It’s been almost a month since I have been back from Haiti. I can’t believe it’s been that long.  I got into swings of things right away with school work, seeing clients, and helping my mom who came back t Haiti with me adjust.  The adventure of life continues. Below is my newsletter with recaps/reflections from my last Mission trip to Haiti as well as some words of encouragement and tips for relationships.  Please click on the newsletter link above  to read it or go here: May 2011, Nahomie’s newsletter For more pictures go to:

For those reading my newsletter for the first time, you will find my writing to be very personal, bold and forth coming, real, with a lot of my own personal healing and life’s journey. I get bored with and disinterested in facts, list of how to steps, and reading exaggerated stories about great events that really have no barren on the author’s life and in the long run leads to disillusionment. I don’t like to put emphasis on the things that I do, but more on what God is doing in me as a testimony of His goodness, and what He wills to do in other’s lives as well. I write about reality and address inner parts of the heart and relationship issues.  So no detail o stories about events, what I did on the mission field in Haiti, or stories from therapy sessions with my clients. But you will find personalize stories and tangible experience of God’s goodness in my life, overcoming obstacles, and growing. It might be too personal and too much for you, or it might be just what you needed to encourage your heart. Whichever case may apply to you, be blessed.

Nahomie Moise, LMFT, Certified Life Coach

info@krhcc.org

www.krhcc.org

• 4 portable canopies (E-Z Up) plus side screens to conduct therapy sessions in Haiti (Provide privacy for the people).
• Portable stereo system/w speakers (battery run) for Prayer ministry tent meeting,
• Emergency Safety Kit for our team,
• Psychotherapy supplies to work with the people of Haiti

We are in the process of applying for 501c3 status for our International Project and are not yet tax-exempt. Currently, KRHCC is a for-profit organization, which means that your donation will be a non-tax deductible gift. We thank you in advance for blessing us with a gift of $20, $50, $100, $200 or more. May the Lord bless you richly and abundantly for your contribution to us!

Your gift can be made online through PayPal by sending it to info@krhcc.org or by clicking the ‘donate’ button on my website, from the International Project page, or by mail, in the form of a check or money order.

Make check or money order payable to: ”KRHCC”
Send to: Kingdom Reality Healing & Counseling Center
 P.O. Box 12093
San Bernardino, CA 92423.

You can also contribute by making a purchase through our online store. All proceeds for the month of March & April will go directly to our Mental Health Haiti mission trip.

Make a non-tax deductible contribution, through PayPal, for Mental Health Haiti Mission Trip, directly through my website, http://www.krhcc.org/International.html

Upcoming Mission Trips

Mental Health Haiti: April 25-May 9, 2011 – Closed for applicants

Mental Health Haiti: August 22-September 5, 2011 - Application deadline is May 30th. Please click to apply

Thank you for your financial support and prayers!
Blessings abundantly,
Nahomie Moise, LMFT
info@krhcc.org
909-894-6335
www.krhcc.org

Please watch the video below of Dr Minnie Claiborne, author of “Prayer Therapy Stop Hurting”, on TBN talking about emotional healing through Prayer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48qybwrImOU

KRCC online store will have Dr. Minnie’s book for purchase soon. In the mean time to order a copy of “Prayer Therapy Stop Hurting”, go to: http://www.drminnie.net/ 

I specialize in Prayer Therapy and have been trained by Dr. Claiborne. If you are in the Inland Empire area and would like to schedule a session please visit our website: www.KRHCC.org , contact us via email: info@krhcc.org or call 909-894-6335. For Prayer Therapy sessions in the LA county area, please visit: http://www.drminniecounseling.com/ .
 
If you are a Christian, in the body of Christ, suffering silently and alone, know that there is help, hope, peace, and joy available. Just pick up the phone or send an email to us. God has made a way for you to receive healing.

