Join us for this 4-week series on Mental Health Awareness at Huguenot Road Baptist Church. Throughout the series, special guest practitioners will help us to be better informed about the critical issues concerning mental health that our churches and families face every day. We will learn more about available resources that can offer help and hope. In addition, starting October 8th, our pastor will launch a four-part series of encouraging and hopeful Sunday messages that will remind us that “We are not alone in this.”
SESSIONS:
October 4: “The Church & Mental Illness – ways the church can offer help and hope”
Rev. Douglas M. Thorpe, Ph.D., LPC, Executive Director, The Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care
Doug Thorpe is Executive Director of the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care, a position he has held since 2014. He is licensed as a professional counselor in Virginia and the District of Columbia and certified as a Gottman Method Couple’s Therapist. Doug has been ordained in the Evangelical Covenant Church since 1986. He served a church in Chicago before returning to Princeton Theological Seminary for a PhD in pastoral theology.
October 11: “When Families Grieve”
Allyson Drake, President & Executive Director, Full Circle Grief Center
Allyson-England Drake founded Full Circle Grief Center in 2008 and she serves as President and Executive Director. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Virginia, Master of Counselor Education degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, and completed post-graduate work in counseling psychology, bereavement, and traumatic grief. She holds a license in School Counseling (preK-12), and she worked as an elementary school counselor for three years. Allyson has worked with grieving children, adults, and families for 18 years, has facilitated numerous grief support groups, led organizational debriefings after a loss, and has developed curriculum for bereavement groups and remembrance programs. Her passion revolves around community bereavement education, and she has presented on grief and loss at numerous professional conferences and educational trainings.
October 18: “Understanding Mental Health and Mental Illness and the Resources that are Available”
Melissa K. Ackley, LCSW, Prevention Services Manager, Chesterfield Mental Health Support Services
Melissa Ackley is the Prevention Services Manager at Chesterfield Mental Health. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Virginia and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. Melissa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 25 years of experience working in the areas of substance abuse prevention, suicide awareness & prevention, mental health promotion, domestic violence, & parent education. She is passionate about promoting behavioral health wellness in our community.
October 25: “Raise Your Voice About Suicide”
Kevin Skellett, Director of Connection at Southside Church of the Nazarene
Kevin Skellett is an ordained pastor, an advocate for suicide awareness and prevention, and a certified John C. Maxwell speaker and coach. Kevin founded the Love Never Ends Ministry, a ministry to parents who have lost a child, after he lost his youngest son to suicide. He gives back to the people in his community by leading a faith-based recovery ministry at his church, volunteering as a police chaplain, and serving as a member of the county Suicide Awareness and Prevention Coalition. Kevin is married to his wife, Sherri, and they have four children and six grandchildren. He enjoys long rides on his bicycle, a good book, and being a life-long learner.
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Grace and peace be with you
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