Starting the conversation

[Doc_McEasy]

 

Hey Dudes!

Glad to see Abide U finally up and running! Gotta say, it’s been worth the wait. It’s obvious how much time and energy have gone into this, and I’ll do my part to make sure it stays more active than the forum over at the general website.

I’ve been ordained since 2011, and am a clinical psychologist in NYC. So this is actually my second PhD. The real one took 6 years to earn, and so far, this one wins hands down in the ease and fun categories. I chose “abidance counselor” or whatever, since I sneak dudeist principles into my clinical work all the time. I have a full time private practice working with mostly achievers, perfectionists, and the very, very stressed. So there’s lots of need for abiding and taking it easy…

So, for others who want to dig into that specialty or the psychochemistry one, what should we talk about? Any way I can help you dudes be more supportive and healing in your daily lives? Pose some questions and I’ll do my best to share what I know, and I’m sure I’ll learn plenty from you dudes too.

Doc

[JoeyJoeJoe]

I did not receive my degree in Abidance Counseling, as I feel like that I’m not at that point yet. I am very interested in this topic though. I feel like this department is basically Dudeism Dissemination and I totally dig it. I too, was ordained back in 2011 and I happen to also work in the behavior health field (in accounts receivable) so I feel like we have a bit in common! I’d love to be part of conversations here, if you’ll have me.

 

Joey Joe Joe

[Doc_McEasy]

Hell yeah Joey!
I’m curious about your job. So do you work in a clinic or hospital or something? Do you have any contact with the patients? Because honestly you can do a TON of good just by being kind and patient around the billing process, since between insurances and their struggles it’s often sooooo confusing and frustrating. A little abiding help from the dude who handles the billing can go a long, helpful way.

[JoeyJoeJoe]

I work for a large clinic, multiple facilities. I’m in the admin building. My patient contact is solely on the phone and billing related. I try to keep it dudely at work. It gets frustrating because I’m the guy dealing with the insurance companies. I do my best to help people understand what’s going on. I’ve found that most of the time folks are just frustrated and confused and need to vent first, then I can help them out.Ah hell I’m rambling. Take er easy dude 

[RevRuss11]

I’m licensed as a counselor in Texas where I previously lived, have a doctorate in pastoral counseling, and am also ordained as a Unitarian Universalist minister. I abide north of Chicago. Would love to help if it’s not too exhausting.

[Doc_McEasy]

Awesome, RevRuss. Where are you north of Chicago?? I was born and raised in Rockford and went to UW Madison for college before pointing my wagons eastward for grad school in NYC. Always wondered about pastoral counseling…how’d you use/practice that? Like in what setting, with what kind of issues?? I did my dissertation and grad research on religious and spiritual development with adolescents and how that predicted life satisfaction and positive psychology outcomes, and then when out in NYC I’ve worked a lot with Orthodox Jews (shomer shabbos!!) and other religious communities. I love talking about the deep, existential stuff, so I’ve wondered about how exactly that’d fit in the pastoral counseling wheelhouse.

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 😎

[RevRuss11]

Hey DocMcEasy!

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

[fezzik092]

Hey Dudes! I’m here repping the Christian dudes just trying to Abide in Christ. This world’s gone mad, and we all just need to chill out a little, ya know?

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

[Brotherd]

Hey fellow Dudents and wiser fellers, I may not have an actual PhD, but I’m more than happy to discuss abidance and abiding theory.

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

Discuss 🤔

[MattPuccioJr]

What are some methods and supplemental reading that y’all use when counseling abidance?

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.

[StevenUniverse]

Heyo. I’d like a little bit of advice on how to abide. I’m able to put myself in that chill state of mind, but sometimes I can get really stressed. Any and all advice is appreciated.

[larkinmarie]

Hello,

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.

[yin_scorpion]

It is awesome to hear so many Dudes integrating their Dudeliness into their work. I struggle (and always have) to keep a Dudely mindset when the crazy of this world starts an uproar. I would love to know how individuals connect to their Dudeliness throughout the day.

[Author]

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