DETAILS
 

The Association of Christian Therapists’ (ACT) vision is to equip healthcare professionals, clergy, and associates to extend the healing presence, heart and mind of Jesus Christ to their colleagues, patients, clients, and institutions. ACT’s mission is to support members with resources to achieve this vision, including healing prayer, mentoring, education and training, fostering their spiritual and professional growth.

The Association of Christian Therapists Annual International Conference is being held at the Marriot Chicago, Shaumburg, IL, Oct 4 – 7, 2012. The theme of this year’s conference is: Where God and Healthcare Meet, “Reconciling Ethical Challenges in Healthcare & Healing: Listening with the Heart of Jesus in the Workplace.”

ACT is seeking participants for a Poster Session to be held on Friday October 5, 2012 at the International Conference. Participants from a variety of disciplines are encouraged to apply: medicine, chiropractic, nursing, counseling and psychotherapy, pastoral care, allied health, healing ministries, health education, etc. Presentations may include: case study, literature review, theory/theology, research, spiritual disciplines integrated with clinical practice.

Poster presentations reflective of the conference theme include but are not limited to the following topic areas:

• Providing accessibility to quality care for those disabled, financially impoverished, marginalized by language and culture, etc.
• Establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries in patient care
• Providing care when patient and provider values conflict
• Patient advocacy- maintaining the humanity of the patient amidst helplessness
• The importance of cultural, religious and gender sensitivity in the patient-provider relationship
• Maintaining quality patient care in a high tech environment
• Reconciling patient care with fiscal/efficiency mandates and limitations
• The impact of care of the body on the whole person and significant relationships
• Addressing the psychological and spiritual impact of disease and injury in hospital care
• How spiritual, emotional and relational healing impact physical health
• How to provide presence to suffering with a listening heart
• Self-care for those engaged in high stress-agenic healthcare environments
• Prevention practices and holistic health: prayer, meditation, nutrition, exercise
• Engaging life and Spirit in secular healthcare environments
• The Holy Spirit’s empowerment for instruction and guidance in clinical practice
• Integrating healing prayer and Christian spirituality in the clinical/hospital context
• The healing impact of teamwork in a clinical or medical setting
• Holistic care for the healthcare provider

Two Tracks:
This year there will be two tracks in our poster competition, Track 1. Students in graduate healthcare programs, and Track 2. Faculty of graduate healthcare programs and/or practicing healthcare providers.

Posters will be evaluated within each Track and prizes awarded to the top three posters in each Track.

Deadline:
Application for submission (see submission form below) is required by 11:59 pm EST, April 1, 2012. No submissions will be taken after this date and time. Abstracts (up to 500 words) will be reviewed by ACT members in the appropriate disciplines and those selected will be presented in the Poster Session on October 5, 2012. For those selected, formatting for the papers and posters will be e-mailed by April 15, 2012. Papers will be due by August 1, 2012. Papers will be juried by members of the appropriate discipline during the poster session. All papers of appropriate quality will be published in a special edition of the ACT Journal, The Journal of Christian Healing (JCH). In addition the following prizes will be awarded to the top three papers/posters in each Track.

1. First place will receive a one year membership in ACT, which includes a subscription to JCH,  and a scholarship for conference fees for the ACT 2012 International Conference.
2. Second place will receive a one year membership in ACT, which includes a subscription to JCH.
3. Third place will receive a copy of the ACT book, Christian Anthropology: The Nature of the Human Person, Human Brokenness and Healing, and a one year subscription to JCH.
 

An individual may NOT submit or appear on more than TWO proposals, either as primary presenter or co-presenter.

Presenters must attend the ACT International Conference and be able to present on October 5, 2011.

Presenters are responsible for all expenses including, but not limited to conference registration fees, travel, lodging, and transportation.

Interested applicants please submit the following required information to Douglas Schoeninger, PhD as an e-mail attachment: doug661@verizon.net

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