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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
Hey JoeyJoeJoe!
I think meeting at a bowling alley is perfect. Many bowling alleys also have classrooms and might be the best place to get going. I could be wrong but believe bowling alleys would welcome a group who would meet regularly, bowl as part of their ritual, consume white russians and oat sodas, and bring the laid back jocularity of the group to their business.
How did you meet others in you area (remind me where you live) who were interested in meeting once per month?
Best,
Russell
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.
