Counsellors

NETWORK LEADER

Pablo Martinez is the leader of the European Christian Counsellors Network and a Forum steering committee member. He currently works as a psychiatrist at a private practice in Barcelona. He has also developed a wide ministry as a lecturer, counsellor, and itinerant speaker. He has been a plenary Bible teacher in more than 30 countries. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the International Christian Medical and Dental Association (ICMDA) for 20 years, also serving as one of the organisation's vice-presidents. He has filled the role of President of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance (1999-2009) and Professor of Pastoral Psychology at the Spanish Theological Seminary for seven years. He is currently a member of the Sociopolitical Commission of the European Evangelical Alliance. He has authored three books, Prayer Life: How Your Personality Affects the Way You Pray, now published in fourteen languages, Tracing the Rainbow: Walking Through Loss and Bereavement, and his latest, A Thorn in the Flesh: Finding Strength and Hope Amid Suffering (Inter Varsity Press, England). He is married to Marta, a medical doctor.

NETWORK SPEAKERS

Glynn Harrison is Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Bristol. He was formerly a consultant clinical psychiatrist and a past president of the International Federation of Psychiatric Epidemiology; he has acted as advisor the UK department of Health and WHO. He is a lay minister and leads the men’s ministry in his church. He lectures widely on pastoral issues, human sexuality, and the interface between mental health and spirituality.

Christl Ruth Vonholdt is a paediatrician and is currently in a training to become a therapist. She is Director of the German Institute for Youth and Society (GIYS), a branch of the ecumenical live-in community “Offensive Junger Christen” at Reichelsheim, Germany. The GIYS is involved in research, lectures, and publications on the topics of male and female identity formation, attachment theories, marriage and family, identity and sexuality, homosexuality, and examination of gender theories.

Richard Winter is currently Professor of Practical Theology and Director of Covenant Seminary’s counselling programme in St Louis, USA.  He is also a psychotherapist who was trained in Medicine and Psychiatry in England before being on the staff and a director of the English branch of the L’Abri Fellowship for 14 years. He has served in a variety of pastoral and teaching leadership roles in the church. He is the author of When Life Goes Dark: Finding Hope in the Midst of Depression, IVP 2012;  Perfecting Ourselves to Death: The Pursuit of Excellence and the Perils of Perfectionism, IVP, April 2005; Still Bored in a Culture of Entertainment: Rediscovering Passion and Wonder, IVP, 2002; Choose Life, A Study of Abortion and Other Reproductive Technologies (Out of Print), and professional journal articles.  He is married, with four children and seven grandchildren.

NETWORK PROGRAMME

Day 1

A Biblical Overview of Sexuality—and Some of its Historical Distortions
Richard Winter

The Bible is full of sex – from Genesis to Revelation! We will see how sex and sensuality are wonderful gifts of God to be used within certain boundaries for our own good and how this gift points to a depth of intimate relationship between believers and God that is only hinted at this side of glory. But we will also see how the Church through the centuries has sadly distorted the biblical teaching on sexuality and caused much suffering. We will discuss how the Bible is also very realistic about the way in which "the father of lies" is intent on using broken sexuality to do great harm and to make us question the existence and goodness of God.

Infidelity
Pablo Martinez

We are witnessing an amazing increase of broken relationships in all areas of life today.  The whole idea of faithfulness and the value of covenants is greatly eroded in our hedonistic and utilitarian society. This is particularly true for marriage where infidelity has reached an alarming proportion even in Christian circles.  Marital infidellity is a complex problem where usually you can find more than one sort of cause: personality and emotional problems, a strong influence from the world around with its secular values and, ultimately, spiritual problems. The worldview of many people today overemphasises rights  and neglects duties, following a tricky strategy of the devil that leads to a self-centered, narcissistic view of life in general and marriage in particular. In this session the speaker will be considering all these factors, with a special focus on the prevention of infidelity and its pastoral management once it occurs.

Day 2

Healthy Sex Life in Marriage
Pablo Martinez

Human sexuality is unique in many ways, but in particular because it provides a paramount way of conveying love. One of the most distinctive features of our sexuality is its two-fold dimension: love and instinct, tenderness and passion, giving and receiving. If you want a fully human and healthy sexuality  you cannot split these two facets;  they need to be together like the wings of a bird. This is why experts believe that love is the best “aphrodisiac drug”. When you split this two fold unity, sexuality withers and it becomes vulnerable to the problems – sexual dysfunctions – so common in marriage (lack of desire, etc). In this session the speaker will consider how love, sexuality, and communication make a precious God-given cluster which is one of the main ingredients for a healthy marriage life. Also some therapeutic orientation for the most common sexual problems within marriage will be given.

Healthy Sexuality for Teenagers
Christl Vonholdt

Nature has intended man and woman to complement each other, and sexual behavior should be reserved for marriage. Sexuality, marriage, procreation, and parenthood belong together and shouldn’t be separated from each other. Though this position seems to be outdated today, it in fact corresponds with the deepest needs and desires of young adults (as well as with the needs of children for their growing-up). It is also strongly supported by recent findings in science. This lecture will focus on current research results regarding sexual behavior in teens, the role and influence of bonding hormones (esp. oxytocin) in sexual activities, on brain development in adolescence, on health risks of various sexual activities, and what to do when teens seem confused or uncertain about their sexual preference.

Day 3

Sexual Abuse
Richard Winter

Reports of sexual abuse have multiplied in the media in recent years. Is it really as common as it seems? How do we define sexual abuse? What damage does it do to the victim’s heart and soul, and even to their relationship with God? How can that damage be healed? In this session the speaker will discuss these questions and see how healing is often a difficult process that involves exposing lies and naming evil. Healing also takes the victim of abuse into a deep experience of the grace and mercy of God who has himself suffered abuse at the hands of evil.

The Challenge of Pornography
Glynn Harrison

We live in a "pornified" culture with huge implications for the Christian struggle for holiness. In this seminar, using evidence about how the brain works and creates human attachments, the speaker will explore how pornography "hijacks" the brain and draws us into addictive behaviours. He will ask how we can use psychological insights to develop effective pastoral and counselling interventions. Most important of all, the lecture will explore how our churches must engage more positively with the challenges of developing a healthy sexuality and support Christians in their quest for sexual redemption.

Day 4

Understanding Same-Sex Attraction, Parts 1 and 2
Glynn Harrison and Richard Winter

In these two sessions, the speakers will explore issues of same-sex attraction from a biblical and ethical perspective. They will review the diversity of views over time and in different cultures, and map the increasing acceptance of same sex sexual behaviours and gay identities in Europe and North America. We will explore the psychology and biology of human sexuality, and examine some of the recent findings from the scientific literature. The following questions will also be part of our discussion: What do we know about the nature and causes of same sex attraction? Is change possible? Does "therapy" do more harm then good? How can we help those who are seeking to reconcile the world of their sexual desire with their Christian biblical values?