Soul Care Institute

spiritual formation:

Training Leaders in a Relational Modality of Soul Care

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CrossPoint launched the Soul Care Institute in 2015 - an experientially focused training in a relational modality of soul care. Relational challenges, as well as internal personal obstacles, are examined from a distinctively Christian understanding of the soul. 

The developmental trajectory of the soul is considered along with the reality that we are embodied souls. Family of origin dynamics are reviewed thoroughly alongside an Internal Family Systems model of fostering spiritual and psychological integration.

The Soul Care Institute provides Christian lay leaders, pastors, counselors, and spiritual directors the opportunity to explore and develop more fully the basic categories for providing soul care from a distinctively Christian worldview.  At CrossPoint we believe that effective soul care is dependent upon the quality of the presence of the soul care giver, therefore, attention is given to participants personal growth as well.

Pre-Registration for the 2025-2027 Soul Care Institute is now open.

If you are interested please click below and join our wait list. We will reach out to you shortly.

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Syllabus:

Seminar 1 — Life as Relational

Session #1 – Reality is Relational

Session #2 – Dimensions of the Soul and Relational Dynamics for Human Flourishing

Session #3 – Caring for the Soul

Recommended Reading: 

• The Relational Soul, Rich Plass & Jim Cofield

• Delighting in the Trinity, Michael Reeves

• The Developing Mind, (Chapter 3 ), Daniel Siegel

• The Gift of Being Yourself, David Benner

• Surrender to Love, David Benner

• Sacred Rhythms, Ruth Haley Barton

• The Anatomy of the Soul, Kurt Thompson

Seminar 2 — Soul Problems and Vulnerabilities

Session #1 – Relational Challenges: Suffering, Weakness, Damage, and Sin

Session #2 – A Holistic Model of Assessment

Session #3 –General Categories for Assessing the Health of a Soul

Session #4 – Soul Care: An Integrative Template

Recommended Reading: 

• Toughest People to Love, Chuck DeGroat

• Rejoicing in Lament, J. Todd Billings

• Released from Shame, Sandra D. Wilson

• Addiction & Grace, Gerald G. May, M.D.

• Glittering Vices, Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung

Seminar 3 — A Developmental Understanding of the Human Soul

Session #1 – Developmental Reality of Life: Progressions and Influencers

Session #2 – Stages of Life

Session #3 – Stages of Faith

Session #4 – Trauma and Human Development

Session #5 – The Soul and Spiritual Maturity

Recommended Reading: 

• Human Development: A Christian Perspective, Joseph Bohac

• Healing Developmental Trauma, Laurence Heller & Aline LaPierre

• Christian Perspectives on Human Development, Leroy Aden (ed)

• The Logic of the Spirit, James Loder

• The Critical Journey, Hagberg & Guelich

• Surrender to Love, David Benner

• The Developing Mind, Dan Siegel

• Boundaries for Your Soul, Cook & Miller

• Altogether You, Jenna Riemersma

Seminar 4 — Embodiment and Emotions

Session #1 – What Kind of Body do We Have?

Session #2 – Impact of the Fall on the Human Body

Session #3 – Body Theology and Christian Soul Care

Session #4 – Being Connected to Our Bodies as a Means of Knowing

Session #5 - Your Brain and Trauma

Recommended Reading:

• Tara M. Owens, Embracing the Body

• David Benner, Soulful Spirituality (chp 7 “Embodied Spirituality”)

• Ronald Rolheiser, The Holy Longing (chp 9 “A Spirituality of Sexuality”)

• Christopher West, At the Heart of the Gospel: Reclaiming the Body for the New Evangelism

• Curt Thompson, Anatomy of the Soul (chp 9 “The Prefrontal Cortex and the Mind of Christ”)

• Marc Cortez Theological Anthropology: A Guide for the Perplexed

• Marc Cortez, Embodied Souls, Ensouled Bodies

• What Your Body Knows about God, Moll

• The Voice of the Heart, Chip Dodd

• The Body Keeps the Score, Van Der Kolk

• Undoing Aloneness, Fosha

• The Soul of Shame, Thompson

Seminar 5 — Family of Origin and Attachment Theory

Session #1 - 10 Family Systems

Session #2 - Understanding Family of Origin’s Emotional World

Session #3 - Impact of My Family System on My Marriage

Session #4 - Christian View of Marriage

Session #5 - The Narcissistically Structured Marriage

Session #6 - Marriage Busters (John Gottman’s Four Horsemen)

Session #7 - Essentials for Building a Healthy Marriage

Session #8 - Effective Strategies for Preparing to Marry (Pre-Marital Care)