In Christ and through Christ, we find joy, peace, and hope,

Blessings,
Nahomie Moise, LMFT, Certified Life Coach, and Founder of KRCC

www.krhcc.org , info@krhcc.org , (909) 894-6335

 I have been processing my December-January Haiti trip and am still trying to put my observation into words. I found myself speechless about it and with no words to really express myself. This is partly the reason why I did not send out or post a January newsletter. I am speechless. But the questions above posed by someone, forced me, this night, to try to put some of my thoughts, experience, and observation into words. Each time I’ve gone to Haiti this past year, I’ve found myself returning speechless and not really excited or wanting to share my experiences or perception of Haiti with others. I stumble over my words and can’t articulate my experience. My experiences in Haiti is like a new born child that needs to be kept, loved on, protected,  and tended to prior to exposing it to the rest of the world. So please be patient with me in not sharing more about my experience in Haiti. But for now, here is a little bit to chew on.

I am originally from Haiti, a very poor and corrupt country, where life is very difficult for the majority of the people. I had the opportunity to visit Haiti 3 times this past year and found the living condition to be quite challenging. If I were to be poor and living in a developing country like Haiti, my life style and level of comfort would be quite different. There are numerous things that I do now that I would not be able to do. I would not be able to communicate so frequently with friends throughout the world via the internet. I would not be able to spend hours talking on the phone because cost of telephone charges would be too expensive. I would not be able to stay out late at night for leisure activities because of blackout and safety concerns on the streets. I would not be able to drink purify water, use a running shower, or a flushed toilet. But instead, I would drink contaminated water, bathe outside in the open with a small plastic tub filled with well water, and use an outhouse with no door and only a steel sheet for privacy.

I would not be able to go where I please and when I please because I would not have my own car. Public transportation would be too expensive and scarce; and at times I might be subject to windstorms, dust storms, rainstorm, or the heat, by day or night, as I take the long miles walk home from the city. I would walk to most destinations. I would not be able to see a doctor right away and would have to wait at least a couple days just to see a doctor. Once I see the doctor, they may not know what is wrong with me and I may be prescribed medications that I can’t even afford. I would not be able to eat three times a day, most of the time. I would not be able to save my food till the next day because there would be no refrigerator or microwave around. I would not be able to continue with my education because poverty would force me to forsake school in order to take a low paying job or sale merchandize just to put food on the table. I would not be able to marry at a young age, and may not even marry at all, because it takes years for a young man to find a job and save for marriage. Lastly, I would not be able to travel to other cities in my own country, let alone travel the world, because of lack of opportunities and extra money.

If I were to be living in Haiti, poor, I would need to be a survivor, a fighter, and one who is able to endure hardship and not crumble. I would have to find ways to entertain myself because I would have no one or available technology like a computer or iphone to entertain me. I would need to learn how to make friends and maintain communication without the use of technology.  I would need to be able to educate myself without the help of a teacher or a classroom. I would need to not be modest if I wanted to take a shower or go to the bathroom. I would need to have few personal boundaries and be able to function within a community context in order to survive. I would need to learn how to manage my time in order to get all my activities done during the day and try to get as much done as possible during the 4-8hrs of available electricity.

 I would need to learn how to make herbal remedies for my ailments. I would need to learn how to budget my money and save from very little. I would need to learn to be content with very little.  I would need to learn how to dream and desire bigger things in the midst of nothingness, impossibilities, lack of opportunities for advancement, and disappointments. I would need to be patient. I would need to learn to trust God for provision and my overall well-being. I would need to learn how to lean on God day to day for strengths and guidance to face my daily struggles and depressing circumstances. Lastly, I would need to learn how to have peace and joy in the midst of scarcity, hunger, instability, chaos, and fear on every side.

In conclusion, my life in a developing country such as Haiti, as poor person would be quite different to my current life in the USA.  It would be so drastically different that my description and imagination does not do it justice.

2 weeks providing individual psychotherapy and counseling to a local community in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

We are looking for 3-4 mental health professionals (lay counselors, pastors and nurses with mental health background, marriage and family therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, interns) to join our team

What you will be doing and who you will be working with

Primarily, providing individual therapy/prayer ministry to individuals, male and female, ages 18-90 (primarily).

