ELECTIVE WORKSHOPS
Bridges of Hope
Lynn Bulock
In this workshop by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), you will be educated about mental illnesses so that you can create stronger safety nets and welcoming communities of faith for people affected by mental illness. You will learn:
- What is mental illness? How does it impact individuals, families, and communities?
- What is the role of the faith community in helping people and families touched by serious mental illness?
- Who is NAMI and what does it offer to individuals, families and faith communities?
Keeping a Healthy Home
Dr. Daniel Linscott
One of the biggest risk factors for mental illness is a chaotic home. Reducing the stress at home can create a haven from which to send and receive your children and restore your own resources. This talk will address all ages of children. Learn how to manage a more peaceful home through the following skills:
- Structuring Schedule
- Peaceful Communication
- Resolving Conflict
- Creating a Calming Home Environment
- Emotional Resource Management
How We Think
The Power of Thought. In this session you will gain an understanding of how thoughts are formed and how they can easily affect our response to situations.
Attacking Depression and Anxiety from All Angles
Dottie Pickett
When it comes to addressing depression and anxiety, people turn to such treatments as therapy and medication. That’s like facing a giant in a kick-boxing ring knowing only how to throw a right cross and a left round house kick! Depression and anxiety can be so debilitating that we need to attack them from many different angles. In this workshop we will discuss multiple angles from which we need to attack (and beat) these formidable foes.
Rev. John Erwin
Suicide is something that affects all of us whether directly or indirectly. In this workshop we will look at:
- The Contradictions . . . What are the myths related to suicide?
- The Causes . . . 5 factors to help understand the why
- The Clues . . . What are the “clues/signs” that you can look for?
- The Cure . . . Things we should do or never do as we come alongside to give care and hope
What It's Like Being Depressed (in Mandarin only)
As a former psychiatrist, counseling expert, and a current pastor, I invite friends and their loved ones who have experienced depression to share their experiences. I invite friends who care about those who are depressed to join us so they can know what those who suffer from depression think, see, do, and feel. I invite those who care about mental health and want to learn how to deal with depression to attend this workshop.
Empowering Yourself and Your Community
Rev. Curtis and Carol Lowe
Studies show that when people are struggling with mental illness, the first place they call is the church. This workshop will empower you and/or your church to make a difference for the good of those facing mental illness. One person or one small caring community can be the seed for hope and help to many. You will learn about two proven ministries that are empowering people to help others: Mental Health Grace Alliance and Hope for Mental Health (Saddleback Church).
Every person or church will receive a flash drive with resources on (1) reducing stigma (2) how to bring support to others (3) how to build mental health resources.
Gen Z & Their Mental Health Needs
More youth are experiencing depression and other mental health issues than ever before. What can we do in our homes, in our churches or in our communities to support these youth? Learn how social media, parenting, and youth groups can teach and reteach helpful or hurtful values to our children and youth. Come up with a plan to help your youth and children to navigate these mental health issues through the importance of teaching them about creating and building true community.
Help! My Mom is Changing in Front of Me: Helping a Dementia Parent with Their Behavioral Issues
Dr. Solomon Liao
We will discuss which medical and psychological evaluations are needed, focusing on screening for reversible problems. We will also discuss when older folks need medications and which medications are appropriate. We will address non-pharmacological approaches to behavioral management, including adult day health care; hiring a caregiver; PACE programs; and dementia units. In addition, we will discuss available support and resources in the community. Finally, the session will touch on changes in mood and depression, including screening and treatment.
Facing Your Inner Eeyore
How do we heal depression and loneliness? In this session you will gain an understanding of what depression is and how to move through this emotional struggle.
Finding My Voice and Meeting Jesus in My World of Complex Trauma
James Hampson
James will be sharing his journey through his own world of complex trauma, the path the Lord took him on to face his trauma, how He gave voice to his story, and how James discovered new purpose and creativity in his life.
WORKSHOP SPEAKERS
LYNN BULOCK
Deacon Lynn Bulock is a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary (2008) and has been a consecrated Minister of the Word and Service in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) since 2009. Currently, she is the Director for Ministry to Seniors at New Hope Lutheran Church in Agoura Hills. She has served on calls in Ventura County working in the areas of mental health and homeless services. She also runs the Peer-to-Peer program and writes grants for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Ventura County, as well as being their FaithNet specialist.
REV. JOHN ERWIN
Pastor John is the Associate Pastor at Agoura Bible Fellowship (Agoura, CA). John is also a Sr. Search Consultant with SIMA Partners. He is the Chairman of the Board for YUGO Ministries, a mission’s agency ministering in Mexico. He has pastored in different roles at Moorpark Evangelical Free Church, Yorba Linda Friends Church, and Grace Church (Eden Prairie, MN).
SIMA Partners is a fully-retained search firm. John is involved in a coaching and consulting ministry that helps churches and non-profit ministries find the right individuals for their respective ministries, which also includes organizational consulting. He also consults with churches and other non-profit organizations in the areas of leadership, staff development, and organizational master planning.
He is a popular speaker all over the world from retreats to conferences. He was the founder of The National Association of Family Ministries, which was the first established network for family ministry pastors in the local church. He also spoke for the With Hope Foundation in classroom and assembly programs on the topic of suicide and depression.
John is a graduate of Biola University with a B.A. in Christian Education and a Master of Divinity degree from Talbot Theological Seminary in Practical Theology. John has been married to Cheryl since 1978. They have 2 adult children and 2 grandchildren. John’s hobbies include: golf, racquetball, playing Fantasy Football, March Madness, officiating weddings, and going out to eat/watching movies with his wife.
