2024 National Program_LR

CONFERENCE TRACKS

403. Worship and Awe in Christian Mental Health Approved for 1.5 CEs for Psychologists, Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, and Chemical Dependency Counselors Approved for 1.5 IBCC CEs for Pastors, Pastoral Counselors,

working with Christian clients in professional contexts (e.g., psychotherapy, professional counseling).

Learning Objectives Participants will:

1. Describe the burgeoning awe literature in psychology, including definitions of awe and research support for awe as a distinct psychological construct 2. Identify the role that we can play in psychotherapy for the promotion of mental and spiritual health, including common awe triggers (i.e., cognitive, physical, relational) 3. Utilize awe, situated within Christian worshipfulness and applied to all of life, can promote psychological and spiritual health when working with Christian clients in psychotherapy and professional counseling 404. Osteopathic Manipulation: An Innovative Approach to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Approved for 1.5 CEs for Psychologists, Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, and Chemical Dependency Counselors Approved for 1.5 CMEs for Medical Doctors, Osteopathic Physi cians, and Physician Assistants Approved for 1.5 CEUs for Nurses and Nurse Practitioners Approved for 1.5 IBCC CEs for Pastors, Pastoral Counselors, Teachers, and Coaches Level: Advanced

Teachers, and Coaches Level: Intermediate

Joshua Knabb, Psy.D. California Baptist University

Summary: In the 21st century, the construct of awe (APA, n.d.; Bussing et al., 2018) has received widespread attention within psychology literature. Consisting of: a) a positive experience of vastness and feeling of being overwhelmed, b) the need to adjust previously held beliefs, representations, or perspectives to accommodate novel experiences of wonder and amazement, and c) present-moment gratitude in response to the bigness of a thought/idea, sensory experience/physical structure, or relational encounter (Bussing et al., 2018; Keltner & Haidt, 2002). Awe may have implications for daily mental health, including the possibility of greater meaning in life, purpose, and well being (Rudd et al., 2012; Upenieks & Krause, 2022). Because of this, a range of awe triggers has been identified for the promotion of mental and spiritual health, including cognitive (e.g., insights into the meaning of life), physical (e.g., being in the presence of a large structure), and relational (e.g., receiving kindness from a stranger) (Eagle & Amster, 2023; Sundararajan, 2002) triggers, with researchers developing awe-inducing interventions (e.g., “awe walks”; see Sturm et al., 2022) along the way. For Christians, awe may be experienced most often in response to God and embedded in a state of worshipfulness, extended to all of life, given that God designed Christians to worship Him (Forrest et al., 2021) and Christians will inevitably worship God in heaven (Revelation 4:8). Indeed, for Christians, worshipfulness can be succinctly defined as a surrendering, thankful response of reverential awe to an infinitely good, wise, powerful, present, and holy God who is the Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer (Block, 2014; Forrest et al., 2021; Peterson, 1992). Although recent research has undoubtedly revealed a positive link between awe of God and well-being (Upenieks & Krause, 2022), to date, very little attention, if any, has been devoted to worshipful awe, applied to every domain of life (e.g., family, church, work, community), for Christian mental and spiritual health. Thus, drawing on the presenter’s forthcoming book with Baker Academic, psychologists, licensed mental health professionals, medical professionals, ministry leaders, and coaches will review the burgeoning awe literature, then apply this understanding to

Thomas Fotopoulos, D.O. Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

Taras Kochno, M.D. Sarasota Memorial Hospital

Summary: The Psoas Major muscle is a long, thick muscle in the lower back that assists the hips in moving and being still. It is also involved in life-sustaining biochemical reactions in the body that influence physical and mental disorders, es pecially post-traumatic conditions. The Psoas Major mus cle’s somatic presentation is low back pain. The Adductor Magnus muscle refers pain to the genitals and perianal region. Low back pain, anxiety, and mood disorders have been studied and shown to have a strong connection with somatic manifestations of post-traumatic stress disorder, specifically harsh physical abuse in military prisoners and victims of forceful, unwanted sexual trauma. Studies have also found that the Psoas Major muscle is one of the main factors in the complex neural network of psychosomatic experiences and reactive stress responses. Similarly, the

COUNSELING | COACHING | RECOVERY | MARRIAGE AND FAMILY

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