ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?
One week ago I started my inspectional reading of Threshold Concepts and Troublesome Knowledge by Jan H. F. Meyer and Ray Land. After 46 pages I was negatively asking, “What in the world is this book about?” In discouragement I placed the book down and was not looking forward to this post. I even thought, this week’s reading is going to set me back emotionally.
Then I started preparing for my Board meeting and decided to watch Robert Coven’s video on Threshold concepts as a Key to Understanding…and all of a sudden, I felt like I was in Times Square on New Year’s Eve!
I began to humbly question myself, “Have I been practicing threshold concepts for the past 18 months.” When I founded Restore Counseling Center, I thought beyond a mere counseling practice. I wrestled with concepts:
- How do we multiply Restore in 22 different areas of the U.S. and 5 places overseas?
- Where are those places in the U.S. and overseas that have severe emotional, neurological, and sexual trauma? Where are those dark places?
- We will be known for dealing with areas the Church has struggled to address for centuries.
- We will hire therapists who once messed up their life, messed up other lives, or who got messed up. Then they took the years to recover, went to school to get their master’s and now want to help others heal just like they did.
- We will hire research therapists to do research on the toughest issues in our community in order to bring hope and healing to our county. Then we will publish our findings in peer related journals and speak at national and international conferences to share how we as a community are dealing with some of the most painful emotional struggles in our area.
Even my NPO is compelling me to go after the severely broken. Those whom the Church rejects because it’s better to reject them in the name of sin, rather than pursue them and get criticized by the “holy.”
The term “threshold concept” emerged from a 2003 study on higher education in classrooms by Jan Meyer and Ray Land, who sought to define and describe high-quality learning environments. What they found was that in many fields, certain — and relatively few — concepts caused a transformative shift in a student’s understanding and appreciation of that field. Meyer and Land named them “threshold concepts” because once a student understands the concept, the student has permanently crossed into a more profound understanding, one that empowers them to connect prior and new knowledge in more sophisticated ways.
According to Meyer and Land, mastering a threshold concept requires the learner to enter an uncomfortable space where they must question what they already know, wrestle with abstract ideas, and seek new ways to organize and process information. As I thought about my NPO, I wrestled with the fact that many of my friends would be considered evangelical and therefore may struggle with my NPO. This struggle is what Meyer and Land referred to as “troublesome to the student.” (Meyer, 158). This is why the very first sentence of Meyer and Land’s book is profound, “A threshold concept can be considered as akin to a portal, opening up a new and previously inaccessible way of thinking about something.” (Meyer, 3). Have I been going through a portal and not even realize it? Do I have what it takes to go through this type of portal? Have I gone through other portals in my life and not been aware of it?
One week ago, I was discouraged by the concept of threshold concepts and this week, I could not get enough of it. It is causing me to think deeply about my calling and giving me the courage to gracefully and intentionally keep moving forward.
Overcoming Student Barrier to Student Understanding: Threshold Concepts and Troublesome Knowledge. (London, UK: Routledge, 2012), 3. https://georgefox.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9780203966273
About the Author
Todd E Henley
Todd is an avid cyclist who loves playing frisbee golf, watching NASCAR, making videos, photography, playing Madden football, and watching sport. He is addicted to reading, eating fruits and vegetables, and drinking H2O. His passion is talking about trauma, epigenetics, chromosomes, and the brain. He has been blessed with a sensationally sweet wife and four fun creative children (one of which resides in heaven). In his free time he teaches at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary and is the Founder/Executive Director of Restore Counseling Center.27 responses to “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?”
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I’m curious to hear more about what threshold concepts you’re currently facing in your work with your counseling center? What are the obstacles to growth as you mentioned being in different areas of the US as well as overseas? How do you work to move people over the “threshold” since you underscored the fact that you’re working in areas the Church has historically struggled to address?