You will be working primarily with Christians and Professed Christians, and few non-Christians

Primarily dealing with problems of daily life, spiritual and moral issues, and some psychiatric illnesses and earthquake trauma

Cost of trip: $2,500

Trip coast include: Round trip Airfare from LAX to Port-au-Prince Haiti, lodging in Miami (inbound and outbound) if needed, travel Insurance, accommodation cost while in Haiti (Housing, meals, laundry, interpreter, transportation, ministry costs, and miscellaneous activities)

Important Dates

February 15th: Application deadline

February 16^th – 22^nd phone interviews

February 28^th: $1000 trip deposit is due

March 28^th: deadline for full payment

March 7^th- April 22^nd:  Mission Training (1-2 times a week)

April 25-May 9^th: Mission Trip

May 30th: Application Deadline for August 22nd-September 5th, 2011 Trip

Cancellation policy

$1000Trip deposit: there is a $225 non-refundable fee, and only $775 will be refunded to you if you cancel prior to full payment

After full- payment: the $1000 deposit will be transferrable (to another trip or person) but non-refundable. Only $1500 will be refunded to you.

Criteria/qualification for applying

Mental health professionals (counselors, MFTs, psychologist, psychiatrist, pastors and nurses with Clinical background)

Southern California residents

Able to meet 1-2 times a week for training

Know God is calling you to go to Haiti

Willingness to be uncomfortable in order to help others

Ability to be patient and flexible, and go with the flow

Ability to be compassionate, gentle, non-judgmental, and yet able to speak truth into people

Understanding of biblical principles and ability to incorporate biblical truth into therapy sessions

Ability to minister to people through prayer

Haitians, especially those who speak some-to-fluent Creole are highly encouraged to apply

Non-Christians interested in international work are encouraged to apply

Ability to return to Haiti for follow up is a plus

How to apply

Please submit the following

1. Resume or CV
2. 1 photograph (headshot or full length)
3. $25 non-refundable application fee.
   1. If submitting your application online, this fee can be paid via Paypal to info@krhcc.org and in memo box add, your full name and “Haiti Application Fee”.
4. 1-2 page personal biography including
   1. Your full name, date of birth, mailing address, phone number, email address, and date of trip on top margin
   2. A description of  who you are (including your personality,  strength and weaknesses, hobbies, talents, etc)
   3. A brief description your relationship with self (your mental and spiritual well-being)
   4. A brief description of your relationship with people in your life (family, friends, co-workers, etc)
   5. Brief testimony of your walk with Jesus Christ (Your faith, life style, beliefs, etc)
   6.  An example of past or current struggle (can be weakness or sin, hardship, problems, etc) and what you have learned (or are learning) through it
   7. Your reason for wanting to go to Haiti, and why you believe God is calling you to go
   8. What you have to offer the people in Haiti other than your professional skills
   9.  Lastly, describe your life purpose in one word, phrase, or sentence (if you do not know yet, please include a brief explanation).
5. 2 letters of personal references: 1 from a family member (can be parents, spouse, child, etc.) and 1 from non-family (friend, pastor, boss, teacher, etc). Letters to include
   1. Applicants full name, mailing address, email address, and phone number
   2. A description of applicant’s personality, including his/her strengths and weaknesses
   3. A description of your relationship with applicant
   4. A description your observation of his/her interaction and relationship with others (family, friends, others in community, etc)
   5. A description of your observation of applications personal relationship with Jesus Christ
   6.  Reason why you believe applicant should be considered for this mission trip to Haiti
   7. Please do not mail reference separately. But return to applicant for submission with rest of application packet

Please submit complete application packet (resume/CV, biography, photograph, references, and fee) via email or mail

Email: info@krhcc.org  if sending via email, fees can be paid via PayPal to info@krhcc.org and in memo section add your full name and “Haiti Application Fee”

Mailing address:

 P.O Box 12093

 San Bernardino, CA 92423

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Nahomie Moїse, LMFT via email info@krhcc.org or phone: 909-894-6335.

Application process

Once your application is received, you will be contacted via email or telephone regarding your phone interview.

1-3 days after your phone interview, you will receive a letter via email regarding our decision.  Please note that if not on this trip, there will be other opportunities for you to go to Haiti with us including our summer trip scheduled for August 22-September 5, 201.

