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frequently asked questions
Ministry Services
Q: I am counseling with/ministering
to/supporting an abuse survivor and I need Dr. Hawkins’ help. Is it possible to
speak with him by phone? Can I bring the survivor to him for help?
A:
You can call Sheila, his Administrative Assistant, and she will help you and/or
arrange any necessary consultations. 540-249-9119
Q: How do I get an appointment with Dr. Tom Hawkins?
A:
Tom offers one-to-one consultations with therapists, pastors, prayer ministers,
and lay counselors who encounter difficulty in bringing healing to abuse
survivors. These consultations can be conducted by phone or in person. As time
is available, he is willing to work directly with the survivor for one to three
days as long as the primary ministry person/therapist
is also present, both to learn and to carry on the healing journey after the
consultation. Counselors can call or email Sheila, his Administrative
Assistant, to request/schedule these personal ministry appointments at
540-249-9119 or
Sheila@rcm-usa.org.
Q: Is there anyone in my area that uses your
materials and your approach?
A:
You can contact Tom’s Administrative Assistant for possible helpers in your
area. However, we only have a limited number of such people, and while we will
give names of people we are acquainted with, we cannot make referrals. It is the
responsibility of each therapist/prayer minister contacted to determine their
suitability for counseling those suffering with a dissociative disorder.
We produce materials to help train
counselors/prayer ministers who want to learn more about how to help abuse
survivors recover. RCM offers support and consultation for anyone struggling to
understand and support abuse survivors, including pastors, cell group leaders,
spouses and family members.
Q: I am a survivor and I need help.
A: If you have someone counseling/ministering
to you, you can order “Healing Process for DID” to learn about our approach to
healing, or you can order the full training series titled "Restoring Shattered
Lives Seminar". Diane's book "Multiple Identities" will also be helpful to you
and those ministering to you. You can go to the “Training
Resources” pages to order. If you have no one
who is able to help you, you can call Sheila, Tom’s Administrative Assistant, at
540-249-9119 to see if we know of help in your area.
Q: How much does Dr. Hawkins charge?
A:
As a 501(c)(3) organization, RCM operates on a donation basis.
Our suggested donation amount for individual ministry is $500/day ($250 for ½
day) and $700/day when an RCM intercessor is also utilized. (An intercessor will
always be utilized, when available, regardless of the size of the donation
given. Nita Saylor, who is extremely gifted in this area, endeavors to join Tom
for as many sessions as possible at Restoration Center.) If ministry is received
away from Restoration Center, a donation to cover travel, lodging, and meals is
also appreciated. The board has set these suggested donation amounts in line
with the specialized nature of the ministry offered, the charges made by
comparable practitioners and ministry centers, and our need to maintain the
ongoing operation of RCM.
We recognize that when
ministry is received in such a concentrated format, the suggested donation
amount can seem overwhelming, especially if expected in one lump sum. We want
you to know that we are willing to work with you and whatever you are able to
contribute, even if it is small amounts given over a period of a time. Sometimes
supportive family, friends, or churches will be willing to help you finance the
ministry you need. Because your facilitator (and other observers) who accompany
you will also benefit from the training they will receive, they may be willing
to contribute part of the suggested amount as well. The bottom line is that we
want to see captives set free, and we trust God to provide the needed
resources for both you and us as He did for the Israelites when they left Egypt.
Training Resources
Q: How do I order your
materials? Where can I get a list of the resources that you offer?
A: You can go to the “Resource
Center” page
on this website for a selection of our printed materials, DVD-Videos and
CD-Audios. For a complete list, you can download Available Resources from
Restoration in Christ Ministries in PDF format from this same page (look for
this file near the end of the web page). You can also call the RCM office at
540-249-9119 and request an information package.
Q: What topics are offered at
the Restoring Shattered Lives seminars and workshops?
A: Lectures at each seminar may vary. See a
complete list of available lectures with descriptions at "Lecture
Descriptions".
Seminars in your Area
Q: Are you having a seminar in
our area in the near future?
A: Go to the “Seminar”
page for a complete list of scheduled seminars.
Q: How do we get a seminar
scheduled in our area?
A: Request one in your area. Call
512-249-9119 and ask for the “Seminar Hosting Guidelines” or send an email
request to
Sheila@rcm-usa.org. Your church or organization may be interested in
hosting a seminar or you may want to host the seminar yourself.
Credentials
Q: Since Dr. Hawkins claims no
mental health credentials, what treatment approach does he use in working with
DID clients? Is his approach similar to Theophostic, Neil Anderson's Steps to
Freedom, or is it a more clinical approach? Does he use regression, guided
imagery, or hypnosis in the treatment process?
A: While recognizing the value
of learning and applying the generally accepted treatment principles used by
professional therapists and psychiatrists, Dr. Hawkins' ministry approach also
addresses the significant spiritual dynamics occurring in DID, using insights
drawn from his own broad range of experience and that of therapists and others
in spiritual ministry. His approach includes what he calls “Truth ministry”
which is an adaptation of the teachings of Basic TheoPhostic. Tom also
encourages the strengthening of the spiritual parts of the person (which usually
includes the Host) in discipleship and often recommends Neil Anderson’s Steps to
Freedom as possibly being helpful in this respect (but discipleship is not
included in this ministry’s training materials).
Tom’s approach does include
elements of the clinical approach, but focuses more on the spiritual approach,
since it is important to address the psychological aspects along with the
spiritual dynamics. His approach does not use regression, guided imagery, or
hypnosis because these approaches can be counterproductive since these are often
methods used by the perpetrators themselves, and more importantly, because they
are usually ineffective in bringing resolution.