Hello Kim! Thank you for the excellent questions. The obstacles to growth are HUGE! The first one is a person has to be licensed in the state they are practicing in. Therefore, the locations we have pursued are places where we already have connections. But we are also open to God leading us to wherever He desires. Another obstacle is our places overseas. At this time Italy, Jamaica, Guatemala, South Africa, and Haiti are on our radar. The challenge is raising money for potential counselors who grew up and live in those areas to go to school. So far as we team up with each person in those areas, we help them reach their goals based upon their culture while training them in generational trauma…basically how trauma impacts the nervous system, body, brain, and emotions. Once these people are ready to oversee a counseling center based upon their culture and understanding, we will continue to provide any support they need. In fact in 2025 my job title will change from Executive Director of Restore Counseling Center to CEO of Restore Counseling Centers in order to give support and encouragement to other centers that come under our umbrella. There are a few more obstacles too but for the sake of space, I’ll stop there.
Moving people over the threshold is part of my NPO. Historically, evangelical churches have struggled or not even attempted to help men and women who have serious emotional, neurological, and spiritual issues. As a counseling center we are targeting:
1.Christian men/leaders who have affairs with prostitutes, co-workers, or church members.
2.Teenagers and men who molest their own family members or other children.
3.Female girls, teens, and women who have been raped, molested, or been cheated on.
4.Whatever else (AND WE MEAN WHATEVER ELSE) that causes severe emotional and neurological trauma.
It’s rare to see the Church as a whole helping people to heal and recover in these areas. Actually, my NPO will address your last question. Since you understand the American culture and other cultures outside the U.S., any insight would be greatly appreciated!
Just the fact that we are coming alongside people who cause tremendous hurt can cause an issue with many people. That is also a huge obstacle. But so far our community and county, Rome Italy, Guatemala City, and other areas in the U.S. love what we are doing and are getting behind us. We are taking it slow but being intentional.
Oh, finally, I teach Entrepreneurial Leadership at Fresno Biblical Seminary. All my students are from all over the world and those who have a desire to be therapists, want to team up with Restore to accomplish this seemingly impossible task. Kim, I hope I was able to answer your questions. If you need more clarity, please let me know! 😊
Perhaps there are keys to the kind of understanding you are experiencing found within the wording of your blog post. You say: “I began to humbly question myself…”
Humility.
Questions.
These are two huge aspects to understanding threshold concepts. Good work Todd.
I’ll add another key: the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Obviously, Meyer and Land were not approaching the topic with the Spirit of God in mind, and yet, I could not help but imagine the assistance the Holy Spirit brings to the prayerfully curious mind. I sense that level of Spirit-dependence upon and in you Todd.
Blessings upon your endeavors!
Hey John! Thank you for your insight man! And I’m glad you mentioned the Holy Spirit. My first thought was, “Yes, I need to be continually led by the Spirit!” My respect for you and what you say/write is off the charts. I receive it as…gold!😊
Todd,
I enjoy reading about your ministry to individuals who have experienced trauma at the Restore centers. Do you have a center in the Detroit/Ann Arbor area? There is great need here. Just putting that out there.
Recovering from trauma is a huge threshold barrier, and yet the term “threshold barrier” seems too neat of a term when referring to the process it takes to recover and heal from the deep scars that rape, molestation, infidelity, and such wounds against the mind, body and spirit of a person. What might help you discern how to assist the Church in evaluating the current practices in healing/counseling ministry? What practices do you currently see in The Church that need to changed?
Hello Cathy! Thank you for your thought provoking questions! One huge way to help the Church discern is something we are already doing. We are counseling many members who have been traumatized, which has encouraged many local churches to continue to send clients. Second, we are educating the leadership of churches. We help them understand how trauma literally changes a person’s brain, DNA, emotions, and body. This has been extremely beneficial.
A few practices that need to change are:
1. Being cautious about saying reading the Bible and praying will solve our problems.
2. Being cautious about telling abused women that adultery is the only reason they can leave or divorce their husband.
3. Helping congregants to grow emotionally and neurologically and not just spiritually.
4. Have a therapist come in to do a workshop or sermon series on how trauma is passed down epigenetically, which means we all have some type of trauma residing in our nervous system.