I look forward to receiving and reading your applications.

Nahomie Moїse, LMFT

What exactly is Depression?

Depression is serious medical illness that affects one’s mood, mind, body, behaviors, relationships, and daily functioning. There are different types of depression and Major Depression is the most common form, where symptoms persist over a 2 week period and are as follows:  

• Depressive mood (feel sad or empty, irritable mood in children/adolescents)
• Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities ( decrease in sexual arousal and desire);
• Increase or decrease in appetite (significant weight lost or weight gain when not dieting);
• Insomnia (unable to fall asleep or stay asleep), hyper-somnia (excessive sleep)
• Psychomotor agitation or retardation (restless, or being slowed down)
• Fatigue, tiredness, or loss of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness, or excessive or inappropriate guilt
• Problem with concentration (difficulty collecting your thoughts, thinking, or indecisiveness)
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideations, or suicide attempt. (DSM IV TR, 2000).

Multiple factors contribute to the development of depression: from one’s biology and personality (temperament), to genetic (predisposition – family history of depression/psychiatric illness), environmental factors (stress, economic hardship, etc), and other psychological factors such as trauma, etc.

Depression is quite common in the USA and affects 1 in 10 adults per year, which is approximately 18 million people having at least 1 episode of major depression per year (Nami.org 2009). Depression is no respecter of ethnicity, gender, or age. Both men and women are susceptible to the illness. But women are twice as likely to suffer from depression, with an estimated 1 in 8 women experiencing depression at least once in their lifetime.  Infants, children, adolescents, and elderly are also susceptible to the illness. Unfortunately two thirds of adults in USA that suffer from depression do not receive treatment, which increases the likely of hood of recurrence of the disorder. (Nami.org, 2008). Depression is not a hopeless case. It is treatable.

Types of Treatment

Outpatient treatment

To seek professional help, under your local director, look for community mental health centers, private outpatient clinics, and private therapist, psychiatrist, or counseling centers.  You can also talk with your medical doctor, nurse, teacher, pastor, spiritual advisor, or employer for appropriate referrals.

3 types of clinical treatment available: Medication, Psychotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).  People with major depression tend to respond best to a combination of medication and psychotherapy. (Nami.org, 2008). Outpatient treatment typically consists of one to two 50 minute sessions per week. It can be more or less often depending on severity of symptoms and treatment provider.  Cognitive Behavioral therapy is an evidenced-based method of psychotherapy most commonly used with helping depressive clients.

Inpatient treatment

Untreated and only partially treated depression raises the risk of suicide. Co-occurring substance abuse, especially alcohol raises the risk (Nami.org, 2008). Psychiatric emergency and need for hospitalization maybe necessary if you are experiencing the followings:

• You are at risk of harm to yourself
• You are violent towards your children or others;
• You are engaging in bizarre and unusual behaviors;
• You are hearing voices or having visions,
• You are convinced of things that aren’t true or rational. (Nami.org, 2008).  

In the event that you are experience these symptoms, you can check yourself-in at a local emergency room by going in yourself or having a family member take you, or call 911. Duration of inpatient treatment can range from a few hours (until you are stable) to a 72 hour involuntary hold, to 2 weeks, or longer, depending on severity of symptoms and speed of recovery.

Signs that you are in need of professional help:

• Difficulty engaging in daily tasks (chores, eating, bathing) and getting out of bed
• Difficulty carrying for your children needs
• Excessive drinking of alcohol or other drug use to feel better
• Significant change in your personality
• Violent outburst and uncontrollable anger
• Your depression is getting more severe, including suicidal thoughts/attempts

Other Options

Churches and religious communities often have different programs (healing and prayer ministry) that you might find beneficial to decreasing depression and improving overall mental health

Helping Yourself

There are number of things that you can do to manage stress and depression. The first is to take care of yourself by eating well, exercising, engaging in relaxing and enjoyable activities, and getting adequate sleep. Also, managing your time realistically and developing realistic expectations for yourself. Surrounding yourself with a strong and reliable support network in the form of healthy relationships such as friends, family, church/community groups, and clubs. Set time aside periodically to process and work through negative/positive emotions, and experiences. Lastly, developing and building on your connection with God through prayer, reading of the Word, meditation, singing, and fellowshipping with others, and serving.

