Contact: Trudy Johnson, MA, LMFT, 877-283-3493
BUENA VISTA, Colo., Feb. 7, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- "I just want to be a normal person. I'm leaving my husband and the church because I don't want to be in ministry anymore. I want to be a normal person."
These quoted words are by a former pastor's wife counseled by Trudy M. Johnson, MA, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of Colorado.
Ms. Johnson has collected her own data from testing while working with wives of pastors in the intensive counseling through her private practice. These tests reveal a combined average score of 89% on the depressive scale and 85% on the levels of hostility. Basically, many pastors' wives voice a lot of frustration over their inability to "be real."
Trudy Johnson, LMFT developed a counseling curriculum especially for pastors' wives and women in ministry. She uses the curriculum at a new facility for ministry leaders in the heart of the Rocky Mountains called "Sanctuary" (www.SanctuaryBV.com). Ms. Johnson calls the retreats, "A'nesis Retreats™" (an-NEE-sis) after the Greek word a'nesis that means "comfort for the afflicted, relaxation brought about by a source other than oneself, a liberating rest." www.anesisretreats.com
Ms. Johnson combines her experience as a professional therapist, her biblical knowledge and her expertise working with Christian women in crisis in her curriculum called, "The Mask or the Vine." A'nesis Retreats is excited to announce that the curriculum is now available for use as an off-site retreat for wives of pastors or women ministry leaders.
"The Mask or the Vine" curriculum has everything needed for a leader to easily walk three women at a time through the program. "I'm so excited to offer a professional format and easily followed plan to help others mentor and reach out to women in ministry who are in such need for guidance, direction and understanding," says Trudy Johnson.
"While the beautiful Sanctuary setting is ideal for the retreats, it is hard to coordinate schedules and funds to get three women at a time to Colorado, so I decided to bring the retreats to them. I knew I was on the right track when I started getting requests for the curriculum in this format before I finished writing it. The heart of God is reaching out to help these faithful servants who are so isolated and exhausted." Click here for more information.
