“Centering Prayer”“Centering prayer is really the prayer of no words. It’s a place of safety with God“On this episode of Restoring the Soul, Michael concludes his conversation with Ellen Haroutunian. Ellen is a psychotherapist, life coach, spiritual director, and writer, with a focus on the awakening and strengthening of the truest self in Christ. This focus includes an emphasis on gender, sexuality and identity formation as well as the healing of relational struggles, abuse, trauma, codependency, anxiety, and depression. Through her private counseling practice she has spent almost two decades listening to personal stories and helping people to see the movement of God in their lives and to grow towards emotional wholeness and integration, as well as wisdom for the larger telos for humankind of which we are all a part. As a former nurse, she is passionate about all human flourishing, and takes an integrated approach to include support in physical as well as mental and spiritual health.In addition to seminary training, she is certified as a Spiritual Director by Benet Hill Monastery in Colorado Spring, and in the Christian contemplative tradition through the Living School at the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, NM. She is currently a doctoral student, focusing on spiritual formation and transformation.She has two grown children and lives in Lakewood, CO with her husband Aram, two ex-racing greyhounds and two non-racing cats.In this podcast, we hope you will discover:The importance of practicing Centering Prayer in Ellen’s life and how it impacts her walk with Christ.How Centering Prayer triggers certain emotions that may not otherwise surface.The influence of Fr. Thomas Keating on Michael and Ellen and how the practice of Centering Prayer can be traced back to him.Ellen’s recommendations on how to begin practicing Centering Prayer.The difference between Listening Prayer and Centering Prayer.Support the showENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:- Follow us on YouTube - Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS- Like us on Facebook- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter- Follow Michael on Twitter- Email us at info@restoringthesoul.com Thanks for listening!