For more information on depression, other form of psychiatric illnesses, and support networks, visit: www.nami.org

For treatment options or referrals through Kingdom Reality Healing & Counseling Center visit: www.krhcc.org

Blessings to all who may be suffering from feelings of dejection, sadness, or disappointments in this hour. May your heart be filled with the oil of gladness, that is available through Jesus Christ (Isaiah 61:1-3)

Nahomie Moїse, LMFT

References

American Psychiatric Association (2000). “Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4^th ed. TR). Washington, D.C: Author

Nami.org (2008). “Women and Depression”. Retrieved on November 26, 2010 from URL http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/FINALWomensDepressionBrochure.pdf

Nami.org (2009). “Women and Depression”. Retrieved on November 30, 2010 from URL http://www.nami.org/Content/Microsites316/NAMI_PA,_Cumberland_and_Perry_Cos_/Discussion_Groups559/No_Active_Discussion_Groups_for_this_Site/FINALWomensDepressionBrochure.pdf

            I first heard of prayer therapy through a friend who went through Dr. Minnie Claiborne’s lay counselor training. I had never heard of prayer therapy and thought that it was probably another Christianize fancy word for a secular model of treatment.  But once, I started the prayer therapy training with Dr. Claiborne and her assistant Evy, I realized this was not just another inner healing model, plain prayer, or another Christian model of counseling, but something different and very powerful, and anointed.

            What exactly is prayer therapy and where does it originate? Prayer as a form of healing is nothing new to the modern or the ancient world. It is something that people, knowingly and unknowingly, have been practicing for the relief of stress and distress for centuries among all people groups. The Bible, especially the book of Psalms, has numerous records of people petitioning God for things and crying out to Him in time of distress. God, Himself, commanded us to pray for healing for ourselves and our land (2 Chronicle 7:14). In the New Testaments, we see Jesus using prayer as part of his healing ministry; and the Apostle Peter stated, “If anyone among you suffering? Let him pray…” (1 Peter 5:13-15).

            Prayer therapy as a specific therapy model and technique utilized in the clinical therapeutic setting did not evolve until around 1960s and early 1970s. Prayer therapy was studied and founded by Dr. William Parker from the University of Redlands, and later one of his students, Dr. Doyle Edson, joined him in his work. The original prayer therapy model that developed at the University of Redlands is still in practice this day  by Dr. Doyle Edson, in Newport Beach, CA. (Prayertherapy.com, 2010).  Dr Parker’s  model and other prayer therapy models practice in the Clinical setting (or ministry setting), “seeks to target the spirit, primarily, to ensure spiritual well being that establishes greater potential for a healthy body and mind.” (wisegeek.com, 2010).  

            The prayer therapy model practiced by Dr. Claiborne differs from the other general models of prayer therapy.  The main difference is that this model does not just seek to ensure spiritual well-being, but it is “for the purpose of emotional and mental healing and wholeness” and “engages the person’s soul (mind, will and emotions) in a conscience process of transformation, rather than just praying to be healed” (Claiborne, M., 2010). Dr. Claiborne teaches that the spirit does not need healing and is free, but the soul is the seat of wounds and pain, and prayer therapy is used to bring about healing in the soul. This model seeks to work with roots of problems and not just symptoms; and include the 7 secrets which help the individuals gain a better understanding of the root of their problem. Understanding the root of the problem through the 7 secrets serves as a map for the client and for the therapist on the focus of each session.

            Prayer is used, not just to engage the client, pray for, teach them how to pray, or guide them in prayer, but it is used as an instrument, a tool for exploring the heart’s (soul) past, present or future distress and stress to bring about healing.  The therapist (Clinician) serves as a facilitator or a coach in helping the client utilize prayer as a tool of understanding the self, exploring feelings, and releasing those feelings.  The therapist neither tells the person how to prayer or manipulate the prayer to bring about an intended result. Rather, the therapist creates the context and the invitation for the Holy Spirit to come in as He will, through prayer as an instrument, to help the person explore and solve their problem.  In this model, most of the talking is between the client and God, and the therapist is the facilitator.

