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Episode 7: Ministering to Minds and Souls with Rev. Dr. Lisa Banks-Williams
The Rev. Dr. Lisa Banks-Williams is near and dear to me—in fact, she lives right next to where my husband and I have lived for ten years, and from my kitchen window I look directly into her kitchen window. Over these years she has become a dear friend, and I thought I knew lot about her career. But, in this conversation I learned that her training and experience are even richer than I thought. I found her words particularly valuable at this particular time as we all try to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic in healthy ways.
Her full bio is listed below, but the short version is that the Rev. Dr. Lisa is a psychiatric nurse practitioner with a vast experience caring for men and women of our military, many years at Walter Reed and now at the VA, where she serves as Nurse Manager of the Psyche unit. She also has served in church ministry and completed her Doctorate of Ministry in Church Leadership and Pastoral Care in May of this year.
““I asked as part of my nursing assessment, ‘How is your spiritual life?’ And, the floodgates would open.””
Watch the Interview
Blending Psychiatric Nursing and Ministry
Years ago when working as a psychiatric nurse, Lisa recognized the importance of both mental health and spiritual heath. This led her to the seminary as she wanted to be competent to offer either secular or Christian counseling, depending on the need.
“How do you do so much?”
I’ve watched Lisa juggle her work, school, church, and family responsibilities…so I asked her how she manages to do so much. Here is what she said:
Blessed with lots of energy.
Thrives with multiple areas of creativity.
Taught by her father (who combated discrimination to earn a Ph.D. from Northwestern in 1946) that it would be necessary for her always to work harder to achieve.
Enjoys a synergy between all the things she studies and does…she says she loves to study, read, teach, preach and counsel…and thrives on being able to do them all.
Self-care
““Beloved, I hope you are prospering in every respect and are in good health, just as your soul is prospering. I rejoiced greatly when some of the brothers came and testified to how truly you walk in the truth. Nothing gives me greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.””
Self-care: Needed to prosper in mind, body, and spirit
6 Components of a Self Care Tool Kit
Self Care Tool Kit: Don’t leave home without them!
Rev. Doc. Banks-Williams practicing self-care with her husband.
4 types of friends and allies: cheerleaders, confidantes, critics, and comediennes
Prayer life. Lisa reminds us that we need a prayer practice in calm times as well as times of crisis. “We are not supposed to put all our requests before the Lord and then say ‘Amen.’ We must also listen.”
Boundaries (the fence): “People treat you the way you allow them to.”
Reflection (man sitting on rock thinking). Prioritize quiet time.
Sports, exercise, fun
Psychiatric toilet: a brief transition time (for example, after work before returning home) to process your day and flush your concerns away so you will be better able to attend to the next part of your day.
““Self-care is not selfish.”
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Final advice from Lisa: During this time of great stress ……. “Be good to yourself. You deserve it.”
Additional Links and Resources
HALT for Self-Preservation, provided by Rev. Dr. Lisa
Self-Preservation. Don’t let yourself become: Too Hungry; Too Angry; Too Lonely; Too Tired.
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About Lisa Banks-Williams, D. Min.,M.Div., MSN, PMH-CNS-BC
Rev. Dr. Lisa Banks-Williams
Rev. Dr. Lisa Banks-Williams grew up in the Washington Metropolitan area. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of the District of Columbia, a Master’s of Science of Nursing from The Catholic University of America and a Masters of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary. Also at Wesley, in May, 2020, she completed her Doctorate of Ministry in Church Leadership and Pastoral Care and now worships and ministers at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, an 134 year old church in N.E. Washington, D.C.
She is a board certified Advanced Practice Nurse who serves veterans and returning service members and their families who suffer from PTSD and other war related psychiatric injuries. Her specific areas of expertise are post combat trauma recovery, military sexual trauma and family reunification. She utilizes her clinical and biblical training in the healing and restoration of service members and their families. The Rev. Dr. Lisa has also held faculty positions at several distinguished universities in the Washington area where she has taught, published, and mentored nursing students. Currently she serves our nation’s veterans as the Nurse Manager of the Acute Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit at the Washington, D.C. Veteran’s Administration.
About Donna
Dr. Donna Chacko promotes health of body, mind, and spirit through her website (serenityandhealth.com), her blog, and programs at her church. She is the author of Pilgrimage: A Doctor’s Healing Journey (Luminare Press, 2021).
Donna previously practiced medicine for forty years, first as a radiation oncologist and later, after re-training, as a family medicine doctor. What she learned taking care of immigrants and the homeless in Washington, D.C., continues to influence her programs. A central theme is that health of body, mind, and spirit is interrelated and connected to God, all as a package deal. Donna is a wife, mother, and grandmother and lives in University Park, Maryland.
Questions? Reach out to Donna Chacko.
Do you use these excuses to avoid having to take action?