Deciphering Personality Disorders in the Church and Beyond 

Are there people in your congregation who know exactly how to push your buttons?

Or perhaps there are those who alienate others and make even the most innocuous meeting agenda go suddenly awry?

In this webinar, learn about the personality disorders behind bad behavior and how you can become more effective in dealing with those disorders. While we will be addressing clinical material, the emphasis is not on diagnosis, but rather on recognizing patterns of behavior and understanding the motivations behind them.

In a follow-up webinar, attendees will have the opportunity to consult with the presenter after having time to assimilate the learning from the initial session.

Through understanding, you can begin to take your encounters with such people less personally. This restores balance to your interactions and enables you to set healthy boundaries that protect you from hurtful behavior.

The objectives of this webinar are to:

• Identify the five personality disorders most likely to be present in your congregations and understand the origins of those disorders.
• Study the basic principles of assertiveness and how to use them in your church.
• Develop an awareness of the personalities to which you are most vulnerable, based on your personal history.
• Learn to implement appropriate boundaries that allow for healthy self-care without taking away from your family or your congregation.

 Our keynote speaker for this Webinar is Sue Magrath, LMHC.  Sue is a licensed    professional counselor, spiritual director and retreat leader.  She received her          Master of Counseling degree from Arizona State University in 1996 and practiced  psychotherapy in Phoenix, Arizona for 14 years, primarily as a pastoral counselor.  She attended the Upper Room’s two-year Academy for Spiritual Formation as well  as Source at the Center, a training program for spiritual directors in Orange, CA.  

Sue’s many personal and professional relationships with clergy give her an understanding of the unique challenges of pastoral and church life, as well as the support and nurture necessary to sustain ministries of caring. She has led many clergy retreats and workshops, and is currently chair of the clergy wellness task force sponsored by the Pacific Northwest Board of Ordained Ministries. In addition, Sue teaches the Healthy Boundaries trainings for clergy in the Seven Rivers District.