Thinking about mental wellness practice groups
In my past life as an ordained United Methodist elder (pastor), I remember sitting through lots of church meetings or gatherings where it was clear that more care and attention to mental wellness were needed, but between trying to make sure we ended on time regulate my own emotions about the three major agenda items we’d debated, it felt difficult provide it.
I preached sermons that offered mental wellness strategies, fully aware that learning the strategies is the easiest part—the more difficult and meaningful part is figuring out how to practice them in daily life. And I’ve known I’m really limited in how much I can help with that in a sermon.
In my current life as a licensed therapist, I’ve witnessed therapist colleagues try to engage spirituality or faith in ways that are well-intentioned but often miss important power dynamics—dynamics more easily recognized by those formally trained to notice the subtle ways these show up in spiritual settings.
And I’ve felt limited in how I can support an individual whose stress comes from larger, community-wide pressures beyond their control.
I’ve wondered if one way to address all of this would be through Mental Wellness Practice Groups—values-based, skill-building small groups focused on emotional and relational growth.
They’re not therapy and don’t require a diagnosis. Instead, they create space to:
Learn practical skills like managing stress, setting boundaries, or navigating change and conflict
Reflect on how those skills relate to life, faith, and identity
Practice the skills together—sharing experiences and receiving validation or problem-solving support
Grow emotional awareness and resilience over time, supported by community
While I haven’t facilitated one of these groups in an ongoing faith community setting yet, I’ve designed and led small group retreats for clergy that condensed weeks of content into just a few days. In those retreats, I often found myself wishing for more spaced-out time—time for participants to practice, reflect, and integrate new skills into their lives in sustainable ways.
So given all of the info above, I am interested in piloting one or two of these to see if the idea is actually helpful in reality. If you’re interested in piloting one with your community, or just learning more, please be in touch!
