by kneehighmiah 30 Replies latest jw friends
Was an elder for 21 years and never felt qualified in giving counsel or having wisdom on how to cope with depression.
The usual recipe was "pray and go out more and assist others in the field ministry and will get your mind off your problems".
I have to say that where i served in TN there were quite a few elders taking medication for depression.
Would you let an unschooled window washer counsel your depressed mate or relative?? I didn't think so! I certainly wouldn't.
This is one area where it would be totally preferable to have the ladies do the counseling. healing. another sign that the bible can not be inerrant to have left out the obvious instruction to have female officers that deal in these matters of the psyche.
I hope the damage that I did in bumbling through these situations was healed and served as a lesson not to repeat the experience.
Your thoughts? Did you feel overwhelmed and unqualified?
To a degree but also to a degree I thought Jehovah(tm) the greater paedophile protector would help me as an elder to get the counsel right as he used his oily spirit to help me find the scriptures. I never for one moment believed that depression could be chased away by doing more 'ministry(tm)' or more WBT$ related things. I believed that medical help may be required.
There were those elders that seemed to suggest the depressed person should just 'snap out of it' were wrong.
The elders are very well trained and qualified to help in cases of depression.
See for example the sensitive and practical advice given to a sister who is having suicidal thoughts, in this training video.
Check out 35:55 - 36:20
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw6xWzJkDQw
Because there are such caring and knowledgable men, JW's have the lowest rates of mental illness of anyone else on earth.
Splash.
My dad has an engineering degree and an MBA but that doesn't prepare him to deal with mental illness. Ironically I have a relative who is a minister at his church who is getting his masters degree in counseling. Of course the wtbts would never want their elders to get degrees in counseling etc. they would tell them that the bible is enough.
Also TMS mentioned elders dealing with people who have addictions. Elders cannot handle this. They just tell people. "If you really wanted to stop, you would."
That person needs, not only talk therapy, perhaps pharmaceuticals to balance body chemistry, all skills not taught at the Kingdom Hall.
But I thought that the WT said skills taught at the KH were better than any eight year college degree? We all know don't we that the only reason anyone would get depressed, or have any emotional problems is a lack of personal Bible study, or prayer. It's their fault they are ill.
Gawd, just trying to mimic those idiot eldurrs made me puke in the back of my throat.
@sporece
Did you happen to know a lying blowhard whose last name was Seaman?
"If you really wanted to stop, you would."
The ones I have heard them tell people:
"If you loved Jah more than (insert issue here) you would stop. It's your fault!"
"If you prayed more, Jah would give you the power to stop. It's your fault!"
Of course elders are not qualified to counsel people dealing with serious mental health issues. The requisite training for that is extensive and quite rigorous:
Thinking About Becoming A Psychology Student?
A master's or doctoral degree, and a license, are required for most psychologists.
Education and Training: A doctoral degree usually is required for independent practice as a psychologist. Psychologists with a Ph.D. or Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) qualify for a wide range of teaching, research, clinical, and counseling positions in universities, healthcare services, elementary and secondary schools, private industry, and government. Psychologists with a doctoral degree often work in clinical positions or in private practices, but they also sometimes teach, conduct research, or carry out administrative responsibilities.
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A specialist degree or its equivalent is required in most States for an individual to work as a school psychologist, although some States credential school psychologists with master's degrees. A specialist (Ed.S.) degree in school psychology requires a minimum of 2 years of full-time graduate study (at least 60 graduate semester hours) and a 1-year full-time internship during the third year. Because their professional practice addresses educational and mental health components of students' development, school psychologists' training includes coursework in both education and psychology.
People with a master's degree in psychology may work as industrial-organizational psychologists. They also may work as psychological assistants conducting research under the direct supervision of doctoral-level psychologists. A master's degree in psychology requires at least 2 years of full-time graduate study. Requirements usually include practical experience in an applied setting and a master's thesis based on an original research project.
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In the Federal Government, candidates must have a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 24 semester hours in psychology, or a combination of education and experience to qualify for entry-level positions. However, competition for these jobs is keen because this is one of the few ways in which one can work as a psychologist without an advanced degree.
The American Psychological Association (APA) presently accredits doctoral training programs in clinical, counseling, and school psychology, as well as institutions that provide internships for doctoral students in school, clinical, and counseling psychology. The National Association of School Psychologists, with the assistance of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, helps to approve advanced degree programs in school psychology.
Clinical psychologists in Louisiana and New Mexico who prescribe medication are required to complete a post-doctoral master’s degree in clinical psychopharmacology and pass a National exam approved by the State Board of Examiners of psychologists.
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The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) awards the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) designation, which recognizes professional competency in school psychology at a national, rather than State, level. Currently, 31 States recognize the NCSP and allow those with the certification to transfer credentials from one State to another without taking a new certification exam. In States that recognize the NCSP, the requirements for certification or licensure and those for the NCSP often are the same or similar. Requirements for the NCSP include the completion of 60 graduate semester hours in school psychology; a 1,200-hour internship, 600 hours of which must be completed in a school setting; and a passing score on the National School Psychology Examination.
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Psychologists can improve their advancement opportunities by earning an advanced degree and by participation in continuing education. Many psychologists opt to start their own private practice after gaining experience working in the field.
(Source: The Bureau of Labor Statistics)
http://www.all-about-psychology.com/psychologist-education.html
See also:
