What We Do

... towards peace within

• Reasons for Seeking Support

Clients come to Shalem Center with a variety of life concerns, ranging from issues of relationships, vocation, marriage/partnership and family, spirituality, life meaning and direction, or emotional struggles with anxiety or depression.

• Caring Licensed Professionals  

Psychotherapy services are provided by practitioners licensed by the State of Ohio through their respective disciplines, including Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Clinical Nurse Specialists.

• Fees and Insurance

Many health insurance programs provide reimbursement for mental health services. Check with your  insurance provider to obtain information about coverage. Fees are at or below average cost for such services in the central Ohio area.

• To Make an Appointment

Call (614) 441-9773 to arrange an appointment or to obtain more information.

• Spiritual Mentoring, Companioning, or Coaching
  
  Shalem also offers spiritual mentoring/companioning/ coaching sessions. These are for persons who do not feel the need for traditional psychotherapy services yet who are seeking spiritual support along life's journey.

... towards peace without






Dances of Universal Peace

Through the work of our Executive Director, the Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Reed, Shalem supports the local work of the International Network of the Dances of Universal Peace. As a Certified Dance Leader, Elizabeth leads regularly at the monthly meeting of the Dances and works as a mentor to and with other Dances of Universal Peace leaders-in-training.

Interfaith Rituals and Ceremonies

Providing an inclusive and welcoming ministry of ritual is another arm of Shalem Center. As both an ordained United Methodist minister and Sufi cherag, Rev. Elizabeth is available to officiate at weddings, funerals, and other important life ceremonies or rituals. She (and other ministers "on call" with Shalem to do such work) can design and officiate spiritual ceremonies specifically to honor and respect all faiths represented, including those who do not claim any spiritual path. A fee schedule is determined by the Board of Trustees of Shalem Center. Click here for more information on Wedding Policies.

The Tent of Abraham, Hagar, and Sarah

This group is a new initiative of Muslims, Christians, and Jews, part of an upsurge in multireligious prophetic concern for peace, justice, and the earth. Moving beyond religious "dialogue" and "coalitions for social action" the "Tent" embraces public engagement rooted in deep spiritual sharing as a new model for this work. 

Interfaith Counseling and Consultation Services

Shalem provides culturally sensitive psychotherapy and consultation for individuals, couples, and families dealing with issues related to differences in religious heritage or spiritual path. See information about psychotherapy services above.

Ways of the Heart:

A Program of Shalem Center and the Greater Perspective

In 2006, Shalem began a new program, Ways of the Heart, in collaboration with Jan Bayshor, M.A of The Greater Perspective. This series offered an opportunity to participate in intentional community, in sacred atmosphere, for spiritual deepening towards living purposeful lives of service. There have been three years of ongoing groups and occasional weekend retreats.  Information will be posted when new events are planned.

... towards peace through the Wisdom of the Native Middle Eastern traditions

Abwoon Resource Center 

The Abwoon Resource Center is the major program arm of Shalem Center.  It exists to support the research and teaching work of Dr. Neil Douglas-Klotz in his work in Native Middle Eastern spirituality and peacemaking, including work on the Aramaic words of Jesus, Hebrew and Native Middle Eastern creation mysticism and Sufism.   

As a recent program development, the Abwoon Resource Center has been funded by the Kalliopeia Foundation as well as many individual donors.  The Abwoon bookstore is maintained at the Shalem Center office, communications are a key aspect of the work, workshops and events are organized and produced, resources are developed and distributed there, as well as other related projects as described below.

Shalem Center supports the Aramaic and Native Middle Eastern translation work of Neil Douglas-Klotz, Ph.D. as the nonprofit arm for outreach work of Abwoon Study Circle.

Donations received for outreach work support such projects as the Edinburgh Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace, support of research, writing, and/or production of new resource books or audiovisuals, and scholarships for new leaders from non-hard currency countries to attend workshops and trainings.

• Abwoon Study Circle Annual Newsletter/Catalogue

The annual publication is produced and distributed globally through the nonprofit arm of its work at Shalem Center.

• Annual Spring Workshop
  
  Shalem Center sponsors an annual spring workshop featuring Dr. Douglas-Klotz on some aspect of his research, writing, and spiritual practices from a Native Middle Eastern perspective. Topics have included: The Hidden Gospel (2000), The Aramaic Lord's Prayer (2002), The Beatitude Way (2003); Genesis Meditations: A Shared Spirituality of Peace (2004), The Sufi Book of Life (2005), Blessings of the Cosmos (2006), The Aramaic Lord’s Prayer: 25th Anniversary Celebration (2007), The Healing Breath: Beatitudes (2008), The Aramaic Jesus and the Sufis (2009), and Many Mansions: Yeshua's Last Teachings (2010).

• Leadership for Local Workshops and Retreats

Persons can be referred to be a speaker or introductory workshop leader in spiritual or devotional practice with the resources of Abwoon Study Circle. This may include Aramaic translations of the Lord's Prayer, Beatitudes, various aspects of the Divine Feminine, or other topics related to embodied spiritual practices. Elizabeth Reed is available for leadership as well as other persons scattered across the United States who have worked deeply with the material over some years time.

• Web-Based meditation courses: "A Healing Journey with the Aramaic Lord's Prayer" and "Breathing with the Divine Breath: Deep Inner Healing in the Beatitude Way"

These courses are produced by SelfHealingExpressions.com. Online sessions can be received daily, weekly or biweekly at the reader's choice and guide the participant through either the lines of the Aramaic Lord's Prayer or the Aramaic Beatitudes. These courses help reclaim the mysticism of Yeshua (Jesus) through a first century Native Middle Eastern worldview. Edited from the writings of Neil Douglas-Klotz, Elizabeth Reed has added other material to expand the meditations and invite new perspectives. By using the link here to sign up for the course, a donation is made by SelfHealingExpressions to the outreach work of Abwoon.