ERI and Spiritual Disciplines: Helping Clients Manage Anger, Anxiety & Depression

About This Course

John 10:10 says that Christ has “come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” The sad reality is that most people, including Christians, are not living or enjoying the “abundant” life that the Lord designed them to experience. Emotional and Relational Intelligence and Spiritual Disciplines: Helping Clients Manage Anger, Anxiety, and Depression will address treating the major mental health issues of anxiety, depression, and social isolation by discussing emotional and relational intelligence and spiritual formation. In this course, you will learn the specific diagnostic criteria for each disorder and then, using the ERI modality, learn biblically informed practical and precise ways to help individuals dealing with these significant mental and emotional concerns. At the conclusion of this course, participants will gain significantly expanded therapeutic “toolkit” to increase their effectiveness with a wide range of clients.

Learning Objectives   

  Participants will: 

1. Analyze the practical implications of the Imago Dei and the process of sanctification in helping people change and become growth-focused, as well as review recent research (Killen, Panksepp, Siegel) on how three, specific neural pathways can become dominant in our lives, which influence personality development 
2. Outline the core distinctives of Emotional and Relational Intelligence (ERI)—what it is, what it isn’t, why it matters, and how it relates to personal, interpersonal, and spiritual maturity—and how ERI can equip and empower people to grow and become more successful  
3. Identify the diagnostic criteria for anxiety, depression, and social isolation, as well as specific and practical ways that biblical insights, psychological research, and some recent developments in Interpersonal Neurobiology can, through the ERI modality, help effect meaningful growth and increased health in clients 
4. Identify key factors of self-awareness in emotional and relational intelligence (ERI) and spiritual formation that can be utilized to facilitate, connect, and intervene in therapy with clients  
5. Apply psychologically oriented neurobiological approaches that empower clients to manage and resolve symptoms of anger, anxiety, and depression  
6. Describe and utilize techniques that use cognitive behavioral intervention, spiritual sensitivity to clients’ religious beliefs, forgiveness, interpersonal and intra- personal strategies and systemic approaches, and how to engage and treat difficult cases 

Presenters  Gary Oliver, Ph.D., is a husband, father, university and seminary professor, psychologist, author, and Professor of Psychology and Practical Theology at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. He received his B.A. from Biola University, an M.Div. from Talbot Theological Seminary, a Th.M. from Fuller Theological Seminary, and an M.A. and a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. He is a licensed clinical psychologist in both Arkansas and Colorado.   Fred DiBlasio, Ph.D., is an author, professor, researcher and therapist. He is recognized for his clinical work in forgiveness, personality disorders, and clinical intervention with Christian clients. Dr. DiBlasio is a professor of the School of Social Work at the University of Maryland.

Course Lessons and Descriptions 

ERI  101:  Introduction of Emotional and Relational Intelligence   

Gary Oliver, Ph.D., Th.M. In this lesson, 

Dr. Oliver will introduce the topic of emotional and relational intelligence and discuss the ERI model of maturity, which is affected by neurobiology. 

Runtime: 1 hour 38 minutes 12 seconds

ERI  102:  The Skills of a Healthy Counselor: Part 1  

Gary Oliver, Ph.D., Th.M.

In this lesson, Dr. Gary Oliver will introduce skills that every counselor needs to be a healthy, effective people helper, such as emotional self-awareness.

Runtime: 48 minutes 57 seconds

ERI  103:  The Skills of a Healthy Counselor: Part 2  

Gary Oliver, Ph.D., Th.M.

In this lesson, Dr. Gary Oliver continues discussing skills that each counselor needs to be a healthy, effective people helper, such as emotional control.

Runtime: 59 minutes 21 seconds 

ERI  104:  The Skills of a Healthy Counselor: Part  3  

Gary Oliver, Ph.D., Th.M.

In this lesson, Dr. Gary Oliver will continue discussing the skills that every counselor needs to be a healthy, effective people helper, such as empathy, and will introduce how mental health professionals can improve their empathetic responses to their clients.

Runtime: 35 minutes 54 seconds 

ERI  105:  Elaboration on Spiritual Formation  

Fred DiBlasio, Ph.D.

In this lesson, Dr. Fred DiBlasio will discuss the foundations of spiritual formation in addressing anger, anxiety and depression.

Runtime: 39 minutes 7 seconds 

ERI  106:  The Skills of a Healthy Counselor: Part  4

Gary Oliver, Ph.D., Th.M.

In this lesson, Dr. Gary Oliver will wrap up his discussion on the skills that every counselor needs to be a healthy, effective people helper, such as managing relationships, and how the ERI modality can use stress the way God intended.

Runtime: 1 hour 8 minutes 27 seconds 

ERI  107:  Holy Habits and Spiritual Formation 

Gary Oliver, Ph.D., Th.M.

In this lesson, Dr. Gary Oliver will discuss the biblical foundation of the spiritual formation process and “holy habits” for every mental health profession.

Runtime: 53 minutes 46 seconds 

ERI  108:  Deeper Dive into the Wonderfully and Fearfully Made Brain 

Fred DiBlasio, Ph.D.

In this lesson, Dr. Fred DiBlasio will discuss neuroplasticity, neurobiology and the “fearfully and wonderfully” made brain.

Runtime: 1 hour 5 minutes 30 seconds 

ERI  109:  Selected Clinical Techniques for Anger, Depression and Anxiety Symptoms  

Fred DiBlasio, Ph.D.

In this lesson, Dr. Fred DiBlasio will discuss many different clinical techniques that can be used in treating anger, depression and anxiety symptoms.

Runtime: 1 hour 19 minutes 20 seconds 

ERI  110:  Personality Disorder and Anger, Depression and Anxiety  

Fred DiBlasio, Ph.D.

In this lesson, Dr. DiBlasio will discuss personality disorders and their effect on anger, depression and anxiety.

Runtime: 1 hour 13 minutes 15 seconds  

ERI  111:  The Nature of Depression and Anxiety  

Fred DiBlasio, Ph.D.

In this lesson, Dr. DiBlasio will discuss the nature of mood disorders and anxiety disorders as they affect client’s emotional intelligence.

Runtime: 25 minutes 50 seconds 

ERI  112:  Emotional Relational Intelligence in Clinical Practice 

Gary Oliver, Ph.D., Th.M. and Fred DiBlasio, Ph.D.

In this lesson, Dr. Gary Oliver and Dr. Fred DiBlasio will discuss spiritual formation and spiritual disciplines of the therapist and how to integrate these into clinical work and discuss techniques to implement with clients around the issues anger, anxiety and depression.

Runtime: 1 hour 11 minutes 25 seconds

Course Presenters

Gary Oliver, Ph.D., & Fred DiBlasio, Ph.D.,

Continuing Education   

American Association of Christian Counselors has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7543. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. American Association of Christian Counselors is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

The American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) is an Approved Continuing Education CE provider by the International Board of Christian Care (IBCC). American Association of Christian Counselors is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

The American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) offers some psychologists, therapists, counselors, social workers and play therapists Continuing Education (CE) credit due for good standing with certain states and a limited number of professional organizations. It remains the responsibility of each participant to be aware of state licensure and CE requirements.  

Participants should check their state and/or local regulations regarding required continuing education hours. For more information Light University Continuing Education programs, please visit: https://lightuniversity.com/continuing-education-statements/