While not a licensed counselor
himself, his consultations, along with our training materials and seminars, are
in great demand by Christian counselors at all levels from psychiatrists to
prayer ministers. He has also been asked to do training schools for licensed
counselors. Tom has chosen to “not be licensed” so that he will not be
restricted in any way by state regulations when dealing with the spiritual
dynamics.
Q: Is Tom affiliated with any
organizations such as American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC)?
A: Tom is a member of the
International Society for the Study of Dissociation (a secular organization)
since 1988. He
is also a member of the ISDM Founders Circle (International Society of
Deliverance Ministries) under the leadership of C. Peter and Doris Wagner.
Tom was a member of the AACC
for a time, but found that time and resources were not well spent at this fine
organization. He also felt that he was unable to represent dissociative issues
effectively at that time.
Tom remains open to sharing
what God is teaching us in any venue open to us under God’s direction.
Questions from Survivors
Q:
I was
diagnosed with DID several years ago. I struggle as to whether DID is real or
whether I am just influenced by something demonic that causes me to believe lies
and act in different ways at times. I’ve read about it and have had many
questions answered about why I have lived life the way I have, but I continue to
find myself struggling with accepting it. I am also concerned because DID is not
mentioned in the written Word of God.
A:
The struggle
you are having is common for those struggling with DID. Acceptance is the first
step to healing, but understanding the nature of the disorder is an important
second step.
You expressed concern
about whether the scriptures give examples of DID. I have provided a link to an
excerpt from my book that I hope to publish some time in 2007 that addresses
your question. The article is in PDF format.
Does the
Bible allow for DID?
Unfortunately,
is it common for persons to assume that the "alters" are simply demons. Those
who are ministering effectively to persons with this disorder, however, agree
that this is not the case. It is an understandable assumption for someone who
has no knowledge or understanding of the psychological dynamics of dissociation.
Although dissociated parts of a person are not demons, it is possible for some
of these dissociated parts to be demonized.
Q:
Since I
was diagnosed with DID, the shifting of personalities (what I call “ways of
being”) has become more pronounced, which is causing me a lot of struggle over
the past months. I find myself having more difficulty in controlling the
“shifting to other ways of being,” and I become almost dysfunctional at times in
my normal life of church activities, managing job responsibilities and generally
maintaining sufficient stability in my daily life. It seems that life is getting
more and more difficult as each year passes in regard to stability and
functionality.
A:
Regarding
your comments that it has become more difficult to keep your "ways of being"
under control since you learned that you have DID is not unusual. The nature of
DID is to keep you and the outside world from knowing the trauma happened,
because the perception is that "to know" would destroy you. Two possible reasons
why things seem to be worse now might be 1) fear inside due to fear of the truth
coming out and 2) since you are becoming aware of the dissociation, you may also
be experiencing some of the emotions and fears of parts inside as they try to
make themselves known to you (they want help; some carry a tremendous load of
pain).
It is
difficult to completely "distance" yourself from the "craziness" and "ways of
being," (but you need to be assured that you are not crazy and what you call
“ways of being” are simply aspects of your soul/mind that carry feelings and
memories previously unacceptable to you). Proper acknowledgement of your
internal dynamics coupled with a healthy approach to resolving the internal
conflict and learning how to resolve any spiritual opposition you or internal
aspects of yourself are facing will enable both stability in life and progress
toward healing and resolution. This usually requires someone knowledgeable about
the kinds of dynamics taught in our Restoring Shattered Lives Seminar.
While we don’t claim to have all the answers, we have found that proper
application of these principles are very helpful in enabling survivors to
maintain function while moving toward resolution. Remember that “no part of
yourself” is evil, and you cannot be whole by trying to “get rid” of any aspect
of your humanity.
Q:
I have
been counseling with someone who is unfamiliar with DID. Instead of getting
better, I seem to be getting worse, so I have tried to put my “craziness” (as I
call it) back “in a box” to distance myself from it and more easily maintain
stability in my daily life. Over the last year and a half I have been seeking
the Lord for healing and seem to take five steps forward and three back. I never
know when something will throw me into chaos again. Is this a common experience?
A:
Getting help
from someone unfamiliar with dissociative dynamics can unfortunately create more
problems for a survivor by stirring up things that are not being resolved.
Q:
Have you
ever known of anyone being healed without going to counseling? Due to past
experience, the thought of going to counseling again is difficult to consider.
A:
First,
although it is likely that the Lord has healed someone completely without help
from another person, we don't have any clearly documented examples of this
happening. But if you mean "professional counselors" as opposed to lay
counselors and prayer ministers, then the answer is "yes". Many are coming to
healing using the latest insights without going to professional or licensed
counselors or therapists.
Q:
Have you
ever counseled anyone that had a part of himself that knew the Lord and then
another part that didn’t?
A:
The truth is
that nearly every Christian with DID that I counsel with has parts that do not
know the Lord---generally they have false beliefs about the true Holy Creator
God of the Bible and His nature. It is safe to assume that every part of you has
an opposing part that believes the opposite. This is what necessitates
dissociation--and maintaining the "separateness".
It is very
important to understand that salvation is a matter of our spirit coming into
life through Jesus Christ and by faith accepting His death on our behalf. The
failure to accept this on the part of some parts of the mind is simply a matter
of sanctification, as I explain elsewhere in my forthcoming book. This situation
is analogous to Japanese combatants following WWII who were still fighting the
war because they didn't know the truce had been signed two years before, because
they were isolated from that news by being in a cave on a Pacific island. The
war was over, they just didn't know it. Your spirit has been saved but some of
your mind doesn't know it yet (2 Cor 10:1-5). Sanctification is a life-long
process for all of us but seems more difficult for those with a
traumatic background in early childhood.
Are
there additional questions that you would like for us to add to this page? If
so, send your suggestions by email to
sheila@rcm-usa.org for
consideration.
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