 Dr. Claiborne teaches that there are 3 types of prayer that can be utilized in the therapy context, depending on the issue or where the person is at. The first type is passive or General prayer – this is when the therapist prays for or with the person for strength or for the person to be comforted. The second type is Partial Therapeutic Prayer – this type of prayer utilizes a prayer or scripture to provide logical insight to a situation, but it does not analyze, bring healing, or relief to the emotions. The third type is Holistic Therapeutic Prayer – this type of prayer is concern with all factors of human make-up (spirit, soul, body) and gives vent, voice and prayer to the silent, often subconscious thoughts, feelings, emotions, and arguments that often sabotages one’s faith and life (Claiborne, M., 2010). This model comprise of 4 steps that the person has to go through, in the order given and thoroughly, and is known is CARRY: Cry out, Ask, Receive, Release, and Yield.  This is a very simple and yet effective and powerful model.  Once the client learn the model, he or she can practice it on his/her own.

            Prior to using this model with a client, the Clinician should experience for his/herself the model, how it works and its effect. I had the opportunity of doing the model with Dr. Claiborne and experiencing it gave me a different perspective than when I previously heard about it.  By experiencing it for myself, I was able to see how simple the steps are as well as how hard it can be to actually use prayer as a tool of self-exploration, identification of an expression of feelings. It helped me experience some of the barriers and difficulty a client might face in expressing their feelings to God.

            It also helped me see the power of inviting the Holy Spirit to do His job with the person, rather than the Clinician trying to bring about words or saying things that he or she thinks might be helpful.  During the CARRY technique, I received revelation about myself and light was shed on things that I was not aware of before,  and on things that I was aware of and didn’t realize how deep or how impacting they were. I also received revelation that only God Himself could have revealed to me, and if Dr. Claiborne had voiced them to me (as you would in a normal therapy session) or prayed them for and over me, I would not have received it as well nor would it have been as powerful. This technique is powerful because it is not just about praying to God or an unknown higher power, but it is an invitation to the God head to come and heal. In this model the Christian therapist’s job is truly pointing people to the Wonderful Counselor (Jesus) and the rest is up to the person and God.

            This model differs from other Christian model of treatment and secular model of treatment in that it intentionally invites God to come in and shine light on the situation. Compare to other therapeutic models, this model is much simpler and the basic theory of understand the problem is very simple. What would have taken a Clinician using secular techniques multiple sessions (even months) to discover, took only a matter of minutes. This model requires work and willingness from the client to engage in and reach out for their healing. It is not about the Clinician being the expert but about the client doing the work.  But mostly, this model looks at mankind as a whole and gives in opportunity for the healing of the whole person.

            This model is simple, yet effective. I look forward to utilizing it in my practice. I plan to offer prayer therapy as solely, as separate method of treatment to those who want it, as well as incorporate it in other form of treatment method. 

Thank you Dr. Claiborne for being attentive to the Holy Spirit in creating this model that will bring hope and healing to so many.

To schedule a prayer therapy session, visit www.krhcc.org

References
            Clairbone, M., Personal Communication, Novembe 15, 2010. (http://www.drminnie.net).
         Latimes.com (1993). “Orbituaries William R. Parker; Prayer Therapy Advocate”. Retrieved on November 17, 2010 from URL http://articles.latimes.com/1993-02-24/local/me-466_1_prayer-therapy
        Prayertherapy.com (2010). “W. Doyle Edson, MA., M.Div., Ph.D. Prayer Therapy Director”. Retrieved on November 17, 2010 from URL http://www.prayertherapy.com/index.html
        Warren, D. A. (2003). “Prayer as Therapy”. Retrieved on November 17, 2010 from URL <a href=”http://ficotw.org/prayerastherapylesson.html

         Wisegeek.com. (2010). “Prayer Therapy”. Retrieved on November 17, 2010 from URL http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-prayer-therapy.htm 

Author:  Nahomie Moise, MS, LMFT
Kingdom Reality Healing & Counseling Center
November 20, 2010