DR. JIM GRIMES
Dr. Grimes is a therapist in private practice since 2002, with a Psy.D. from the Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University in La Mirada, CA. His experience in providing individual, couple, marital, family, and child therapy makes Jim a specialist in emotional and relational formation at many life stages.
Dr. Grimes is committed to ministry, and is ordained through the Evangelical Christian Alliance. He has been a member of his church for over 15 years where he has participated in small groups, led a Sunday morning servant team, volunteered in the children’s ministry, and has been involved in and led several summer mission trips to the Philippines, Hungary, and Xoacaca, Mexico.
He is on the Souleader Resources training team, a non-profit ministry that focuses on wholeness for pastors, leaders, and churches. Along with his wife Anjee, Dr. Grimes also has a passion for equipping themselves to be the primary influence upon their three children, helping them grow as whole persons in Christ. His hobbies include reading, woodworking, soccer, going to the movies, and spending time with friends.
JAMES HAMPSON
James Hampson is Director of Graduate Admissions at Biola University. He holds an Master of Arts in New Testament from Talbot School of Theology and a B.A. in English from Cal State Long Beach. Before his work at Biola, James served on the mission field in Poland doing youth and sports ministry. James has a passion for bringing voice to those who have endured trauma, by sharing his own story and helping them to find their story in Jesus.
DR. SOLOMON LIAO
Dr. Solomon Liao is currently a professor of medicine at the University of California, Irvine, where he also completed medical school in 1994. He then finished an internal medicine residency at Northwestern, followed by a geriatric medicine fellowship at UCLA. He has been board certified in internal medicine, geriatric medicine, and palliative medicine. Dr. Liao has worked in 5 geropsychiatry units over a 12-year period and served as the medical director for the adult day health care center of Orange County. He has cared for thousands of people with dementia over the entire spectrum of illness and has published numerous articles in medical journals and book chapters. Fun fact: he used to live across the street from Oprah Winfrey.
DR. DANIEL LINSCOTT
Dr. Daniel Linscott hails from a diverse professional background; he has practiced medicine in a hospital, community mental health center, in-patient residence, private practice settings, and schools as a consultant. His clinical work has ranged from treating children with developmental and behavioral difficulties, all the way to adults with severe mental illness. These experiences have developed his specialties working with groups and individuals with parenting issues and severe mental illness.
Dr. Linscott’s research and experience have shaped his deep understanding of the developmental trajectory both normally and abnormally. His theory of practice is from an existential, intersubjective, and attachment perspective to help clients gain insight about negative relational patterns and emotional injuries.
His goal is to provide a safe place where clients can learn to integrate strategies that encourage healthy reactions and coping. This is done through educating clients on the link between their emotional and neurophysiological processes, providing interpersonal feedback, and helping clients learn healthy ways to respond to intense feelings in the moment.
REV., DR. CURTIS & CAROL LOWE
Rev., Dr. Curtis Lowe is the English Pastor at the Chinese Christian Church of Thousand Oaks (CCCTO). He has been a pastor for over 30 years and has served four churches as Senior Pastor as well as in Christian Education and youth ministry. He has a B.A. in psychology from San Diego State University; a Master of Divinity (M.Div) from Bethel West Theological Seminar; and a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) in Spiritual Formation from Azusa Pacific University. He is also a Certified Spiritual Director (CSD). Curtis enjoys almost everything having to do with coffee (e.g. coffee shops, roasting coffee, drinking coffee), except drinking bad coffee.
Carol has been a homemaker for most of their marriage and has served alongside Curtis while raising their three children. She enjoys reading Christian fiction, crafts, playing with their rescue dog and spending time with her favorite person, Curtis.
DOTTIE PICKETT
Dottie Pickett has been a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for 25 years in Costa Mesa, CA. She received a Masters in Biblical Counseling at Colorado Christian University and a second Masters in Counseling Psychology at National University. She also has training in Attachment Focused EMDR.
Dottie has been married for 28 years to Dr. Todd Pickett, Dean of Spiritual Growth and Development at Biola University. They have two young adult daughters, Carly and Abbey. She has always wanted to help people who suffer from the debilitating effects of depression and anxiety, but since she began a 2-year long battle with depression and anxiety herself in 2014 she became extra motivated to win her life back and help others to do the same.
She enjoys working on her blog http://www.pickettspearls.net/. It's all about delicious 4-ingredient recipes and fun crafts such as the succulent crosses featured for Easter! She also loves to Kick Box.
REV., DR. YOUPING WANG
Rev., Dr. Youping is the Mandarin Speaking Pastor at the Chinese Christian Church of Thousand Oaks (CCCTO). He was a psychiatrist and clinical psychologist for 10 years in the Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology of Xian Medical University of China. He was also an Associate Professor and the Chairman of the Department at the University.
After he came to the US in 1992, he worked as a Molecular and Cellular Biology Researcher in the Department of Psychiatry at the Oklahoma University Health Science Center and then in the Metabolic Disorder Department at Amgen Inc. While working, he received an M.S. in Traditional Chinese Medicine and his Acupuncture License in California. In 2007, he attended the China Evangelical Seminary North America and received his Master of Divinity (M.Div.).
MARGARET YU
Margaret Yu is the National Director of Epic Movement, the Asian American ministry of Cru and the Executive Director of Ethnic Focused Communities of Cru. Margaret has served with Cru’s Campus Ministry for over 30 years. Her campus experiences span the globe from Milwaukee to Berkeley, from East Asia to Uzbekistan, and to Los Angeles where she currently resides. Margaret loves college students.
Her passion is to see God form many more culturally competent leaders for the kingdom of God. Margaret’s interests include mentorship or leadership development, talking shop about the NBA, and being at the beach. You can follow Margaret on Twitter: @CCCEpicMargaret or on her blog at http://margaretyu.com