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Alumni Newsletter
Volume
3: Issue 2 |
Join MHGS InCircle - As an MHGS Alumni, you are invited to join
MHGS InCircle, a web-based networking tool currently used by 160 plus alumni for various and random reasons. You can
view a presentation of Bryan Nixon's profile from InCircle by clicking here (you may need a free PowerPoint viewer to
watch this presentation - click here to download). The reasons for
joining include: job search capability, display/sharing of current hobbies, and updates on events at MHGS and the greater Seattle
community.
TO JOIN: Click HERE and "Join today." If you have any troubles registering (or need your alumni I.D.
which is the same as your old student I.D.) , please email Hillary at hvandenbos@mhgs.edu
Topics in this Newsletter:
Newsletters will be occuring
quarterly going forward. Expect the next July'08, Oct. '08, Jan '09.
Hillary
Augustine Vandenbos– Alumni Relations Coordinator Updates/Reflections
Congratulations 2008 Grads! - All Alumni are invited to Graduation, 10:00 a.m., May
10th at Town Hall in Downtown Seattle - Tickets are required. Please email Hillary for ticket info.
JPaul Fridenmaker – Staff Update
Rebecca Fuller – Alumni Reflection
Steve Call – Faculty Reflection
Roy
Barness – Faculty invitation to an
upcoming author appearance (at MHGS) with Dr. Karen Maroda, writer, analyst, and clinical professor
Community/Upcoming Events
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Alumni Relations Coordinator
Hillary Augustine Vandenbos Masters of Counseling '07
Graduate
Congratulations to all the 2008 Graduates! The commencement ceremony is THIS Saturday (May 10th) at 10:00 a.m.
Location: Town Hall, downtown Seattle.
**All alumni are invited; however tickets are limited
and required…so please email Hillary if you would like to attend!**
Because there are approximately 60 new graduates
receiving this newsletter, this section will reflect upon the movements of the alumni association over the past year so that all graduates are up to
speed on what is offered and available for alumni. Currently, there are three main areas that the alumni
association (comprised of seven men and women - all graduates of MHGS) has focused upon over the last
year. These areas include: 1) Networking among fellow graduates and professionals in the greater Seattle community, 2) Offering
trainings to increase skills and competency in various areas, and 3) Consistently communicating about events within the institution of MHGS and in
Seattle. Obviously, these areas are broad and deep, meaning there is a lot of room for growth.
The alumni association has moved into these areas with a couple large events
and some smaller seminar-style forums. For example, Susan Hall, DMin, LMHC, will be offering her seminar,
“Living the Dream: How to Start Your Private Practice. This will occur in
JUNE...so stayed tuned! (specific date, time and location information will be announced on InCircle soon!).
Another area of interest is that all graduates can enrich one class per year
for free. The voucher and instructions for enrichment are all posted HERE - and go to "Continue your Education - On
Us!" This is an opportunity for graduates to increase their competency or take some new and exciting courses
without the pressure of grades and papers (sounds fun, yes?!?)
Please remember that as graduates your suggestions shape and form future
events and possibilities for connection. This last year’s activities were all based on previous surveys and questionnaires
from alumni. Your opinions and ideas are welcomed. Please email Hillary with any thoughts you
may have!
Thanks…and again, welcome to the 2008 graduates and “hello,
again” to all those graduates who have gone on into various spaces and places!
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Staff Update
JPaul Fridenmaker
Director of Development and Alumni
Relations
Last September we created, with the help of many of you,
a counseling resource list for the Puget Sound area. This effort was motivated largely by a new requirement of first year MACP students to be in
regular therapy while in Practicums 1 and 2. We wanted them to have a convenient and quality way to connect with local area
therapists.
Since that time we have learned that we
cannot distribute this list as originally planned because of legal and liability issues which could arise with
MHGS being perceived as endorsing or referring certain therapists over others. On behalf of the counseling faculty and alumni relations, I am
truly sorry about this! The list that was created is something to be deeply proud of.
So, is there a middle ground? I hope so. We
are now checking into the possibility of having the Alumni Association be the holder of the list, as an advancement function of the
institution. The Alumni Association would then keep the list updated annually (any graduate would have the opportunity to opt into or out
of the list) and have it available for use by alumni and other MHGS community members. Stay tuned for how the list will be utilized,
future updates, etc...and thanks so much to those of you who sent in your information. Questions, clarification, or ideas? Contact J.Paul
directly at jpaul@mhgs.edu.
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Alumni Reflection
Rebecca
Fuller Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology '06 Graduate
Because of the transformation that happened during my three
years at Mars Hill Graduate School, I’m now able to appreciate the beauty God’s placed within me, and celebrate the beauty in others. I
feel freer to receive love from friends and family and see the value in practicing daily rhythms of rest.
A year after graduation I heard God asking me what I
most wanted to do with my life. My answer was, “I want to offer spiritual direction, especially to adolescents and college age
students.” Helping individuals and groups experience rest and a more intimate and vibrant relationship with God is what I feel created to do.
