News

Healing from Racism and Oppression Conference: South Africa & the Latinx Experience

Mar 31, 2024

April 26, 2024 8:30-2:30pm (Central) Hybrid offering: Online and In-Person at Perkins School of Theology, Dallas, TX (Free online for CPE students; $10 online otherwise; $30 in person registration) The ACPE International Relations Committee is one of the sponsors for this upcoming Healing from Racism and Oppression Conference taking place at Perkins School of Theology and offered online on Friday, April 26th from 8:30-2:30pm (Central). One of the two speakers is Fr. Michael Lapsley, Director for the Institute for Healing of Memories in Cape Town, S. Africa, and he was a plenary speaker at the International Congress for Pastoral Care and Counseling in S. Africa in July 2023. Four ACPE educators were present at the congress and we all were deeply moved and inspired by him and thought at the time how much we’d love for the rest of ACPE to hear him, too. We are so pleased that he has agreed to come to Dallas and be a part of this incredible conference along with Sandy Ovalle, Director of Campaigns and Mobilizing for Sojourners in Washington, D.C. Both of these folks are incredible social justice leaders in our world today. We hope you will attend and bring your CPE students.

ACPE Welcomes New Executive Director!

Mar 27, 2024

At a meeting of the ACPE Board of Directors on March 18th, 2024, Lynnett Glass was unanimously elected to serve as the Executive Director of the ACPE starting April 3rd.

Women's Herstory

Mar 22, 2024

In honor of Women's History Month, the ACPE Anti-Bias Working Group invite ACPE members to reflect on the theme, "what does Women's History Month mean to me?" newly minted Certified Educator, Lauri Swann, shares her reflections below. If you would like to share your reflections on this month's theme, or other topics, please send it to Jasmine Okafor for inclusion in upcoming ACPE newsletters.

Every Gift Counts, Every Contribution Makes an Impact!

Mar 22, 2024

Spring is always an exciting time for the Foundation for ACPE. Many of you have responded to the call for grant proposals and service award nominations. As sub-committees of the Foundation Board review these applications, we continue to be moved by the amazing work done by Psychotherapists, Certified Educators and Certified Educator Candidates. The creative and innovative ideas shared through the grant proposals continue to advance the mission and values of ACPE. The tireless service we provide touches people around the world in untold ways. Thank you to everyone who has had a hand in submitting a proposal or nominating a colleague. I’d like to announce that have recently welcomed several new Board Directors to the Foundation.

Women's Herstory

Mar 18, 2024

In honor of Women's History Month, the ACPE Anti-Bias Working Group invites ACPE members to reflect on the theme, "What does Women's History Month mean to me?" ACPE Psychotherapist Tere Canzoneri shares her reflections below.

A Season of Renewal

Mar 17, 2024

Spring is in the air, and I feel a unique energy as the winter months soon become distant memories. I look forward to warmer weather, longer days of sunshine, and gathering at our annual conference!

New Community of Practice for CPE Program Directors

Mar 15, 2024

Our ACPE colleagues, who serve as CPE Program Directors at their clinical sites, are responsible for the administration and management of CPE programs. Such persons are invested with a unique and crucial responsibility in their role and in the entire clinical ministry movement. Navigating the changing environment is not easy. Facing the ever-changing clinical culture (caregiving and administrative arms). Recognizing emerging swings and themes of societal norms and movements. Revising CPE curriculum to meet changing ACPE accreditation requirements. Responding to shifting patterns and anomalies of student needs and characteristics. Continuing one’s own professional development.

A Day of Remembrance

Mar 11, 2024

On March 16 this year, it will mark the 3rd anniversary of the Atlanta Spa cold-blooded tragedy that occurred where 6 of 8 victims of Asian descent were killed. The attack had come to symbolize pattern of violence that emerged with the initial outbreak of the Covid-19 Pandemic in the United States. It continues to haunt the Asian American community today. It will take a village to heal together. Here is a ritual to nourish us to heal with courage and compassion-

Countdown to the ACPE 2024 Annual Conference

Mar 8, 2024

Greetings ACPE Community, We look forward to meeting once again for our ACPE Annual Conference in May 2024! Join us in Pittsburg as we gather for connection and learning. Following our theme of Looking In, Reaching Out, Building Together, we will examine the ways our organization and centers’ processes can be more effective in promoting justice-seeking care. We will look beyond ACPE as guest speaker Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes invites us to consider how we can engage with larger cultural and spiritual concerns. We will come together and discover innovative approaches employed by educators and psychotherapists in their respective fields...

