"Personal and Family Background"
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I was born and raised in Ontario; received BA (social science) from University of Toronto, Ontario Teacher's Certificate at Queens University and Master's degree from the Department of Educational Psychology at University of Calgary. I have additional studies in theology and spiritual direction (two years). Since my BA, I have 40 years of counseling experience.
Family background, activities and hobbies
I learned to work hard as the oldest of six children where have spending money always meant earning it. You either washed dishes or had a paper route and I had both! In my family I perfected the role of being a "good boy" to the point of almost losing my personality.
However, there was another side of growing up as one of six children - I learned to be playful and to make fun. I picked up from my mother a sense of humour and the ability to look on the positive side of people and life.
As a result people find that I remain young at heart, can be playful and have a sense of humour. This has enabled me to use tools like psychodrama, inner child work, role playing and humour in adult counselling sessions.
My life has had times of major stress, heartache, setbacks, grief and pain. God was working in it all to soften my heart and give me compassion for others. I needed to learn not to always relate as a People Pleaser and to find and live with confidence in my own identity. It has taken time to mature and become confident in who I am in Christ. Inner healing ministry has been an essential part of this maturitation. I am, I believe, much more capable of adult intimacy, communication and bonding than I was 35 years ago.
Some background regarding Rev.George Everson Hartwell (grandfather) pioneer Methodist missionary to West China (1892).
Family Life
I am the proud father of two grown sons: Christopher and David who now both live and work in Taiwan. (I am also a proud grandfather thanks to Christopher and Joey.)
Christopher was born in Ontario where I taught high school for two years. We moved to Alberta 1970 and enjoyed life in a small towns - first Ponoka and then Athabasca.
I am married (second marriage). Attend a 'church for those not into church' called The Meeting House with teaching pastor Bruxy Cavey author of "The End of Religion."
In our household I am acting step father to two teen boys: Erich and John and have been proud see them do well in school and life.
Early Career
In Ponoka, in the Department of Psychology at Alberta Hospital Ponoka I received four years of professional 'hands-on' training in Psychological assessments, marriage counselling and group therapy.
In 1974 I began masters work in clinical Psychology at University of Calgary, Department of Educational Psychology, "School and Community Psychology" program. Courses reinforced my training in Psychological assessment, family therapy and added training in cognitive behavioural therapy.
In 1976 after teaching for the summer at the University of Regina (Behaviour Modification for the Classroom Teacher) we moved to the small town ofAthabasca where I applied what I learned in counselling and also in parenting and couples courses. So in Alberta I gained both academic credentials and lots of practical experience. My hands on training in the psychiatric hospital setting was followed by three years of professional application in the frontier farming small town of Athabasca.
In the hospital setting I had an opportunity to be involved in a variety of projects such as helping establish the Life Skills Program and set up an Alcoholism Treatment Program at the Hobbema Indian reserve. Professionaly I further developed my skills in Psychodrama and Transactional Analysis. I added training in Reality Therapy, Assertiveness Training, Parenting Training, Stop Smoking Courses and Couple Communication.
Mentors
As a Christian counsellor (I gave my life to God in 1974) I have met, read and been trained by various mentors. The first was Agnes Sanford who I met in Calgary attending one of her final training missions. She encouraged regular Christians to pray for physical healing and added some lessons in healing of memories and praying for depression.
I received my first week of training from John and Paula Sandford in Alberta in 1979. Since then I have been deeply involved in further training and reading but also in teaching others their material since 1984. I designed and taught three levels of courses, trained prayer minister as well as sponsored their visits to Ontario and defending them in the midst of controversy.
Leanne Payne has been a mentor since I attended her School of Pastoral Care Ministry in 1985. Through her books, tapes and newsletter I have stayed in touch with her teaching.
I learned of TheoPhostic indirectly. Art Zielstra - a fellow counsellor and student of John and Paula Sandford pioneered the teaching of Dr. Ed Smith's methods in Ontario. In 2000 I attended 6 weekends and followed up by listened to several sets of audio tapes. Ed Smith has made a significant contibution to Christian Prayer Therapy by teaching us how to deal with core beliefs.
Another one who taught the methods of listening prayer to deal with core beliefs was John Regier. I attended a week on couples work with John Regier in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His prayerful method of changing core beliefs by listening for God's truth to deal with core negative beliefs paralleled Dr. Ed Smith's work.
John and Paula Sandford and Leanne Payne provided the insights and understanding that laid a foundation for me. John Regier and Art Zielstra demonstrated an effective method for the inner healing of the emotional wounds and personality patterns that Leanne Payne and the Sandfords described.
I integrated all this with Agnes Sanford's demonstration of the significance of imagination in prayer. With a background in clinical Psychology and foundation from the above five mentors, and others such as Russ Parker, I have been able to develop many new tools and integrate this into a whole new approach.
Over time My innovations almost created a new approach toward prayerful lofe transforming therapy.
Significant Persons in my Life
Lorne Shepherd came into my life as a mentor/teacher when I sat in his course on marriage relationships at a local Pentacostal church. I helped initiate the writing of his first book. For more see: Lorne Shepherd.
Community Leadership and Activities
In the Christian community I provide or have provided leadership in a variety of ways - most important is mentoring and teaching in relationship to inner and emotional healing and prayer ministry.
For a time I was active in providing leadership to Christian efforts such as: Promise keepers for men, Area Wide Worship, Clergy prayer meetings, Toronto Prayer Network and March for Jesus and Network for Christian Radio. These are contacts in relationship to these activities:
·Area Wide Worship, committee and prayer ministry, with Rev. Richard Long,
·Worship Conference - prayer committee, with Rev. Bruce McCallum,
·Coordinator of Etobicoke March for Jesus, with Rev. Alan Bowan,
·Promise Keepers Toronto Task Force - I was a co-chair with Rev. Glen Corderoy.
Growing up George was active in the Boy Scout movement: served as a Patrol Leader, Troop Leader and become a Queen Scout.
At High School George was Vice President of the School council.
At University George was Program Secretery and President of the Student Christian Movement.
My activities for rest and recreation include tennis, badminton, reading, gardening and walking my dog.
More about George Hartwell M.Sc.
Contact:
For individual or couple therapy with George phone: counselling
(416)
234-1850 for local calls in Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville
or Brampton.
www.HealMyLife.com (counselling) and www.HealMyLife.net (retreats)
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