Integration of spirituality in counselling: meditation

In this session we will consider some of the historical meditation and mindfulness practices of the early church. Drawing on Jewish traditions we will discover meditating on God’s word (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:2) and God’s work (Psalm 143:5) pre-dates Eastern meditation and is made complete in our meditation on Jesus as Word made flesh.

We will consider the monastic practice of Lectio Divina instituted by St. Gregory of Nyssa and its re-formation by Luther in the 16th century toward practical use in the church today. Katherine Thompson’s Christ Centred Mindfulness will be especially helpful as we explore the contemporary therapeutic emergence of mindfulness practices in therapy especially with the advent of the App.

At the end of the course participants will have a conceptual model that can be applied to any spiritual intervention but especially meditation. Participants will be equipped with at least three practical ways they can immediately incorporate mediation and mindfulness that is in keeping with the ancient practices of the Christian church and avoids the pitfalls of Eastern meditation.