Show Notes
Episode 75: MI and Spirituality
Glenn and Sebastian welcomed Sky Kershner to the podcast to discuss MI and Spirituality. Sky is an Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at WVU School of Medicine.
Sky has a Doctor of Ministry degree as well as a Masters in Clinical Social Work. He is the retired Director of KPCC Counseling in Charleston, WV. Sky is a Member of MINT, the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (one of two in WV), and is a MINT Certified Trainer. Sky has trained over 8000 professionals in MI across WV, the US, and abroad.
Sky has received several awards for his professional work, including the WV Civil Rights Award and WV Counselor of the Year. Sky’s biggest “15 minutes of fame” moment is that he once appeared as a guest therapist on the Discovery Studios show “Hoarders.” He is also a contributing author for the book “ACT Therapy for Pastoral Counselors,” edited by Steven Hayes.
Sky is the Pastor at the Unity Church in Charleston and teaches psychodynamics (fear of feelings) to psychiatric residents at WVU School of Medicine, Charleston Division. Sky is an Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) trained practitioner, and is especially interested in the way this approach can help First Responders successfully process difficult images and memories, sometimes in just one session. Sky’s presentation topics include Optimism and Resilience, Spirituality and Recovery, Trauma Informed Parenting, Trauma Informed Care, Cultural Sensitivity, and Professional Boundaries for Clergy, and Transitions.
Sky grew up in Eastern Pennsylvania, trained, practiced, and taught in New York City before making West Virginia his home over thirty years ago. Sky lives in Charleston with his wife, two kids in college, and a very little dog.
Episode Index:
Motivational Interviewing and spirituality
Sky Kershner explores Motivational Interviewing and spirituality, drawing on his experience in counselling, psychiatry, ministry and MI training. He considers similarities between pastoral counselling and MI, spiritual experiences in the process of change and ways practitioners can respect beliefs without imposing their own values.
The discussion includes autonomy support, compassion and the importance of meeting people within their own understanding of meaning and change. These themes connect with Empowerment, Acceptance and the Spirit of Motivational Interviewing.
In this episode
0:00 – Opening and episode preview
4:50 – Sky’s introduction and early MI story
15:30 – Pastoral counseling and similarities with MI
26:30 – Spiritual experiences and change
33:00 – Autonomy supportive spirituality
47:30 – Faith as trust
58:20 – Ambivalence in spirituality: Resolution through forgiveness
1:06:30 – Sky exploring artificial intelligence
1:09:31 – End of episode
Links and Contact Information:
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.wv-mi.com
Citation for Quantum Change book referenced in episode
Miller, W.R., & Baca, J.C. (2001). Quantum change: When epiphanies and sudden insights transform ordinary lives. Guilford Press.
Listen to Episode 75
Contact Talking to Change Podcast: [email protected] Glenn: [email protected] Sebastian: [email protected]
BlueSky:
@talkingtochange.bsky.social
@glennhinds.bsky.social
@sgkfromnc.bsky.social
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