Catholic psychologist Greg Bottaro

When Therese Kemp heard Catholic psychologist Greg Bottaro was delivering a workshop in Canberra, the Adelaide student made a 23-hour bus journey to the nation’s capital to meet him.

“While I was studying secular social work, I discovered Dr Greg, and his model integrating faith with anthropology and theology was the missing link for me,” she said.

“I was absolutely determined to attend, regardless of anything, and it paid off. It was one of the highlights of my year – a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

The US-based CatholicPsych founder hosted the Prepared: CatholicPsych Mental Health Response Training workshop as part of his Australian tour, which also included events in Tasmania, Melbourne and Sydney.

International Program Director Shawn van der Linden said the workshop, held at St Benedict’s Parish in Narrabundah on September 21-24, filled quickly. 

“We had almost one hundred people attend, which gives a real indication of the interest – a mix of educators, parish people, youth ministers; a really broad base audience,” he said.

“We had a wonderful reception. Catholics around the country are really wanting an integrated response to mental health, and they are hungry for it.”

Shawn said that looking after someone’s mental health, as a Catholic, meant having a clear understanding of the integration and unity of body and spirit.

“If you’re helping someone and want to support and accompany someone who’s in emotional distress, it’s great to have certain skills. In our Catholic community, we have a way of thinking and believing, and that matters. Sometimes, it can be left out in secular mental health care training without a spiritual understanding of what it means to be human,” he said.

“One of the things we need to build up in the Catholic community is the confidence that you can help people, even people who are distressed. There’s a whole lot you can do. This training is trying to be that first kind of response to equip people and give them that confidence.”

Dr Greg said it was important to intentionally seek opportunities to understand how a person’s spiritual dimension integrates with their physical dimension and to reorient ourselves to a proper understanding of the whole person.

“People are made in the image of God with a spiritual dimension, and if we really want to help them, we need to realise that a deeper training, a deeper appreciation for the ramifications of having a spiritual dimension, needs to be explored,” he said.

“Mental health has been a growing concern for fifty years. Initiatives treating the human person are attempting to solve human problems without understanding who the person really is and what we are made of, which is very different from medical sciences that study material parts of the body.”

Therese said that while she initially thought the workshop content was for professionals, she quickly realised it was relevant to everyone.

“I learned what it means to have an authentic connection with someone and the power of vulnerability,” she said.

“Dr Greg showed us that we all journey alongside people every day in our life, and everyone we encounter is carrying something. Caring for the whole person doesn’t look like putting a face mask on or binge-watching your favourite program. We need to consider what society presents as the band-aid solution versus what the church offers in a holistic way.”