“Trauma forces ordinary people to become philosophers & theologians.”
Samuel Balentine
Dr. Michael Wagenman, PhD, MDiv
Step Forward
Typical mental health professionals have “therapies” used for the “treatment” of “symptoms” and diagnosed “illnesses.” I start from a different place. It’s really quite simple: Life, faith, or ministry were going along just fine for you (or so you thought). And then, something started to not go well. Maybe it started small, like a little pebble in your shoe. But now, over time, you’ve found yourself in a very confusing, disorienting, and painful place. And maybe that confusion is making it hard to think well, or the disorientation is having a big impact on you physically, or the pain is making it hard to deal with your emotions or relationships.
As a pastoral counsellor and spiritual director, I take a holistic approach to you and your life/faith/ministry situation. We will look at your personal history as well as your network of relationships (psycho-social). We will examine how your mind and body relate (psycho-somatic). And we’ll explore the messages, stories, and beliefs that guide your life and provide you with meaning and purpose (psycho-spiritual). By taking this comprehensive approach, you will have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the reality of yourself and your life and how faith is woven through it all. Then, you will have a good basis for deciding how to take the next step.
Services
As a clinical philosopher-theologian and spiritual director, I draw on a vast array of research knowledge and practical experience. Philosophical theology is the scientific reflection on the deep wisdom traditions of Christianity.
Maybe you need to explore what is the uniquely Good/True/Beautiful that you’re being called to pursue and share with the world. Maybe your questions are more about human experience: Who am I? Where have I come from? Where am I going? Or, maybe you are facing an ethical dilemma: Why am I here? What should I do? My work with clients often takes the shape of these four main areas:
Pastoral Counselling
I’ve heard it many times: “I couldn’t talk to my pastor about this.” But, you still want to talk to a pastor. Maybe you have experienced religious abuse and you’re looking for trauma healing. Or, you’re entering a period of faith (re-)negotiation (some call it deconstruction/reconstruction). Or, maybe you’re someone in ministry who needs pastoral support so you can more clearly pursue your calling.
Spiritual Direction
In all the busy-ness of life, faith, and ministry, it’s often easy to forget the centrality of God revealed in Scripture. Spiritual direction is a guided process of prayerful discernment. How is God speaking to me? What is God saying to me? Where is God leading me? How do I cultivate a deeper attentiveness to God in the midst of life and ministry?
Ministry Leadership Mentoring
Many pastors and ministry leaders find themselves in situations of incredible influence - not just with individuals and families but also within organizations. You might be looking for a seasoned pastoral and ministry professional to guide you in your personal discipleship, vocational calling, or ministry learning curve.
Sabbatical Preparation and Guidance
Many pastors today are being given sabbatical time for personal refreshment and ministry revisioning. As a seminary professor with extensive ministry experience, I would be happy to help you craft a meaningful sabbatical plan and work with you during your sabbatical to make it as impactful as possible for your return to ministry.
“Experience is an integral part of theological reflection.”
Dr. Michelle Keener
Dr. Michael Wagenman, PhD, MDiv
My Background
My clients regularly say my greatest skill is that I am a safe companion for the journey of life and faith. My goal is to welcome and empower you to discover your own unique gifts, opportunities, and calling for a meaningful life of faith that contributes to a just and flourishing world.
I am passionate about cultivating an integrated life. I’m a perceptive and relentlessly curious listener, ready to ask the right question at the right time to spark dynamic insight, transformation, hope, and courage. I will help you discern what your next step is and gather the resources to take that next step in your life’s adventure.
I am a pastoral counsellor and spiritual director. I bring thirty years of experience providing organizational leadership, ministry mentoring, and pastoral counselling in corporate, higher education, non-profit, and clinical settings. I draw on Twelve-Step insights, holistic spirituality/mindfulness habits, and trauma-informed embodiment practices for individual, relational, and communal health and well-being. I am guided by my on-going study of research-based therapeutic interventions.
In addition to over twenty years in ordained pastoral ministry, I am also a research philosopher-theologian, having taught at Christian colleges, universities, and seminaries in Canada, England, and Northern Ireland. I study the power of civic institutions (including the trauma that results from abuse of power) and supervise doctoral research on how private belief takes public shape in culture and society.
Pricing
Subsidised fees are available.
Individual Session (50 Minutes) $185
Couple Session (70 Minutes) $250
Student Fund: I recognize the mental health challenges faced by university and college students today. So, I offer highly subsidised rates for current university and college students. If you would like to support expanded access for student mental health services, I have partnered with a Canadian charity to which you can donate and receive a tax-deductible receipt. Please contact me for further details.
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