5. Work hard to make the church the safest place to share or discuss any issue.
Just a few for now. Cathy, no Detroit is not on our list but whenever someone mentions a place we take it serious because we know, the Lord could be speaking to us. Therefore, Detroit is officially on our prayer list! Thank you friend!😊
Todd,
I appreciate you bringing your ministry/work/doctoral efforts into this discussion. As we noted in our peer group, this week’s reading was “thick” as if each line could be its own book. The book read you, though, and I can sense your renewed motivation as you envision the center.
Oh, Pam, the wise one! Thank you for reading me! Yes, I can tell my motivation has been renewed. Whew! And yet, I’m being cautious because it’s been so long. But grief has expanded my soul and slowed me down to be more contemplative and passionate! I desire your continued prayers.😊
Todd, I keep thinking about what a vulnerable threshold experience it is for clients to walk into the our offices and start talking about things they have never talked to anyone about. It reminds me that we are on holy ground. I can’t think of a scarier threshold to be willingly to step into and how easy it would be to not go there at all. I am blown away with the risks my clients take to embrace healing and transformation. I love the questions you are asking about your counseling practice and the focus you have regarding your NPO. You said, “Even my NPO is compelling me to go after the severely broken. Those whom the Church rejects because it’s better to reject them in the name of sin, rather than pursue them and get criticized by the “holy.”” What are your thoughts about how to encourage church leaders to embrace new ways of thinking about trauma and mental health?
Wow, Jenny! Your response had my heart racing for joy. Yes we are on holy ground…a sacred space…to honor and receive the broken…people just like you and me! I also love your phrase, “clients…embrace healing and transformation.” WOW! That takes soooo much courage! Jenny, we are privileged to be in our calling.
A few ways to help church leaders to embrace new ways of thinking about trauma and mental health:
1. Meeting with church leaders to educate them on how trauma lives in the nervous system and rewires our brain, DNA, emotions, and thoughts.
2. Encouraging pastors to attend mental health festivals to pick up literature and learn.
3. Pastors can have their leadership read a book on trauma/mental and discuss it during their once a month meetings.
4. Have a therapist come in to preach on how trauma is passed down epigenetically, which means we all some type of trauma and need to be healed emotionally and neurologically.
5. Testimonies in church from people who in the process of healing through a mental health challenge to give hope to those who are still full of shame and hiding.
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Jenny, I’m sure you can add so many more. Thank you for your excellent questions!
Todd, Thank you for all those ideas! You have my mind racing for joy a bit too. I do have one more question…What trauma/mental health book would you recommend to pastors? I am fortunate to know several pastors in my town who support their congregants through mental health challenges, but struggle to understand what is happening and how they can come along side wisely.
Hello Jenny! Here are the books I would recommend:
1.The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
2.Moving Beyond Trauma by Ilene Smith
3.Grace for the Afflicted: A Clinical and Bible Perspective on Mental Illness by Matthew Stanford
4.Troubled Minds: Mental Illness and the Church’s Mission by Amy Simpson
5.Ministry with Persons with Mental Illness and Their Families (Second Edition) by Robert Albers
These 5 are must reads for Church leaders.
Todd. Thank you for taking the time to compile these resources! The only one I have read and knew about is The Body Keeps the Score. I will be adding them to my reading list.
Hello Jenny. what books would you recommend, because I would love to read them…of course only when this semester is over. 😊
The best book I first read on trauma was, Trauma and Recovery, by Judith Herman. It gave me a great introduction to trauma. Surprisingly, my counseling degree program did not offer a course on trauma so I had to do an independent study and chose that book as my main text. I have been wanting to read, My Grandmother’s Hands, by Resmaa Menakem. Have you read it?