I Thank Our Creator with Every Remembrance of Each of You…

Mar 4, 2024

The ACPE Curriculum Committee and our awesome staff is hard at work putting the final touches on our annual conference! This year’s conference will be held May 19-23 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When I pause and think about last year’s conference, I get a warm feeling. Like many of you have, I have lived through some awful experiences. It is usually in the aftermath that I can see areas of growth and appreciation not previously anticipated. I have come to call these gifts collateral blessings… unanticipated good that occurs alongside or in response to pain, loss, or tragedy.

Proposed Standards Changes

Mar 1, 2024

After a review of the current standards and receiving feedback from the ACPE membership and the Anti-Bias Work Group, the Accreditation Commission is proposing the following changes to the ACPE Standards as part of our regular review process. To provide feedback on these proposed changes, please click here. The review and feedback period is open through April 12, 2024.

Doubly Conscious Reflective Practitioner

Feb 26, 2024

In honor of Black History Month, the ACPE Anti-Bias Work Group invited newly Certified Educator, Reverend Jeremiah Page, to reflect on his experience as an African-American man who has journeyed through the ACPE Certification process. It is our hope that Jeremiah's poignant reflection can provide much-needed wisdom to all of as we better understand the many identifies we reconcile in becoming the most authentic versions of ourselves. Do you have a personal reflection you wish to include in the Anti-Bias Work Group's monthly newsletter column? If so, please email it to Jasmine Okafor, ACPE Director of Development & DEI Initiatives.

Buongiorno da Roma!

Feb 16, 2024

I am pleased to be writing to you from Rome, Italy, where I have just spent a magnificent week attending the Pontifical Academy for Life conference and the inauguration of the new Center for Ethics launched by The Seminario Rabínico Latinoamericano and Isaac Abarbanel University Institute (IUIA). The conference included a special Papal Audience where I had the privilege of meeting Pope Francis and an opportunity to attend panels and workshops with distinguished speakers from all over the world. These offerings covered issues such as: The human being in the techno-scientific age; Human Originality and Responsibility; From domination to responsibility: rethinking human centrism; Body and soul, heart and conscience, mind, and will. Opening and closing remarks by Mons. Vincenzo Paglia, the President of the Pontifical Academy for Life.

Call for Poster Presentation Proposals – 2024 ACPE Annual Conference

Feb 16, 2024

The deadline to submit proposals is March 29. Poster presentations will highlight and integrate research, evidence-based practices, and innovations to inform CPE, spiritually integrated psychotherapy, and spiritual care. Posters share knowledge by providing a visual summary of a project or initiative. They present information, graphics, charts, etc. in accessible and...

Insights from a Therapist's Journey

Feb 15, 2024

I am Kim Nichols, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing at The Armstrong Center for Hope (ACFH) in Durham, North Carolina. I also work full-time as program coordinator of Learning Together, a service-learning program for health professional, graduate, and undergraduate students at Duke University. I am not a member of ACPE, but I participated in ACPE’s Level 1 Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy training in January. I emailed my trainer some of my reflections after the training, and he invited me to shape them into an article for the ACPE newsletter.

Accreditation Updates- Outcomes and Indicators

Feb 5, 2024

I am excited to share that over 150 Certified Educators and CECs are participating in the current round of cohort implementation groups. The feedback from so many is that these are helpful and supportive opportunities to engage with colleagues and that the time together is valuable. Thank you to all our colleagues who stepped up to facilitate these groups! Related to the Outcomes and Indicators, I am pleased to share that, based on feedback we received expressing this need, we have numbered the Revised Outcomes and Indicators in the accreditation manual so that they will be easier to reference.

Moving Forward…Together

Feb 5, 2024

The last two years serving as Chair-elect of the ACPE Board gave me a view of the association that I had previously not experienced. I have always respected the commitment that our members make to keep ACPE running by volunteering their time, talents, and treasures.

For Your Professional Ethics Edification

Feb 2, 2024

This month’s article is to update you on changes to the Professional Ethics Manual. These changes were recommended by the Professional Ethics Commission (PEC) to the ACPE Board of Directors and received their approval. Additionally, the board approved changes to The Policy to Ensure the Wellness and Fitness of Educators. You are encouraged to use the links to review the changes on the ACPE websites and read through them below. TOPIC "Why we sign the Accountability for Ethical Conduct Policy Report Form every year” For January, Julie Hanada, ACPE Certified Educator, Seattle, WA writes:

Staff Transitions

Jan 29, 2024

ACPE is bidding farewell to two cherished members of our team. ACPE Director of Finance Jennifer Rochner’s last day was Friday, January 26th, and Rachel Starmer, our Psychotherapy Coordinator, will end her contract with us at the end of January.

Call for ACPE Service Award Nominations

Jan 29, 2024

Can you think of a colleague who has provided distinguished service throughout their career? Which one of your colleagues has demonstrated innovative leadership? Who do you think deserves special recognition?