Leaven UP! | Secure Foundations

Leaven UP! Program

The word “leaven” comes from the latin verb levare which means “to lift up.” Our Leaven UP! Program is an eight-hour intensive training for emotionally healthy men and women who seek to become even more psychologically fit. These men and women are pursuing greater psychological perfection, but not for its own sake. Grace builds on nature, so these men and women want an even more secure natural foundation for a deeper spiritual life, to love God and neighbor even more, and to be leaven to “lift up” the Church in these troubled times. The Leaven UP! Program complements the individual’s spiritual plan.

Another parable he spoke to them: The kingdom of heaven is like to leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until the whole was leavened. (Matthew 13:33, Douay-Rheims)

Do you want:

· To understand your emotions, desires, and attitudes much better?

· To uncover and understand the hidden natural psychological obstacles that interfere with your relationship with God? (We all have them…)

· To overcome distractions and other psychological hindrances to recollection and a deeper prayer life

· To receive specific, recommendations and clear plan for moving forward in psychological health tailored to your needs, in writing?

· To make better use of your natural gifts and talents to love and serve God

· To lift up the Church and bring peace and joy to others in our modern age

· To be an even better spouse, parent, friend, or colleague?

Imagine:

· The lightbulbs of insight turning on, illuminating your intellect with greater self-understanding, especially about the issues you’ve struggled with for years.

· With that new understanding, building a new, much more effective plan for overcoming your natural level weakness and deficits

· Following that plan to greater freedom to love God and others in relationship.

· A much deeper life of relational prayer, with fewer distractions.

· Greater freedom to use your gifts and talents in service of the Church

· Being part of the hidden leaven, helping to lift our Church up.

· No longer having to work on this alone, but instead having a competent Catholic therapist to help coach and guide you.

Four Steps of the Leaven UP! Program

1. A 90-minute session in which we review your history and current life

2. Four hours of state-of-the-art psychological testing

3. A 75-minute session to review the findings of the assessment with you

4. A 75-minute session to go over the specific recommendations tailored to you and review your personalized plan

Demands

This program is not for everyone. The Leaven-UP! Program requires the participant to take a long, searching and thorough look at his or her history, personality and current life. It demands a considerable amount of openness and humility to go through this program well. We explore the areas of weakness, sexual history, relationship history, and current impulses, desires, attitudes, assumptions, habits, etc. We are particularly interested in understanding what is happening in the unconscious.

Details

You will work with Dr. Malinoski and either Pansorn Benyasut or Isabella Arackal, thus having the benefit of the insights and experience of two therapists.

All of the testing and feedback is done individually and confidentially to maximize a sense of safety, openness and honesty.

Typically, the four steps of the program are on four different days (though in certain cases, stages 1 and 2 can be on the same day, and stages 3 and 4 could also be on the same day.

It usually takes about two to three weeks for us to customize your tailored recommendations and your individualized plan after the testing is completed because of the time necessary to go through, analyze all the results and synthesize the case conceptualization.

Additional Benefits

You will receive a written report of about six to eight single spaced pages, including a one to two pages of specific recommendations. You are welcome to audio-record the feedback sessions in stages three and four to help you remember the content.

Cost

The cost for the entire program is $1500, which is all-inclusive for the intake, testing, feedback sessions, the tailored recommendations, individualize plan and the written report.

Is the Leaven UP! Program reimbursable by my health insurance?

Probably not. Insurance reimbursement is only possible when there is a diagnosable mental health disorder. In the event that the assessment reveals a diagnosable mental health disorder, you may be able to file your own insurance claims for direct reimbursement from your health insurer.
Can a husband and wife do the Leaven UP! Program together?

Yes. For married couples there is an optional additional module in which we can go through the results and recommendations together to help spouse understand each other and love each other better. Engaged couples can also participate in addition to the rest of their marriage preparation.
What if I am facing financial hardships and can’t pay the $1500?

We have a variety of ways to address financial difficulties. One way is to create a monthly payment plan and pay the cost off over time. In cases of severe necessity, we can write off a portion of the cost. Lacking capacity to pay is not an obstacle to completing the program. See the Fees and Forms page for more details about financial assistance.
I know I have some psychological difficulties. Am I still eligible for the Leaven UP! Program?

It depends on the severity of the difficulties. We can make a determination in the intake interview and decide if a standard psychological assessment is a better fit for you than the Leaven UP! Program.
Would this program be helpful in discerning a vocation to the religious life or to the priesthood?

Yes, absolutely. It especially helps in understanding hidden motives for wanting or not wanting a particular vocation, and conflicts around vocation decisions.
I am in a period of transition in my life. Should I wait until things settle down for me?

You don’t have to. This instruments in this assessment can parse out situation stress from more ongoing structural issues in the personality. Often transitions are good times for this kind of assessment and can inform how to approach the future.
What happens after I complete the Leaven UP! Program?

That depends on the results of the assessment and the details of your personalized plan. We will give you many recommendations and options. If you desire, one of our therapists can continue to work with you, but that is not necessary.