Hello Jenny! Thank you for that recommendation. It is now on my list! No, I have not red My Grandmother’s Hands but I bought it a few months ago. I’m looking forward to reading it this summer because Menakem understands generational trauma (epigenetics) and how 100% of trauma resides in the nervous system. This is huge to help traumatized people to heal. Maybe we can read it together and discuss it this summer?
Hey Jenny! I just thought of another book that I have been dying to read and it’s on my summer list. It’s called “Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors” by Janina Fisher. She and Bessel van Der Kolk worked together for years. Her book is so excellent, nearly every paragraph is worth gold. Have a wonderful weekend. 😊
Thank you, Todd! I mentioned it to my husband and he told me he had a copy of that book in his office. He does more trauma work than I do. It just got added to my summer reading list!
YESSS! Your husband is awesome!
Thank you for your honesty Todd, I had to go back several times thinking, “What did they just say?” Especially with things outside of my normal discipline.
However, threshold concepts is such a powerful framework for all fields. It helps and reminds us that we are in different places and have barriers to overcome.
The million dollar question for us all is: How can we best work with people in liminal spaces to creative nurturing environments that help people grasp new paradigms ?”
Love what you are doing in your field and have no doubt you will keep paving the way. While we spoke in Cape Town I noticed such a curiosity and openness in you. Happy hunting in your research and innovation. Exciting times!
COME ON ADAM! Ooohhh, I love your insight man and really love your question, “How can we best work with people in liminal spaces to creative nurturing environments that help people grasp new paradigms ?” I have written down your question on a 3×5 card and placed it on my desk!
WORKING ON THOSE NURTURING ENVIRONMENTS, BRO!
Todd, I too am finding that threshold concepts have taken ahold of me and I am looking at the entirety of my life through that lens! However, I haven’t spent much time pondering my NPO through that lens. Your post is encouraging me to do so! Thank you!
Hey Kally! I’m sooo glad my post encouraged you to look to look at your NPO through the lens of threshold concepts. And I’m excited that we are in the same peer group because I get to see your amazing front and sister. YOU GOT THIS, GIRL!😊
“One week ago, I was discouraged by the concept of threshold concepts and this week, I could not get enough of it. It is causing me to think deeply about my calling and giving me the courage to gracefully and intentionally keep moving forward.” It’s as if you took the words right out of my head. I was not looking forward to reading this week’s material. After diving in, I realized that the timing of this book could not have been better. Having the courage to lean in and embrace what I have been called to do is a major step as it relates to this work. For me, this just feels different from anything else that I’ve embarked on. I am excited!
Hey Jonita! I like your words of “leaning in” and “embracing.” You also used the word, “courage” That’s what it takes to lean in and embrace. This definitely sounds like a great adventure for you and I am sooo happy to see someone who is so passionate about life use her gifts, skills, and knowledge! I’m excited for you, Jonita! 😊
Reading your and Jenny’s comments are really rather inspiring. I am new to counseling, coaching and dealing with trauma. I suppose this has lead me to some disastrous reactions. Surprise, 23 years in the US Army has created various elements of trauma (shall we name it PTSD) the pokes through when I least expect it. Recently, I learned two words Respond and React. The difference about 3 seconds. Waiting those three seconds has taken me from REACT to RESPOND (as in first responder). The idea of one human helping another walk through this simple step, has for me, been quite enlightening. My counselor walks with me to help see the path ahead of me. Thanks for your comments. Shalom..Russ
Oooohhh, Russ! Thank you for your vulnerability my dear friend! Working through PTSD is a challenge but when you have a wise counselor it is manageable. In fact, it is obvious you are managing it well. As we spoke a few times in Cape Town, it was obvious you are a mature man who is quite perceptive.
The React to Respond is a great way to re-wire your brain. When we are born, the brain is designed to help us CONNECT with people. But trauma re-wires the brain to PROTECT us from people, even safe people. REACT to RESPOND slows the brain down to re-wire for connection. Keep up the great work sir! You can count on me to pray for you! 😊