God’s invitation to follow my heart, and the support of family and friends, was the motivation I needed, and in September 2007 I began a
private practice offering both spiritual direction and counseling. I daily struggle with feeling inadequate but I am realizing that Jesus’ love
is more powerful than my fear. I’m surprised and grateful for the ways I’m experiencing Christ living courageously in and through my
unique personality as I sit with clients in my office, counsel adolescents at the Jeremiah Center, do volunteer chaplaincy work at Steven’s
Hospital, facilitate 12 Step Recovery groups at my church, substitute teach for junior and senior high students, and speak at MOPS groups
(Mother’s of Preschooler’s).
Currently, I’m meeting with physicians at
pain management clinics in order to start counseling individuals living with chronic pain. My heart is full of compassion for those, like my own mom,
who live with the emotional pain that comes with a physical illness. Also, I desire to see healing come to families and am praying for more
opportunities to do premarital and family counseling. My prayer is that I would daily trust God and have the courage to continue to say,
“Yes!” to God’s call on my unique life.
Rebecca is currently accepting new spiritual direction and counseling clients. Her contact info is: rebeccadfuller@gmail.com |
Faculty Invitation
Roy Barsness,
Ph.D.
Professor of
Counseling
DR KAREN MARODA, writer, analyst and clinical professor of psychiatry from the Medical College of Wisconsin will be coming to MHGS for an
Author’s Symposium, October 10-11, 2008. Many of her texts have been used at Mars Hill Graduate School and are very well
received. The texts of Dr. Maroda that we currently use are The Power of Countertransference: Innovations in Analytic Technique and
Seduction, Surrender and Transformation. This fall her latest book on Technique will be released. Put these dates on your
calendar and watch for more information in the months ahead!
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Faculty Reflection
Steve Call, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology
&
Internship Program Director
Kristen and Hillary (Development & Alumni Relations office)
meet with
Steve Call, Associate Professor of Counseling
Psychology
Generally, specific faculty are asked to write a paragraph discussing/writing on any
topic that feels pertinent or passionate to their life. However, this time the paragraph was compiled through a face-to-face meeting with Steve
Call. Our meeting ended with a deep appreciation for the work Steve accomplishes at Mars Hill Graduate School (MHGS) and with a better
understanding of who Steve is as a man, professor, father, and husband. It was good to be with Steve, a man who regularly graces the halls and
classrooms of this institution. Read more about our conversation below…
Although topics bounce in and out of our time in a myriad of ways,
themes bubble to the surface as Steve passionately talks about his work and life. Steve seems to loop back to specific areas of conversation
with these words:
“I want more. I demand excellence.
What does good training look like,
timing, pacing,
etc?”
As Steve talks about excellence and training, he skips back and
forth between stories about his personal training for short triathlons, the training he instills in young men as a high school basketball coach, his
counseling work with men, and the training/education he ponders for the students at MHGS. Yes, he is an advocate for rigorous training and hard
work, but he also knows - just like the muscles in the body - students/trainees need breaks…spaces to rest…in order to learn over time
and not get injured.
Steve continues our meeting time by using words that exude hope
and speak about his internal tensions as it relates to improvement, excellence, and training for the MHGS academic programs. As he describes his
thought processes with matriculated students, words related to “a journey” continue to arise in his language and vision for “life
after the institution.” He desires that students look toward where they can make a difference. He candidly articulates, “If
a student says, I want to work with high functioning adults, I tell them to work with the homeless for several years.” His point is
this. When students graduate it is a milestone to be celebrated, but it is not an ending. Steve says, “Let’s not lose sight
that you’ve (students) have done the work, and yet you have not done the hard work.” Steve views graduation as the start of the true
journey of self-exploration and a period of time to wonder about what life can hold vocationally, missionally, and personally.
The time wrapped up discussing Steve’s obsession regarding
what excellence/goodness looks like for men. As he began to talk about his passion for what it means to be a good man, it was apparent that,
again, Steve’s vein for excellence was pumping hard. Steve’s sincere compassion for being with men on a journey toward
“goodness” and “excellence” is highlighted in his questions: “What does it mean to be a good man, constantly and
consistently?” “What are men’s failures and resistances?” and “How do I address those issues
well?”
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Upcoming Community Events
May 9, 2008 - Graduate Breakfast & Family Open House - MHGS
May 9, 2008 – Evening with Nancy Murphy, Sponsored by Northwest Family Life, 7:00 – 9:30 p.m., suggested Donation $25.00,
Vineyard Community Church, 17712 15th Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155 (206) 363-4003
May 10, 2008 - 2008 Commencement Ceremonies – Town
Hall, Seattle, WA (Tickets are required)
May 13-18, 2008 - Women's Recovery Week - Seattle, WA
May 20-23, 2008 - Issues of Abuse Workshop - MHGS
June 10-15, 2008 - Men's Recovery Week - Seattle, WA
June 2008 – Susan Hall, DMin, LMHC will offer her “Living the Dream: How to Start Your Private
Practice” seminar. Specific location, time, and date information will all be announced on InCircle –
soon!
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Mars Hill Graduate School
2501 Elliott Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
www.mhgs.edu
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