Session #9 - Helping Couples with their Marriage

Session #10 - Practicing Response-ABILITY using a FANOS Check-in

Session #11 - A Path Toward Heartfelt Integration

Session #12 - Internal Family Systems

Session #13 - Internal Family Systems’ Definitions of the Parts of the Soul

Recommended Reading

• The Meaning of Marriage, Tim Keller

• The Mystery of Marriage, Mike Mason

• The Intimate Mystery, Dan Allender

• The Relationship Cure, John Gottman

• The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, John Gottman

• The 50 Fridays Marriage Challenge, Jeff and Laura Helton

• The Enneagram in Love and Work, Helen Palmer

Seminar 6 - Sex, Addiction and Betrayal

Session #1 - Nature of the Embodied Human Soul

Session #2 - The Distinction between Social Sexuality and Genital Sexuality

Session #3 - A Body Engendered as MALE and FEMALE

Session #4 - A Body ENLIVENED with GENDERED ENERGY/EROS

Session #5 - Sexual Integrity and Congruence

Session #6 - Compelling Needs, 8 Feelings, Self-Preservation, and defining Addiction

Session #7 - Arousal Template

Session #8 - Impact of a Pornified Culture 

Session #9 - Toward a Solution

Session #10 - Systemic Level (recovery)

Session #11 - Transformational Level (recovery)

Session #12 - Complex Partner Betrayal Trauma

Session #13 - Movements for betrayal recovery

Session #14 - How To Cultivate A Culture Of Grace

Session #15 - Helpful Resources

Recommended Reading

• Sexual Character, Dawn

• Unwanted, Stringer

• Sacred Fire, Rolheiser

• On the Road with Saint Augustine, Smith

• The Great Sex Rescue, Gregoire

Seminar 7 - Transformation

Session #1 – General Reflections on Christian Transformation

Session #2 – General Reflections on the Means of Change

Session #3 – General Reflections on the Place of Change

Session #4 –Factors that Inhibit and Obstruct Change

Session #5 - A Basic Approach When Meeting with People

Recommended Reading:

• Change Your Brain; Change Your Life, Daniel Amen

• Life in God: John Calvin, Practical Formation, and the Future of Protestant Theology, Matthew Myer Boult

• Escaping the Matrix, Gregory Boyd

• Psychology in the Spirit, John Coe and Todd Hall

• The Imperfect Pastor: Discovering the Joy in Our Limitations Through a Daily Apprenticeship with Jesus, Zack Eswine

• Extraordinary Relationships: A New Way of Thinking about Human Interactions, Roberta Gilbert

• The Spirituality of Imperfection: Storytelling and the Search for Meaning, Ernest Kurtz and Katherine Ketcham

• Heavenly Participation: The Weaving of a Sacramental Tapestry, Hans Boersma

• Care for the Soul, Essays edited by Mark McMinn and Timothy Phillips

• To Be Told, Dan Allender

• Redeeming Heartache, Dan Allender

• Try Softer, Kolber

Seminar 8 - Disciplines of the Care Giver

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Investment:

The tuition for the Soul Care Institute is $10,000. You are free to pay the total in full, 8 payments of $1,250 or 24 consecutive monthly payments of $420 beginning March 2023. We can also provide an invoice for you to submit to your church or organization.

Dates:

Seminar #1: March 29-31, 2023 (In-Person)

Seminar #2: June 14-16. 2023

Seminar #3: September 20-22, 2023

Seminar #4: January 10-12, 2024

Seminar #5: April 17-19, 2024 (In-Person)

Seminar #6: August 7-9, 2024

Seminar #7: October 9-11, 2024

Seminar #8: January 8-10, 2025 (In-Person)

Time:

In Person

Wednesday, 2:00pm — 8:30pm (Central Time)

Thursday , 9:00am — 9:00pm (Central Time)

Friday , 9:00am — 12pm (Central Time)

Online

Wednesday — Friday, 10:00am — 4pm EST

Location:

Soul Care Institute meets online with 3 in-person events over the course of 2 years held at Evins Mill in Smithville, TN.

 

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• Frequently Asked Questions

  Refunds

  Refunds are not offered for Soul Care Institute. By signing up you are agreeing to pay in full and/or complete the duration of monthly payments. If there is an emergency or you are unable to attend any of the sessions, you will have access to recordings shortly after that seminar is completed.

  Attendance

  Live attendance is required for Soul Care Institute. You must attend a minimum of 21 live sessions over the course of 2 years to be awarded CrossPoint’s certificate. Showing up to each seminar for the full duration of the day with your camera on shall constitute your attendance. If you are unable to attend a seminar you may send someone in your place.

  Recordings

  Soul Care Institute recordings are not made available outside of their unique cohort nor are they for sale, they are solely for the purpose of reviewing missed material should you be unable to attend on a specific date.

  In-Person Meetings

  Soul Care Institute meets in person three times over the course of two years (3 of the 8 sessions). In-person sessions are required and take place at Evins Mill in Smithville, TN for retreats 1, 5, and 8. Your lodging and food are covered by CrossPoint and participants are responsible for their own travel.

  Materials

  CrossPoint provides extensive notes and resources to you pertaining to each seminar. We will make recommendations about books or resources for further reading or study that are not provided directly by CrossPoint.

  Financial Assistance

  Money donated to CrossPoint throughout the year is used to subsidize the cost of training and retreats. If you still need financial assistance, we recommend reaching out to your church to see what funds they can provide. Or check with friends or family members who might be willing to sponsor you.