of care
“Go with,” or hold the person in thought and prayerSlide14
Limits and Boundaries
Companions have limits:
Physical, emotional and intellectual
Personal and social
Spiritual
Model setting limits, keeping boundaries and working as part of team
Practice saying, “I’m not able to do that.”
Slide15
Basic Community Resources
In an emergency – call 911
In a crisis – call your local crisis line
Call 211 for information about community resources
Consult with your companionship colleagues and mental health team
Work with your congregation’s health and human service partners in the neighborhood Slide16
Mutuality
In companionship we move toward increasing mutuality, in a relationship marked by:
deepening authenticity
increasing personal responsibility
an expanding circle of care
growing social life and community participation
renewed family, friendship and neighborhood connections
Slide17
Companionship is a ProcessSlide18
Settings for Companionship
Sabbath companions
welcome and support during worship
Congregational companions
care for members of the faith community
Community Companions
serving in shelters and housing programs, drop-in centers, community meals, and centers of care and treatmentSlide19
Companionship Care Teams
A group of several companions
Companioning one or more individuals
Accountable to the Congregational Mental Health Team or other leadership
Meeting regularly for prayer, study, sharing and spiritual discernment
Providing each other mutual support Slide20
A Mental Health Team
A Mental Health Team in the congregation provides a framework for mental health ministry – including companionship.
Team members serve as contact people for individuals and families seeking help
The team provides leadership for creating a caring congregation
The Mental
H
ealth
T
eam helps train, organize and support companionship care teamsSlide21
Companionship Support Meetings
A movement into prayer or meditation
A movement into scripture
A movement into reflection and sharing
A movement into discernment and action
“In the support meeting, we companion each other.”Slide22
Our word
Our gentle gesture
Our presence
Is medicine