I chose abidance counseling because I want to help people work abidance into their lives. I have a BA in Geography, Anthropology, and Film; a Master’s in Public History; and a Master’s in Teaching. This is my first PhD, and I’m pretty proud.

I have been working on integrating Dudeism into my fields.  How are some Dudely ways we can work abiding into other fields? I found teaching often embodied the more Walter-esque views of the world, and I really struggled with my teaching program because of it.

I’ve worked as a k-5 teacher and mentor for high school students for the past 4 years or so and feel as though there’s a lot of tension in young people’s lives that benefits from abidance.

I often think that the transmission of abiding wisdom is essential to spiritual growth, emotional wellbeing and awareness.

Discuss 🤔

I’m a Nazarene Minister since 2014, and a Dudeist Priest since 2017. I actually found Dudeism before watching TBL through a series of flukes. My mission is to help people find their own healthy ways to chill out and abide in this world gone mad, and help the Church reclaim it’s original purpose of spreading peace and love, not hate and condemnation.

I got my start in Abidance Counseling prior to Dudeism while working at a Homeless shelter, where I was trained and certified by local police in Crisis Intervention. Now I’m just trying to study and learn as much as I can about whatever I can, so I can do the best I can for whoever I can. Am I wrong?

-Fezzik

First of all, I love NYC. My special lady friend and I were just there a couple of weeks ago and saw The Band’s Visit. Highly recommend. Also, I did some special training there at The Albert Ellis Institute which probably gives you a sense of my counseling orientation.

We/I currently live in Libertyville north of Chicago but we also have a very small condo in Wrigleyville so that a can regularly visit another great religious passion of mine (a baseball shrine if you will).

Unitarian Universalists are a very varied lot. I think often parish ministers can be the first they tell their problems to (from the mundane to the concerning) and we will then often refer out after two-three meetings. There are sometimes, in larger christian congregations (UU churches are often quite small), where there is a staff person who is dedicated to pastoral care and are licensed to do long term therapy. I could have gone that direction but chose the parish instead. There are a couple of organizations (The Samaritan Institute & The American Association of Pastoral Counselors) that also do some specialized training though most will have gone through special training in seminary/divinity school.

UUs are all over the spectrum with their beliefs. Some who like the teachings of Jesus but do not believe he was a god, some who follow Buddhist ideas, many are former Jews, and about 1/2 (myself included) who are specifically nontheistic/humanist/atheist. Try giving a sermon to this group each week. Sounds exhausting, right👍🏽

Russell

Also, how are you using this stuff now that you’re in the Midwest??

Oh and Joey, don’t discount how impactful you can be even just in dealing with insurance companies. They have a thankless job where Walters are often yelling at them, so some chill dudeliness will probably help the patients seen at the clinic get better benefits and care the more you’re able to abide and be dudely and chill with them. I know I always have to get limber and centered before making those treatment-review calls. If I’m not defensive and just normal, they almost always agree with me, as long as it’s reasonable.

Anyway, cheers dudes! Have a great holiday and New Years 😎