LATROBE, PA – In partnership with the Saint Vincent Seminary Institute for Ministry Formation and the Saint Vincent College Theology Department, the Saint Vincent Center for Catholic Thought and Culture will be hosting Beth Hlabse of the University of Notre Dame, who will present a talk titled “Faith and Mental Health.”
The event is scheduled for Thursday, March 26, at 7 p.m. in the Foundations Room inside Placid Hall.
Hlabse serves as program director for the Fiat Program on Faith and Mental Health at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at Notre Dame. In that role, she steers the Institute’s efforts to produce pastoral research, education and formation opportunities on mental health and the Catholic tradition.
“As we navigate experiences of mental illness personally and among our friends and family, I hope to offer some practical insights for how we can better care for ourselves and one another,” Hlabse said. “Too often we imagine a conflict between faith and science, and yet we need the resources of our faith together with sound mental health science to navigate the present mental health crisis.”
As a trained mental health counselor, Hlabse has provided therapeutic care for adolescents and adults with histories of trauma and adverse childhood experiences. Prior to transitioning to counseling, Hlabse worked at Notre Dame’s Kellogg Institute for International Studies.
Hlabse has been supportive of the Institute for Ministry Formation's latest work to build a pastoral program at Saint Vincent as well as the College's recent efforts to create an undergraduate pastoral ministry program.
Hlabse holds a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Divine Mercy University in Sterling, Virginia, and a Bachelor of Arts in theology and peace studies from Notre Dame. She also serves as an assistant teaching professor of neuroscience and behavior at Notre Dame.
There is no required registration. Attendees are asked to park in Lot H next to Leander Hall where student ushers will be stationed to escort visitors to the Foundations Room located on the second floor of Placid Hall. Interested attendees with questions are encouraged to contact Dr. Lucas Briola, C’13, associate professor and chair of the Theology Department housed in the College's School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, at lucas.briola@stvincent.edu.
