EPISODE 118 | Healing from Burnout for Clergywomen and Helpers with Nashville Minister and Coach, Stephanie Dunn
Watch Stephanie Dunn's interview on Human Amplified with Brandi Fleck.
Listen to Stephanie Dunn's Interview
A Note from Stephanie Dunn
I believe that a good question asked in a safe space is one of the most powerful gifts we can give to one another. As a coach, I commit to holding a safe space for a person to engage with deep and powerful questions.
With over 15 years of serving as a minister in local churches, I know that there is a shortage of such safe spaces for people in the world. In a coaching relationship, I offer a person room for exploring and expressing their agency as a fully integrated human in all areas of their life.
I would love to talk with you about how coaching could be impactful and meaningful for you. You can contact me on LinkedIn to start the conversation!
Intro - Episode 118
Today, we’re talking to Stephanie Dunn. She’s a United Methodist minister who served for about 15 years before transitioning careers to become a certified life coach. She opened her private coaching practice, Stephanie B. Dunn Coaching, a little over a year ago.
Now, before we go further in this introduction, here’s some context for our discussion that you’ll hear today.
We recorded this conversation in April of 2024, so it happened right as the United Methodist church opened it’s general conference to cover topics, yet again, like same-sex marriage and LGBTQIA+ clergy.
The Methodist church has had well-known internal fissures around these issues and NPR reports that up to 7,600 congregations disaffiliated because they disliked that many of the churches didn’t enforce the ban on LGBTQIA+ marriage and clergy.
In a landslide vote, the Methodist church reversed it’s ban on LGBTQIA+ marriage and clergy.
That's a sure win for recognizing the humanity of others.
All this is to say, that what you’ll hear Stephanie and I talk about today - primarily burnt out clergy - is another symptom of a larger problem that’s been going on for a while now.
That is, institutionally, things are changing for the church. Not only are congregations leaving, but attendance numbers have been down for ages (in many churches, not just the methodist church), and clergy women are leaving too.
That’s where Stephanie comes in. Once clergy herself, she now coaches clergy women and other helpers who are burnt out and looking for support, rest, self esteem, and ways to fit into an institution that wasn’t designed with them in mind.
Stephanie has a unique perspective as an insider who left her traditional role but took on an adjacent support role that’s very much needed. So, whether you’re clergy, a church goer, or are simply interested in how society is changing in all the various ways with human will behind the change, this is an honest inside look at where clergy is going, what they’re doing, and what’s next for the church as an institution and fabric of communities, plus, how you can heal from burnout.
Let’s dive in.
Read the Interview Transcript - Episode 118
Coming soon, hang tight!
Links and Resources - Episode 118
Sponsors and Affiliates - Episode 118
Hey friends. Research indicates that at least 70% of people in the U.S. alone have experienced trauma. That means you’ve likely experienced trauma and most of the people around you have to.
Simply put, people need healing.
I (Brandi) believe that as humans we have the capability to alleviate the suffering that we all believe is so inevitable. But getting there starts with healing yourself first with self compassion, intentionality, time, and repetition.
I have a free workshop to help with this. It’s called Self Healing the Root.
It’s a self-paced, online version of some of the foundational work I do with my clients as a trauma-informed certified coach and that I’ve also done to heal myself.
It’s designed to help you recognize and identify your specific nervous system responses and coping mechanisms to stressors. Then we build on that information to figure out the best ways you can regulate your specific nervous system responses when triggered. Then, we create a plan that will help you integrate through action what you want for yourself instead.
Healing these trauma responses can help you show up in the world more fully as who you really are. I want you to love who you are. And by the way, who you are is not your trauma or trauma responses.
You can REGISTER HERE.
But listen, this workshop is better suited for some than others depending on where you’re at in your trauma healing journey. Be sure to read the guidelines on the sign up page before you register to help you decide if this workshop is for you. And if it is, I can’t wait to see you there!
CREDITS: Original intro and outro music by Ryan Sauls. Episode creation, editing, production, and graphics by Brandi Fleck. Sound effects from zapslat.com. Bio and photos provided by Stephanie B. Dunn.
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Hi, I’m your podcast host, Brandi Fleck. I’m a recognized communications and interviewing expert, a writer, an artist, and a private practice, certified trauma-informed life coach and trauma recovery coach. No matter how you interact with me, I help you tell and change your story so you can feel more like yourself. So welcome!
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