Emotions 101 for Catholics: 

Examine Your Emotions in the
Light of Your Catholic Faith

A unique group that will allow you to explore the emotions God gave you so that you can develop a more accurate understanding of the role your emotions play in your life, while increasing your ability to respond to your emotions in a way that helps you grow in your faith.

Rather than feeling burdened by your emotions, Emotions 101 for Catholics will help you to see your emotions as a gift from God meant to aid in discerning God’s will and in fostering more meaningful connections.  Participation in this group will help you increase your awareness of your emotions while developing tools to interpret and respond to your emotions in a way that reflects your Catholic values while aiding you in your quest to fulfill the purpose God has for your life. 

(What transformation will they get? It is not about giving information, it’s about transformation)

Who is Emotions 101 for Catholics
designed for?

Emotions 101 is for Catholics who strive to grow in their faith but feel that despite their efforts they
feel a lack of connection in their relationships with others and with God.

Whether you are: 

  • Finding it difficult to embrace hope because you so often feel down or on edge.

  • Wondering whether there is more to life than what you’re experiencing. Or

  • Struggling to understand what it means to know your true identity in Christ.

You are not alone!

For a multitude of reasons, many of us as children did not receive the message that our
emotions are okay and that our feelings have something important to teach us.

Many Catholics are under the mistaken impression that some emotions are sinful and, if we are pursuing holiness we must control or suppress them. However, God gave us our emotions,
and a more accurate understanding of their role can help us to use our emotions as tools for
living more purposefully, fostering more caring and compassionate connection with others,
and developing a closer more intimate relationship with God.

Emotions 101 for Catholics

Through participation in this group you will learn to

Understand the wonderful way that God made you that allows you to feel emotions 

and learn to interpret your emotions so that we can better understand who God created you to be.

Slow down and calm your anxiety, 

so you can notice how your emotions show up in your body.

Use anxiety as a signal to tune into your core emotions 

and discern how God speaks to you through your emotions.

A Peek Inside

Week #1

Slow down and tune in to your emotions, discover how to calm anxiety, and feel more
connected to yourself, others, and God.

Week #2

Discover how defences can block core emotions and learn how to set aside defences to better access your emotions; get curious about your defences, honouring them for the protection they offer you, while learning to be deliberate and flexible about how and when you use them.

Week #3

Use anxiety as a cue to tune in and validate core emotions, conflicts, and needs,
recognize the physical effects of anxiety, and learn strategies to decrease anxiety
in order to access other emotions. 

Week #4

Differentiate between guilt and shame, discern how to respond to them with virtue and
allow God to dissolve shame by recognizing the radical love he has for you. 

Week #5

Sit with feelings of sadness and recognize that sadness is not “bad,” rather it is an appropriate
and temporary response to loss. Learn the difference between sadness and depression,
assess what you need in response to sadness, and discover important information about
yourself by tuning into your emotions. 

Week #6

Identify the benefits of anger. Practice recognizing and tolerating anger in your body, so that
you can hear what your anger is trying to tell you without becoming overwhelmed. Develop an understanding of what gets in the way of processing anger while learning to work with
anger to set boundaries.

Week #7

Explore the role of expansive emotions, such as joy, pride, gratitude, and excitement. Identify obstacles that get in the way of feeling joy and analyze what our faith says about the appropriate role of pride in the life of a Christian.

Week #8

Find out how to work with your emotions to access an open-hearted state of calm, curiosity, connectedness, compassion, confidence, creativity, courage, and clarity. 

Bonus

Receive a pdf copy of all powerpoint slides so that you can review the Emotions 101 material, continue to practice the skills you learned, and grow in your ability to maintain an open-hearted state.

What’s Included?

  • An 8-week group led by registered psychologist, Jean MacKenzie, based on Hilary Jacob Hendel’s award-winning book, It’s Not Always Depression. 

  • Lessons on the neurobiology of emotions to help you understand how you experience
    your emotions in your body.

  • Experiential exercises where you will be guided through meditations to gently activate emotions without having to tap into or share personal experiences or feelings with the group.

  • Reflections on how what you are learning ties in with your Catholic faith.

  • A Safe Space to escape the distractions of the world to lean into, explore, and ask questions about emotions.

  • Optional homework exercises to deepen your learning and help you grow in your ability
    to access and respond thoughtfully to your emotions.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • As a practicing Catholic, I recognize the importance of having a strong foundation in the teachings of our faith. I see the theory of emotions as presented in the original Emotions 101 program as being in line with the understanding of emotions as presented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. However, there are some applications of this theory in the original Emotions 101 program and in the book, It’s Not Always Depression, that are not in keeping with our faith. In the Emotions 101 for Catholics program, I have adjusted these practices so that they no longer conflict with our beliefs as Catholics. If you have further questions about this matter or would like further clarification, I encourage you to contact me so I can adequately address your concerns.

  • Group participation is encouraged, but optional. If you are not comfortable speaking out in front of the group, you can still benefit a lot from showing up, listening to the teachings, and hearing what other participants have to say.

  • Instead of talking about your past experiences, experiential therapy examines how you perceive and process emotions. This method works because it enables you to become more aware of your emotions as they are happening and to have a more accepting and kind connection with yourself.

  • Group therapy is a more affordable options than one-on-one counselling, with the added benefit of the opportunity to receive feedback from others in a supportive environment.

  • Difficult experiences from our past can often result in unprocessed emotions. When we’re not fully able to process those emotions, distress gets stored in the body in ways that aren't necessarily visible.
    Group therapy can provide a safe, supportive environment where you can tune into your emotions and learn to respond to them more effectively so you can begin healing from the hurts of your past.

If you have been seeking to grow emotionally and spiritually in a way that helps you to better connect with God, yourself and others, the Emotions 101 for Catholics group might be just the thing for you!